Sunday, September 30, 2007
(Atlanta) Classic fuels education
FAMU, TSU get $100K each; rest goes to Atlanta schools
By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
ATLANTA - A little more than a dozen children were so engrossed during a math-class discussion that they seemed oblivious to the presence of principal Curt Green on Friday. Hardly any of them looked around when Green began to explain the roundtable setting to a visitor.
A few doors down the hall, an English teacher worked with a handful of students at the chalkboard. At the same time, several other students had group discussions going on.
Nothing seemed traditional in any of the other classes at the all-boys BEST Academy, housed in the old Thurgood Marshall School on Atlanta's northwest side. The curriculum is like most elementary schools, but the way it's presented is completely out of the box.
"Most boys seem to be hands-on in terms of studies," said Green, explaining the teaching concept. "They need a lot of movement associated with the work that they're learning in class. They get to touch and manipulate the (leaning tools) that they're using in class versus sitting down and hearing a lecture and taking notes all the time. We're focusing on their strengths."
The school's future looks bright, thanks in part to money raised through the Atlanta Classic football game. The game has become the 100 Black Men of Atlanta's biggest annual fundraiser.
While the Atlanta School Board provides funding for the school, the 100 Black Men pays for the boys' uniforms. But the biggest financial beneficiary is Project Success, a mentoring program initiated by the 100 Black Men.
Project Success offers children from low-income families an opportunity to develop life skills. The men take a lead role with actual involvement with the children.
Since taking over promotion of the annual rivalry game between FAMU and Tennessee State University 19 years ago, Project Success has benefited to the tune of $2.6 million, said John Grant, CEO of the organization, who didn't disclose exactly how much has been raised.
A huge chunk of gate receipts goes to payouts in the range of more than $100,000 to each university. About $6 million has been paid to the schools over the years.
The partnership goes hand in hand with the 100 Black Men's mission to motivate children from underprivileged communities to attend college, Grant said. He also said that several corporate supporters have offered internship opportunities and jobs to graduates of Project Success.
The Classic remains pivotal, though.
"I think the important thing to know is the fact that we're partnering with two colleges that have a long history of rivalry," he said. "We want those institutions to be strong institutions because we're sending kids.
"Our goal is to continue to increase the amount of payout that goes to the schools every year and raise money for more kids from challenged societies. We are impacting a lot of lives in a lot of communities."
The school is the brainchild of Beverly Hall, Atlanta's superintendent of schools, and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. It's the latest mentoring project for the non-profit organization.
The academy opened for the first time in August with 138 sixth-grade boys. The plan is to add a grade every year through 12th. In two years, renovation work will be completed at Benjamin Carson School, which will become the permanent home of the academy.
Project Success, like the BEST Academy, is about letting children know that education is a sure way to change their fortunes, Grant said. Some of the boys are proteges of Project Success.
"Going through that, I got help with school and my homework, too," said Chad Gordon, 11. "I really appreciated it because I could get a scholarship to a college. My parents are really happy about that, and I'm really excited because I can't wait to go to college."
The emphasis at BEST, which stands for Business, Engineering, Science and Technology, is just that. Scientists such as Lonnie Johnson, who is known for his work in the study of alternative fuel, have had discussion sessions with the boys.
In the classroom, some of their work is done on special computerized programs in each room.
"I find it interesting because at this school we have iPods," said Marcquel Culberson, a former traditional-school student. "I'm enjoying it a lot."
The children's parents are just as involved as their mentors and teachers. They have to commit to giving volunteer hours and participating in educational projects themselves, Grant said.
"This is about changing the paradigm," Grant said. "We want them to know this is not an entitlement program; it's an opportunity program. You have to want the opportunity; we're not here to pull you along."
By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
ATLANTA - A little more than a dozen children were so engrossed during a math-class discussion that they seemed oblivious to the presence of principal Curt Green on Friday. Hardly any of them looked around when Green began to explain the roundtable setting to a visitor.
A few doors down the hall, an English teacher worked with a handful of students at the chalkboard. At the same time, several other students had group discussions going on.
Nothing seemed traditional in any of the other classes at the all-boys BEST Academy, housed in the old Thurgood Marshall School on Atlanta's northwest side. The curriculum is like most elementary schools, but the way it's presented is completely out of the box.
"Most boys seem to be hands-on in terms of studies," said Green, explaining the teaching concept. "They need a lot of movement associated with the work that they're learning in class. They get to touch and manipulate the (leaning tools) that they're using in class versus sitting down and hearing a lecture and taking notes all the time. We're focusing on their strengths."
