July 25, 2003
- College Sports Pass Required
Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon/Media Day Photo Gallery
CHICAGO -- At Thursday's Big Ten Football Kickoff Luncheon -- the 32nd annual -- 1,500 fans enjoyed the wit and humor of veteran coaches Joe Paterno, Barry Alvarez and Joe Tiller, among others. But the individual who stole the show was not one of the Big Ten's 11 head coaches -- it was Northwestern football player Jason Wright, who delivered a masterful message on behalf of the 22 players in attendance.
Big Ten officials called Wright's address "one of the most memorable in luncheon history." He received a standing ovation following the speech.
Wright, the Wildcats' first-team Academic All-America running back, centered his address around "Integrity." The following is a complete transcript of Wright's message to Big Ten fans.
WRIGHT'S ADDRESS (July 24, 2003):
Good afternoon everyone ... Good afternoon everyone (laughter) ... Good, make me feel comfortable here, I'm a little bit out of my element here.
I'm very honored to speak on behalf of all the Big Ten athletes you see here today -- a group that is very proud to be a part of the best conference in the nation -- a conference that holds integrity as its highest priority.
Integrity is thrown around in college football all the time as a buzzword. It speaks to the very essence of our sport. Loyalty to your teammates and institution, trust in your coaching staff and their gameplans, honesty and truth with respect to our football families, and the rules of the game.
It is absolutely fitting that INTEGRITY can be used as an acronym to describe why we are so proud to participate in the Big Ten.
I, for intensity. Tenacity of which the Big Ten competes on a daily basis is unparalleled. The competitive nature of the Big Ten characterizes the student-athletes both on and off the field, whether it be the NFL, graduate school or the corporate world. Big Ten athletes will always compete for the upper echelon of their trade.
N, for nobility. The Big Ten sits atop the college football pyramid -- it's clear. With the spotlight on, we continue to carry ourselves with the utmost dignity, displaying levels of sportsmanship and humility rarely seen in college athletics. We continue to serve as an example of how a successful conference is, and should be run.
T, for talent. This point is self-explanatory. Year after year, the NFL is flooded with great players from Big Ten-member institutions. You are hard-pressed to find another conference with wall-to-wall, jam-packed with athletes as you are, right here today.
E, for excellence. Nothing characterizes the Big Ten more than excellence. Big Ten football continues to achieve at the highest level. An encouraging nonconference record, an impeccable bowl record and a national championship by the Ohio State Buckeyes rest as shining beacons of our conference's excellence. The Big Ten shows no signs of returning to mediocrity anytime soon -- as you've heard here today.
G, for growth. With the addition of Penn State to the league in the early 90s, the Big Ten has given evidence of its commitment to growth. However, growth does not necessarily mean adding extra teams. The Big Ten continues to expand through the growth of its media market and its fan base. Our conference, just as any successful unit, is continuing to revise and improve itself until it has perfection.
R, for responsibility. The Big Ten demands much of its student-athletes. Superb athletic performance is coupled with oustanding academic success. As our conference continues to celebrate academic achievement, it breeds responsibility. This instills not only the discipline to be a true student-athlete, but an accountable man as well.
I, for involvement. Hand-in-hand with a sense of responsibility is a sense of duty to the community. Member institutions are encouraged to give back to the communities in which they are located and situated. These endeavors, including Northwestern's involvement with Misericordia Foundation -- that's a little plug (laughter) -- represent the appreciation of Big Ten athletes for our humble roots.
T, for tradition. The Big House, the Scarlet and Gray, the Rose Bowl, Ryan Field -- well maybe not (laughter) -- but these are the reasons we came to play Big Ten ball and didn't go elsewhere. No conference has a richer history than ours. No conference continues to play the physical old-school style of football you still see here today.
Y, is for you. You, the fans, are the reason we are so proud to play Big Ten football. Fan support inspires the pride in our schools that drive and fuel our success. Your continued support guarantees the vitality of the Big Ten -- heck, your kids are the future of the Big Ten. We, the players of the Big Ten, are extremely grateful for your support. It's because of you that we are able to move this conference forward with the utmost integrity.
Thank you.