FAMU coach shares words of wisdom

Area football coaches heard about the impact and influence they have on the lives of the young people they come in contact with from a coach who knows a thing or two about impacting the lives of young people. Florida A&M University football coach Joe Taylor spoke to a small group of coaches at the King Center last Saturday to discuss with them the importance of being positive role models, espousing Christian values and promoting the value of education.

Taylor's stop in the area was one of several he said he makes during the off season, "wherever there are Rattlers meeting." He was the guest speaker last Friday night at a gala at the Alachua Woman's Club hosted by the FAMU Alachua County Alumni Association. He began his speech to the coaches after being introduced by local FAMU alumnus Charles Demps, a retired educator.

Taylor said he is constantly telling his coaches they have to be better than the guy next door because they are the ones going into homes telling parents that they are going to take care of their sons when they get to FAMU. "As coaches, we have to exhibit the kinds of behavior that we want our players to emulate," said Taylor, sporting two of the four huge Black College Football National Championship rings he won during his tenure at Hampton University in Virginia from 1992-2007. He has been the head coach at FAMU since 2008 and has compiled an 18-6 record.

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