Craig's message to kids: It's about the team
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Former University of Nebrask and San Francisco 49ers football player Roger Craig, center, gets animated as he talks with Lawton-Bronson head coach Chad Moseman, left and assistant coach Tim Rasmussen Saturday at the Cardinal Room at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Sometime in the near future, the doors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, will open for Roger Craig.
And when they do, the Hall will welcome one of the more honorable men ever to wear a football uniform.
The personable Craig, a former University of Nebraska and San Francisco 49ers star, was the keynote speaker for the St. Luke's Sports Medicine's football clinic and banquet Saturday at the Marina Inn.
"I was really excited about talking to the kids today, giving them some messages and insight on positive advice on things in life," said Craig, who played 11 seasons in the NFL. "We need to do more of this with youth today because our kids are getting pulled in so many different directions.
"We have all this social networking going on with MySpace and Facebook and things like that. We have to get the kids back out playing in the yards, having pickup games in the park, instead of being on the internet."
Craig's story is one of perseverance and hard work. He missed his entire junior season at Davenport Central High School because of a broken leg, but had such an outstanding senior season that he drew the attention of any number of major universities.
"I had an older brother that I emulated and tried to be like," said Craig, who spent eight of those seasons with the 49ers. "By watching his work ethic at an early age, it left an imprint on me.
"I tried to be the best player I could in high school because I only had one year. So kids who go through that kind of adversity should never give up. I became a high school All-American and was recruited by schools all over the country."
Craig, of course, chose Nebraska, where he put together a distinguished, yet not prolific, career. Roger followed his older brother, Curtis, also a standout athlete at Davenport Central, to Nebraska.
"Because I understood my role, I never got discouraged at Nebraska," said Craig. "There were players in front of me who paid their dues, so I had to wait my turn. So when they gave me an opportunity, I didn't mess it up.
"When Coach Osborne would put me in the game, I let people know that I was all business. My sophomore year, I scored 16 touchdowns and finished second in the nation in scoring as a third-team running back. You have to have a good attitude or you're not going to be ready when your number is called."
The 49ers selected Craig in the second round with the 49th pick in the 1983 draft. That draft included, among others, John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Eric Dickerson.
He went on to play on three Super Bowl champion teams and was a four-time All-Pro selection. Craig was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, when he ran for a career-high 1,502 yards and caught 76 passes for 534 yards. That was two seasons after he became the first player in NFL history to accumulate over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.
On April 21, Craig was enshrined in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
"That was a great honor, but it's just a stepping stone for Canton," said Craig, who works for a software company in California but also handles speaking engagements a couple of times a month. "I know because they were talking about it at the (Bay Area) banquet.
"A couple of the writers out there know they're missing out. They need to get me in there."
Sure, your accomplishments on the football field are important, but Craig said the way you handle yourself off the field defines your role as a professional athlete.
"Giving back to the community should be very important," said Craig. "Some of the guys in the Hall of Fame were pretty negative in the community and it's amazing that they allow that to happen.
"I think they need to look at guys who not only made an impact on the football field, but also in society in their post-careers."
As for the state of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Craig says the program is in good hands.
"I see everything going up," said the former Husker fullback. "Bo Pelini is definitely the guy the Huskers were starving for and I'm glad we got him because he understands the tradition and the history.
"If you know the history, you have no doubt in your mind that you're going to go out and perform in front of 85,000 fans who cheer for you at every home game."
St. Luke's Sports Medicine also held a clinic for grades 5-12 conducted by coaches from Bishop Heelan, South Sioux City and Lawton-Bronson. Bill LaFleur, a former University of Nebraska and 49ers punter, instructed the kickers.
And when they do, the Hall will welcome one of the more honorable men ever to wear a football uniform.
The personable Craig, a former University of Nebraska and San Francisco 49ers star, was the keynote speaker for the St. Luke's Sports Medicine's football clinic and banquet Saturday at the Marina Inn.
"I was really excited about talking to the kids today, giving them some messages and insight on positive advice on things in life," said Craig, who played 11 seasons in the NFL. "We need to do more of this with youth today because our kids are getting pulled in so many different directions.
"We have all this social networking going on with MySpace and Facebook and things like that. We have to get the kids back out playing in the yards, having pickup games in the park, instead of being on the internet."
Craig's story is one of perseverance and hard work. He missed his entire junior season at Davenport Central High School because of a broken leg, but had such an outstanding senior season that he drew the attention of any number of major universities.
"I had an older brother that I emulated and tried to be like," said Craig, who spent eight of those seasons with the 49ers. "By watching his work ethic at an early age, it left an imprint on me.
"I tried to be the best player I could in high school because I only had one year. So kids who go through that kind of adversity should never give up. I became a high school All-American and was recruited by schools all over the country."
Craig, of course, chose Nebraska, where he put together a distinguished, yet not prolific, career. Roger followed his older brother, Curtis, also a standout athlete at Davenport Central, to Nebraska.
"Because I understood my role, I never got discouraged at Nebraska," said Craig. "There were players in front of me who paid their dues, so I had to wait my turn. So when they gave me an opportunity, I didn't mess it up.
"When Coach Osborne would put me in the game, I let people know that I was all business. My sophomore year, I scored 16 touchdowns and finished second in the nation in scoring as a third-team running back. You have to have a good attitude or you're not going to be ready when your number is called."
The 49ers selected Craig in the second round with the 49th pick in the 1983 draft. That draft included, among others, John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Eric Dickerson.
He went on to play on three Super Bowl champion teams and was a four-time All-Pro selection. Craig was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, when he ran for a career-high 1,502 yards and caught 76 passes for 534 yards. That was two seasons after he became the first player in NFL history to accumulate over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.
On April 21, Craig was enshrined in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
"That was a great honor, but it's just a stepping stone for Canton," said Craig, who works for a software company in California but also handles speaking engagements a couple of times a month. "I know because they were talking about it at the (Bay Area) banquet.
"A couple of the writers out there know they're missing out. They need to get me in there."
Sure, your accomplishments on the football field are important, but Craig said the way you handle yourself off the field defines your role as a professional athlete.
"Giving back to the community should be very important," said Craig. "Some of the guys in the Hall of Fame were pretty negative in the community and it's amazing that they allow that to happen.
"I think they need to look at guys who not only made an impact on the football field, but also in society in their post-careers."
As for the state of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Craig says the program is in good hands.
"I see everything going up," said the former Husker fullback. "Bo Pelini is definitely the guy the Huskers were starving for and I'm glad we got him because he understands the tradition and the history.
"If you know the history, you have no doubt in your mind that you're going to go out and perform in front of 85,000 fans who cheer for you at every home game."
St. Luke's Sports Medicine also held a clinic for grades 5-12 conducted by coaches from Bishop Heelan, South Sioux City and Lawton-Bronson. Bill LaFleur, a former University of Nebraska and 49ers punter, instructed the kickers.
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mike wrote on Jun 23, 2008 8:57 PM: