Orlando Pace remains a gentle giant

FULL ORLANDO PACE COVERAGESANDUSKY — Sandusky's 'Gentle Giant' deserves every honor that comes his way.The ultimate reward for Orlando Pace comes Saturday night in Canton when he is enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in what is believed to be the first sellout in the history of the event.Pace is truly a model athlete, and more importantly, a model citizen.No one really realizes what the 1994 Sandusky High School graduate has done for his alma mater, and the city of Sandusky over the years since his All-Ohio days with the Blue Streaks, the All-American days at Ohio State University, and then the All-Pro days with the St. Louis Rams, culminated by winning a Super Bowl ring.I still wear the T-shirt that came out in his junior year at OSU, pushing him for the coveted Heisman Trophy. That was 19 years ago, and Orlando was fourth in the Heisman voting, which is outstanding for an offensive lineman.Pace was known for his pancake block (putting an opponent's defensive lineman on his back to clear the way for a runner). Pancakes are shown on the shirt.At 6-foot-7, 300-plus pounds, Pace hovers over most people. However, nobody of his stature I've ever come in contact with has shown so much humility.First, and foremost, his mother and grandmother established the ground rules early on in his life.One was to treat everyone with respect.Orlando has done just that while climbing the ladder of success, on and off the football field.Another is to be thankful.This is where the 'Big O' stepped up to the plate big time.He had homes built for both women in appreciation for how they molded his life growing up, from the early days of childhood, to the days he became a genuine star in the National Football League.Orlando has also surrounded himself with the right people, those who advised him to make the right decisions — without taking the shortcuts.His grandmother gave him some advice about life that may have seemed silly at the time. But, it turned out to make him ready for the adult challenges of life he faced as he moved from a teenager, to a college student/athlete, to the mature man he is today.Family has always been front and center with Orlando, and now its with his wife, Carla, and their four children.Just imagine the pride his 16-year-old son, Justin, had when asked by his dad to present him for the Hall of Fame.Will he be nervous? I'm sure of that. But I also know Orlando and his wife have raised their kids the right way, and the youngster will, like his dad, deliver a pancake block when he is shown on live television across the country Saturday night to tell the throng of Pace supporters, and many, many more what this moment means for his dad, and family.Orlando has been friend of a large group of former high school classmates and teammates, willing to help in any way he could without the fanfare. That group knows who they are, and what Big O did for them to get their career started.He's always there, in the wings, most of the time, flashing that big smile.Orlando will be smiling during the ceremony, and for good reason.Just think, a young man from Sandusky, Ohio, will join the likes of Jim Brown, Brett Favre, Don Shula and countless others as a member of Pro Football's HOF.There is no blind side when it comes to Orlando Pace. He has taken on his challenges head on, and still remains the 'Gentle Giant.'RELATED: From Sandusky Blue Streak to the Pro Football Hall of FameGallery: Legend Orlando Pace at the DomeSandusky considers naming street after Orlando PaceRams legends reflect on PaceVIDEO: A Big O-nnouncementOrlando Pace and his former St. Louis Rams teammates participated in the Legends of the Dome game to support the Isaac Bruce Foundation on Saturday, July 23, 2016.Butch Wagner wears his Pace for Heisman shirt in the Register newsroom while talking with reporter Andy Ouriel.Orlando Pace as a senior at Sandusky High School's Strobel Field.