Former NFL coach Mike Shanahan speaks with Overland’s football team on Thursday. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — A host of prominent alumni, and former NFL coach Mike Shanahan, came to Overland High School Thursday, on the eve of the 2015 season, and delivered a wide range of motivational speeches to the Trailblazers’ football team.
The group was there, in part, to help announce team captains, but also to talk about football, life and success. Former coach Tony Manfredi, who led the Trailblazers for 28 seasons before retiring in 2010 — a stint which included three title game appearances and a Class 6A championship in 1993 — also spoke to a riveted audience.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Overland’s players heard from former Trailblazer greats like Sean Moran, T.J. Cunningham, Mike Schenbeck, and Brian Kelly, who appeared in a video.
“Every single one of you guys, and every one else around the state, is going to give everything they have to win on Friday nights,” Cunningham told the players. “But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about every other day. … It’s about what you do up to Friday.
“What are you doing when no one is looking?” he asked the group.
Shanahan’s appearance was a surprise to the team. The former NFL coach — who won two Super Bowls as coach of the Broncos, and more recently coached the Washington Redskins — was at the school because Overland assistant Daniel Sampson used to work for the Redskins, and arranged for his appearance.
“It’s a great honor to be here,” Shanahan said. “You guys have got some great tradition here.”
Later, when talking about life, Shanahan told the group, “Find something you love, and be the best at it.”
As he left — to loud applause — Overland coach Seth Replogle gave Shanahan an Overland hat.
“I’m wearing this tomorrow night, by the way,” Shanahan said as he put it on.