Andre Collins returned to his roots on Monday morning to present Cinnaminson High School with a golden football to commemorate Super Bowl 50 in what turned out to be a pleasant surprise for the 1986 graduate.
“When you think about community, people jump out at you. In Cinnaminson, you have the Collins family,” head football coach Mario Patrizi said.
“When I was talking to Coach (Jim) Robinson over the weekend I asked for insight. What kind of person was he? Without hesitation, Coach Robinson said, ‘Excellent athlete. Excellent student. A leader. Tremendous family. Very humble.’ On and off the field, this is what we strive for as a football program and as a person.”
Collins spoke candidly to a crowd of current teachers, current football coaches, football players, student council members, retired teachers, retired football coaches, administrators and the district superintendent.
“This was so overwhelming,” Collins said. “I had no idea that it was going to be this big and that so many folks from my past were going to turn out. It was a warm feeling. So many people in this room impacted my life in a positive way.”
Collins, one of 19 children to grow up in town, had a stellar academic and athletic career at Cinnaminson. Notice academic comes before athletic in that sentence.
Collins made it a point to stress academics during his comments, saying, “It serves you best to be a student first and an athlete second.” He left this anecdote for the very end of a question-and-answer session to ensure that it sunk in with the student-athletes in attendance on Monday.
During his time as a Pirate, Collins suited up for the football, basketball and track teams. He was also inducted into the National Honor Society during his time at Cinnaminson.
“I’m so proud to be from Cinnaminson. I’m so proud to be from Burlington County. I’m so proud to be from New Jersey,” Collins said. “Everyone wants to talk about how great Texas football is or how Southern California football is. I always say, ‘New Jersey football is as good as any.'”
Collins attended Penn State, playing for legendary coach Joe Paterno before being drafted by the Washington Redskins. Collins was a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award while at Penn State as one of the top linebackers in the country. He won Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins.
For the past 12 years Collins has worked for the NFL Players Association. Right now he works as the Director of Former Player Services for the NFLPA. He was inducted into the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
One of the first comments Collins made, directed at the student-athletes in attendance, focused on his desire on the field.
“I never wanted to be the guy who was standing around. I played hard and had my heart in it.”
Collins’ football coach at the high school, Jim Robinson, was in attendance for the event. Also in attendance was Collins’ first-ever football coach, Mike Wallace, who coached him beginning at the age of 8 with the Palmyra Pals.
Collins credited Wallace with giving him the motivation and the drive to strive for the best when on the football field.
“Coach Wallace said one thing to me: ‘You’ve got to hustle and play with your heart’ and that stuck with me. I credit Coach Wallace for giving me that motor to play hard and have my heart in it.”
Collins talked about his love for Cinnaminson, both the town and the school, on Monday.
“I really enjoyed my time here in Cinnaminson. You just don’t know how good you have it. I’ve gone all over the world and there’s something really good about Cinnaminson.”
Collins finished his address by expressing his sincere thanks for being welcomed back home.
“I am just so honored to be back home.”
