Watts talks to Tigers players

Former QB, legislator looks beyond field

As he brought his team together at the end of Tuesday’s mid-morning practice at the Murphy Athletic Complex, new University of Memphis football coach Justin Fuente went through his routine checklist of what he liked and what he didn’t. He talked about what he expected from the players in the day’s second workout, and he encouraged them to have fun.

And then he asked for their attention.

He told t hem he wouldn’t arrange for many speakers to talk to the team, but when he did, it would be worth their time. Before Tuesday’s afternoon workout, former Oklahoma quarterback and congressman J.C. Watts spoke for about 30 minutes to the Tigers in the newly renovated team meeting room, discussing the importance of life beyond football.

Memphis businessman Brad Martin, former chairman and CEO of Saks Inc. and a close friend, helped bring Watts — a two-time MVP of the Orange Bowl — to the Park Avenue campus. He called Watts’ speech “inspiring.”

Watts, 54, said putting a Memphis stop on his schedule was a natural fit on several levels, from the connection to Fuente as a former Oklahoma quarterback to knowing several members of the Tiger staff who formerly coached at Tulsa, where Watts’ son, Trey, is a junior running back.

“The stars aligned, the dots got connected, and here I am,” Watts said.

Watts played quarterback for the Sooners and Barry Switzer from 1978 to ’81 and helped Oklahoma to back-to-back victories over Florida State in the 1980 and ’81 Orange Bowls. He had a 61-yard touchdown run in the 1980 win and led the Sooners on a game-winning drive in the final minutes in 1981.

He said he gives speeches to football teams “several times a year’’ and tries to give their lives, as college athletes, some perspective.

“I say ‘Guys, I know you think the most important thing in your life is the next season, and that’s critically important, but think beyond four years

down the road; think where you want to be if (pro football) doesn’t happen,” Watts said. “If the dots don’t get connected the right way, make sure you have something to fall back on.”

For most, he said, the lessons learned in football — hard work, sacrifice, commitment — will benefit them in their nonfootball careers. Watts said he was fortunate to go from a seventh-string quarterback when he ar-