MONROE — The Redhawks are taking lessons from a Titan.

Julius Campbell, who was portrayed in the 2000 movie “Remember the Titans” by actor Wood Harris, will speak to the Monroe High football team on Nov. 21 to promote academics, nutrition and exercise. The event at Hatley’s Skating Rink is open to the public,

After being highly recruited to play football at The Ohio State University, Campbell was held back after being unable to pass his SATs, one of the main reasons he will stress the importance of education to the Redhawks’ undefeated football team (11-0). Campbell’s former teammate Ronnie Bass, otherwise known as “Sunshine,” may also make an appearance.

“People used to walk to the store,” said Hatley’s manager Laura Hatley Martin, who is also a registered nurse. “Now we drive to the store and fight over the closest parking space. Instead of taking the elevator, take stairs, move more. If they want to exercise, they can come skating. If not, they can just take a walk, something, go walk at the mall.”

Martin has been working closely with the Union County Health Department to promote physical fitness and jumped at the opportunity to bring her longtime friend, Campbell, to preach the same goals.

Martin and Campbell became acquainted at East Carolina University in 1974, where some of Campbell’s T.C. Williams High teammates played football and Martin began her first year of college.

Campbell and his best friend, Gerry Bertier, traveled from home to ECU to visit teammates and celebrate Bertier’s birthday.

Bertier, who was portrayed as Campbell’s nemesis-turned-best-friend in the film, was paralyzed in a car wreck in December 1971 after the Titans won the Virginia 3A state championship game, an accident the film depicts happening before the championship game. His disability did not stop Martin from taking an interest in the 21-year-old Bertier.

“His eyes, I just knew he was a great guy,” Martin said. “We just got along so well, it’s like I knew him already.”

Bertier and Martin soon began dating, ultimately leading to an engagement six years later, on March 19, 1981.

“He and the guys were going to come down and move me up to Alexandria, Va.,” Martin said. “He was supposed to call me Friday night after he had gone to Charlottesville, Va., for a meeting he had, and he never called. The reason was he was driving his car and a drunk driver killed him.”

Campbell broke the devastating news to Martin, driving down to Greenville to give her the news face-to-face.

“My friends discouraged me from going out with (Bertier),” Martin said. “A lot of people didn’t want me to go out with him because he was paralyzed and said that I would have to take care of him for the rest of my life. Well, he would have taken care of me.

“When he died, he lived in an apartment by himself, had a job and drove a car. He did not take help, he did not want pity, and when I saw him I did not see him in a wheelchair; he was just always sitting down.”

Martin has since married with three daughters — Tiffany, 23, Jessica, 22, and Melissa, 20 — but has remained in close contact with Campbell, even more so after “Remember the Titans” sparked memories of Bertier.

Martin has organized for the local fire department, law enforcement and health services to be present at the Nov. 21 event to provide information to the children as well.

Campbell will speak at Hatley’s Skating Rink, 1705 Concord Ave., on Nov. 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and will ride on the Hatley’s float during the Monroe Christmas parade the following day.

“(He) encourages all the children to do well in school, to do the best they can in school so that they can have a good future,” Martin said. “He’s an encouraging person.”