The school's future looks bright, thanks in part to money raised through the Atlanta Classic football game. The game has become the 100 Black Men of Atlanta's biggest annual fundraiser.
While the Atlanta School Board provides funding for the school, the 100 Black Men pays for the boys' uniforms. But the biggest financial beneficiary is Project Success, a mentoring program initiated by the 100 Black Men.
Project Success offers children from low-income families an opportunity to develop life skills. The men take a lead role with actual involvement with the children.
Since taking over promotion of the annual rivalry game between FAMU and Tennessee State University 19 years ago, Project Success has benefited to the tune of $2.6 million, said John Grant, CEO of the organization, who didn't disclose exactly how much has been raised.
A huge chunk of gate receipts goes to payouts in the range of more than $100,000 to each university. About $6 million has been paid to the schools over the years.
The partnership goes hand in hand with the 100 Black Men's mission to motivate children from underprivileged communities to attend college, Grant said. He also said that several corporate supporters have offered internship opportunities and jobs to graduates of Project Success.
The Classic remains pivotal, though.
"I think the important thing to know is the fact that we're partnering with two colleges that have a long history of rivalry," he said. "We want those institutions to be strong institutions because we're sending kids.
"Our goal is to continue to increase the amount of payout that goes to the schools every year and raise money for more kids from challenged societies. We are impacting a lot of lives in a lot of communities."
The school is the brainchild of Beverly Hall, Atlanta's superintendent of schools, and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. It's the latest mentoring project for the non-profit organization.
The academy opened for the first time in August with 138 sixth-grade boys. The plan is to add a grade every year through 12th. In two years, renovation work will be completed at Benjamin Carson School, which will become the permanent home of the academy.
Project Success, like the BEST Academy, is about letting children know that education is a sure way to change their fortunes, Grant said. Some of the boys are proteges of Project Success.
"Going through that, I got help with school and my homework, too," said Chad Gordon, 11. "I really appreciated it because I could get a scholarship to a college. My parents are really happy about that, and I'm really excited because I can't wait to go to college."
The emphasis at BEST, which stands for Business, Engineering, Science and Technology, is just that. Scientists such as Lonnie Johnson, who is known for his work in the study of alternative fuel, have had discussion sessions with the boys.
In the classroom, some of their work is done on special computerized programs in each room.
"I find it interesting because at this school we have iPods," said Marcquel Culberson, a former traditional-school student. "I'm enjoying it a lot."
The children's parents are just as involved as their mentors and teachers. They have to commit to giving volunteer hours and participating in educational projects themselves, Grant said.
"This is about changing the paradigm," Grant said. "We want them to know this is not an entitlement program; it's an opportunity program. You have to want the opportunity; we're not here to pull you along."
Classic is just a huge homecoming'
By JOHN T. GRANT, (AS TOLD TO BILL BANKS) , Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Atlanta Football Classic, and all the events surrounding it, has profound relevance for me personally.
I grew up in a small town, Potecasi, N.C., and I went to North Carolina A&T State University. Like many who've attended historically black colleges and universities, I was the first person in my family to go to college.
This game started because 100 Black Men of Atlanta needed to raise more money for our (mentoring and tuition assistance program) Project Success, which was then in its second year.
That first game was at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and we drew 40-something thousand, which was crucial. If we had only drawn 20,000 or so, we would've been dead in the water. We never would've met expenses.
From there, the game has just grown into a Wednesday-through-Saturday festival. We have a big college fair with about 5,000 high school juniors and seniors who show up. We have a health fair, an intellectual debate, a concert, and our Georgia Power Parade of Excellence.
In other words, we use this game as a way to promote our mission, which is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African-American kids.
Further, I think that remains the mission of HBCUs. I think a lot of people in recent years have wondered if HBCUs have outlived their usefulness. But I believe they are needed today more than ever.
In the beginning, HBCUs were needed because of discrimination. Now the reasons are more economic.
We have had in the current generation, because of the policies of our country, a whole new cycle of poverty. As a result, you have children growing up today who don't know anything about the college experience.
It seems like everywhere I turn, I see kids who don't envision college as a part of their future.
They don't think of themselves in academic terms, and neither do their parents. So, I think, given those conditions, HBCUs are as vital today as they were 100 years ago.
And I think the same of HBCU football. There is a climate, an energy that is different from mainstream college football. HBCU football is more of a community and cultural experience.
