AndrewHeywoodFeb252010

= Eagles Trying to Land Themselves in NFL=

By: Andrew Heywood heywooda@students.nescom.edu

The [|NFL draft] is not until April 22nd but across the country there are many athletes trying to better their odds of having their name called that weekend. There are even a few long shots that are hoping to get that call inviting them to one of the mini camps. These athletes, along with their school, are hosting what is called a “pro-day”. A pro day workout is a chance for scouts to come see the player’s and get an idea of their ability as well as a small taste of their work ethic. [|Husson University] is too small to host one of these events since they are only a Division III school. However, three of this year’s seniors have been given the chance to work out at the University of Maine pro day that is going to be held on March 12.
 * Bangor, ME** - The Super Bowl has come and gone and given the [|National Football League] (NFL) fans a new champion in the New Orleans Saints. Now the waiting game starts as fans wait for rookie mini camps and mini camps to start and the season to kick off in the fall. Though for college football players, whose seasons ended in November or as late as January, the goal to be a part of the NFL is just heating up.

“It is an opportunity that not a lot of people get, and I feed off of that, it’s what drives me to work out as hard as I do,” says one of the three Husson seniors [|James Dobson] .Dobson admitted that it is a hard road to the NFL coming from a smaller school, but says that, “no matter what there is always someone out there bigger, faster, stronger. There is always someone out there training when you’re not.”

Dobson, a wide receiver, will be joined at the pro day by fellow Eagle teammates, linebacker [|Bobby Gilbert], and defensive back/safety [|Doug Blades]. Though the t hree of them come from a small Division III school they will be making up almost a third of the guys working out at the pro day. “You never know what exactly a team is looking for,” said Dobson who had a try out earlier this month for a[| Canadian Football League] (CFL) team, the [|Calgary Stampede]. “I could get the call tomorrow, until then I just have to stay focused.”

Though Dobson, or his agent Mike Greer of Top-Shelf Sports, has not heard anything since the CFL try-out he continues to work every day in preparation for the pro-day. Greer has been the one setting up try-outs and pushing Dobson along through the business side of making it beyond college football. Working with Greer to push Dobson is Tom Gesner. “Just get me to a camp,” Dobson said with a smile on his face while recalling a recent conversation with his long term friend and coach, Gesner, “and I will do the rest!” Dobson also went on to give Gesner a lot of credit for where he is at now, crediting him as a mentor and great influence. Along with assisting Dobson, Gesner is currently a scout for the Albany Firebirds. The Firebirds are an __[|Arena Football 2]__ team out of Albany, New York. Gesner may however leave that team to become a scout for the Calgary Stampede.

If he does become a scout there then Dobson may be in luck, after all it is who you know, and not what you know. There is no guarantee when trying to reach that next step in the sporting world; especially when that next step is the NFL. It will be interesting to see if these three Husson players can add their name to the list of players that have made the next level through the University of Maine pro-day. With luck one of them may be along the side lines of the new NFL Champion.