Published by Kevin Glenn

Welcome back to another edition of FLA Preps in Tempo News. This week we will feature the Head Coach at Out of Door Academy. I spoke with Coach Timmons about the 2010 Thunder.

FLA Preps

: Coach Timmons are you excited to kick this 2010 season off?

Coach Timmons: I am very excited. My coaching staff and I have worked hard with the players and we really want to show that last year’s state semifinal team was no flash in the pan success. My guys are ready to get back on the gridiron also.

FLA Preps: ODA had a very tough loss to Sarasota Cardinal Mooney last week on a last second blocked punt. What did you learn about your team after that dissapointing 2 point loss at home?

Coach Timmons: As a coaching staff we learned that we have a team that won’t quit. They fought until the very end and I was happy with their level of competition. However, we kind of let up at the end because we thought we had the game won and that won’t work. As a team we played a school with years of tradition of playing good football and we held our own. I was very happy with that. 

FLA Preps

: What do you and your coaching staff do in order to establish the identity of this year’s Out of Door Academy team?

Coach Timmons: Good question. Our philosophy here at ODA is to take a vested interest in each player on the team. All of my position coaches really buy into that. I’m not just talking football either. We are vested in our player’s school work, their home lives, social circle, etc. We have the old philosophy that each one reach one so that we can teach one.

FLA Preps: Well speaking of that coach, it’s well known that a team takes on the personality of their head coach. So who is Brett Timmons?

Coach Timmons

: (laughing) I’m a person that doesn’t take no for an answer. I believe that if I work and sacrifice for something I want then I can accomplish it. I believe in overcoming obstacles. I really don’t take defeat very well. I am not going to let anyone else dictate my success.

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ODA athlete Chris Ragone

FLA Preps: Tell my readers more about the unique culture of coaching football players at ODA versus a traditional public school like Booker or Riverview.

Coach Timmons: Well it is different. The first thing is that we don’t have the neighborhood, home grown talent that feeds into the school. Because of that we have to really do some coaching. I don’t mean that coaches at traditional public schools coach less, I’m just saying that we may have more B and C talent that we have to try and coach up to play like A and B talent. Our players just don’t always match up athletically and physically to the competition. As coaches we have to identify their strengths, coach them up on what to do, then go play with heart and passion. Our players do a great job of this.  

FLA Preps

: Is there any added pressure to win now that the new stadium and football facilities are in place?

Coach Timmons

: I don’t think there is any added pressure. We feel the pressure to win just like every coaching staff in the county. I think it has always been there.

FLA Preps

: What should the fans expect this week against First Baptist Academy?

Coach Timmons: Hopefully they will see an exciting high flying offense. We want to play with a smothering style of defense. My guys play with passion and emotion. The fans will see a well played football game win or lose.

FLA Preps: Finally Coach, give me a couple of players on your team that we should be on the lookout for this year.

Coach Timmons

: Oh we have some guys that can play now. Look for #2 Chris Ragon at wide receiver and defensive back, his brother #12 Brian Ragon at quarterback, #8 Ryan Kiminiski is a tight end and linebacker who makes plays, and #10 Jake Siciliano is another hard hitting linebacker.

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                                                                                                                                                   Strong, Charismatic, Caring, Christian, and all Gator! These words can be used to describe one of Sarasota Counties best former high school football players. This week FLA Preps in Tempo News took time to interview Ernie Dubose Jr.  

FLA Preps: Your father Ernie Sr, cast a pretty wide shadow with his high school football playing career. What was it like for you playing the same sport in that shadow?

E Dub

: It was pretty easy actually. My father and uncles were great football players. Their success helped me understand the importance of developing goals for myself. I learned at an early age by watching them that nothing would be given to me. That motivated me to work hard in order to accomplish the goals that I set for myself, even beyond the football field.

FLA Preps: Per our conversation, if you include your uncles and father you do come from a very athletic family. Who is the best all around athlete when you all get together?

E Dub: Man that’s tough. I would have to say my uncle Keith Dubose would have to be the best athlete. He is only 4 years older than me but he also got drafted in baseball. He went on to play football at Duke University for our old coach Steve Spurrier. I would have to say that my Dad is the best football player, but Keith is the best all around athlete.

FLA Preps

: What lessons did you learn while playing for Port Charlotte High that prepared you to win a national championship at the University of Florida?

