Two Javelina Offensive Line Legends, Coach Jamie Martinez and Roberto Garza.
Roberto Garza giving DT Johnny Tivao some advice.
Former Javelina great James Jefferson talks with Garza in between his sets.
BIO:
Personal: Lettered in football and track at Rio Hondo (TX) H.S. where he was a member of the National Honor Society... Every December 2 is the official ‘Roberto Garza Day’ in his hometown of Rio Hondo, TX where many of the 2,000 residents are of Hispanic descent... Speaks fluent Spanish and as one of 19 Hispanic players in the NFL held a football camp for Hispanic boys and girls in Atlanta while playing for the Falcons... He and wife Ashley provided monetary donations to the Empty Stocking Fund, the Falcons Feed the Homeless campaign... Also mentored boys from the Hall County Boys & Girls Club through the Falcons’ Ball Boy Mentoring Program.
College Career: Full-time starter for 3 seasons at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1997-2000) who earned 3 straight all-conference nods while starting 30 of the team’s last 40 games... Named a little college All-America first-team selection and an all-Lone Star Conference performer at center as a senior... Averaged 66 knockdown blocks over his final 2 seasons while starting every contest... Started 14 games as a sophomore and registered a personal-best 102 knockdowns to help the team average 297.3 yards rushing per game... Garnered spot on conference all-freshman team despite moving into a starting spot late in the season... Finished third in the shot put at the 1999 NCAA Championships and won the NCAA title in 2000 with a toss of 57’0”... Also captured the conference crown in the discus in 1999.
NFL Career: Has been a key component to offensive line since coming to Chicago in 2005, starting 55-of-64 games played, including 48 straight, while the Bears have rushed for 7,020 yards... Chicago has rushed for over 100 yards in 27 of his starts with the organization and 35 contests in his four-year tenure... One of two offensive lineman to play in every game over the previous four seasons for the Bears... Part of a Bears offensive line that has allowed 128 sacks over the last four seasons which ranks 6th in the NFC and 12th in NFL... Totaled 70 regular season starts the last five seasons with Chicago and Atlanta, helping his team to a 45-25 record (.643) in those contests and paving the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in four of those seasons... Has started 86-of-116 career games played during his eight NFL seasons with the Bears and Falcons, making starts at each of the interior O-line spots... Has played in 80 consecutive regular season games and appeared in all 16 games six times during his career (2001, 2004-2008).
Thanks for posting this coach! Great article for the field house here in Alvin. We have lots of Hispanic players that can benefit from Roberto's example of dedication.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are awesome.
Sure thing, Roberto is a great guy and extremely dedicated. I asked him how he has stayed in the NFL now for ten years and he told me it’s all hard work. He told us last year that he takes three days off after the season then starts working out again. He also told me that he is constantly learning from his coaches and even players that have been there longer than he has. Hard Work, Dedication, and Constantly Learning is the Key!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading the blog.