WDDE News Director Tom Byrne's interview with Denver Broncos safety and former Blue Hen Mike Adams.
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A former Blue Hen now playing in the NFL was back on the University of Delaware campus Monday.
Denver Broncos starting safety Mike Adams returned to Delaware Stadium where in 2003 he helped lead the Hens to an
NCAA national championship. Adams put on a free football clinic for over 30 youngsters.
Adams says when UD’s scheduled youth football camp this week was cancelled he wanted to step in and help fill the void.
“I wanted to make sure I came out and just try to keep the tradition going. Just to do something good and give back," said Adams. "This is my first time coming back to the University of Delaware and giving back. I’m always giving in Cleveland or Denver and New Jersey and it felt good, and hopefully I can continue this and make this an annual thing.”
In addition to offering the kids tips and running them through a series of drills for nearly three hours, Adams urged them to look a his college and professional careers and see that they can achieve their dreams with persistence and hard work.
"Stay focused. If you want to do it, do it," said Adams. "I played special teams for my first 4 years [in the NFL] and now I’m a starter. It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there and it’s going to take hard work. Just stay positive."
After stints with San Francisco and Cleveland, Adams landed in Denver last season and started all 16 games at safety for a team reached the second round of the playoffs before being ousted by the eventual the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in a heartbreaking last-second defeat in the second round of the AFC playoffs. That Ravens team included a pair of former Blue Hen,- Gino Gradkowski and the Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.
Adams jokes that he constantly hears about Flacco, who led Delaware to the 2007 NCAA title game before losing in the final, but is quick to remind people of one thing: Adams was a Blue Hen first.
"[People] say "You went to Joe Flacco’s school?" and I say 'No, Joe Flacco went to my school'," said Adams with a laugh.
Adams gets back to work later this month when Denver opens its training camp July 25th. He says the Broncos know they are among the favorites in the AFC, but says last year's playoff loss taught the team not to take anything for granted.