Martinek to Students: 'You Can be a Leader' (VIDEO)

Do your best.

That was Hopatcong football legend Joe Martinek's message to students at Long Valley Middle School on Wednesday. It was the first of three stops this week for the Rutgers starting running back, who will speak to Hopatcong's football team Thursday and middle school students Friday.

"You are the person you are because of the people around you," said Martinek, the state's all-time leading high school rusher with 7,589 yards. "If you surround yourself with good people and listen to the leaders of your community, you're going to be successful in life."

Martinek spoke to the students about what it takes to become a leader and the importance of surrounding yourself with a good support group. Martinek then opened the session up to questions from the sixth graders, which saw all forms of inquiries.

“What’s it like to be hit by a 300 lb. monster?” one student asked, to which Martinek replied, “It’s not so bad when it happens, but it’s the next day when you feel it.”

Many questions about football were posed, one of which didn’t receive very good feedback. A student asked what Martinek’s favorite professional football team is, and a chorus of boos rang out when he quietly explained–to the crowd of predominantly New York Giants and Jets fans–that he is a Minnesota Vikings supporter.

And of course, questions from sixth graders aren’t always about the pressing issues in life. The group learned that Martinek has a pet hamster named Fred, is currently single, and was unable to attend the much-publicized appearance made by MTV’s Snooki at Rutgers University.