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‘He’s Like Family’: Rivalry Strengthens Strong Bond Between Former NFL Teammates

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Chris Dishman called a handful of individuals shortly after Texas Southern’s vp of intercollegiate athletics Kevin Granger he informed him in January that he can be named the brand new head football coach of the Tigers.

Prairie View A&M football coach is on the short list of people that must be told immediately Bubba McDowellDishman’s former NFL teammate.

“He (McDowell) was very instrumental in me getting this job,” Dishman said. “We’re not blood brothers, but he’s like family.”

Once close teammates, they became enemies with the Southwestern Athletic Conference West at Texas Southern 27-9 After defeating Prairie View A&M on Saturday within the Labor Day Classic, Dishman picked up his first win as Tigers football coach — and his first against McDowell.

Texas Southern (1-0) broke a series of nine defeats to Prairie View A&M (0-1), bringing the Durley-Nicks Trophy to Houston for the primary time since 2014. Dishman became the second TSU head coach in 12 seasons to win the annual classic in his coaching debut.

He also won the old fraternal “hit the beach” contest, he said. The long-standing Oilers tradition was began by former Houston defensive coordinator and head coach Jerry Glanville, who awarded players green military helmets during practices for the perfect special play of the week during matches.

“One of my first touchdowns in the NFL was when Bubba blocked a kick and I picked it up and scored,” Dishman said. “I can keep my helmet here.”

Dishman, an elite cornerback, and McDowell, a pointy safety and excellent special teams player, were teammates from 1988 to 1994 on the previous Houston Oilers, a unit defined by its physicality. Houston chosen Dishman, a former Purdue star, within the fifth round. 1988 NFL Draft and McDowell, a Miami standout, within the third round 1989 NFL Draft.

Although neither Dishman, 59, nor McDowell, 57, wore the uniforms they wore together in Houston, their coaching philosophies of brotherhood and shared experiences, attention to detail and football sense were on full display Saturday.

“Coach McDowell told me there’s no rivalry until we win one game,” Dishman told reporters after the sport. “So we won one game, now the rivalry starts.”

Even after TSU clinched the victory over its division rival, Glanville called the meeting the true definition of brotherhood.

Dishman and McDowell’s friendship originally began over Glanville. When he watched film of then-Purdue linebacker Fred Strickland before the 1988 draft, he noticed “this cornerback who kept making plays,” he said.

After seeing quite a few flashes of Dishman’s ability on defense, Glanville had had enough.

“I turned off the film and said, ‘I don’t want a linebacker, I want a cornerback,'” he said.

The Oilers were also known for his or her kick blocking on special teams, and Glanville desired to bolster that effort. He selected McDowell.

“When I first met Bubba, he was a teenager,” Glanville said. “He was a young pup, but he was the best kick blocker in the country.”

Dishman agreed. “He could slide under big offensive linemen and make plays. I always wanted to line up next to him. He was such a terror on special teams, blocking kicks.”

Although McDowell fancied himself a special teams superpower, he also desired to be a starter on the Oilers’ defense. But before he got his likelihood, the 6-foot-1 safety, who played more zone under then-coach Jimmy Johnson on the University of Miami, needed to learn every thing he could about playing defense in Houston. Dishman became his teacher.

In 1989, McDowell fought for a starting spot. McDowell often sat over Dishman, who “crouched on almost every play” in Cover 2 defenses, he said.

“Cris would always tell me, ‘Make sure you’re deep,’ and he’d ask, ‘Are you supporting me?’” McDowell said.

While pure athletic ability helped McDowell execute plays based on advice he received from other veterans on the team, he quickly learned the importance of watching more footage of coverages and his opponents.

“I tried to do things my way,” McDowell said. “(Dishman) reminded me of three things: This isn’t Miami, the NFL will humiliate you and everyone is either at my level or better. How I decided to handle it was up to me.”

A young Nick Saban, who was the Oilers’ defensive backs coach within the Nineteen Nineties 1988 to 1989i felt the identical way.