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Ernie DuBose Jr working with youth at Port Charlotte football camp

E Dub: You know, I learned a couple of key things while at Port Charlotte. First is how to be a good teammate. I learned to do whatever it takes to be a winner. Some kids don’t find this out until its too late but it is much better to be a small piece of a winner than it is to be a large piece of a loser. Secondly, I learned that it takes very hard work in order to succeed and accomplish your goals. Most people do not want to fail. Everyone else is working hard to succeed so you better be also. You can accomplish anything that you set your mind to if you are willing to sacrifice and work hard.

FLA Preps: Injuries derailed your playing career, however, you have been very successful off the field. What are you currently doing in your professional life?

E Dub

: I am currently a Project Manager for Sarasota County School Board. I am in charge of the $50 million rebuild for Booker High School.

FLA Preps: Let’s get back to your playing days. What was it like as a running back for the Gators with guys like Elijah Williams, Fred Taylor, Errict Rhett, and Terry Jackson playing the same position?

E Dub

: Very competitive! Those guys were great runners. From a pride and ego standpoint, I didn’t accomplish all of the goals that I set for myself individually. However, every one of those guys that played in front of me had very successful college and NFL careers. We are talking SEC All Conference guys, All Americans, top NFL draft picks, and even a future Hall of Famer! I must have been pretty good myself to play with them.

FLA Preps

: What advice do you have for any current high school football player who would like to have similar success?  

E Dub

: They have to set goals. Start off with smaller goals that you can accomplish so these goals set you up to achieve the larger goal. Then they have to understand the process and the methods it takes to achieve their goal. Be committed to that goal, make it a priority. Like I said earlier, when I played for the Gators I couldn’t run a 4.3 40 yard dash like Fred Taylor. I didn’t have the football IQ of a Terry Jackson. However, I was the strongest player (besides the lineman) on the team. I worked hard on my strength because that was something that I could do better than they could and it would help me accomplish my goal of playing for a championship.

FLA Preps: Finally, is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?

E Dub: I would just like to thank my family. My lovely wife Deanna Dubose for supporting me for the last 13 years. My 10 year old son Deric and my 13 year old daughter Deja. Also, through all of my successes and failures I credit my Lord, Jesus Christ. He gave me the ability to stand here today as the man that I am.

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Before Channing Crowder, Brandon Siler, and Brandon Spikes hard hitting was defined at middle linebacker by Johnny Rutledge

This edition of Legends of the Swamp brings you one of the brightest stars to ever play linebacker for the Orange and Blue. Johnny Rutledge enjoyed tremendous highs and tremendous lows during his playing days in Gainesville. He has emerged as a good friend, a good leader, a good husband & father, and a true legend of the swamp!

LOS: Johnny, tell me about the recruiting process and how did you become a Florida Gator?

Well it was interesting because Fred Taylor and Reidel Anthony were there (at UF), that made the process easier; they told me what to expect. The coaches did a great job of selling the program, my family and I thought it was a great fit and the rest is history.

LOS: If you didn’t sign with Florida, who do you think you would have played for?

I never thought about it the University of Florida was the only school I saw myself playing for, during the recruiting process I would try to picture myself wearing another uniform, I couldn’t.

LOS: Was the transition to college life and SEC football difficult for you?

I think that transition is difficult for any athlete; it’s such a demand on the athlete’s time from the minute you step on campus. I had to learn how to quickly adjust to the demands on my time from school to practice, that’s another area where Fred and Reidel helped me to adjust to life in college.

LOS: What player on the team would you consider your best friend and why?

That’s like asking me to pick which of my kids I like more. I actually have two best friends Reggie Davis and Reggie Mcgrew, both where best men in my wedding. From the moment I met Reggie Davis on a recruiting visit he and I had a great connection and bond. I met Reggie Mcgrew at the Florida/Georgia All-Star Game where we become close friends. Both are two individuals that it’s an honor for me to call them my friends.

LOS: The opposite of that, was there a player that you really didn’t get along with and why?

When you are on a team and go begin the off-season training the in season battles, everyone becomes your brother, you may have a few clashes in personalities but we all had the some goal and that goal was to win championships. In having that one goal I learned to get along with everyone.

LOS: What is your favorite moment as a Florida Gator and why?

