Taylor's Camp Includes Special Message

Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor will be hosting his third annual football camp this Friday near his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. And he'll deliver his special "FaceMeIke" message that will undoubtedly touch the lives of close to 200 youngsters that will be in attendance.

It's couldn't be more fitting that a player who has worked hard and overcome adversity throughout his life would return to his hometown -- that is still struggling to get back on it's feet -- to work with youngsters and deliver a special message about dealing with adversity with optimism and confidence.

Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor will be hosting the third annual FaceMeIke Football Camp presented by Cotto & Padovani Financial Strategies Group this Friday, June 29th in the New Orleans area. The event is being held at Camp Corral, the summer camp of Arden Cahill Academy.

Along with some of his teammates from the Steelers, Taylor will be joined by Coach Tom Shaw, the elite NFL trainer who has trained Taylor, 85 NFL first-round draft picks and the last five Super Bowl MVPs.

The 4th- to 8th-grade campers will get the opportunity to learn football skills and while interacting with the players.

“When Ike and his NFL teammates show up to our school it means more to our kids than they will ever know. When someone of that stature takes time to come home it really touches our hearts,” said Mrs. Arden Cahill, Director of Cahill Academy.

Taylor makes sure the event not only teaches the participants about football, but also about an important life lesson that will serve them well as they grow up.

Ike Taylor intercepts a pass during Super Bowl XL
(Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

"It's cool when everything goes your way, but some things don't go your way," Taylor said.  "It's about facing adversity and things in life that don't always go your way -- how you're going to react, how you're going to respond."

Sharing his outlook on life is a personal mission for Taylor; one that is integrated into his soul based on his own life experiences.

"My life was never easy. I wasn't spoon fed, I had to work hard for what I got," he said.  "I come from a strong background with a hard-working family. My mother works hard, my uncle works hard, so nothing was really given to me. That's why I appreciate what I have now even more."

At his website, www.facemeike.com, the message is clear. "Stand up to the pressure. Knock it down. Don't believe the hype. Create your own." He wants the youngsters he shares his time with to walk away from their experience with him knowing that they have the ability to take on any adversity and emerge as a winner in everything that they do, no matter what bumps in the road they may encounter.

When asked what he gets out of the experience, Taylor was quick to put the focus squarely where it belongs.

"This is not for me. This is for the kids," he said.  "I like to see the kids' reaction, see their faces. Just trying to bring a smile to these kids, even if it's just for a couple of hours, and helping them build some memories they can draw from later on down the line."

Check back on Friday for a Scout Radio feature with cornerback Ike Taylor where he talks about his past and his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's a Scout.com subscribers exclusive!

A member of the Professional Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's NFL and college football player interviews and features have been published across the Scout.com network and syndicated through FoxSports.com's NFL team pages.