MIAMI, Florida -- Before Bethune-Cookman, it was Booker T. Washington High School in Miami for Larry Little.
The Wildcat and Miami Dolphin Hall of Famer was honored at his high school alma mater Wednesday as a Hometown Hall of Famer presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Ford Motor Company.
The program honors the hometown roots of football’s most famous hero with ceremonies and plaque dedication events. Little’s presentation was the 102nd in the program.
"I'm really honored by it all,” Little said. ‘It’s something that I knew would happen and I’m very excited about it. With the area Booker T. is in, I’m grateful that something like this can go into my high school and be there forever.”
After Booker T. Washington, Little came to Bethune-Cookman, where he was an all-conference defensive tackle during his playing days at from 1964-67.
Undrafted out of college, he spent two seasons with the San Diego Chargers before being traded to the Miami Dolphins in 1969.
During his 14 years with the Dolphins, Little’s play on the line spearheaded the NFL’s most punishing rushing attacks of the 1970s. Paving the way for Mercury Morris, Jim Kiick and Larry Csonka, Little helped the Dolphins win consecutive Super Bowls, including the perfect 17-0 season of 1972.
He returned to Bethune-Cookman in 1983 as head coach. During his tenure, the Wildcats won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in 1984 and 1988. He would coach players that would themselves go on to Hall of Fame status, quarterback J.D. Hall (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), Jeff Parker (B-CU) and Stevie Thomas (Arena Football League).
Little was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1999, he was ranked number 79 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Many of Little’s former Bethune-Cookman players and coaches were in attendance Wednesday, as well as former Booker T. Washington players, Dolphins players and coaches and his 96-year old mother, Ida Little.
Little hopes the plaque will inspire future generations.
"As long as if you believe in yourself, you can do anything,” Little said. “I knew what I wanted to be and I never quit.”
COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
No comments:
Post a Comment