"I just think as athletes, from the seventh grade or whenever you start playing Pop Warner, you kind of get on a conveyor belt," said New York Jets guard Brandon Moore, who spent a week at Harvard after participating at Wharton a few years ago. "You get kind of shut out from the outside world, what the everyday person is living and breathing. To be able to get that exposure to something outside the football field is huge."

The days were grueling, starting early in the morning with one lecture or group session after another until late in the day.

"I think the schedule was tougher than a regular practice day," Indianapolis Colts safety Jamie Silva said with a laugh. "We aren't used to sitting in class pretty much all day, but the experience couldn't be beat."

The roster of students included former players such as Morten Andersen and John Hall, established veterans and several young players.

"That was impressive," Farrior said. "I think all of the older guys, we thought if we had something like this when we were rookies, we'd be a lot better off. We probably could've saved ourselves a few dollars."

Peter Linneman, a longtime Wharton faculty member and the principal of Linneman Associates, has been part of the program since its inception.

"I've always found the players to be focused, genuine, decent and humble," he said. "I tell them that you work too hard to have your money stolen from you, and there are a lot of people trying to steal it from you."

Linneman has become friendly with many of the players and sets up occasional conference calls with them to discuss investments and other money matters. "I explain to them that just because I'm successful in what I do doesn't mean I could do what they do," he said. "They need to understand that in reverse. It takes time."

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While many players who participated have specific long-term business goals, Branch isn't quite sure what he'd like to do when football's over. He kicks around the idea of getting into real estate one minute, and thinks about being a general manager the next.

"The biggest thing the instructors told us to not rush into things and make the wrong decision," Branch said. "They suggested we go out and work first and not just jump into doing this or that. That was vital. This is really going to help me."

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