There is something about our football that hearkens back to an earlier era, before big business and big media took over sports.
Our game reminds us of a more casual era when there was barely any separation between players and spectators, when we were all part of one large community.
Here's an interesting fact: 59 percent of those coming (to the Classic) are women, who in turn bring children. So we have more of a family atmosphere than your typical football game.
Many of the people, perhaps more than half of the 70,000 people who show up, aren't even alumni of the two schools.
This is just a huge homecoming and reunion for HBCU fans and graduates in general. We have people buying tickets who come from 33 states, plus Canada and the Virgin Islands.
Of course, there is one other major difference between black football and mainstream football.
At [mainstream] games, people rush to the concession stands at halftime. But at our games, people are rushing to their seats.
No one in their right mind would want to miss the battle of the bands.
— John T. Grant, 50, became CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta in November, 2001, but he joined the organization in 1988 and worked on the very first Atlanta Football Classic (then called "The Ebony Classic" ) in 1989. The Classic remains the largest fund-raiser for 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Football Classic, and all the events surrounding it, has profound relevance for me personally.
I grew up in a small town, Potecasi, N.C., and I went to North Carolina A&T State University. Like many who've attended historically black colleges and universities, I was the first person in my family to go to college.
This game started because 100 Black Men of Atlanta needed to raise more money for our (mentoring and tuition assistance program) Project Success, which was then in its second year.
That first game was at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and we drew 40-something thousand, which was crucial. If we had only drawn 20,000 or so, we would've been dead in the water. We never would've met expenses.
From there, the game has just grown into a Wednesday-through-Saturday festival. We have a big college fair with about 5,000 high school juniors and seniors who show up. We have a health fair, an intellectual debate, a concert, and our Georgia Power Parade of Excellence.
In other words, we use this game as a way to promote our mission, which is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African-American kids.
Further, I think that remains the mission of HBCUs. I think a lot of people in recent years have wondered if HBCUs have outlived their usefulness. But I believe they are needed today more than ever.
In the beginning, HBCUs were needed because of discrimination. Now the reasons are more economic.
We have had in the current generation, because of the policies of our country, a whole new cycle of poverty. As a result, you have children growing up today who don't know anything about the college experience.
It seems like everywhere I turn, I see kids who don't envision college as a part of their future.
They don't think of themselves in academic terms, and neither do their parents. So, I think, given those conditions, HBCUs are as vital today as they were 100 years ago.
And I think the same of HBCU football. There is a climate, an energy that is different from mainstream college football. HBCU football is more of a community and cultural experience.
There is something about our football that hearkens back to an earlier era, before big business and big media took over sports.
Our game reminds us of a more casual era when there was barely any separation between players and spectators, when we were all part of one large community.
Here's an interesting fact: 59 percent of those coming (to the Classic) are women, who in turn bring children. So we have more of a family atmosphere than your typical football game.
Many of the people, perhaps more than half of the 70,000 people who show up, aren't even alumni of the two schools.
This is just a huge homecoming and reunion for HBCU fans and graduates in general. We have people buying tickets who come from 33 states, plus Canada and the Virgin Islands.
Of course, there is one other major difference between black football and mainstream football.
At [mainstream] games, people rush to the concession stands at halftime. But at our games, people are rushing to their seats.
No one in their right mind would want to miss the battle of the bands.
— John T. Grant, 50, became CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta in November, 2001, but he joined the organization in 1988 and worked on the very first Atlanta Football Classic (then called "The Ebony Classic" ) in 1989. The Classic remains the largest fund-raiser for 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
Florida A&M wins Atlanta Football Classic
By STAN AWTREY, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionAtlanta Football Classic: Attendance - 56,990
Tennessee State misses late field goal attempt
Rubin Carter better be in church this morning.
After seeing his opponent rip 90 yards down the field with no timeouts in less than a minute, the Florida A&M coach knew it was time to put his trust in a higher power.
As he watched Tennessee State's sure-footed kicker Eric Benson lined up for the go-ahead 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left, Carter's only thought was, "Lord, I sure hope he misses this kick."
He did.
Photo: Tennessee State kicker Eric Benson (left) watches his field goal attempt sail wide left, while Florida A&M defensive back LeRoy Vann (right) celebrates.Benson, who hadn't missed a kick all year, shanked it wide left. The missed kick, which never had a chance, enabled Florida A&M to escape the Georgia Dome with an 18-17 win over rival Tennessee State in the 19th annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic.
