April 1, 1998
By Hal Lamar
BCSO Columnist
The so called enlightened minds of college and professional football think that Morris Brown's celebrated defensive back and punt/kickoff return specialist Roosevelt Blackmon will be picked up by an NFL team in the second round of the annual draft next weekend.
But Morris Brown's head coach Joe Crosby, who has guided Blackmon through his final two crucial college playing years, doubts Blackmon will be around in the second round.
"You never know, because professional coaches can't say, " he said in a recent interview. "If I were a professional coach, I wouldn't talk much either. Remember, he doesn't want to tip a competitor. But I think he's going to be picked up in the first round."
Blackmon's chances to go in the top round will be helped greatly with teams having more than one pick in that round. Such was the case in 1977 when Morris Brown defensive end Ezra Johnson was selected as one of the two first round picks of the Green Bay Packers. Johnson, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, played 15 seasons in the NFL. Like Blackmon, he too was considered a sleeper who performed well in scouting combines. However Johnson but didn't enjoy near the media ink that Blackmon has generated.
Since the season ended, Blackmon has been the subject of fat writeups in prestigious sports organs like ESPN Magazine. He was also featured prominently in the April 1st edition of the well read but conservative publication "The Sporting News". The article was headlined, " The Ultimate Sleeper." "The writer (Jeff Schultz) spent the whole day here, " said Crosby. And when the photographer took a picture of him which was to appear prominently on page one of the feature, he took off his gold chain. When the photographer asked why, Blackmon said that he didn't want to send the wrong message to the kids."
The compassion is genuine. One of Morris Brown's assistant coaches, Willie Hunter, conducts a Thursday bible study for interested players. He says Blackmon has never missed a session since it started.
Blackmon's devotion to the creator has also paid off for him on the gridiron, though he was first taken through a test. No, he was spared the loss of wealth, friends and sickness that accompanied the biblical prophet Job but the road he was forced to take to a penthouse of his college career may have seemed tantamount to the same thing.
With only one active and largely non-decrypt high school career and with no colleges looking in his direction, Blackmon paid his way to Morris Brown College on the advice of a cousin. He thought he could make the team as a walk-on but things didn't work out.
But not wanting to return to what he saw as a dead-end life in his native Belle Glade, Florida, he walked up instead to Morris Brown's equipment manager Cecil Fred and asked for a job as his assistant, a fancy word for water boy. He exchanged services for meal money and it kept him close to the football program.
Blackmon enrolled, got his lesson, worked an all night job and waited. When an opportunity came to join the team, he did, despite it being a position at defensive back and not wide receiver where he felt more comfortable.
But as it turned out, Greg Thompson, Morris Brown's former head coach, did him a favor. He also exploited Blackmon's small size and incredible speed by using him to field punts and kickoffs. Blackmon responded in a big way, remaining among the top four return men among all NCAA Division II colleges and repeatedly bringing partisan fans and opponents to their feet.
In one memorable home game two seasons ago against Alabama A&M,, Blackmon stunned opponents and sent the hometowners in a cheering fit by returning two punts 87 yards, back to back, for scores. That performance actually began the buzz over Blackmon, helped him earn all conference honors that year and partly influenced his invite to this year's Senior Bowl before the 1997 season even started. Blackmon performed admirably before NFL scouts watching the contest and got considerable attention once media got wind of his story.
"I'm proud to be a part of this program ," said Crosby, and to have had a part in developing Blackmon. When he goes to the NFL, Morris Brown goes there too. This is all great not only for him but the entire institution. When they identify him out there on that pro gridiron, they identify us too. Morris Brown is a part of nearly every play he makes."
Hal Lamar is a freelance writer in Atlanta contributing to several national and local publications. He is also a full-time reporter/talk show host for Atlanta radio stations WAOK and WVEE(V-103)FM. This football season, he will celebrate his 25th anniversary in the business.
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