Giving Back: Chicago Bears offensive lineman Robert Garza hosts free youth football camps

For nine-year NFL veteran Robert Garza there is no better feeling than being home where his football dreams started.

And for the third consecutive year he is showing young students in the Rio Grande Valley how the pros do it.

Garza, a Rio Hondo native, held the first of two football camps for Los Amigos de Roberto for kids ages 7-14 Tuesday morning at Sams Stadium in Brownsville.

"It's always great to have the opportunity to give back and help the community," Garza said. "It's really fun to some of the same kids the last couple of years and see how they've got better. There are also a lot of new kids and everyone is having a good time and that's the important thing."

With close to 100 youth participants on the field, each were given a shirt with Garza's name on the back and his playing number 63. And throughout the morning went by each child and teenager to personally autograph them.

Luis Garza, 15, who will be attending Porter High School this fall as a freshman said seeing Garza in person pushes him to strive and work harder at the sport he loves.

"It's really cool to talk to him and ask him questions," Garza said. "Like how much he benches and it motivates me to do better because I want to play football in high school."

There were five different stations with local coaches helping give the kids proper technique in various positions on the football field including offensive line where Garza has made his professional career.

"I get a chance to hang out with them and they ask me all kinds of questions," Garza said. "Like who is the toughest player I've guarded or the best and worst games I've been in. It's really important for me to give back because I tell them I ate the same food as them, grew up in the same town as they did, so it can happen."

For Garza the message he has for the youth in the Valley is that hard work pays off and if you want something bad enough you can make it happen.

"I worked extremely hard and continue to do so I can keep doing what I love. I wouldn't change it I love what I do. It's an honor for me to be around these kids. All they have to do is believe in themselves, dream big and they can accomplish anything."

Garza will host his final camp in his hometown of Rio Hondo at Bobcat Stadium from 9-1 p.m. Wednesday with registration an hour before the camp starts.

The veteran lineman signed a six-year contract extension in 2006 with the Chicago Bears. In 2007 he also played in the Super Bowl where the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 at Landshark Stadium in Miami.

Louie Vera covers sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at 956-982-6663 or via e-mail at lvera@brownsvilleherald.com