It was the fifth straight year the game has been decided in the final period and the sixth straight time FAMU has beaten TSU. Tennessee State leads the series 25-22, but FAMU is now 11-3 against the Tigers in the Atlanta Football Classic.
"I had all the confidence in the world that he was going to make that kick," said Tennessee State coach James Webster. "I thought when he lined up, game over, end of the streak. I was already starting to think about how we were going to squib the kickoff."
Carter admitted, "It didn't look real good with eight seconds left."
Tennessee State took possession with 50 seconds left, having spent its final timeout on FAMU's previous possession. The Tigers (2-3) began on their own 5 after a holding penalty on the punt return.
But quarterback Antonio Heffner put Tennessee State in position to win the game with a pair of clutch passes, a 25-yarder to Ronald Evans and a 55-yarder to Chris Johnson, who almost scored before being gang tackled at the 5. Tennessee State suffered a 5-yard penalty for illegal procedure, then waited through a FAMU timeout before Benson attempted the kick.
"He's a very poised young man," Webster said. "He just didn't kick it right."
FAMU (2-2) won the game with a strong second half. The Rattlers, who trailed 14-5 at halftime, were more aggressive on defense and became more effective on offense after Leon Camel replaced starter Albert Chester late in the third quarter.
"We played awful football in the first half, not up to game tempo," Carter said. "At halftime we talked about the urgency we needed to have in the second half."
Photo: The Rattlers' Philip Sylvester, left, stiff arms the Tigers' #10, Reno Thompson for extra yardage.Freshman Qier Hall came up with the big plays the Rattlers needed in the third quarter. He returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown, then returned the next punt 20 yards to set up the go-ahead score.
"We told the special teams last night that we needed to make a big play and they did," Carter said. "That turned it around for us."
Webster agreed. "You take that [touchdown] away and we win the game," he said. "Those were two critical plays on the punt coverage team."
FAMU's Philip Sylvester provided the offensive stability needed. The freshman rushed 25 times for 131 yards and caught two passes. He was named the team's MVP.
Heffner, voted Tennessee State's MVP, led the Tigers by completing 12 of 22 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 67 yards and one touchdown. But Heffner was pursued more aggressively by the FAMU defense in the second half and could not produce another touchdown.
"They started taking more chances," Webster said. "The first half they sat back and let things happen. The second half they started blitzing and take chances.
The FAMU defense had only two sacks, but made eight tackles behind the line. Carlos Rolle led the Rattlers with nine tackles.
Atlanta Classic: Who needs football? Stylish tailgating at Classic
By JENNIFER BRETT, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tailgating, classic style: Hot dogs on the grill, brews in the cooler.
Tailgating, 100 Black Men of Atlanta style: Carving stations, proper silverware — and fantastic people watching.
"I don't do tailgating," said Charita Gray, among the crowd at the posh reception preceding Saturday's Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.
But the club-level shindig, held hours before Florida A&M and Tennessee State University took the field, suited her fine. The event featured live music, a cash bar and buffet stations with pasta, vegetables, maple-glazed turkey breast and Cajun roast beef. Some guests claimed comfy seats near a wall of televisions airing various sporting events, while others worked the crowd.
"This is absolutely the way to do it," said Cynthia Williams, vice president of resource development for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Chapter. She was seated near the keyboardist with Virginia Harris, the group's president.
Cynthia and Bobby Smith of Mableton attended as guests of former Assistant Secretary of State Terrell Slayton Jr., president-elect of 100 Black Men of Atlanta. Cynthia Smith chuckled as she contemplated the poor tailgaters having to get by without china or linen serviettes.
"They need to get in the know," she joked.
Kidding aside, of course, the Classic benefits Project Success, a mentoring program run by 100 Black Men of Atlanta that prepares young people to excel academically, professionally and in civic life.
And there's certainly nothing wrong with standard game-day fare, said a sharp-dressed Fonzworth Bentley, the former personal assistant of Sean "Diddy" Combs and author of "Advance Your Swagger: How to Use Manners, Confidence and Style to Get Ahead."
"That is the real thing, sitting outside, barbecuing, sweating," said Bentley, an Atlanta native known as Derek Watkins during his Morehouse College days. Casually elegant in blue jeans, blazer with pocket square and velvet slippers, he caught up with friends Leigh Jones and Tannis Williamson, both Clark Atlanta University alumnae.
(Yes, they both said, he was fabulous even before he became Fonzworth.)
