It's unlikely any kid who will participate in the USA Football Player Academy in Southern Pines, N.C. will know much about 1961 football history. They are more likely to be familiar with Mike Ditka, a pro football Hall of Famer and current ESPN analyst. Yet in 1961, Dave "Moose" Bosson, knew the same Ditka who had a year's salary of just $10,000. Today's football generation is much different now, but Moose still sees important ties from the days he played to today.
Moose will be the keynote speaker at the USA Football Player Academy in Southern Pines taking place from July 13-16 and is excited to share some of his experiences with the youngsters in attendance.
"I figured I could come up with a two-fisted approach," Moose said. "I'm going to talk about faith, family, friends, football and the future. Then I'm going to talk about the differences in what players and coaches are receiving. Like paychecks now, as opposed to what they were receiving in the dark ages when I played."
Moose attended Duke University where he received an undergraduate degree in psychology and attended Indiana State University for a graduate degree in recreation. His efforts have raised more than $200 million for charities and worked with many top professionals including John Elway, Dick Vitale and Tiger Woods.
"I tried to pick four or five people I've met that they would know and open up questions they might have about some of my associations," Moose said. "One of them is Tiger Woods. I'm pretty sure they'd remember him."
USA Football Player Academies are developmental camps designed for athletes, ages 9-14, with a minimum of one-year of playing experience. The camp lasts for three and a half days and is conducted by talented and experienced local high school and USA Football certified youth coaches. The academies also provide individual attention, first class facilities, and apparel from the non-profit's official partner Under Armour.
Moose played professional football as an offensive lineman for a little more than four years and scouted for another five years. He said the difference in professional football today as opposed to when he played has changed quite a bit.
"It's apples and oranges," Moose said. "It was a much more simple game back then. It's like a chess game out there today. Defensive coordinators are trying to read the minds of the offensive coordinators. We had 33 players and 12 teams. Some cases we played both ways. Now its specialization and they're paying punters millions of dollars just to punt the football. The Green Bay Packers ran their entire first world championship team budget for $1 million."
Moose's playing career included stops in the Canadian Football League, the Boston Patriots, now the New England Patriots and New York Titans who are now the New York Jets.
"I was cut, traded and decapitated from four teams in four and a half years," he said. "I got injured early on and became a journeyman lineman."
Despite his short playing career, what Moose learned in football extended off the field to help him in his business career. Moose is a regional director with the Ritz Carlton Destination Club. He also owns Bosson Real Esate Co. in Aspen, Colo., and Pinehurst, N.C.
The game may have changed, but Moose hopes the kids at the Player Academy learn the values he had from playing football, even if it's dated back to 1961.
"When you are a part of a team in football, you're setting goals and not dealing with mediocrity," he said. "I hope they gain a greater respect for their coaches and teachers, their leaders and their families."
Five USA Football Player Academies remain for this season, so be sure to sign up today!