My favorite moment as a Gator was when I ran out of the tunnel for the first time, words can’t describe the feelings I had, the moment I ran out to play against the University of Houston. That memory still gives me goose bumps when I think about it. Along with going undefeated at home (30 something and 0) during my career at UF that’s hard to do.

LOS: What is your worst moment as a Florida Gator and why?

I have two worst moments as a player I never got the opportunity to win at Doak Campbell Stadium against FSU, that’s when the FSU game had National Championship implications for both teams. Both teams had so much talent it was scary. I was fortunate enough to go 3-2 against FSU but never won there on the road. (It hurts to think about that)
As an individual the moment I got involved with William “Tank” Black set off a chain of events that has forever shaped the person that I have become today.

LOS: After you stepped forward and spoke out about the agent situation, how did people treat you?

What people don’t know is I received death threats; my phone would ring at all times of the night, people who I thought were my friends had turned their backs on me. The media wrote stories and portrayed me as a “thug”,”gangsta” two things which I’m not. I admit what I did was stupid and I will apologize every chance I get but that situation lead me to my relationship with Jesus Christ and every since that ordeal, you have never heard my name mentioned in a negative light not even a speeding ticket.

LOS: What exactly happened between you and Jeremy Foley once the media got  hold of the situation?

I will remember that today for as long as I live. I was in the weight room getting ready for the draft. Mr. Foley was walking through he called me as he had called me many times before to say hello, but this time was different he had a serious look on his face and said these words: “You are no longer welcomed to the University of Florida, after you finish your workout leave and don’t come back.” It hurt me so bad because it was like a family member telling you that you’re no longer apart of a family that you love. I can’t blame him, what I did was the NCAA unpardonable sin by taking money from a sports agent and I also brought unwarranted attention to the university.

LOS: How did that affect your professional career?

In what was supposed to be a happy occasion in my life, I was drafted in the 2nd round by the Arizona Cardinals I felt nothing, from the moment I arrived in Arizona the G.M that was there at the time Bob Ferguson had done an extensive background check on me because of what happened at Florida. I was under a microscope and he treated me as if I was a thug or a gangster. I started focusing on myself although I knew that I wasn’t this person who I was labeled of being. My game suffered because of it, the NFL is hard enough to play in with no distractions. I played to support my family and lost the very reason I started playing football, because I loved it

LOS: You were widely regarded as the best linebacker of the 3 superstars that played on the Gators 1996 Championship team yet your pro career didn’t meet expectations. Tell me how that has made you feel.

I wouldn’t say that I was the best. People forget that Jevon Kearse and Mike Peterson come to Florida as Defensive Backs they had to learn a new position. I came in a five star linebacker recruit that lived up to the hype that surrounded me coming in, I just so happen to be ready to play before them. We all brought unique skill sets to the table which made us the best linebacker core in the history of UF. I never saw myself as better we all pushed each other to be the best that we could be.
As far as my pro career I lost my fire to play, it wasn’t that I couldn’t I stopped caring about being the best football player that I could be, I lasted six years in the NFL doubling the average career and lived out a childhood dream. I still talk to Jevon and Mike, they both know how proud I am of them, I wish them the best.

LOS: Where is your current relationship at with the University of Florida?

I went back to the University of Florida to finish school in 2007. I didn’t let anyone know that I was there. When Coach Meyer was hired he reached out to everyone that was involved in the incident and extended an invitation for us to come back to the school. I didn’t know if he was genuine about it or not. One day I was leaving class walking by the stadium and heard this distinct voice say “Johnny Rutledge” I turned and looked it was Chris Patrick, he said come by and see me. To make a long story short I met with C.P , in meeting with him got a chance to meet Coach Meyer. He treated me as if I had played for him he’s a good man. After that a meeting was set up with Mr. Foley. I remember stepping into his office I was scared but ready for this opportunity to meet with him. We sat down and had a great conversation. I told him how that situation changed my life I told him everything. Right now I can call him and talk to him as if nothing has happened, in that that I’m truly thankful.

LOS: Where do you currently live and what do you do for a living now?

I live in Atlanta with my wife Gia kids Jade and Joy and one on the way, where I teach and coach football at Benjamin E Mays H.S

LOS: Is there any insider Gator moment that you have that is really funny that most people don’t know about?

No not really, I miss the guys having fun with them in the locker room.

