FB Oliver Hoyte Visits Maple Elementary

Jun 25, 2008, 10:51:08 AM

Kansas City Chiefs FB Oliver Hoyte recently stopped by Maple Elementary in Oak Grove, MO to spend some time with a fourth-grade class. The purpose of his visit was to chat with students about pursuing their dreams. This talk centered on the dedication and determination it takes to achieve ones goals, no matter how large or small.

Hoyte knows a thing or two about dedication. Originally signed by Dallas as a rookie free agent linebacker out of North Carolina State, Hoyte converted to fullback shortly after entering the League. However, this Tampa, FL native might not have become a contributor in the NFL were it not for his ability to look past the hard work necessary to totally remake his game.

One day after practice in the Lone Star State, then head coach Bill Parcells asked him to switch to fullback. It was Parcells’ belief that Hoyte’s best shot of staying in the NFL and contributing positively lied in of offensive backfield.

“I just wanted to play,” Hoyte told the students as he reflected on his decision. “You have an opportunity to play, and I was ready to go. Even though I played some fullback in high school, it was totally different. I mean, this is the NFL and it’s a lot more difficult here. But by sticking with it, I got more and more comfortable. It took a lot of extra work, but it all paid off in the end. Because I stuck with it, I was able to become a Kansas City Chief.”

When he was done telling his story to the students, he went to each one of them and asked that they share a future goal they had. He then challenged the entire class to help one another achieve their respective goals.

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