Xplorers quarterback visits Horn Lake classrooms
May 7, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
HORN LAKE, Miss.âMemphis Xplorers quarterback Jake Knott visited Ms. Oliver's fourth grade and Ms. Stewart's fifth grade classes at Horn Lake Intermediate School for Career Day on Friday.
Knott began by telling the classes a little bit about himself. A recent graduate of Wabash University in Indiana, he studied economics and works as a financial advisor.
"I know that football isn't going to last forever," Knott said. "I was fortunate enough to get a good education and get a good job. In the meantime, I get to play football, and that's really cool."
Both teachers in the separate classrooms took advantage of the opportunity to emphasize that finishing high school and getting higher education was important.
Some of the children who had been under the impression that playing professional sports meant not having to finish school were disappointed to find that some leagues require it. For instance, the NFL requires its players to finish three years of college before being drafted.
"You can't play NFL straight out of high school," Knott said. "That's why (Ohio State University running back) Maurice Clarett couldn't play ball this year, because he hasn't completed three years of school."
The children had an opportunity to ask questions, which ranged from, "How much weight do you lift?" to "What's your favorite food?"
"Steak and chocolate chip cookies," Knott said, in an equally wide-ranging answer.
Other interesting facts about Knott derived from questions from the students include his age 23; he has a girlfriend named Darcy; he attended school on an academic, not athletic, scholarship; and he wasn't allowed to attend physical education class as a grade-schooler because he had "too much energy."
"I wasn't the class clown, but I just had a little too much energy for my own good sometimes," Knott said.
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