LOS: How do you want Gator fans to remember you?

I just want them to know that I’m a good person, don’t judge me for one action or one mistake. As far as a football player I want to be known as a team player, I can care less about individual accolades.  

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LOS: Is there any last statement you would like to make to the readers of Legends of the Swamp?

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Here is the list:

Dallas Baker… Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers
Alex Brown… Defensive End Chicago Bears

Andre Caldwell… Wide Receiver Cincinnati Bengals
Cooper Carlisle… Guard Oakland Raiders
Joe Cohen… Defensive Tackle Miami Dolphins
Channing Crowder… Linebacker Miami Dolphins

Andra Davis… Linebacker Denver Broncos

Jabar Gaffney…Wide Receiver Denver Broncos

Earnest Graham… Running Back Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rex Grossman… Quarterback Houston Texans

Derrick Harvey… Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars

Percy Harvin… Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings
Cornelius Ingram… Tight End Philadelphia Eagles

Chad Jackson… Wide Receiver Denver Broncos

Todd Johnson… Safety St. Louis Rams

Jevon Kearse… Defensive End Tennessee Titans
Billy Latsko… Running Back San Diego Chargers

Marquand Manuel… Safety Detroit Lions
Bobby McCray… Defensive End New Orleans Saints
Ray McDonald… Defensive End San Francisco 49ers

Carlton Medder… Guard Arizona Cardinals

Jeremy Mincey… Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars
Kestahn Moore… Running Back San Diego Chargers
Jarvis Moss… Defensive End Denver Broncos

Louis Murphy… Wide Receiver Oakland Raiders
Reggie Nelson… Safety Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike Peterson… Linebacker Atlanta Falcons
Keiwan Ratliff… Cornerback Pittsburgh Steelers

Ian Scott… Defensive Tackle San Diego Chargers
Lito Sheppard… Cornerback New York Jets
Brandon Siler… Linebacker San Diego Chargers
Max Starks… Offensive Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers
Fred Taylor… Running Back New England Patriots
Marcus Thomas… Defensive Tackle Denver Broncos
Phil Trautwein… Offensive Tackle St. Louis Rams

Aaron Walker… Tight End Cleveland Browns

Gerard Warren… Defensive Tackle Oakland Raiders
Tavares Washington… Guard Kansas City Chiefs

Jason Watkins… Offensive Tackle Houston Texans

DeShawn Wynn… Running Back Green Bay Packers

Let’s continue to support these guys in their playing careers.

Hernandez Named to Mackey Award Watch List

Manhasset, N.Y. – Wednesday July 29, 2009

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University of Florida junior tight end Aaron Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) has been named to the 2009 John Mackey Award watch list, released Wednesday by the Nassau County Sports Commission. Given annually to the best collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2009 John Mackey winner will be announced on December 10, 2009.

Hernandez was also selected to the All-SEC preseason second-team by both the media and the leagues’ coaches. Last season, Hernandez started 11 games and caught 34 passes for 381 yards. He ranked first in the SEC in touchdowns by a tight end with five and led the Gators in receiving against Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship with five catches for 57 yards.

NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.

The John Mackey Award has been presented every year since 2000, listing eight NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark (’01) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham (’02) of the Denver Broncos, Kellen Winslow II (’03) of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers, two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller (’04) of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis (’05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Matt Spaeth (’06) of the of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Fred Davis (’07) of the Washington Redskins and the 2008 John Mackey Award recipient Chase Coffman of the Cincinnati Bengals.

2009 JOHN MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST

PLAYER, YR, SCHOOL

Jeffrey Anderson, JR, UAB

Jake Ballard, SR, Ohio State

Greg Boone, SR, Virginia Tech

Nate Byham, SR, Pittsburgh

Jeff Cottam, SR, Tennessee

Ed Dickson, SR, Oregon

Richard Dickson, SR, LSU

TC Drake, SR, Kentucky

Charlie Gantt, JR, Michigan State

Riar Geer, SR, Colorado

Garrett Graham, SR, Wisconsin

Jermaine Gresham, SR, Oklahoma

Rob Gronkowski, JR, Arizona

Aaron Hernandez, JR, Florida

Mike Hoomanawanui, SR, Illinois

Blaine Irby, JR, Texas

Jeron Mastrud, SR, Kansas State

Anthony McCoy, SR, USC

Mike McNeil, SR, Iowa

Tony Moeaki, JR, Nebraska

Ryan Moya, SR, UCLA

Logan Paulsen, SR, UCLA

Dennis Pitta, SR, BYU

Andrew Quarless, JR, Penn State

Kyle Rudolph, SR, Notre Dame

Weslye Saunders, JR, South Carolina

Cody Slate, JR, Marshall

Tommy Trott, SR, Auburn

DJ Williams, JR, Arkansas

Ben Wooster, SR, Wake Forest

He's Baaack!