“He (Saban) kept telling me that if I studied and watched more film, I could make a lot more plays and potentially get selected to the Pro Bowl,” McDowell said. “I took it with a grain of salt at first because I wasn’t used to it.”

Taking Saban’s advice and heeding the recommendation of veterans like defensive end Sean Jones, defensive back Richard Johnson and linebacker Robert Lyles, McDowell, despite never making the Pro Bowl in his seven-year NFL profession, became the Oilers’ starting defensive end.

“They (Dishman and McDowell) played so well, a lot of people thought I could be a coach,” Glanville said with amusing. “But they were more than just players. Now that they’re coaches, I’d bet all the money I’ve ever made that those two are changing players’ lives every day.”

While Dishman and McDowell became true stars on the Oilers’ defense, their success wasn’t just a mirrored image of their individual skills; it was a testament to their commitment to remaining students of the sport. Dishman recalled how he and McDowell spent a few years in San Diego training for upcoming seasons, hoping to get one step closer to winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Although Dishman and McDowell never won a Super Bowl, the Oilers’ postseason resurgence has been well-documented. They have played in five of Houston makes seven consecutive postseason appearances — 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 — including two AFC Central division titles. However, their tenure also included “Return” within the 1993 postseason, when the Oilers surrendered a 35-3 result in the Buffalo Bills, leading to Houston pulling off the best comeback in NFL history.

While no football team is without flaws, Lyles knew each Dishman and McDowell can be special. Lyles, who played for Houston from 1984 to 1990 and was a captain, said each were “classic doers” and “real men” in life.

“When I came in, we were a couple years away from getting Houston back on track,” Lyles said. “Cris and Bubba took it to the next level and carried the torch. … They locked guys in there. They were teachable and passed on the lessons they learned from watching us to the younger players.”

Eddie GeorgeThe 1995 Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, chosen by the Oilers in the primary round of the 1996 draft, finished his first season because the NFL’s offensive rookie of the 12 months. George, now the Tennessee State football coach, said his success as a professional wouldn’t have been possible without veterans like Dishman.

“He’s one of my best friends,” George said. “He’d invite me to meet his buddies at this place in Houston and show me what to look out for, who to talk to, what to stay away from.”

Dishman, who has nearly 20 years of coaching experience, instills that very same sense of brotherhood in his players at Texas Southern.

“Besides being better players, we go to church every Sunday and have team dinners where we get to hang out with our teammates,” the senior linebacker from Texas Southern said. Javius ​​Williams, who finished second on the Tigers defense in tackles (six) and intercepted one pass in Saturday’s victory“They are mandatory. They have helped us build bonds that help us in the trenches.”

McDowell, who initially didn’t see himself as a coach because he didn’t consider he had the patience, is pursuing the identical team-building program at Prairie View A&M.

“Trying to pour into players like Nick Saban did with me, I know what he went through with me,” McDowell said. “That’s the job.”

The last time Texas Southern had a winning season was It was in 2000in the identical season as Dishman retired from the NFL. But after TSU beat Prairie View A&M, the SWAC last 12 months vice-championshipUnder Dishman, a brand new chapter could begin in Houston.

Dishman and McDowell said that regardless of what the long run holds, they may all the time be close.

“We both want to win,” Dishman said with amusing. “The team that wins the red-zone battle, converts the most third downs, wins special teams and stays calm when the pressure is on is going to win the game. … But through it all and in the future, he will always be my brother.”

Wilton Jackson, a 2024 APSE Diversity Fellow, is an award-winning journalist with experience covering every thing from breaking news to sports. A native of Jackson, Mississippi (TheSipp, #601), he’s an Allen Iverson enthusiast, a supporter of HBCUs and ladies’s sports, and a longtime New Orleans Saints fan.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Andscape Roundtable: What Five-Star Recruit Julian Lewis’ Commitment Means to Colorado, Deion Sanders

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Coaches Deion Sanders and Colorado took on a crucial project within the 2025 class on Thursday as five-star point guard Julian Lewis of Carrollton, Georgia, committed to the Buffaloes. Andscape columnist William C. Rhoden, JJT Media Group president Jean-Jacques Taylor and Andscape digital leader Erik Horne discuss what Lewis’ involvement means for Sanders’ future, the Colorado agenda, the NIL deal and more.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Michael Jordan invests in the Courtside Ventures VC fund

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Micheal Jordan, Brightness In Black,storyCorp, Jordan Bran


After adding greater than $2 billion to his personal fortune after selling the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, basketball legend Michael Jordan put a few of his money right into a sports fund to boost $100 million.

