Corey Linsley Interview: Packers’ center talks about what Father’s Day means to him

As Father’s Day rolls around, one memory of dad stands out above all others for Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley – and it’s a big part of what got him to where he is today.

“There was a time in college, when I wasn’t sure whether or not I was going to play football any more,” Corey explained. “My dad was the first one to point out what an awesome opportunity I had in front of me – regardless of the football – and I needed to take advantage of it. My scholarship paid for my college tuition. That’s something I never had to worry about. My mom and dad both had to work hard to pay their own way through college. I realized I had a real gift, and I was going to work hard and make the most of it. My dad and my mom helped me realize that wasn’t worth throwing away.”

Those are the kinds of father-son moments that become memories for a lifetime. Yet, in a world where screen-time tends to outweigh actual face time, the internet often replaces dads as the resource for “how to” information. And while the internet may “know all,” it’s dad who knows best for his son.

With Father’s Day on the horizon, Gillette is putting the spotlight back on dads and encouraging guys to “Go Ask Dad” in a recently released online video.

Recently married, Corey and wife Anna talk often about starting a family of their own some day. So we showed Corey-one of the Packers who helped launch the Gillette Fusion ProShield at Walmart-the video. He opened up about the moments he looks forward to sharing with his children when he becomes a dad.

ACME: The thought of becoming a dad. What’s that like?
COREY: Besides waking up at 4 a.m. (laughs)? Seriously, I’m looking out my window right now and my teammate Don Barclay is out there mowing grass with his son on his back. And I love the thought of that being me some day. I see all the amazing time they share and I look forward to that time in my life. There’s no experience that could compare to raising a child and seeing them succeed.

ACME: What’s the one thing you most look forward to teaching your son or daughter
COREY: When I’m a dad, I want to teach my kids the importance of working hard, being polite and helping others. It’s so awesome to see my teammates teaching their own kids and being there with them every day. It's the day-to-day moments – the little things in life that matter most.

ACME: How do future dads, like you, compete against the Internet for time with their children?
COREY: It’s tough. I’m guessing it will be even tougher by the time I have kids and they’re teenagers. These days, it’s second nature to just go to the Internet. You can search the net all you want, but there’s something about actually having someone there, in the flesh, to teach you things. There’s no better way to learn and to grow than through experience. What better way than with your dad? That’s something I want to instill.

ACME: How do you want your future son or daughter to describe you?
COREY: You know, both of my parents were always there. They came to everything I was ever involved in. Every game, every event. I’ve seen a lot of people who didn't have their parents there for them. Looking back, I realize how much that meant to me. And that’s what I’d want my kids to say about me. That dad is always there, no matter what.

ACME: Are there moments you shared with your dad that you most want to share with your own children?
COREY: Going to baseball games as a kid was always cool. It’s America’s pastime. It’s an awesome feeling, thinking about going to the ballpark with your kids, bringing the gloves and catching foul balls. There’s so much I look forward to, but I definitely look forward to that.

ACME: How much has your dad affected your football career, both when you were younger and now as a pro?
COREY: With both my parents, the big thing was, “you're never going to quit.” I really wanted to quit football when I was in 7th grade. I was getting my butt kicked every day. My parents never pushed or made me do anything. But if I chose to do something, they made sure I saw it all the way through. There was no quitting anything. That kept me going and allowed me to develop at my own rate. That was one of the biggest things they could have ever done for me, to get me to where I am today.

ACME: Which of your fellow offensive linemen is the "dad" of the group? Who do your teammates tend to go to most for advice on or off the field?
COREY: On our team, everyone on the offensive line has been around for a handful of years. There are a lot of veterans and they're all very approachable – whether they were a top draft pick or undrafted. And they’re all dads off the field as well. I really couldn't pick just one. We’ve got a great group of guys and we all have each other’s back.

To learn more about Gillette Fusion ProShield available at Walmart and Corey Linsley, go to www.MeetTheProtectors .com