Stephens: Hines Ward gives Higgins a lesson in leadership

In a room of 200, Hines Ward was looking for one face in the crowd.

"Is Rashard here?" Ward asked.

CSU wide receiver Rashard Higgins, sitting off in a corner with a handful of teammates, bashfully raised his hand.

"I've got you on my list. I'm expecting big things from you this season," Ward continued.

Ward, one of the best NFL wide receivers of the past 20 years and four-time Pro Bowl selection, was the keynote speaker Monday for Colorado State University's Asian/Pacific Islander Awareness Month. There was discussion of racial inclusion and the difficulties he had to overcome growing up half black, half Korean — at one point comparing himself to Michael Sam, the first openly gay player selected in an NFL draft — the conversation always looped back to football.

When asked about new CSU coach Mike Bobo, Ward's quarterback in college at Georgia, he went on a four-minute tangent about the qualities a player should have be a leader on the sideline, the entire time gazing off to his right, locking eyes with Higgins.

"I know he had a pretty good year last year, but it's always good to challenge kids and let them know that just because you had a great statistical year don't make you the best receiver in the country," Ward told me. "Don't get caught up in making it to the pros and forget about your teammates because you can't win by yourself."

Calling Higgins' 2014 season "good" borders on insult. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound sophomore led the nation in receiving yards (1,750), receiving touchdowns (17), was a Biletnikoff Award finalist and consensus All-American.

Ward is aware of the accolades, but he's trying to keep a kid grounded and not make the same mistakes he did when his college career came to an end.

Ward was at his mother's Atlanta apartment in 1998 when he first noticed his demeanor change from a humble kid who fought to fit in to a prima donna. His mother didn't have cable and the NFL draft was airing on ESPN, so all he could do is wait for the phone to ring to find out where he'd be playing his rookie season.

He waited. And waited. Then came more waiting. Ward was projected to be an early second-round selection; instead, it wasn't until the final pick of the third round when former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher called to share the good news. Receivers Ward knew he was better than, including future wash outs Marcus Nash, Jacquez Green and Brian Alford, were picked ahead of him.

A chip on Ward's shoulder emerged and his ego inflated, purchasing a Mercedes SL 500 — a two-seat convertible — and installing TVs in the back of the headrests so whoever is driving behind him could see just how special he was.

It was stupid, Ward said, questioning who would do such a thing. But going from being the Southeastern Conference's top receiver to just another guy in the NFL — albeit, before his rise to stardom — jolted his system. Now Ward is trying to look out for who he sees as younger version of himself, Higgins.

"Don't get full of yourself thinking you've arrived, because you haven't arrived. Until you get to the league, you haven't done anything," Ward said. "That's the message. Don't get caught up in the dream thinking you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, where you forget the hard work you've put in to get to this point. That's all I want to stress to him."

There's irony in Ward's message: Few superstars have ever been so humble as Higgins.

Higgins' personality is magnetic. Charismatic, yet oblivious to his own accomplishments, inspiring teammates to follow in line.

He didn't become arrogant when invited to the NCAA College Football Awards in Orlando, Florida, in December and, projected as the nation's best returning receiver, his mannerisms haven't shifted from what's made him everyone's favorite CSU player.

"It's OK to have some cockiness and confidence — kind of borderline — you have to feel you're the best player when you step on the field," Bobo said. "I tell them all the time, 'when you're on the bus in high school, you thought you were the baddest guy on the bus. You've got to be the same way here.'

"Rashard has that mentality that he can't be covered, but he works extremely hard. ... From Day 1, I have been on Rashard about everything and he has responded everyday."

Will Higgins ever get cocky?

That's for him to decide, but if he cares about his teammates and serving as a role model to young fans, remaining humble isn't difficult, Ward said.

If he does cross the line, Higgins can be assured his phone will ring, and on the other side will be a disappointed Super Bowl champ.

For insight and analysis of athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting. Higgins did not practice Tuesday and wasn't available for comment, in accordance to the CSU media policy.

Higgins vs. Ward in college

Player Yards Catches TDs Rashard Higgins 2,587 164 23 Hines Ward 1,965 144 11

Note: Ward played four years at Georgia; Higgins has only played two.