USA Football

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees knows a little about the type of football they play in Texas – the winner of USA Football’s 2007 Governor’s Cup as the country’s top football state.

 

An Austin, Texas native, Brees prepped at Westlake High School and led his team to a 16-0 record and a State 5A title as a senior.  As a two-year high school starter, he compiled a 28-0-1 record and was named Texas Class 5A Most Valuable Player in 1996 before heading off to play college football at Purdue University.

 

A stellar collegiate career for the Boilermakers led to an opportunity in the NFL, where he’s in his second season as the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints after spending the first five years of his career with the San Diego Chargers.  In 2006, he led New Orleans to the NFC Championship game and was named to the Pro Bowl. In addition, he was selected as the co-winner of the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year for his on-field performance, charitable contributions and volunteer work

 

Prior to the season, Brees spent some time with usafootball.com to chat about his high school days in Texas, his off-the-field community efforts and his recent success with the Saints.

 

Q- Why did you want to start the Drew Brees foundation?

Brees: To whom much is given much is required, and when you have the chance to make a difference like I do you have to utilize it.

 

Q- You and your wife (Brittany) are very active in the New Orleans community. What was your first reaction when you knew you were going to be moving to New Orleans (after Hurricane Katrina)?

Brees: We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy - readjusted to new city – a new place - and a city going through such a big change with the rebuilding process. But, it has been great to form a relationship with the city in that regard.

 

Q- As a professional athlete, you are a natural role model for you kids.  Do you like having that responsibility?

Brees: Yes, kids need positive role models. People to look up to us, and as a professional athlete that is how it is - like it or not. We are in that position where we either take it or we don’t. I strive to provide a good image for them and really give them someone to look up to.

 

Q- Along with your charitable initiatives through your foundation, you also do a lot with kids, especially youth football.  Tell us why you started the Gridiron Classic tournament and what you’ve gotten out of that experience?

Brees: I wanted to provide an opportunity for kids to play in a championship type atmosphere where they otherwise wouldn’t get an opportunity to play. Maybe it would provide motivation to get some of these kids to take football more seriously, which leads for them to potentially go on and earn a scholarship to college and get an education and learn the fundamentals of football - teamwork, hard-work and dedication.

 

(Note: The Drew Brees Gridiron Classic matches Pop Warner and American Youth Football teams in a game during halftime of a Saints game in the Superdome)

Q- You grew up in one of the best football states in the country (Texas) but you didn’t start playing football until high school? Why didn’t you start playing earlier? What other sports did you play growing up?

Brees: I played tackle football in high school and went to small private school before that where I played flag football up until high school. We didn’t have enough on the squad put it all together, but I had always played football. I also played baseball, track, tennis and basketball.

 

Q- What was your experience like playing high school football in Texas? Was it anything like “Friday Night Lights”?

Brees: It was similar (to “Friday Night Lights”) because in Texas football is big. In high school we’d get anywhere from 10,000 people at regular season game to 40,000 people at playoff games. I got to play in stadiums like the Alamo Dome, Texas Royal K. Memorial Stadium, the Astro Dome and Texas Stadium in Dallas. I got to play in some pretty cool places.

 

Q- Can you tell us about your high school football coach?

Brees: Ron Schroeder - one of the winningest coaches in Texas high school football. He taught me fundamentals of the game, and helped fuel the competitive nature of the game that I now have.

 

Q- What lessons did you learn as a young football player that you still apply to your career today?

Brees: Hard work, commitment, teamwork, and just wanting to be the best in what I do.

 

Q- If there was any advice you could give to a youth or high school football player what would it be?

Brees: Make sure to play the game because you enjoy playing it and have fun with it. Obviously take it seriously if and when it becomes your profession down the line in college or the NFL, but take advantage of every opportunity you get because it only lasts for so long. Football can only take you so far, and you have to be prepared for life after football.