Other notable attendees included Earl Martin and Hiram Little, both members of Atlanta chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. Earlier in the day they participated in the Classic parade, and heads swiveled as the gents made their way through the reception crowd.
"I appreciate all the attention I get," Little said. "I'm not going to lie, I love it. Although sometimes I think it's a little overdone."
"I don't," said Martin.
Last-second field goal sails wide left for TSU
Photo: Tennessee State running back Javarris Williams hurdles Florida A&M's Marquiste Ramos (91) for a first down. Williams led TSU in rushing with 87 yards in 19 carries.By GUY CURTRIGHT, For The Tennessean
ATLANTA — Tennessee State kicker Eric Benson fell to the turf in disbelief. He wasn't the only one who couldn't believe it.
"I think if he kicks it 10 times, he'll make it 10 times," Coach James Webster said.
But this was the Atlanta Football Classic, where the games almost always come down to the end and where the Tigers repeatedly have had their hearts broken.
Benson, who had made all five of his previous field-goal attempts this year, was wide left from 27 yards out with four seconds remaining as Florida A&M held on for an 18-17 victory against the Tigers on Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
"It was a good snap and a good hold," Webster said. "He just missed it."
With the miss came more frustration for TSU (2-3), which has lost six straight to FAMU (2-2). The past five all have been decided in the final minutes, but this might have been the most disappointing of all for the Tigers.
"I didn't think there was any way we'd miss that kick," said quarterback Antonio Heffner, who had set up the attempt with a 55-yard completion to Chris Johnson that carried the Tigers to the FAMU 5.
Thinking ahead
With no timeouts remaining, Heffner spiked the ball with eight seconds left. An illegal procedure penalty moved the ball back 5 yards, but it was still almost a chip shot for Benson, who had been the difference in TSU's two victories and kicked a 19-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter.
"I had all the confidence in the world that he'd make that kick," Webster said. "There was nothing in me or about me that made me think he was going to miss that kick. … I was already thinking about squibbing the kickoff."
But there was no kickoff, just jubilation on the FAMU sideline and stunned silence on the TSU side of the field.
"I told him to keep his head up," Heffner said of Benson, who was off limits to the media afterward.
"We just have to trust in God and stay strong."
As far as FAMU Coach Rubin Carter was concerned, the Rattlers' prayers were answered.
"I was thinking, 'Lord, I sure hope he misses this kick,'" Carter said.
Heffner passed for 309 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown strike to Troy Smith on TSU's third play, and ran for 67 with a 1-yard touchdown sneak. But the Tigers couldn't hold an early 11-point lead.
"We keep playing well enough to almost win, but not well enough to do it," the junior said. "It's good to come close I guess, but really frustrating to lose."
Special teams sink TSU this week
By GUY CURTRIGHT, For The Tennessean
ATLANTA — Turnovers didn't cost Tennessee State like they did a week earlier at Southern. On Saturday, it was special-teams problems.
A botched punt snap resulted in a safety just before halftime. An 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by Qier Hall put Florida A&M within three points in the third quarter. And a 20-yard return by Hall later in the third led to what proved to be the winning touchdown in the 18-17 TSU loss.
"That was a big play in the game," TSU Coach James Webster said of the touchdown return, during which Hall eluded the grasp of four would-be tacklers.
The Tigers' only turnover came on a third-quarter fumble by Javarris Williams, who had 87 yards on 19 carries. But quarterback Antonio Heffner did drop a direct snap on a fourth-down play in the fourth quarter.
Richardson plays: Despite a sore shoulder and knee, All-OVC defensive end Shaun Richardson played in the second half and had a sack in the fourth quarter.
"We thought we could get one big play out of him," Webster said. "He didn't play in the first half and I don't know if he should have in the second."
Gouch gets start: With Richardson hurting, freshman Branden Gouch got his first college start in his hometown. He went to Therrell High School, just a few miles from the Georgia Dome.
Other homecomings: Gouch was one of four players from Georgia to see plenty of action against FAMU. Nahshon Bigham, a senior from Macon, and Kalvin Baker, a sophomore from Columbus, started a linebacker. Ozzie Harrell, a freshman from the Atlanta suburb of Lithonia, played extensively at cornerback.
Time off: The Tigers are idle next weekend before returning to OVC play at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 11, a Thursday night game. TSU, which beat Austin Peay 33-32 in overtime in its OVC opener, defeated Tennessee Tech 30-20 last year in Nashville.
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