Orange football head coach Doug Marrone and a number of players were on campus today to kick-off a program that combines football and the classroom.

The Syracuse Youth Impact Program is in its second year. Players and inner-city teachers work side by side teaching both football and classroom lessons.

Coach Marrone says the most important part of the program is the student-teacher interaction, because he still remembers how teachers influenced him.

"I think about the 3rd grade teacher I had, that made sure if I needed a little bit extra help or she made sure I wasn't on the playground when I shouldn't have been," Marrone says. "All through my life, these teachers and these people have had a great impact on who I am today."

The program takes "at risk" 6th-8th graders from various middle schools in the Syracuse area. Syracuse City School District teachers direct classroom sessions that teach math, language and writing. In the afternoon, the players take over and teach the kids football skills.

Orange junior safety Shamarko Thomas is one of the participating players. He says he wishes he had something like this growing up.

"When I was younger, I didn't have this opportunity to get taught by college players and show them how to work and work hard and live out their dreams," Thomas says. "It's giving them a lot of opportunity. I like to give back to kids what I didn't have."

The program starts Tuesday, July 5th, and runs through July 29th at the university.