Well, do I really need to put his 1st name on this blog? I could have called him by his alias Ron Mexico, but that is another story.

This man committed a crime, he was sentenced for that crime and he now has paid his debt to society. I think it is only fair that he should be given an opportunity to return to the game where he made a living. Remember people, prison is intended to punish AND rehabilitate.

Mr. Michael Vick was the most athletic quarterback the NFL has ever seen. That didn’t translate to any championships; however, he still had many years left in his career. I have heard arguments from people who believe he should never be allowed to return to the NFL. These people spoke of their experiences and the fact that they wouldn’t be able to return to their jobs after serving prison time for a crime such as Mr. Vick.

Well, I agree. However, they don’t run a 4.28 40 yard dash and have a cannon for an arm either. Those special set of skills that Mr. Vick possesses requires special consideration by the NFL on his reinstatement. Like it or not, that is how it should be in my opinion.

Think of it this way for you movie buffs: Would you lock up Magneto from the X Men in a regular prison? Would you not have let Bruce Banner leap out of the back of that helicoptor in order to try and stop the Abomination from destroying NYC in the movie The Hulk?

I know, I know…I’m letting my geek show, however, I think you can see my point where special skills deserve special consideration. I do not believe that these athletes are above the law. If they do a crime, then they should do the time. In Mr. Vick’s case, let’s hope his time in Leavenworth, Kansas stripped away that huge sense of entitlement that he enjoyed and caused him to develop a better appreciation for the lifestyle, money, and fame that his special skills allowed him to have.

P.S. Now please sign with my Buccaneers and help us get back to that elusive 2nd Super Bowl.

Todd Johnson closing in for tackle

Welcome to the 2nd part of the exclusive interview with former Florida Gator Safety and current St. Louis Ram Todd Johnson. Legends of the Swamp was able to catch up with Todd in between off season mini camps.

LOS: Now Todd, I heard through the Gator Grapevine that your nickname is T- Lo. How did this name come about?
TJ: Well, it’s not a real exciting story. It comes from when I was a freshman at Riverview High School. I got it from my DB coach because I was not real vocal and I was very quiet. I don’t know why but he just started calling me that and it stuck ever since. People at Florida called me that and here on the team in St. Louis everyone calls me that. I don’t tell people to call me that it’s just something that has stayed with me. Now my wife calls me that,my family calls me that all because my DB coach at Riverview, Jim Anderson, came up with that nickname.
LOS: Do you still enjoy a good relationship with Coach A?
TJ: He actually is one of my best friends. He is still my coach to me. I look up to him as a mentor and we really have become good friends over the years.
LOS: I can relate to that, I see guys like Charlie Strong, Dwayne Dixon, Carl Franks, or Jim Collins and I still call them coach and I’ll be 38 years old soon.

LOS: Ok Todd, let’s switch it up again. Describe to me how it felt the first time you were suited up in a gameday uniform at Florida and you ran through the tunnel for a home football game in The Swamp.
TJ: Man, it is still so hard to put into words because it is such a big moment. I guess there were times when I was in awe but then at the same time you can’t be because you have to be ready to play. You have to have the right mindset because it is an experience that not many people get and it’s something that I am very thankful for. I feel very lucky and blessed to be able to have done that.
LOS: Todd, what would you say is your best Gator Moment?
TJ: Well, along with running through the tunnel for the first time I realized that I was a Gator my freshman year when I was coming in on the “nickel” package. We were going over our Friday workouts and they called the nickel group out there. I look around and I’m there with Andra Davis, Alex Brown, Gerard Warren, and Marquand Manuel.
I felt inside like I’m really about to do this! That was one of those moments in life where it really sunk in on me, even before I actually put the uniform on and ran out onto the field.
LOS: Do you have a best on the field moment?
TJ: I’d have to say besides hanging out with my boys on the team and stuff my best overall Gator moment was winning the SEC Championship.
Coach Spurrier always put so much emphasis on that and he taught us how important that was. HE always said that you will always remember when you win Championships and he was right.
I have a lot of great memories but that one always sticks out to me. We had a great team, great bunch of guys, and excellent leadership.

