Larry Fitzgerald, Scott Helverson

Birds of a feather: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald spoke to several Ducks in July in a speech that many say changed their outlook. One month later on Aug. 9, Fitzgerald tossed the football to back judge Scott Helverson after scoring a touchdown against Houston Texans.

(Matt York/The Associated Press)

EUGENE -- A guest speaker's appearance in July still resonates one month later for the Oregon Ducks.



NFL receiver Larry Fitzgerald spoke to several dozen Oregon players and staff members last month inside Oregon's Hatfield-Dowlin Complex, and if the positive reviews of the Arizona Cardinal's message are any indication then Fitzgerald might have an All-Pro future in public speaking, too.



"One of the things that stuck with me is that he said he's multiple people," outside linebacker Tyson Coleman said. "He's a father as much as he is a player as much as he is a coach to his other teammates. That stuck with me a lot because he said he wants to be great at everything he does and that applies a lot to me, too. I haven't really put my focus on school where it has been. That motivated me to do everything to the best of my ability and not let some areas slack off."



Not all of Oregon's players or coaches attended. Defensive end Tony Washington was interning at the time and -- of all people -- receivers coach Matt Lubick on vacation in Colorado. Receiver Bralon Addison had class. He's still a little upset about it.

"They told me some of the things he was talking about," Addison said. "I was mad I couldn't catch it."



But many of Lubick's receivers did make it, and they say they're better for it.



"Honestly, going into that meeting I was definitely a different person," redshirt freshman receiver Darren Carrington said, shaking his head side-to-side. "Coming out of that meeting it changed my whole mindset to getting to where I want to get to and how I want to get there.



"The main topic was never stop working and honestly he was talking about how the NFL, once you get there it's a job. You're trying to take someone's spot. They're trying to feed their wife and kids and that's one of my dreams is to get to the NFL and make that my occupation. It starts right now and I just want to prepare myself the best I can for these three years, four years."

Surprise appearances by notable guests aren't uncommon at Oregon, which hosted fighter Micky Ward, a friend of Chip Kelly's, in 2010 prior to playing USC. Former NFL head coach Tony Dungy and ESPN "Sportscenter" anchor and Oregon alumnus Neil Everett have also stepped in front of a room full of Ducks in recent years.

The latest celebrity guest came when Fitzgerald came recommended to head coach Mark Helfrich. (Prior to his speech, Fitzgerald's link to Oregon was that he trained with offensive coordinator Scott Frost when their NFL careers briefly overlapped in the early 2000s.)



It remains to be seen whether Fitzgerald's advice will change anyone's game much as it has altered attitudes. After Fitzgerald ended his speech about big-picture themes, though, Carrington and sophomore Dwayne Stanford stopped Fitzgerald to ask for technical tips on route-running and how to sprint out of a cut.



More than a month later, Carrington still speaks with a reverence that an All-Pro offered him advice, on receiving, life and the power of making good decisions.



Maybe Carrington's best decision of the summer, then, was sticking around for Fitzgerald's speech rather than ducking out early.



"They said Larry was coming, Larry was coming and the day of the meeting we were just waiting because he didn't show up for like 15 minutes," Carrington said. "I was going to leave. He comes in the door and my eyes opened and my ears opened."



-- Andrew Greif | @andrewgreif