Black college football stars past and present gathered at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Atlanta, Georgia for the 34th Annual SBN Sports Black College All-American (BCAA) Football Banquet on February 16, 2008. The upscale event, appropriately themed “Creating and Celebrating Legends”, recognized the 24 best players in Black College Football. The event was hosted by Ty Miller and Anji Corley and the Master of Ceremonies was Comedian/Actor Anthony Anderson. Anderson entertained the audience of honorees, their families and event sponsors between presentations of the 2007 All-American Football Team, the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, the Coach of the Year, and the 2007 Black College National Championship Team.
The Black College All-American Awards Weekend is presented by the American Urban Radio Network’s SBN Sports Network to recognize and celebrate the academic and athletic achievements of student athletes from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Weekend activities included a welcoming reception, an NFL “Skull Session” brunch and the gala awards ceremony. AURN is the only African-American owned network radio company in the United States. It is the largest network reaching urban America, with more than 200 weekly shows. AURN reaches an estimated 20 million listeners.
"American Urban Radio Networks is proud to sponsor this prestigious event,” said Jerry Lopes, President, Program Operations & Affiliations for the American Urban Radio Networks. “Over the years, with the help of our sponsors, we have provided enormous financial support to our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities via this awards program. This is of great importance to us because these financial contributions have enabled hundreds of students to continue their educations at HBCU institutions."
The top players are selected by the BCAA Honorary Committee comprised of former Black college players and sports analysts. “It is very humbling experience to be honored tonight,” said Jarmaul George, a Defensive Back from Southern and a member of the 2007 Defensive All-American team. When asked of his plans to pursue a career in the NFL, “I just have to stay focused, work hard, and leave the rest in God’s hands,” he said.
A number of past and present NFL players and SBN All-Americans were in attendance along with many of the great Black Football Pioneers including Mel Blount, Doug Williams, L Robert Brazile, Ken Burrough, Harry Carson, Greg Lloyd and Rayfield Wright to name a few. Lane College alumnus Jacoby Jones of the Houston Texans and former Howard cornerback Antoine Bethea, currently with the Indianapolis Colts, came to show support for the young players coming behind them. “It wasn’t long ago that I was in their shoes,” said Bethea. “It’s important for me to come back and talk to these guys and be a resource for them as they prepare to take their careers to the next level.” Bethea won a Super Bowl Championship with the Colts in 2007, and was a member of the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl Team.
SBN All-Time Team member and NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount presented the Defensive Player of the Year award bearing his name to Bethune-Cookman Linebacker Ronnie McCullough. McCullough also received 2007 Defensive Player of the Year honors from the MEAC football conference. Blount, a former cornerback for Southern and Baton Rouge, went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970-1983 and was inducted into NFL Hall of Fame in 1989. “I am proud and honored to be a part of this event recognizing the tremendous talent coming out of Black colleges,” said Blount. “This event has done a great job of bringing the accomplishments of Black colleges athletes and coaches to the forefront.” Blount also spoke to the players in at the “Skull Session” brunch, discussing some of the issues they will face as college and NFL athletes.
The Tuskegee Golden Tigers received top honors with awards for Offensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and the National Championship honor. Tuskegee was the only NCAA program at any level to go undefeated through the regular season and post season. SBN/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Willie Slater led the team to a 12-0 mark for the 16th unbeaten season in school history. Quarterback Jacary Atkinson was presented with the SBN/Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year award by NFL star quarterback, Doug Williams himself. Williams was the 17th overall pick of the 1978 NFL Draft, chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Grambling State and was the first and so far only African American quarterback to win the Super Bowl, and the Super Bowl MVP Award. Johnson & Johnson awarded $10,000 to Tuskegee on behalf of Atkinson’s BCAA Player of the Year Honors. He was also named 2007 Offensive Player of the Year by the SIAC conference.
For their selections, Tuskegee University will receive $30,000 and Bethune Cookman $10,000 towards their respective general scholarship funds courtesy of the event's sponsors; The American Urban Radio Networks, Advance Auto Parts, The Home Depot and Johnson & Johnson
The event concluded with the presentation of the SBN/Jake Gaither Black College National Championship Trophy to coach Slater and his team.
HBCU Connect Congratulates the SBN Sports 2007 Black College All American Team
COACH OF THE YEAR
Willie Slater – Tuskegee
SBN NATIONAL CHAMPION
Tuskegee Golden Tigers
OFFENSIVE TEAM
Jacary Akinson – QB, Tuskegee – OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jay Peck – RB, Alabama State
Chad Simpson – RB, Morgan State
Clyde Edwards – WR, Grambling State
Jarahn Williams – WR, Howard
Charles Moody – TE, Alabama A&M
Lorenzo Breland – OL, Jackson State
Jason Kressen – OL, Norfolk State
James Lee – OL, South Carolina State
Kynneth Moses – OL, Virginia Union
Larry Peoples – OL, Tuskegee
Peter Gaertner – K, Delaware State
DEFENSIVE TEAM
Kendall Langford – DL, Hampton
Rudolph Hardie – DL, Howard
William Hayes – DL, Winston-Salem State
Curtis Johnson – DL, Clark-Atlanta
Ronnie McCullough – LB, Bethune-Cookman, DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zach East – LB, Prairie View A&M
Marquez Davis – LB, Norfolk State
Al Donaldson – DB, Alabama A&M
Bobbie Williams – DB, Bethune-Cookman
Jarmaul George – DB, Southern
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – DB, Tennessee State
Brendon Larkin – P, Clark-Atlanta
Pictured:
Ronnie McCullough (left), linebacker for Bethune-Cookman, receives the Black College All-American (BCAA) "Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year Award" from former Pittsburgh Steelers great, Mel Blount. The presentation was made at the 34th annual SBN Sports BCAA awards banquet on Feb. 16 in Atlanta.
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Friday, February 29th 2008 at 10:59AM
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