IT'S NO SURPRISE, PLAYING IN THE NFL ISN'T EASY NOR DOES IT LEAVE MUCH TIME FOR ANY OUTSIDE INTERESTS.

BUT APPARENTLY NO ONE TOLD BUFFALO BILLS RUNNING BACK LATAVIUS MURRAY THAT.

HE'S ON A MISSION TO HONOR A DECEASED BEST FRIEND WHILE PROVIDING A POSITIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE TO DISADVANTAGED YOUTHS.

DANIEL FLUFF MET WITH HIM FOR A DISCUSSION.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO TALK FOOTBALL AND NFL WITH YOU BUT THIS IS NOT SPORTSCENTER.

WE ARE NOT AT ESPN.

WE ARE HERE FOR A DIFFERENT REASON SO LET'S GET INTO IT IF WE CAN.

THE JON DIAZ COMMUNITY CENTER, BEGS TWO QUESTIONS RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

WHO IS JON DIAZ AND WHY ARE WE NOT CALLING THIS THE LATAVIUS MURRAY COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> JON DIAZ IS MY BEST FRIEND, WAS MY BEST FRIEND WHO WAS TRAGICALLY TAKEN IN 2016 THANKSGIVING NIGHT DOWNTOWN.

POPULAR NIGHT OUT FOR EVERYBODY TO HANG OUT THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

THANKSGIVING EVE.

THAT'S WHO HE WAS.

HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, SOMEBODY I GREW UP WITH FROM THE AGE OF SIX YEARS OWED.

WE WERE IN KINDERGARTEN CLASS TOGETHER AND WE GRADUATED TOGETHER.

>> WE ARE NAMING THE CENTER IN HIS HONOR.

>> NAMING FROM THE IN HIS HONOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS OUR RUNNING BACK DRILL.

RBs AND ALL THAT.

BREAK IT DOWN WITH THE RBs ON THREE.

WHO WANT IT?

>> I'LL DO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET IT.

COUNT IT DOWN, RBs ON THREE.

>> RBs ON 3.

>> 1, 2, 3.

>> RBs!

YOU KNOW WHY WE HAVE THIS ARM OPEN OVER HERE.

TELL ME WHY?

>> BECAUSE OF A FUMBLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> RUN, RUN, RUN, GET THERE.

GO YOU GO.

GOOD WORK, GOOD WORK.

GROWING UP, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH BUT WHEN YOU WEREN'T IN SCHOOL, WHEN YOU WEREN'T IN CLASS, THERE WASN'T A LOT TO DO.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF PLACES TO GO.

WOULD YOU AGREEY WITH THAT?

>> FOR SURE.

WE JUST HAD A KELLEY PARK, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT BUT AS FAR AS PLACES TO GO, WE HAD TO TRAVEL SOMEWHAT OF A DISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO PLACES WE WANTED TO GO TO.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED.

THERE ARE POCKETS OF OUR COMMUNITY NOW WHERE I HATE TO SAY KIDS, BUT OUR YOUNGER PEOPLE, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES.

THERE IS NOT A LOT TO DO.

THERE IS NOT STILL A LOT OF PLACES TO GO.

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER THAT OFTEN TIMES CAN LEAD TO A LOT OF BAD BEHAVIOR.

>> YEAH.

>> ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> YEAH.

>> WE ALL NEED OUTLETS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK KIDS DO AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THE CENTER WILL PROVIDE, RIGHT, OUTLETS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO HAVE.

>> AND THAT'S IT.

I KIND OF DISLIKE THAT PHRASE OF GETTING OUR KIDS OFF THE STREET.

BUT THEY DON'T BELONG ON THE STREET.

NOT MUCH GOOD HAPPENS THERE.

THEY NEED A PLACE.

IS THAT PART OF THE REASONING BEHIND THIS?

>> GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET IS ONE THING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE OFF THE STREET, ARE THEY IN THE HOUSE NOW?

GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET AND OUT OF THE HOUSE IS IMPORTANT, TO GETTING THEM INVOLVED TO BEING AROUND POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, OUTLETS, POSITIVE PEOPLE.

>> YOU HAVE YOUR NUMBER TATTOOED ON YOU?

>> YEAH 28.

YOU SEE THAT, 2-8, BABY YOU SEE WHAT THAT SAY RIGHT THERE?

ONONDAGA.

>> YOU WENT TO ONONDAGA HIGH SCHOOL.

>> OF COURSE, ONLY THE BEST SCHOOL IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THE PROJECT AND GOALS THAT HAVE YOU IN MIND, YOU WANT TO BUILD THIS $5 MILLION-DOLLAR FACILITY.

>> PROBABLY MORE NOW.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

WHATEVER, 5 PLUS MILLION.

THE QUESTION IS FOR 5 MILLION BUCKS, WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN THERE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> FOR SURE WHEN THE WALLS ARE UP, WE'LL HAVE A JIP, EXERCISE ROOM, CLASSROOM, A GYM, INDOOR PLAYGROUND, DAYCARE, POSSIBLY RIGHT NOW THAT'S HOW IT'S LOOKING SO, YEAH, THERE WILL BE PLENTY.

>> A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING.

>> WHERE IS SOMEBODY COMING FROM?

>> WE HAVE TO GET IT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY A GOOD LUMP SUM IN GRANTS FEDERAL, STATE.

OBVIOUSLY ONONDAGA COUNTY WAS VERY GENEROUS IN THEIR $THE MILLION PLEDGE.

