Edmonton Eskimos players share life lessons with northern Alberta students

Football players get nervous too.

That was the message four Edmonton Eskimos players brought with them Wednesday when they visited students atBill Woodward School in Anzac, about 30 kilometres south of FortMcMurray.

Fullbacks CalvinMcCartyandChristopheNormand, along with linebackers Blair Smith andKoreyJones, talked to students about the fundamentals of football and how they apply to life.

Even professional athletes battle bouts of anxiety, they told students.

McCarty, a 12-year veteran of the CFL,said it's natural to be nervous before agame.

He suggested students should stop thinking about anxiety as a limitation and see it as motivation.

The players all saythey seesuch emotions as signstheyreally care about what they're doing.

"No matter how prepared you are, you still get nervous," McCartysaid. "If you don't feel the butterflies, I don't think this game is for you."

• No plans to change Eskimos name after N.W.T. consultations
• President of Edmonton Eskimos visits N.W.T. to talk controversial team name

Thevulnerability shown by the playersmade DarianMilton rethink his own plans.

"It encouraged me to tell people that I have anxiety," said Darian, 12, who used to play football.

"Some people wouldn't say thatat all. You kind of want to be cool."

The message inspired him, he said, and he plans to return to the football field after having given up the sport.

As part of the Eskimos outreach program, the four players are on a tour this week in the FortMcMurrayarea, where they will host several camps for students, host a barbecue and visit the localhospital.

• MOREFORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Fort Mac Rocks: Fort McMurray goes 'crazy' for colourfully-painted rocks
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:UCP nomination candidate apologizes for remarks about Fort McMurray Muslims
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Outfitter charged with unsafe bear baiting near Fort McMurray

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca