HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton Pirates quarterback, Chris Zellous had the ultimate "What I did during my summer vacation" moment. He was a camp counselor back in late June, but it wasn't just any camp. Zellous got a surprise text from the most unlikeliest person.
"I'm like who is this? Because it says Chris", he said. "He said it's Archie Manning and he like invites me. I'm like wow!"
Yes. The father of Super Bowl Champs Peyton and Eli Manning invited Zellous to the Manning Passing Academy for three days at Nicholls State in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He not only was able to teach children about his position, but he got to learn from the two brothers at well.
"We had a couple of classroom sessions. We asked them questions in the film room, defenses, leading a team", he said. "Just a plethora of things. I had a notebook of notes and stuff from that weekend. Just the consistency in their life. Like how they are on the field is how they are off the field".
It's that same knowledge he's brought back to guide the Pirates.
"A lot of things were reassured", he said. "I'm on the right track with what I've been learning and what I've been working on and my biggest thing was that leadership piece. How can you lead a group of guys, because those guys have won Super Bowls. It's hard to win Super Bowls in the National Football League so how can you bring that here".
A chance to implement it this upcoming season.