Orlando Pace chats with Sandusky students

SANDUSKY — Sandusky High School's most accomplished athlete took time to chat with students from his hometown this week. Pro Football Hall of Fame member Orlando Pace answered Sandusky Intermediate students' questions Thursday about football and life. The Zoom video chat was sponsored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and students from other schools also asked questions. The Sandusky Intermediate students in teacher Ryan Krase's class also interacted with former NFL player Derrick Brooks, via video chat, in February during a similar program. The entire video from Thursday's event can be viewed on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's YouTube channel. At Sandusky, Pace garnered national attention as a standout Blue Streaks lineman and excelled at Ohio State University. After being picked No. 1 overall in the NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams, he played 12 years at left tackle. While there, Pace was a seven-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion. He also played for the Chicago Bears before retiring. In 2016, Pace was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thursday's opportunity was made possible by the Heart of a Hall of Famer program with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The program provides students the opportunity to learn firsthand what it took, beyond athletic ability, for star players to achieve success both on and off the field. Krase's students came up with their own inquiries about Pace's football career and his life growing up in Sandusky. Sixth-grader Larissa Dunkin posed the first question: "Were you ever scared to go into a football game?" "I was never scared, just nervous before games like all athletes are," Pace said. At his turn, fourth-grade student King Kimbrough asked Pace about his favorite Cedar Point roller coasters. "For me, it's the old-school ones like the Blue Streak, Iron Dragon and the old-fashioned cars. I was over there all the time during the summer as a kid, riding all kinds of rides. I don't know if I can fit into any rides right now," said Pace, referring to his six-foot seven-inch height. Like their father, Pace's children enjoy Cedar Point, too, he said. Pace's conversation with students lasted about an hour. In between questions, Pro Football Hall of Fame's personnel provided fun facts about Pace's career and achievements. The archives department, for instance, showed off its collection of memorabilia, ranging from newspaper articles, an NFL scouting report and other items. A notable item was an Ohio State apron with "The Pancake Master" written on the front, referring to Pace's blocking style that knocked defenders on their backs. Krase was "extremely excited" for his students to interact with Sandusky's most famous athlete. "Not only is he an NFL Hall of Famer, but he also is a Sandusky Blue Streak," Krase said about Pace. "I place a strong emphasis on social emotional learning and character education in my class. I looked for my students to learn more about the character traits that it takes to be successful." Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood