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Breaking the Cycle, a local nonprofit agency dedicated to breaking cycles of gun violence, poverty and the stigma of mental health in troubled youth to avoid incarceration while also supporting them in pursuing higher education and workforce readiness, presented “A Day with NFL Legends” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Owensboro High School gymnasium.
“A Day with NFL Legends” brought Owensboro natives and former NFL players Mark Higgs and Vince Buck back to town to speak about their journeys to becoming players in the NFL.
Higgs, at only 5’7”, was a running back for the Owensboro High School (OHS) Red Devils who transitioned to the University of Kentucky after graduation and later played for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted in the eighth round of the NFL draft in 1988, the 205th overall pick that year.
Higgs played in the NFL until 1995 and has since coached football in Miami and operated his own business.
“You don’t have to be the fastest, the strongest or the smartest,” Higgs told the audience members of all ages. “You just have to be determined. You can measure someone’s height, but you can’t measure their heart.”
Higgs emphasized the importance of creating “good habits” as a young person, saying that those habits that he learned helped provide him a solid foundation for the future.
He encouraged the young audience members to “get outside and exercise”, stating that Owensboro has “wonderful” parks and outside spaces to enjoy, and even encouraged them to play football.
“Football is great for kids. It helps create discipline and gives them friends for life,” he said.
Higgs also shared the importance of “paying it forward” with the crowd.
“Take pride in what you do and help people. The best thing you can do is give back and help people. Pay it forward like we’re doing today. Treat people good because you never know when you’ll need their help,” Higgs said.
Buck, a cornerback and safety, joined the NFL as a second-round draft pick from Central State University in 1990, saying that he looked up to Higgs, thinking that “if Mark could do it, I could do it, too.” He played for five seasons with the New Orleans Saints and became active in the New Orleans community following his retirement from football, opening his own business, Cottman Transmission Service Center, in New Orleans.
Throughout his address to the audience, Buck said that he thought about quitting football so many times — when he started playing Pop Warner football because he was “bad”, when his college experience wasn’t going as expected, following a serious car accident and when his mom was diagnosed with cancer.
“But I learned something. I was just thinking about myself, but football is a team sport — it isn’t just about me. And what else was I going to do? What other option do I have?” he said.
Buck discouraged social media usage and video games, stating “Video games distract minds”, and encouraging the kids to exercise their minds and bodies.
“Achievements will come with a cost. There will be obstacles. It’s not an easy ride. Look, listen and learn. Be responsible,” Buck encouraged. “All of this started right here in Owensboro. It can be done. I did it.”
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“A Day with NFL Legends” brought Owensboro natives and former NFL players Mark Higgs and Vince Buck back to town to speak about their journeys to becoming players in the NFL.
Higgs, at only 5’7”, was a running back for the Owensboro High School (OHS) Red Devils who transitioned to the University of Kentucky after graduation and later played for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted in the eighth round of the NFL draft in 1988, the 205th overall pick that year.
Higgs played in the NFL until 1995 and has since coached football in Miami and operated his own business.
“You don’t have to be the fastest, the strongest or the smartest,” Higgs told the audience members of all ages. “You just have to be determined. You can measure someone’s height, but you can’t measure their heart.”
Higgs emphasized the importance of creating “good habits” as a young person, saying that those habits that he learned helped provide him a solid foundation for the future.
He encouraged the young audience members to “get outside and exercise”, stating that Owensboro has “wonderful” parks and outside spaces to enjoy, and even encouraged them to play football.
“Football is great for kids. It helps create discipline and gives them friends for life,” he said.
Higgs also shared the importance of “paying it forward” with the crowd.
“Take pride in what you do and help people. The best thing you can do is give back and help people. Pay it forward like we’re doing today. Treat people good because you never know when you’ll need their help,” Higgs said.
Buck, a cornerback and safety, joined the NFL as a second-round draft pick from Central State University in 1990, saying that he looked up to Higgs, thinking that “if Mark could do it, I could do it, too.” He played for five seasons with the New Orleans Saints and became active in the New Orleans community following his retirement from football, opening his own business, Cottman Transmission Service Center, in New Orleans.
Throughout his address to the audience, Buck said that he thought about quitting football so many times — when he started playing Pop Warner football because he was “bad”, when his college experience wasn’t going as expected, following a serious car accident and when his mom was diagnosed with cancer.
“But I learned something. I was just thinking about myself, but football is a team sport — it isn’t just about me. And what else was I going to do? What other option do I have?” he said.
Buck discouraged social media usage and video games, stating “Video games distract minds”, and encouraging the kids to exercise their minds and bodies.
“Achievements will come with a cost. There will be obstacles. It’s not an easy ride. Look, listen and learn. Be responsible,” Buck encouraged. “All of this started right here in Owensboro. It can be done. I did it.”
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