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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- New Rochelle's Ray Rice, the star running back for the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens, will host his annual "Ray Rice Day" football camp Saturday at McKenna Field on the campus of New Rochelle High School, where Rice played his high school football.
Ray Rice Day attracted more than 600 kids ages 7-13 from all across Westchester County and the surrounding area last June for a day of football instruction. An audience of old friends, teachers, neighbors and fans were on hand to see their hometown hero who continues to support his community.
This never gets tired and neither do I, he said at last year's event. Its about handing it down to the next generation. Giving kids a smile and telling them to do things the right way. This is not just about New Rochelle its people from Mount Vernon, the Bronx, New Jersey and all over the county. Im the biggest kid here and its a great opportunity to give back.
Rice was a star player as early as age 10, when he played youth football in New Rochelle and became a standout high school player, leading the Huguenots to a New York State Public Schools Class AA football title in 2003. Rice also donned a basketball jersey and helped the school's basketball team upset rival Mount Vernon in the Section 1 championships in 2005.
Rices legend among local kids grows with every Ravens game as youngsters look to emulate the dynamic little guy a 5-foot-8, 210-pound power pack from NewRo who made it big. Rices frequent visits back home show he accepts his role model status. "Ray Rice Day", which has been sold out for weeks, will include games, instruction, lunch and autographs for children in grades 3-8 free of charge.
Rices college career lasted 38 games, during which he rushed for 4,926 yards and scored 50 touchdowns (49 rushing). He is the second-leading rusher in Big East history and the all-time leading rusher in Rutgers history. Rice ranks second in Ravens franchise history with 4,377 rushing yards. He finished third in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,776) in 2010 and rushed for 1,364 last season.
Last season, Rice recorded an NFL-best 2,068 yards from scrimmage and became the first Raven to have at least 1,700 yards from scrimmage for three consecutive seasons. Rice ran for 204 yards in week 13 and joined Priest Holmes (227 yards on Nov. 22, 1998) and Jamal Lewis (295 yards on Sept. 14, 2003; 205 on Dec. 21, 2003) as the only players in franchise history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 12:30 p.m. with clinics, lunch, games and autograph sessions with Rice for the young football players.
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