White kicker shining at historically black Morgan State University

Photo: #35 James Meade, Kicker/Punter, 5-9/180, Junior, Douglass H.S., Upper Marlboro, MD

Devan James ran for 19 of his team-high 73 yards in overtime to help setup a 23-yard game-winning field goal by James Meade as the Bears held off Howard University 36-33 Saturday at Hughes Stadium before a record homecoming crowd of 14,987.

David Duberstein, The Examiner

BALTIMORE - Being in the minority has never bothered James Meade.

He’s a white student at Morgan State University — a historically black college — a kicker on the football team, and a football player who does yoga. He may seem out of place, but Meade said he fits in just fine with the Bears.

“He’s just a cool kid,” senior defensive back Dakota Bracey said of Meade, who is one of just two white players on the 81-man roster. “We don’t do the whole black-white thing. He’s one of the fellas — he blends in just fine. He’s always joking with us, telling us how strong he is, even though he’s a kicker.”

But being a minority is nothing new to Meade, who was a standout at Douglass High in Upper Marlboro — a school which students are predominantly black. But Meade has always stood out more on the football field. The junior worked his way into Morgan State’s starting lineup after kicking a 43-yard field goal against Winston-Salem State to put the Bears ahead 17-16 with 1:13 remaining. It would have been a game-winner, but Morgan State surrendered a last-second score.

“I’m from a predominantly black area, so it isn’t a big change for me,” Meade said. “I didn’t have a tough time adjusting [attending Morgan State] because I was around all the guys from the team.”

Photo: James Meade makes lasting impression on Morgan State fans and alumnae/i, with the winning field goal in overtime to pull out a victory over Howard University Bison.

Last year, Meade was a backup place-kicker and punter, and knew he needed to change his routine if he wanted to become the starter. He began doing yoga with former Bears coach Sid McNairy, who now operates the I Do Yoga studio in Towson. Meade attends about two or three sessions a week and works with McNairy on his strength, flexibility and focus.

“I took a lot of pride in James because I was a special teams coordinator (at MSU),” McNairy said. “He wasn’t getting the opportunity to kick because they had another kicker who was doing well. As time passed, he would come in and it was almost like sports psychology on the mat — giving him the power to stay focused on just kicking well and letting go of how much time he is getting.”

Aside from the physical benefits, the focus and work ethic Meade learned from yoga was evident in his performance. He says yoga helped him develop the attitude he needed to make big kicks. Meade has converted 8-of-12 field goals through six games.

“When he wasn’t starting, he was still working,” Bracey said. “He was coming to practice early - like an hour early - and he was the last one to leave. He was just kicking balls every chance he got. He’s still working hard and now he’s making plays in the game, kicking the ball through the uprights, and that’s what we need.”