After a few weeks with the running backs, the coaches must have had a meeting before the end of the summer, and my name must have come up concerning my performance at the running back position to Coach Small. At that time, I was the only running back who reached the line of scrimmage quicker and faster than any of the other running backs, including the veterans from the halfback position (the distance from the halfback position to the line of scrimmage was about four yards).
After their meeting, they decided to keep me on the team, so they gave me some better equipment (LOL). (Lesson learned: always do you best, when and wherever you are.) I was sent to the junior varsity team. I was moved up to the varsity as a “practice dummy backs” (LOL). You would run the other team’s offensive plays against our starting defensive team because it prevented our starting running backs from getting hurt or bruised up. Now this was my chance to seize the moment. (God will provide you with opportunities if you learn to be patient and wait for the Lord to act.) He will give you that opportunity. It’s not what you know, but what you show. God provided me the opportunity to show what I could do playing with the varsity team. The players and some of the coaches saw some potentials in my ability and performance during those practices, so they wanted to save me for some games just in case a running back got hurt.
After that decision, I made the traveling team. Our first game was against the Washington High Wildcats of Pensacola, Florida. On Tuesday, September 18, 1962, we went through lengthy blocking drills. At that time I showed that I was willing to block (another lesson and opportunity to shine). Practices were under the direction of the offensive and defensive coaching staffs such as offensive coaches Ike Grayson (deceased), Coach John J. Coleman (deceased), defensive coaches Adam Johnson (deceased), Coach Ed Matthews, Coach Edward Tolliver (deceased), Coach Wallace Rasberry (deceased, November 12, 2017), and Coach Hillie Howard (deceased, November 24, 2018).
The 1962 Football Season and Lessons Learned During That Year
A Florida Times Union news sportswriter talked about players seeking a starting position on the offensive line at the tackle positions: Frank Wesley, Samuel Howard, and Tommie White. Wesley and Howard were members of last year’s varsity team, and White is a newcomer. Donald Pleaz, James Wilder, and Ernest Hayden were battling for the starting offensive guard positions, while the second spot for offensive center position was in question because of the illness of Eddie Diamond, who missed last week’s practice. Coach Small made the adjustment by inserting Ronald “Track” Elps; that showed up well in this move at offensive center. This adjustment was a blessing in disguise.
Coach Adam Johnson was the defensive coordinator. He was working very hard with the following players who may get the call as we would be leaving for our out of town game in Pensacola, Florida, in three weeks on the defensive team. They were Chauncey Mitchell at tackle shifted to defensive end, who stands 6'2" and weighted 178 pounds; Willie Bythwood, left tackle; Leslie Bland, left guard; James Wilder; Willie Jackson; and Thomas Breaker to right tackle, who was shifted from right guard to right tackle to fill the gap left vacant by cocaptain Emory Robinson, who was out because of a serious injury. The secondary defensive players are Carl Jenkins, Cleveland Brown, John Sullivan, and linebackers Carlos Highsmith, Wilbert Wingard, and Richard Thomas at safety.
Years of Life’s Teachings, Lessons Learned under James P. Small at New Stanton Senior High School (1962–1965)
Life at New Stanton Senior High School
After spring football training was over, school began at New Stanton Senior High School. Every morning the school would always pray at the beginning of each day before they give the announcements over the PA system.
I learned that the entire school would come together in the gymnasium the last two periods on the day of a game for a pep rally. Once the student body was in the gym, the band would march in, playing the fight song “On Blue Devils.” once the band had gotten set up in a concert-like position, sitting in chairs, then the drummers would get things going by playing something that would get the student body fired up. While we were in the locker room preparing to be introduced to the student body for the first time, the student body would be having a great time with various cheers directed by the cheerleaders. Then after that, the vice principal of the school, Mr. Elwood Banks, who was also the voice of the Blue Devils and the announcer at our home football games, would get things going for the school pep rallies. Before the program began, the atmosphere had been set. The student body and teachers would bow their heads in prayer (this was the tradition and routine in the African American communities’ schools during this time). After prayer the band would play the National Anthem. Everyone would stand as this was the same procedure at our football games, at other sporting events and programs at school, other events. We would just have a prayer and recite, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and just for all.” The schools in the African American communities during those days would do this as a reminder of who is in control of our country. I personally feel and know that prayer is the key and should be a part of our lives. It is and always will be a part of my life and my family’s lives. As the scripture said in Joshua 25:15 (GNB), “As For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
At the end of the pep rally, we would sing the school’s alma mater. Then we would close with a prayer. After the pep rally, the drummers would remain at the school just playing and practicing some drum cadences that they would perform during the halftime show of a game and in the stands to get the student body and fans all excited and pumped up. You could hear the drumming sounds throughout the community for about two hours before a game.
Sunday Morning Newspaper Article
September 9, 1962
“High School Football Began Friday Night”
“SPORTS ROUNDUP”: This week marks the official opening of high school football. The first game will be played by the “Engineers” of Stanton Vocational High school against the “Yellow Jackets” of Northwestern Junior/Senior High School in a bitter rivalry. The Douglas Anderson “Firey Dragons” would be seeking their first win over the Matthew W. Gilbert High School “Panthers.” Both games are scheduled for Saturday, but they will be deciding which of the games will be playing on Friday night my Wednesday. All games are played at Durkee Field Park.
The Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association rulings for the next year, will prohibit any team from beginning their season prior to September 15th of each year, thus preventing two games being played on the same day, however, the local authorities appealed to the powers to be in hope of playing one of these games would be played on Friday. (All “Black” schools played in the same park).
It seems this article stirred-up a hornet’s nest after the following weeks when it was made public of the ruling concerning the eligibility of athletes. This was not done to try to bring out the fact that some schools are not meeting eligibility requirements, but rather bring to the attention of interested persons and bipartisan fans that our local youth meet certain minimum requirements to be eligible to represent a school. Some out-of-town schools would play athletes over the age limit requirements, so this eligibility rule was added so that all schools would apply to this ruling.
There are some other requirements that should be of importance to our parents. For instance, parents should be aware that their children are required to have a health physical examination before being allowed to participate in any strenuous athletic competition. I doubt very seriously many parents concern themselves, simply because