Obviously, I wish we would have played for something like a national championship but we kind of messed that up. However, winning the SEC Championship and representing for The Gators in Atlanta was probably the highlight of my Florida playing career.
LOS:

Well Todd there is always the flipside of the coin. What would you say was your worst Gator moment?
TJ: The worst would have to be the Tennessee game that same year. It was 2001 I believe, and because of 911 we had to play that game at the end of the year.
We couldn’t stop their running game, we were ranked #1 in the country at the time, and Rex and the offense were playing well but they were just hard to stop.

I just felt that if we could have done our part on defense that we could have been playing for a national championship.
All we had to do was tackle better and we didn’t do it so that was frustrating.

LOS: Alright let’s lighten things up a little bit. Give me one of those funny moments behind the scenes amongst the players and coaches that no one else would know outside of the family.

TJ:

Oohh, I guess me and Brock became known as pranksters around our group of friends and one of the guys that we liked to prank a lot was Zac Zedalis who was our Center.
He was known for having a pretty short fuse and he would snap at anything so we liked to get him going.
There was this one time at the Orange Bowl when we were playing Maryland and he had this big date one night. Brock and I had been messing with him all year and Brock somehow got a hold of his key and broke into his hotel room. We get in there and take all of his nice clothes that he was going to wear out on his date.
So he was all bent out of shape and beating on our door and we’re inside dying laughing!
LOS: So he pretty much knew that you guys were behind it?
TJ:

Oh he knew we did it and he came down beating on our door and using a few choice words. He was threatening us and threatening our lives so we said: “Alright Zac, just back up off the door on the hallway wall and we’ll open the door and give you your clothes”.
So you could hear him like alright alright all mad and we’re looking through the peephole in the door and he is all huffing and puffing. So he backs up onto the hallway wall and I swing open the door and Brock just throws a bucket of ice cold water all over him and I quickly shut the door back! Man he about ran through the door and broke it down.
It was a good one, we eventually opened up and gave him back all of his clothes but we had filled his shoes up with shaving cream and he didn’t find out until later. That was a pretty funny experience that a lot of guys got a kick out of.
LOS:

I have a quick Q&A session here. Just say the first thing that comes to your mind. Ready?
TJ:

Yeah, I guess

LOS: What’s your favorite movie?
TJ: Rocky, any of the Rockies

LOS: What’s your favorite food and why?

TJ:

Anything Italian, preferrably lasagna. I don’t know why, I guess because my wife does such a good job making it.

LOS: What is your favorite color?
TJ: My favorite color is Orange & Blue
LOS: What do you fear the most?

TJ: Failure
LOS: I like that answer. Honest. Fear can be a powerful thing if used properly.

LOS:

Ok, a question about the current Gator regime. What do you think about Coach Urban Meyer’s success in Gainesville? How does it make you feel as a former player that helped build the dynasty we enjoy today.
TJ:

I feel pride. Just proud of what they’ve done. It seems like they have a tough mentality and I think that is one of the key reasons why they have been able to do what they’ve done. The team and players seem to be mentally tougher than their opponents.
LOS: It’s funny you said that Todd, because that is something that stood out to me instantly. Urban challenges his players from the moment they set foot on UF’s campus. If you can’t handle pressure, he and his staff will find out quick. Our coach, Steve Spurrier was a very successful coach at Florida but he really didn’t put the pressure on in practice the way Urban does.
TJ:

I totally agree with what you said. Both coaches are very successful and one tactic is not better than the other but Coach Meyer’s teams have stepped up to the challenge pretty much every time.

LOS: Ok Todd, let’s flip it to the next level. You had a very successful collegiate career that led to getting drafted into the NFL. What has life been like as a professional athlete for you?
TJ: It’s been a lot of fun you know with the lifestyle. I have ben able to go to many different parts of the country that I probably wouldn’t have seen. I probably wouldn’t have gotten out of the South if it weren’t for football.
I’ve been able to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds that has allowed me to grow and become a better person. I am very thankful for that but at the same time it really takes a toll on you.
LOS: HOW?

