In battling alcoholism and striving to accomplish a lifelong dream of playing football, Greg Horvath would learn that his greatest opponent in the game of life was himself.

Horvath, a former resident of Weyburn, delivered this message as he described his experiences as an alcoholic to a crowd of Weyburn Comprehensive School students on Monday afternoon as part of Drug Awareness Week activities.

Horvath started down the path to substance abuse when he got drunk for the first time at the age of 12. Plummeting further into his addiction, Horvath was first suspended from his high school football team and then sentenced to 14 days for drunk driving before finally admitting his problem and going for help in 1990.

Horvath's story of recovering from alcoholism is made further poignant by a victory he achieved later in life. He accomplished his dream of playing college football when he joined a California college team called the Saddleback Gauchos at the age of 38.

Before beginning his speech, Horvath showed students a documentary of his journey to California, detailing the weeks leading up to and during his time at training camp. Though the video showed Horvath suffering both considerable injuries and self-doubt, he went on to play with the Gauchos throughout a 10-game season, and was given a "Most Inspirational Player" award by the team.

"My goal is to become a better person," Horvath said, at one point in the documentary.

Stopping the video, Horvath told the students that he was not there to dictate how to live their lives. However, he suggested that, at the age reached by most of his audience, he was making decisions that would affect him "in a very, very bad way."

Horvath related one particular experience to the student body while describing the depth of his problem. While hosting a party in Winnipeg, he had moved the furniture from his house into the street and then passed out on a couch. He was later awakened by a group of small children, who had wandered over to see if he was dead.

"That's how I woke up - with kids poking me with a stick," he said.

The point where Horvath's life was turned around came while living in Weyburn, when he experienced a moment of clarity in the midst of a bender.

"In that moment of surrender, I was able to turn my life around," he said.

In listing his greatest accomplishments, however, Horvath said he was proud of only two things: his college football career and the birth of his son in 1994.

Horvath encouraged students to always finish everything they start, as it will be a positive influence in their lives. He also encouraged them to become sources of inspiration to others. Drawing an example from his college football career, he spoke of a teammate who, while others were complaining of the physical duress they were being put through at camp, was eager to get back into the game.

"Be that good influence," said Horvath.

Horvath also gave talks at St. Michael School on Monday morning, and at a public session at the Weyburn Comp. on Monday night.