According to Sportico, Jordan does investing in the Courtside Ventures enterprise capital fund, which focuses on sports, lifestyle and gaming.

The media received a text message from certainly one of Courtside Ventures’ business partners, Curtis Polk, confirming the details about Jordan’s investment. The amount he invested was not disclosed.

Polk is Jordan’s business partner and co-owner of the NASCAR 23XI Racing team.

Company website lists The Athletic, 100 Thieves and Jackpot.com as a part of its portfolio. According to Courtside Ventures’ LinkedIn profile, the company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in New York.

The partners are Deepen Parikh, Vasu Kulkarni and Kai Bond. The group’s advisors include former NFL player Larry Fitzgerald and former DraftKings executive Sean Hurley.

In June, the company submitted approx Form D with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission outlining Courtside Ventures’ intentions to boost $100 million in its fourth round of funding. A complete of $190 million was raised in the first three rounds.

Jordan plays the role of an influence player. According to , he recently became the owner of a brand new Gulfstream G650ER private jet, useful for roughly $65 million.

Jordan has turn out to be an astute businessman since he retired from basketball and commenced investing in many ventures that increase his profits.

He and Polk, together with their 23XI Racing partner, racer Denny Hamlin, recently filed an antitrust lawsuit with one other automotive owner, Front Row Motorsports, against NASCAR and CEO Jim France, alleging that it engaged in anticompetitive practices to forestall fair competition on the sports market.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has the experience and influence of being an NFL coach

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As the next NFL recruiting cycle begins, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is once more a number one head coaching candidate. And rightly so.

Over the course of three seasons leading an impressive Lions offense that’s amongst the best and fun to look at in the league, Johnson has established himself as an astute X’s and O’s man. It’s easy to see why franchises trying to fill top coaching positions have been courting him over the last two cycles.

Perhaps franchise owners must also take an extended take a look at Johnson’s defensive counterpart, as Lions defensive quarterback Aaron Glenn is value far more attention. As it seems, Detroit coach Dan Campbell made a fantastic move by hiring each of his top lieutenants.

Although Glenn didn’t achieve his Detroit colleague’s rock star status during interviews, he played a serious role in the band’s impressive turnaround under Campbell. This season, Glenn has received high praise from around the league for keeping the Lions defense healthy, which lost several key players to injury, including star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season in Week 6.

Campbell praises Glenn for his work ethic and willingness, traits Campbell has admired in his friend since their days as NFL teammates and their time together as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints. What sets Glenn aside from many coaches is the way he runs, Campbell says, and any team owner can be sensible to present Glenn his own shop to run.

As the NFC North’s top team prepares for Sunday’s road game against the Indianapolis Colts, Glenn, 52, is making all the right moves on a defense shorthanded. While injuries are a component of life in skilled sports’ most dangerous workplace, some losses are far more difficult to beat than others.

In a 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Hutchinson suffered two broken bones in his left leg and underwent season-ending surgery. The Pro Bowler entered the game leading the NFL in sacks, quarterback hits and pressures. The Lions were missing Marcus Davenport, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3.

Then, during a 52-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, linebacker Alex Anzalone suffered a broken forearm. He is predicted to be sidelined for a maximum of eight weeks. Detroit decided to step up its passing game by acquiring linebacker Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, but it surely’s as much as Glenn to shoulder the defensive load and find latest ways to best utilize his remaining energetic players.

The evidence shows that Glenn performed well under duress.

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches from the sidelines during a Nov. 17 game at Ford Field in Detroit.

Steven King/Sportswire Icon

Against Detroit, opponents rating an average of 17.7 points and 94.8 rushing yards, which supplies the team fifth place in the league in each categories. The Lions (9-1) lead the Philadelphia Eagles by one game in the race for the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs, and Glenn is earning rave reviews for his contributions to their success.

