(August 22, 2005) ?C The 2005 Fordham University football Rams welcomed a guest to their summer camp on Monday as former NFL defensive lineman Blaise Winter attended the single morning practice session, speaking with the Rams about the power of mind and body. The Rams lined up on Jack Coffey Field at 7:50 a.m. for practice of the day and were treated to anecdotes from Winter about seeking excellence and he also gave the Rams tactical instructions, taking advantage of his days as a lineman with Syracuse and eleven years in the NFL. Winter, who is the author of ??A Reason to Believe??, kept the Rams enthralled with his stories and his background. A student of martial arts, Winter works as a consultant with selected college and NFL teams, specifically on hand combat. Born with a cleft palate which left him with a speech impediment as a youth, Winter went through 12 surgeries before high school. In high school, he was told by his coaches that his dream of playing NCAA Division I football was unattainable. But he battled his way to a scholarship at Syracuse and was drafted 35th overall in 1984 by the Indianapolis Colts. He played with the Colts for three years before moving to San Diego for two and then on to Green Bay for three more. After a year out of football in 1991, he signed with San Diego and was a member of the 1994 Chargers that made it to the Super Bowl. According to head coach Ed Foley, Monday??s practice was the most difficult of the camp. It ended with the players running 100-yard sprints followed immediately by game-day situations. Following the sprints, Foley had the first offense line up deep in its own territory against the first defense with the offense attempting to move the ball as far downfield as possible. The first defense held the first offense in check in the drill. The drill was repeated by the second and third offensive and defensive units. Tuesday??s practice will be the final double session day. The Rams will hold a scrimmage on Thursday, August 25th at 7:30 p.m. on Jack Coffey Field and will then have single sessions of practice through Sunday, August 28th when the Rams break camp. Fordham will open its 2005 season on Saturday, September 3rd when they travel to Kingston, RI to face the University of Rhode Island Rams in Meade Stadium at noon. The Rams will open their 2005 home schedule on Saturday, September 17th when they host Columbia at 7:00 p.m. on Jack Coffey Field. For ticket information contact the Fordham Ticket Office at 718-817-4300.