I could barely speak after I was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. I was going to play for the defending Super Bowl champions.... I immediately thought of all the great players on the team. I was in awe, as I had watched these soon-to-be legends play on television. They epitomized for me what football was all about: the love of the game, the professional approach, and the desire to win.
Jerry RiceThe same thing I applied to football, I applied to trying to be an actor and hopefully it came off well.
Jerry RiceComing from the South, I just felt you had to work just a little bit harder. It was not going to be handed to you. Iโd get the letters from all the major schools but no one came out to talk to me face to face until this small, dominant black school, Mississippi State Valley University sent a coach out to me. I had a chance to talk to him and he said, โHey Jerry, weโre going to be doing some great things at Mississippi Valley State University and we would love to have you there.โ
Jerry RiceI've grown over the years and I know how to adapt to situations, where I can go into a situation where there's a crowd of people and just take over. But pretty much I'm off to myself. And I'm totally committed to the game of football. That's why I've had so much success.
Jerry Rice