SOUTH OTSELIC – It’s not very often that the small Otselic Valley school district gets to play host to a National Football League player. It’s even less frequent that such an opportunity would be presented exclusively to the smallest school in the county, but that is exactly what happened Friday.

Former Carolina Panthers Safety Mike Minter visited the Otselic Valley School District Friday, pushing a message to follow your dreams. After 10 years as a safety for the same team he started with, Minter retired at the end of the 2007-2008 season, with an NFL career total of 790 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 8 fumble recoveries, 15 interceptions with 371 yards returned and four defensive touch downs. Minter explained he was able to achieve his dream.

“The most important thing God has given us, is the opportunity to dream,” Minter told the students, explaining that he dreamed of being a football player since he was five years old. While dreaming is important, Minter explained without hard work, those dreams will never come to light. “Things in life don’t just happen. It’s a process. You have to put in work and have a goal to achieve it.”