News Detail
Mark Van Eeghen, Former New England Patriot Player Comes To La Salle
In late May 2011, Mr. Mark Van Eeghen, a former professional football player and graduate of Cranston High School West and Colgate University, visited La Salle to speak for the PEGASUS 10-12 program. This was Mr. Van Eeghen’s second time speaking at the Academy, having visited last year in November. He spoke on his experiences in both high school and college, as well as his time in the NFL playing fullback for the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.
One of the major points Mr. Van Eeghen stressed in his talk was how he never really considered playing college football until late in his high school career. Even when this became a reality, he did not think that he would play professionally until more than halfway through his college career. Today, many college athletes leave their schools to enter professional drafts early: football players declare eligibility for the NFL Draft after their junior year, while some basketball players leave after their freshman year. Mr. Van Eeghen, on the other hand, was not even aware that pro teams were interested in him until one day in October of his senior year, when his coach told him that scouts were watching him at practice.
In late May 2011, Mr. Mark Van Eeghen, a former professional football player and graduate of Cranston High School West and Colgate University, visited La Salle to speak for the PEGASUS 10-12 program. This was Mr. Van Eeghen’s second time speaking at the Academy, having visited last year in November. He spoke on his experiences in both high school and college, as well as his time in the NFL playing fullback for the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.
One of the major points Mr. Van Eeghen stressed in his talk was how he never really considered playing college football until late in his high school career. Even when this became a reality, he did not think that he would play professionally until more than halfway through his college career. Today, many college athletes leave their schools to enter professional drafts early: football players declare eligibility for the NFL Draft after their junior year, while some basketball players leave after their freshman year. Mr. Van Eeghen, on the other hand, was not even aware that pro teams were interested in him until one day in October of his senior year, when his coach told him that scouts were watching him at practice.
Mr. Van Eeghen’s extraordinary humility showed through when he spoke. He knew that he was a good player and belonged in the NFL, although it took him some time to realize it. However, at the same time, he also realized how fortunate he was to have had the opportunity to play, and to leave the game in good health. It is interesting to note that his career and experiences as a football player comprised just one part of Mr. Van Eeghen’s talk, and though it may have been the most prevalent, it was by no means the main point that he wanted his audience to come away with. He also discussed the importance of his family and his education, which allowed him to continue to be successful after his retirement from football.
For a high school student, particularly a high school student-athlete, this was the most important lesson to be learned from Mr. Van Eeghen. He illustrated the importance of things other than his football career by telling a story about returning to Cranston West after his retirement. The school was retiring his jersey, and to mark the occasion and Van Eeghen’s achievements, the jersey was mounted on a plaque with his number and the two teams he played for in the NFL. Despite this honor, there was something about this plaque that bothered Mr. Van Eeghen. He was disappointed that it did not mention his graduation year or Colgate University. To him, it sent a message that the school only cared about his achievements as a football player, which were not what his life was all about.
Mr. Van Eeghen embodied the fact that academics really do come first. Even if a student-athlete is fortunate enough to go pro, his or her athletic career will only last for so long. Once it ends, the retired athlete must have the security of a strong education, so that he or she may continue to be successful in life. Mr. Van Eeghen is a prime example of how this is done. For him, football was just one part of what has been a very fulfilling life.
Story written by Patrick Burns ‘12
La Salle Academy is a high school rich in history and grounded in the person and teachings of Jesus and the Catholic faith, which are core to the school's life and culture. The De La Salle Middle School provides a strong holistic foundation for students to transition into high school. The high school and middle school provide students of diverse ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds, a community to foster growth in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s ideals of faith, service, and community.
