Video: Middle School Teacher Gets Surprise Visit From Football Player

For nearly 30 years Sue Drown has canvassed the halls and classrooms of the Long Valley Middle School, working with special education students and helping shape the future, all the while professing her love for Rutgers University football.

Drown is retiring at the end of the 2010-11 school year, and one of her colleagues, Matt Marciano, couldn’t let it go unnoticed. So, Marciano reached out to the Rutgers football program and running back Joe Martinek to see if he’d be available to speak with Drown and her students.

What ensued was a surprise assembly on Wednesday morning for Drown, who was treated to hearing Martinek speak to approximately 115 students in the Middle School library and engage in a question and answer session.

Drown’s family has had seven season ticket seats to Rutgers football home games for 15 seasons. “We love going,” Drown said. “We’re right behind the bench, too; it’s so much fun.”

Martinek, a Hopatcong High School graduate, holds numerous high school rushing records in New Jersey and committed to the New Brunswick school before his senior year began. “(College football) is a lot different than high school,” Martinek said. “Between practice and classes, an average day goes from about 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.”

Just as rewarding as it is to meet a favorite athlete, the opportunity to teach students makes retirement a bit difficult, the veteran teacher said. “It’s very bittersweet,” Drown said. “It’s time for me to do what I want to do, but teaching has been so rewarding. There’s nothing better than teaching a student and having them  say ‘Oh, I get it.’”

The assembly saw most students and teachers wearing red in honor of Rutgers University, and two banners were hung in the library with students’ signatures for Drown to take home. “I was definitely surprised,” Drown said. “My first thought was, they did this for me?”

Martinek spoke to the students about what it takes to become a leader and the importance of surrounding yourself with a good support group. Martinek then opened the session up to questions from the sixth graders, which saw all forms of inquiries.

“What’s it like to be hit by a 300 lb. monster?” one student asked, to which Martinek replied, “It’s not so bad when it happens, but it’s the next day when you feel it.”

Many questions about football were posed, one of which didn’t receive very good feedback. A student asked what Martinek’s favorite professional football team is, and a chorus of boos rang out when he quietly explained–to the crowd of predominantly New York Giants and Jets fans–that he is a Minnesota Vikings supporter.

And of course, questions from sixth graders aren’t always about the pressing issues in life. The group learned that Martinek has a pet hamster named Fred, is currently single, and was unable to attend the much-publicized appearance made by MTV’s Snooki at Rutgers University.

Wednesday, May 18 was proclaimed Sue Drown day at Long Valley Middle School, and per Washington Township Mayor Ken Short's approval, will be recognized as the same in Long Valley.

“We couldn’t let Mrs. Drown’s work go unnoticed,” Marciano said. “And that’s why we thought this would be a great way to do something for her.”