TJ: Well just to get your body through 16 regular season games, 4 preseason games, and then the playoffs. In high school and college you play what 10 to 12 games that could go as high as 13 to 14 in a good season.
Trust me, the older you get the more you start to feel it but I remember when I was young I never dreamed about playing in the NFL. Like I said earlier, my dream was to play for Coach Sprague at Riverview High School and be a Riverview Ram. By my Junior and Senior year of high school I realized that I would have the chance to keep playing and my dream kind of evolved to dreaming that I would play in The Swamp for Coach Spurrier and be a Florida Gator.

For me to have the experience of playing 6 years in the NFL is something that I never could have imagined, but yet I’m very thankful for every day that I continue to play.

LOS: Todd why do you think some guys, without naming names, have such a hard time staying out of trouble of the field?
TJ: You know, I don’t know if it’s an entitlement issue or just thinking that they can do no wrong or what. I was raised by my parents that if you ever got yourself in a situation it’s because you put yourself there. It’s not because you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or you’re just having bad luck. It’s because you made a choice and put yourself in what ever the situation is. I knew that I had to realize this and deal with the consequences whether good or bad as they come.
LOS: So you learned personal responsibility?

TJ: Yeah, I feel like that. I work with a lot of high school kids. I go back to Sarasota Riverview High School and train with them every year and I try to teach them that life isn’t fair. Some teachers aren’t always going to treat you fair, people aren’t always going to treat you fair but you still have to do the right thing in the situation. If you do that, then you will have the chance to have a lot of success in your life and hopefully reach your goals or even develop a dream that you never thought you could accomplish.
LOS: Do you have any ideas of what your life may be like once your playing career is over?
TJ:

Yeah, I do. I actually just graduated from The University of Florida. I plan on continuing to teach and coach kids at the high school level. I feel like that is where my heart is. You have such a chance to make an impression at that level and help them develop.
That’s what I plan on doing and hopefully it will work out.

LOS: Where do you think you will make your permanent home? Will you return to the Sarasota area or come back to Florida?

TJ: I think so, yeah, my wife is from Ft. Myers and I’m from Sarasota so any chance we get, we actually stayed up here this off season which was nice, but we get down to Florida as much as we can and that’s probably where we will be calling home.
LOS: The University of Florida has some verbal commitments from some highly ranked defensive backs for the class of 2010, including two kids from the Suncoast in Jonathan Dowling of Bradenton Southeast and Jaylen Watkins of Cape Coral. What advise would you give these kids as they transition to playing SEC football, University of Florida football for the defending National Champions?
TJ:

Man, that’s a good question. I’d tell them to take advantage of it and not take this opportunity lightly. There are a lot of people who would be dying to be a freshman athlete at The University of Florida, including myself, I wouldn’t mind going back right now and doing it all over again. So I’d tell them to take advantage of it and at the same time enjoy it!
LOS:

Well, Todd thank you for your time. In conclusion, do you have any words for the Gator Nation?
TJ:

Just keep representing the Orange & Blue, like we always do and enjoy these times right now when we’re so dominant because it’s hard to do.

LOS: I have one more question. How do the Rams look this year?
TJ: I think we are going to be good. We have a new coaching staff in and evryone’s excited. We feel like we should be able to have a little bit of a turn around.

Publisher’s Note:

I targeted Todd Johnson early when I formulated my plans for the direction I wanted this website to go. He truly represents the multiple stories of former players everywhere. You can’t help but relate to a guy that genuinely just wanted to make his high school team. Through hard work, natural talent, leadership skills, and personal responsibility look at what he was able to accomplish. I have no doubt that he will continue to be a success once his playing days are over.

Former Florida Gator Safety Todd Johnson

What more could you ask from a Legend of The Swamp?
LOS: Todd tell me about your high school career at Sarasota Riverview High.
TJ:

Well, for me that’s all I ever wanted to do was play football for Riverview High School. Since I was 6 years old I remember going to the games every Friday night and just looking up to the guys because they were my heroes. From the time I was 12 years old, pretty much everything I did was geared towards becoming a football player for Riverview High School. I worked hard starting in about the 8th grade to just get bigger so I would be ready to play when I got to high school.
By the time I got there it was all that I dreamed of. The school had some great teams, some undefeated teams and we were ranked #2 in the country my junior year for pretty much the whole season.
We ended up losing to a team from Pensacola but it was one of the best experiences of my whole life.

