Financial Football is a Big Hit at the Wake Forest University Charlotte Center

Sen. Kay Hagan sings Cam Newton's praises at DNC event

Reposted from Charlotte Business Journal | by Adam O'Daniel, Finance Editor

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan is impressed with Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton.

The Greensboro Democrat gave Newton a shout-out during a Democratic National Convention event Tuesday morning at Wake Forest University's campus in uptown Charlotte. She recalled a recent meeting with Newton in her D.C. office in which Newton and some middle-schoolers he was mentoring paid her a visit.

One of the children mentioned aspirations of buying a Lamborghini after high school. "Cam said, 'Do you know how much that would cost?' " Hagan recalled. "And the boy said, '$3,000.' Cam said, 'You can't get a Lamborghini rearview mirror for $3,000.' "

Concerning her impression of Newton and his mentoring initiative, Hagan added: "He is really transforming these kids lives."

But there was no Cam Newton sighting uptown Tuesday. With the Panthers traveling to Tampa, Washington Redskins star linebacker London Fletcher joined politicos and local students at the financial literacy promotion.

Fletcher coached a team of local school kids and a dozen Wake Forest grad students in a game of Financial Football, an interactive video game that promotes better financial education for children. His assistant coach was Hagan, North Carolina's junior senator. The other team was led by N.C. Treasurer Janet Cowell and a contingent from the Carolina Panthers' front office.

Cowell's team won 14-7.

Fletcher told the crowd he promotes financial literacy in part because his poor credit rating after college can be attributed to his lack of knowledge about money management. He said while attending Division III John Carroll University in Ohio, he charged up a credit card and didn't make timely payments. It cost him when he purchased his first home.

"To live in our country today, you have to understand debt," said Hagan, who has made financial literacy a cornerstone of her platform. "It's something we've got to do a better job with."

Financial Football is produced by Visa and distributed as part of its partnership with the NFL.