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Schools
Teens get financial advice from a pro
A football pro, that is. Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks shares his expertise at Bloomingdale High.
By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS
Published December 16, 2005
The 40 students waited in Bloomingdale High School's media center for their surprise guest. The group, chosen at random from 125 Advanced Placement microeconomics students, didn't know who their surprise speaker would be. They had been told only that he played football.
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks emerged from behind a screen, the students cheered.
"I told you so," they said. "I knew it."
Brooks visited Bloomingdale on Monday to educate young adults on the importance of financial literacy. In hopes of teaching fiscal responsibility, the NFL and Visa USA teamed up to present a "financial football" lesson to high schools throughout the country.
Clad in a pink vest and flashing an easy smile, Brooks shared financial anecdotes with the students. He told them about a college roommate who, 30 days after a shopping spree on a new credit card, presented the bill to Brooks and asked him if he knew what an interest rate was.
"My God, you're in trouble," Brooks told his friend.
Brooks continued with practical advice to the students. Credit cards are great but use them only for emergencies, he said. He also stressed the importance of good credit when the students wanted to buy a house or car in the future.
He opened the floor up for questions - financial ones.
"What did you guys do differently yesterday to enable you to surpass the Panthers?" asked senior Jason Lowe.
The other students laughed.
Brooks chuckled, and then discussed with the students the Bucs' 20-10 win over Carolina.
Next, the room split into two teams to play Financial Football, a debt and money-management computer game rich with football lingo.
The students scored electric touchdowns by answering questions ranging from "Who's on the face of the $2 bill?" to the origins of the phrase "In the red."
Brooks coached one student team, the Buccaneers, and AP microeconomics teacher Debra Bouno coached the other, the Colts.
The Bucs lost.
[Last modified December 15, 2005, 10:05:12]
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