>> MONEY IN THE BANK AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED.

>> YES.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE STATE?

>> THE STATE, WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THEM TO VOTE ON THAT.

AND THEN FEDERAL AS WELL.

I THINK THEY'LL VOTE SOON.

>> FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR, THERE IS A FOCUS ON ATHLETICS, WHICH, CERTAINLY WORKED FOR YOU IF I CAN SAY THAT.

I GOT TO BELIEVE YOU GOT TO GO BEYOND THAT, TOO, AND GO IT SOME KIND OF EDUCATIONAL ASPECT IN THERE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE EDUCATION IS THE KEY.

GIVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SOME-- SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, SOMETHING TO GO FOR.

DO YOU AGREEY WITH ME.

>> DEFINITELY.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY.

ATHLETICS OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME AND WHETHER OR NOT I GOT THE EDUCATION PART RIGHT AWAY, ATHLETICS OPENED THE DOOR TO MY MIND EXPANDING EVEN WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES, WHATEVER IT IS, IF IT'S NOT SPORTS, ATHLETICS, WE JUST WANT TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE HOPE IN WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

IF THAT IS IN A CLASSROOM OR TRADE.

HOPEFULLY THEIR MINDS EXPAND LIKE MINE HAS TO WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS.

>> BASIC GENERAL EDUCATION ON FAMILY, ON FINANCES, YOU KNOW, LATAVIUS.

I KNOW KIDS WHO GRADUATE COLLEGE AND CAN'T BALANCE A CHECKBOOK.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN ABOUT CREDIT, ALL OF THAT.

ALL OF THAT, I THINK, WILL BE IMPORTANT.

I HOPE YOU AGREE.

>> 100%.

FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT, IF I LOOK BACK NOW IN SCHOOL, I WOULD RATHER MUCH LEARN ABOUT FINANCES, WHAT SHOULD I BE INVESTING IN?

>> AND I WOULD RATHER BE A RUNNING BACK.

SO THAT'S THE TRADE-OFF.

>> THE STORY THAT YOU ATTENDED THE FIRST EVER CAMP.

IT'S A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.

I WAS THIS THEIR SHOES.

THEY COULD BE IN OURS.

>> UFT J BEING AROUND GUYS THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE HIGH LEVEL.

THEY'RE AROUND GUYS THAT YOU KNOW, HAVE DONE IT, WENT TO COLLEGE, DID EVERYTHING YOU SEE, DID EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.

SO WHY NOT BE AROUND THOSE GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHY NOT BE FIRSTHAND OR IN PERSON WITH THE GUYS WHO INSPIRED YOU.

>> I HAVE BEEN TO CAMPS WHERE THERE ARE NFL PRO-ATHLETES AND WHATEVER THERE MIGHT BE AND HOW MUCH THAT IMPACTED ME AND INSPIRED ME.

I THINK IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT WE PROVIDE THE SAME KIND OF FEELING, THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

>> THERE WE GO.

MUCH BETTER!

>> NICE, NICE.

>> IN ALL HONESTY, IF I HAD COME UP WITH THIS IDEA AND GOT SUPPORT AND ALL THAT, TO BE TRUTHFUL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD PULL IT OFF BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE GOT THAT KIND OF CREDIBILITY TO TAKE TO WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

YOU DO.

AS YOU'VE TALKED TO SOME OF OUR YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, I MEAN DO YOU REALLY SENSE THAT WE KNOW THERE IS A NEED.

BUT SOMETIMES SELLING THAT NEED TO THEM MIGHT BE TOUGH.

DO YOU SENSE THAT THEY'RE ON BOARD?

DO YOU SENSE THEY WANT THIS?

DO YOU SENSE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS?

>> YEAH, I'VE GOTTEN TREMENDOUS FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH IN ITSELF.

THOSE THAT LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY EVEN.

I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE ONES LIVING IN IT.

I HAVE LIVED IT, RIGHT, BUT RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY THEY'RE THE ONES LIVING IN IT SO THERE IS A NEED.

THEY HAVE SAID THERE IS A NEED AND I THINK IT HAS HELPED THAT I'VE COME FROM THIS PLACE.

I'VE BEEN RIGHT WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN.

>> THEY'LL FOLLOW YOU.

SO HERE IS THE OTHER PART OF IT.

NO DISRESPECT.

DON'T GET MAD AT ME.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE THE FACE OF THIS.

BUT LET'S BE CANDID.

I MEAN YOU ARE A YOUNG NFL STAR.

A COUPLE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, I MEAN REALISTICALLY, HOW MUCH TIME, HOW MUCH ENERGY, HOW MUCH OF YOU IS GOING TO BE IN THIS FACILITY?

>> YEAH, THIS WILL ALWAYS BE IN ME, RIGHT?

IF THIS IS ME BRINGING THIS FACILITY, THIS IS THE FOUNDATION , BRINGING THIS FACILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, SO I WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THAT, ALWAYS.

AND SO MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING IS LONG LASTING, STABLE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS IN PLACE FOR THAT.

THAT'S MY JOB SO THAT THAT IS NEVER AN ISSUE AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TO DO.

>> BEST CASE, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

>> I SEE KIDS GROWING UP 5, TO, 20 YEARS FROM NOW GROWING UP AND SAYING THEY WENT TO THE JON DIAZ COMMUNITY CENTER THE SAME AS THEY DID THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR I GREW UP GOING TO THE JVCC.

-- JDCC.