With his summer vacation slowly dwindling, defensive tackle Kawann Short spent this past weekend working. And while football was involved, it wasn't really about football.
For the third consecutive summer, Short welcomed nearly 300 youngsters from in and around his hometown of East Chicago, Ind., to a camp that included football but focused mostly on education. That's because Short doesn't want those coming after him to make the same mistakes he did.
"You've got kids that just want to coast to the next grade," Short said, "or you've got kids that want to set themselves up for college. I was kind of one of those kids that was coasting. And it bit me."
If not for a full-court press in the classroom his junior and senior years at Central High School, Short wouldn't have gotten into Purdue. He wouldn't have carved out a college career that made him a second-round draft pick. He wouldn't have become among the highest paid interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
Of course, he's an exception in East Chicago for a reason. Not everyone can become a professional athlete. That's why football is just a footnote when Short heads home.
To see how Short stresses the importance of education, click 'play' below.