The evidence of Glenn’s coaching acumen is each indisputable and overwhelming, said Troy Vincent, the NFL’s vp of football operations.

“Throughout Aaron’s NFL career and now in his current position as the Lions’ defensive coordinator, he has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, development and creativity,” Vincent wrote to Andscape in a text message Wednesday. “There is no denying his tremendous coaching ability, as evidenced by the Lions’ vastly improved defense.”

Since he and Glenn had briefly been teammates with the Dallas Cowboys, Campbell believed Glenn had what it took to in the future change into a fantastic coach.

Taken twelfth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft, Glenn had a 15-year profession with the Jets, Houston Texans, Cowboys, Jaguars and Saints. The three-time Pro Bowl running back then moved on to coaching and scouting, eventually working his way as much as the position of director of the Saints’ secondary under then-coach Sean Payton. Campbell coached the Saints on tight ends, and the Texas A&M graduates formed a bond.

After Campbell became Detroit’s coach in 2021, Glenn followed him to run the team’s defense. Make no mistake, hiring Glenn was one of Campbell’s most significant moves in his efforts to show around the troubled Lions.

In the 2008-09 season, the Lions went 0-16. Before the arrival of Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, the Lions last won the league title in the 1993-94 season. Detroit hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1991-92 season. Last season, the Lions achieved each feats en path to the NFC Championship Game.

To their credit, the Lions have picked up on offense quicker than defense (they lead the league in scoring at 33.6 points per game), which contributed to Johnson being more wanted to potentially fill coaching vacancies than Glenn. However, Glenn has been interviewing for the last three cycles and Campbell is confident that Glenn is prepared to guide the entire team.

“He has great vision to put together a plan,” Campbell told reporters in Detroit. “He understands football thoroughly. And if you start talking about his leadership, he’s one of those guys, he’s special. He is special. He has.

“His ability to communicate, relate, push, grind, love and demand – he has it all. He is an excellent speaker, he is an outstanding teacher. … That’s why I say I’m lucky to have him working with me.”

For Glenn, nothing is more essential than all the time setting the right example.

“I try to do everything I can to focus on the players,” Glenn said. “I’m trying to do everything I can to focus on the team and get the most out of… my staff to make sure we’re on track in terms of playing good defense. Everyone is different. And that makes it nice to be able to take advantage of each player’s unique characteristics and put them in the right positions (to be successful).”

Glenn’s coaching philosophy is easy: be authentic and make a positive impact on those around you.

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn reacts during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field in Detroit on November 17.

Junfu Han Network/USA TODAY via Imagn Images

“The most important thing is to be yourself,” Glenn said. “Players know a fake once they see one. And if you attempt to cheat this business, you’re going to get kicked out of it in a short time because then the respect factor disappears.

“For me, leadership comes down to one word –… How do you influence players? What influence do you have on coaches? Leadership isn’t about me giving pathetic speeches. They’ve heard this before. That’s how I influence these guys.”

The buzz around the league is that while Glenn has been considered for the head coaching position in previous cycles, he’s well-positioned to be a finalist for the position on this one. He can be one of the strongest candidates, said Rod Graves, leader of a gaggle that advises the NFL on diversity, equity and inclusion in the hiring process.

“Aaron has proven to be one of the best coaches in the NFL,” Graves, executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, wrote to Andscape in a text message. “He joined the league’s elite as an excellent strategist.

“The Detroit Lions have developed an attitude of toughness, physicality and attention to detail. Aaron is a big reason for this. He trains like he plays.”

“There is an expectation that Aaron will undoubtedly be involved when head coaching positions become available. Maybe he will be the beginning of Coach Campbell’s tree,” Vincent wrote in a text message.

Even if Johnson continues to be the first to branch out on his own, Glenn definitely seems capable of rising higher. It’s only a matter of whether team owners pay more attention to others who’re improving.

Jason Reid is a senior NFL author at Andscape. He likes watching sports, especially any matches through which his son and daughter participate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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