Former Lincoln-Way QB Cory Paus addresses 2016 Drive team

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On the first day of summer camp, the Lincoln-Way East football team was surprised with the announcement that they had been chosen as this year's Drive team.

Head coach Rob Zvonar also had another surprise for his team later that day. Former Lincoln-Way quarterback Cory Paus spoke with the team about his experiences in high school, winning a state championship and playing collegiately and professionally.

"I have a great relationship with Coach Z, so I just wanted to talk to the kids, try to get them a little fired up for their summer workouts. I just love talking to kids and always have, and haven't gotten a chance to come back here for a few years so I was taking the opportunity."

Paus was a three-year starter for Lincoln-Way from 1995 to 1997 following a freshman season played under Zvonar. In those three years he compiled a 34-4 record, advanced to the state title game in 1996 and won a state championship as a senior in 1997.

In those final two seasons, Paus threw for more than 4,300 yards and 50 touchdowns and became one of the top quarterback recruits in the country.

He committed to UCLA, where he threw for 6,730 yards and 41 touchdowns in four seasons. He had a tryout with the San Diego Chargers in 2002 and played professionally in Canada the following year before retiring.

"Really back in 1997 it was unheard of for the Pac-10 or UCLA to come to the Midwest and take a kid, and he's a top three to five quarterback in the nation as a senior," Zvonar said. "Couldn't be more proud of the career that he had. Cory Paus kind of put Lincoln-Way football on the map, and for him to come back this many years later and talk to this group, we greatly appreciate it."

Hear more of what Paus had to say in his speech to the team in the video above.

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