Chicago Bears Scout Pat Roberts '95 Subject of Chicago Tribune Story

April 24, 2003

April 24, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - "In the darkness of a film room Roberts sits alone, hour after hour, day after day, week after week, until his trained eyes become bleary," the Chicago Tribune's David Haugh writes of Pat Roberts, a scout for the Chicago Bears and a 1995 graduate of DePauw University. "The job requires that he make a big deal out of little things, grading the way defensive linemen come out of their stances, the way receivers come out of their breaks. He watches a football game the way an English teacher reads the newspaper. Some would call it nitpicking. He knows it's necessary." (Roberts is seen in his senior photo from the 1995 Mirage)

The story, which appears on the front page of today's sports section, continues, "As the Bears scout responsible for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, Roberts has scoured through stacks of videotape of pro prospects from 18 Division I-A programs, the Ivy League schools and a handful of small colleges. Roberts, at 30 the youngest Bears scout, was coaching the offensive line at Millsaps College in Jackson, Tennessee, five years ago when former Bears director of college scouting Bill Rees called out of the blue. Rees was following the recommendation of an old friend who was the head football coach at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where Roberts lettered four years as an offensive guard (1991-95). 'I thought it was a joke when he called,' Roberts recalled. 'I personally got very lucky.'"

Haugh notes that Roberts "spends nearly 200 nights a year away from his Arlington, Virginia, home, living out of a suitcase, eating off a menu. He goes to campuses often before sunrise, studies film, talks to coaches, watches practice and types up reports on individual prospects back in his hotel room. He makes a habit of turning his computer off at midnight."

Pat Roberts and the Bears' five other scouts are making final preparations for this weekend's National Football League draft. He tells the Tribune, "For us, that's game day. All the coaches work all week to get to Sunday. We work all year to get to draft day. Because a lot of times you'll stick your neck out on a certain player and you like to see what happens."