--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coming from a small South Dakota school…" description: "\"Coming from a small South Dakota school, it was a different route to get to the NFL. I went from South Dakota State to the World League of American Foo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/adam-vinatieri-6413_american_coming-from-a-small-south-dakota-school_924993.jpg" --- # Coming from a small South Dakota school, it was a… ![“Coming from a small South Dakota school, it was a different route to get to the NFL. I went from South Dakota State to the World League of American Football with the Amsterdam Admirals, and fortunately I did well enough there that the New England Patriots decided to sign me and give me a chance.” quote by Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/adam-vinatieri-6413_american_coming-from-a-small-south-dakota-school_924993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/adam-vinatieri-6413_american_coming-from-a-small-south-dakota-school_924993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/adam-vinatieri-6413_american_coming-from-a-small-south-dakota-school_924993.jpg) > “Coming from a small South Dakota school, it was a different route to get to the NFL. I went from South Dakota State to the World League of American Football with the Amsterdam Admirals, and fortunately I did well enough there that the New England Patriots decided to sign me and give me a chance.” [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and perseverance can lead from humble beginnings to elite professional success. **In simple terms:** Hard work can take you from small school to the NFL. Key Takeaway Persist despite humble origins. Themes perseverance career sports determination Mood inspirational realistic Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - college athletics - professional scouting - training camps - career transitions Key Concepts growth mindset talent development opportunity resilience Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles did you overcome to reach the NFL? - How can others leverage small‑school opportunities? A Different Perspective Success also depends on talent, luck, and networking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-football/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Dakota State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dakota-state-1460437/) [England Patriots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-patriots/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Nfl Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl-went-1460436/) [Patriots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriots/) [Patriots Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriots-decided-1460435/) [Route Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/route-nfl-1460438/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [South dakota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-dakota/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Playing football in Fargo has a total big-time feel. Everyone says it's FCS and it's a smaller school, but in Fargo, North Dakota, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-wentz/playing-football-in-fargo-has-a-total-big-time-feel-everyone-says-it/) [Carson Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-wentz/) > [If I was involved with the NFL, I'd seriously consider adopting some of the rules used in Canada. I've heard, unofficially, of course, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/if-i-was-involved-with-the-nfl-i-d-seriously-consider-adopting-some/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) > [The NFL went out of their way to support me, to support the Trevor Project, and to show how the impact of how one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/the-nfl-went-out-of-their-way-to-support-me-to-support-the-trevor/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [Even at North Dakota State, football is a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-wentz/even-at-north-dakota-state-football-is-a-big-deal/) [Carson Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-wentz/) > [I'm a South Dakota kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/i-m-a-south-dakota-kid/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [I've been on a number of NFL teams, and a lot of them address situational football. But I've never been around a team that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cassel/i-ve-been-on-a-number-of-nfl-teams-and-a-lot-of-them-address/) [Matt Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cassel/) > [It's time for the New England Patriots to move on and that's what our job is. And as I said, our goal is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/it-s-time-for-the-new-england-patriots-to-move-on-and-that-s-what-our/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [Even when guys aren't around him, even when he's not about to be sacked, when his clock goes off in his head that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-clark/even-when-guys-aren-t-around-him-even-when-he-s-not-about-to-be/) [Ryan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-clark/) > [Injured New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, will be replaced by Matt Cassel an untested inexperienced back-up. Earning Cassel the nickname, 'Sarah Palin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-meyers/injured-new-england-patriots-quarterback-tom-brady-will-be-replaced/) [Seth Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-meyers/) > [I can say playing for the New England Patriots has been the highlight of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-edelman/i-can-say-playing-for-the-new-england-patriots-has-been-the-highlight/) [Julian Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-edelman/) > [I think we have to find somebody out there to beat New England besides us, and I think that would help. Anybody out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-think-we-have-to-find-somebody-out-there-to-beat-new-england/) [Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/) > [Each decision will be done on a case-by-case basis and we'll make the decision we feel is best for the New England Patriots football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/each-decision-will-be-done-on-a-case-by-case-basis-and-we-ll-make-the/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [When you play with the New England Patriots, it's a lot of pressure every time you walk in the door, because there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrelle-revis/when-you-play-with-the-new-england-patriots-it-s-a-lot-of-pressure/) [Darrelle Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrelle-revis/) > [There is no doubt that the New England Patriots are the greatest football team of all time, which is why it is my distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sununu/there-is-no-doubt-that-the-new-england-patriots-are-the-greatest/) [Chris Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sununu/) > [The New England Patriots have always been a special organization and I've always watched from afar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/the-new-england-patriots-have-always-been-a-special-organization-and/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) ## More by Adam Vinatieri > [When you have an opportunity to help your team in crunch time - as a kicker - that's a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/when-you-have-an-opportunity-to-help-your-team-in-crunch-time-as-a/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [I really don't want to be a journeyman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/i-really-don-t-want-to-be-a-journeyman/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [On teams that have won championships and got to the big game, there's a certain vibe and feel in that locker room. Everyone talks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/on-teams-that-have-won-championships-and-got-to-the-big-game-there-s/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [I don't know if I'm ever going to quit playing football. I'm just kidding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/i-don-t-know-if-i-m-ever-going-to-quit-playing-football-i-m-just/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [The only number I care about is the scoreboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/the-only-number-i-care-about-is-the-scoreboard/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [I think anybody that has had a bad game, or, I dunno, I guess if you go out golfing and you hook a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/i-think-anybody-that-has-had-a-bad-game-or-i-dunno-i-guess-if-you-go/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [Super Bowl kicks, those are the most memorable moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/super-bowl-kicks-those-are-the-most-memorable-moments/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [Cleaning out your locker the first week of January is not a whole lot of fun and it always leaves a lousy taste in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/cleaning-out-your-locker-the-first-week-of-january-is-not-a-whole-lot/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [I don't ever take an extended period off between minicamp and the start of training camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/i-don-t-ever-take-an-extended-period-off-between-minicamp-and-the/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [Obviously this all-time leading scorer thing I knew was out there and I thought, 'Man, if I stay healthy, I would like to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/obviously-this-all-time-leading-scorer-thing-i-knew-was-out-there-and/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [In the end, the Super Bowl is just a football game. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Coming from a small South Dakota school, it was a different route to get to the NFL. 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