LOS: There are a lot of good high school programs on Florida’s Suncoast and specifically in the Sarasota area. I played with several Riverview alum during my playing career at Florida so my question to you is why Riverview? Why not Sarasota High, Cardinal Mooney, or Sarasota Booker?
TJ:

I think because like I said, they were the powerhouse in Sarasota. If you were a good football player, then you wanted to play at Riverview High School and be coached by Coach Sprague who is still there and has been coaching for about 30 years. He is a hard nosed coach and every player that comes out of that program is mentally tough and usually pretty physically tough as well.

You have to think that Riverview has a pretty good pipeline to Florida with guys like Larry Kennedy, Drew Miller, and myself. It really was the place to be at that time if you were a football player.

LOS: Tell me a little about the recruiting process. Why did you end up picking Florida, besides the guys that you just mentioned from your high school that had also played for the Gators?

TJ:

Well, the recruiting process was fun. The University of Miami was the first school to offer me. I went down there for a visit and I knew pretty much from the get go that I didn’t want to go there.
I also took a visit to Alabama and Illinois. I was really intrigued by Alabama just because of the rich tradition there. I also have some family from there, but my heart was always with The Gators, I always wanted to be a Gator. My sister went to The University of Florida and it was kind of like the same situation from high school. Florida was the school that my family talked about and I grew up watching and rooting for The Gators.

Obviously Coach Spurrier, at the time, was the or one of the most famous coaches in football and Florida was just always where my heart was.
LOS: Alright Todd, let’s switch gears for a moment. I love to ask former players this. Who on the team would you say was the guy you hung with the most, your best friend and teammate?
TJ:

Surprisingly enough, the guy who I would have to pick as my best friend on the team was the guy who I roomed with Brock Berlin. He was only there for two years but we just ended up becoming real close and real good friends. He actually ended up living with me for a little while last year which was funny. We’d be sitting around saying “Man I can’t believe that we’re both playing together on an NFL team.” I mean it was pretty wild, we’d be sitting next to each other on a plane flying to San Francisco and just not believing that we were both on an NFL team. Then the year before Aaron Walker (former UF Tight End) was also our teammate and it was nuts. It truly was a blessing and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Note:

There aren’t too many athletes out there who are as successful and humble as Todd Johnson. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk with him about his journey to The University of Florida and the NFL. Be on the lookout for Part 2 of this exclusive interview in the coming weeks on www.legendsoftheswamp.com

Here is some info that you all may find interesting. The NCAA did a good job in my opinion last year of trying to hire more African American head football coaches. The ratio is absolutely horrible!

The second part of this problem is to now find good support people at each institution that will work hard to make sure these new head coaches succeed.

The situation at New Mexico really helps illustrate this point.

If this coach is guilty, then I believe he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, experience has taught me enough to also believe that this particular situation may have something to do with the fear of change.

Locksley facing harassment accusationsComment Email Print Share Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico football coach Mike Locksley, on the job less than six months, has been accused of sexual harassment, age discrimination and retaliation by a former administrative assistant.

Sylvia Lopez filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She worked under Locksley at the Lobos football office before transferring last month, then quit her university job May 15.

Locksley did not immediately respond to telephone messages left Friday by The Associated Press at New Mexico’s football office and through an athletic department publicist.

In a statement released to Albuquerque television station KRQE, Locksley said: “I had always treated everybody with respect. That is who I am. Change and transition is always tough on everybody. Out of respect for all involved, that is all I am going to say.”

Athletic director Paul Krebs said the university is taking the complaint seriously. He declined to discuss the claim in detail, saying it was a personnel matter and the EEOC was likely to conduct an investigation.

However, Krebs stood behind the first-year coach, who was hired Dec. 9.

“He is an outstanding football coach. I believe he is an outstanding individual,” Krebs said. “I’m really looking forward to what he’s able to build here long-term with our football program.”

Krebs said the university has started an internal investigation, but wouldn’t disclose details.

Lopez couldn’t be reached for comment.

Locksley, the offensive coordinator at Illinois for the past four seasons, took over at New Mexico after Rocky Long stepped down Nov. 17. Locksley retained Long’s administrative staff.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press