Area Schools Receive NFL Golden Footballs To Honor Local Super Bowl Players

February 11, 2016

Three North Escambia area high schools — Tate, Northview and Escambia County (Atmore) — were surprised with golden footballs from the NFL to commemorate Super Bowl 50.

High schools across the country, and around the globe, were given a Wilson Golden Football for every player or head coach who graduated from the school and was on an active Super Bowl roster.

The NFL Foundation will also provide the schools with a new character education curriculum and the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to help support and grow their football programs. The NFL Foundation has invested $1 million towards the campaign.

Super Bowl High School Honor Roll is an initiative developed by the NFL to recognize schools and communities that contributed to Super Bowl history and positively impacted the game of football.

The three North Escambia area schoold receiving the golden footballs and their Super Bowl connections were:

  • Century/Northview — Anthony Pleasant, Super Bowl XXXVI (2002) and Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004), New England Patriots
  • Tate High  – Fred Robbins, Super Bowl XLII (2008), New York Giants; Graham Gano, Super Bowl 50 (2016), Carolina Panthers (Gano was not part of the golden ball distribution)
  • Escambia County High School (Atmore) — Don McNeal, Super Bowls XVII (1983), XIX  (1985), Miami Dolphins; Ron Middleton, Super Bowl XXVI (1992), Washington Redskins

Other Escambia and Santa Rosa County schools with connections to the Super Bowl are list below.  Those taking part in Super Bowl 50 were not included in the football distribution (as it was planned before the game):

  • Catholic — Josh Sitton, Super Bowl XLV (2011), Green Bay Packers
  • Escambia — Emmitt Smith, Super Bowl XXVII (1993), Super Bowl XXVIII (1994), Super Bowl XXX (1996), Dallas Cowboys.
  • Washington — Derrick Brooks, Super Bowl XXXVII (2003); Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Horace Jones, Super Bowl XI (1977), Oakland Raiders
  • Woodham — Tyronne Green, Super Bowl 50 (2016), Carolina Panthers
  • Gulf Breeze — Doug Baldwin, Super Bowl XLVIII (2014), Super Bowl XLIX (2015), Seattle Seahawks; Jason McKie, Super Bowl XLI (2007), Chicago Bears
  • Milton — Lawrence Tynes, Super Bowl XLII (2008), New York Giants; Elijah Williams, Super Bowl XXXIII (1999), Atlanta  Falcons; Courtland Finnegan, Super Bowl 50 (2016), Carolina Panthers.

Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver said the school hopes to hold an assembly at a future date with Anthony Pleasant.  Defensive end Pleasant, who was born in Century, was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round fof the 1990 NFL Draft. He earned his Super Bowl rings in 2002 and 2004 with the New England Patriots. He graduated from Century High School n 1986, before Century and Ernest Ward High School were later consolidated into Northview High School.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Area Schools Receive NFL Golden Footballs To Honor Local Super Bowl Players”

  1. Old Coach on February 11th, 2016 1:32 pm

    @gman. Finegan played at Milton High School. Gano played Tate High. The footballs did not include players in the 50th Super Bowl because the balls were sent out prior to the game. At the time they hadn’t played in a Super Bowl yet. I along with another coach represented Anthony Pleasant at the meeting at Escambia High School.

  2. question mark on February 11th, 2016 8:58 am

    Very nice gesture. Also, Wayne Frazier who played at Evergreen Al High School and Auburn University was honored. He was the first player introduced at the first Super Bowl as member of the KC Chiefs. He also coached at WS Neal HS and later worked for State Farm in Brewton.

  3. Gman on February 11th, 2016 5:36 am

    What about Courtland Finnigan, Super Bowl 50 (2016), Carolina Panthers, Catholic High School I believe.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports