Big man on (and off) campus
10/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
When senior offensive lineman Oscar Guerrero walks off the college football field for the last time later this season, he’ll leave big shoes to fill – literally and figuratively. The 6-4, 335 pound Guerrero came to the game of football late in life, but his coaches say that he’s the type of larger-than-life player that makes an impact both on the field — where he’s been a key factor in Lehigh’s success — and off — where he commits himself to community service. An active participant in Lehigh’s C.O.A.C.H. mentoring/community outreach program, Guerrero is also involved in the football team’s adopt-a-family program and has served as a counselor for Lehigh’s summer EXCEL program, which gives first-year minority students a head-start on college life. “He’s great with them, and with the younger players on our team,” says offensive line coach John Powers. “He’s a terrific person, a really hard worker and provides a lot of leadership on the field, in the weight room, and in practices. He has a real feel for people.” The soft-spoken Guerrero is quick to credit his family for any success he’s experienced. “I love my family,” he says. “It’s the most important thing in my life. My mom and dad have always been very supportive, and I’m conscientious enough to know that that’s not something everyone has.” Both parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic in the 1970s, and settled in New Jersey to raise a family that includes Guerrero, a younger brother in high school, and an older sister who is currently a graduate student at Rutgers. Growing up, Guerrero had an interest in sports, but his size was a detriment. “I was always too big for Pop Warner football programs,” says Guerrero. “They had weight limits, and I was six feet tall and over 300 pounds in eighth grade.” In fact, Guerrero didn’t even play until mid-way through his junior year in Memorial High School, when the West New York, N.J. team was struggling through a 3-7 season. “My friends played football, and the coaches showed some interest, so I thought, what the heck?” he says. By this time, Guerrero was 6’4, and weighed in at 350 pounds. His coaches worked his size and considerable athletic talents into their scheme, and the team saw a remarkable turnaround in his senior year, finishing out at 10-1. In addition to cementing his commitment to the sport, Guerrero’s winning season helped showcase him and catch the eye of college recruiters from Lehigh and Hofstra. Coach Powers says Lehigh noticed his size, of course, “but saw that he had pretty good feet, too.” Although he is temporarily sidelined with a knee and ankle sprain, Guerrero has been a three-year starter at Lehigh – a development that Powers characterizes as extraordinary. “Anytime you get a kid starting for three years, and playing at this level, that’s tremendous,” he says. Guerrero knew of Lehigh’s successful football program, but was serious about academics as well. “When Lehigh (coaches) started talking to me, I looked into the university,” he says. “It seemed like a good fit for me, both athletically and academically.” In particular, Guerrero was looking for a strong academic program in history, which has been a passion in his life since had the fortune of a commanding and effective history teacher in grammar school. “My teacher taught me history like it was a story,” he says. “It was always interesting to me, and still is.” In addition to being the biggest man on the field (and quite possibly the biggest football player ever to play at Lehigh), Guerrero continues to distinguished himself through his community service. “Being from an inner-city, I know not everyone is as fortunate as a lot of the kids who go here,” he says. “It’s nice to give something back to people in this community who struggle, and to remind yourself how lucky you are. Students here at Lehigh have a tendency to overlook that, or take their good fortune for granted. I don’t want to do that.” Guerrero’s post-college career plans include teaching history at the high school level and coaching football. Once there, he expects his imposing size will continue to be a factor. “I know I can appear intimidating to a lot of people,” he says. “And I know that there’s always someone who wants to challenge you. But I think I’ve learned a lot about people by playing sports. Learning how to handle them, how to get along, how to win, how to lose – they’re all tools for life in general, and Lehigh has taught me how to use them.”
