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Colorado kicker Alejandro Mata follows in Deion Sanders’ footsteps and gets the opportunity of a lifetime

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One of the most underrated features of Deion Sanders’ Colorado experience was the journey Alejandro Matahis 20-year-old junior, a kicker. Mata followed Coach Prime from Jackson State to the University of Colorado, but that was only part of his story.

His journey to Boulder, Colorado, took him through Jackson, Mississippi, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where he was born. His father was the CEO of a world company, and there have been more stops along the way: Mexico, Brazil, and finally Buford, Georgia, where his family moved when he was 16.

Of all the changes, the most difficult was adjusting from highschool in Georgia to the historically black college culture in Mississippi.

“It was definitely more of a drastic transition from Buford to Jackson,” Mata said by phone Wednesday after practice. “I really had no expectations. I didn’t know what to expect. And just getting there and seeing the culture that Jackson State had was amazing.”

But whether it was at Jackson State or now Colorado, Mata has develop into a fan favorite wherever he’s gone. He attributes that to his ability to adapt to his many moves when he was young.

“I was born in Honduras, grew up in Mexico and Brazil, and then I moved to South Georgia, and then after a few years there, I moved to North Georgia,” Mata said. “So all those moves really helped me adjust to different cultures. Moving from an HBCU to Boulder, of course, was a complete culture shock, but it was nothing I hadn’t seen before. So that made it easier.”

Colorado coach Deion Sanders (left) with kicker Alejandro Mata (right) against Arizona at Folsom Field on Nov. 11, 2023.

Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire

It was college football that brought him to Boulder. Mata got here to the United States in 2016 but didn’t start playing until he was in the eighth grade, when his physical education teacher saw him kicking footballs out of bounds. He became a kicker for Buford High School, helping the team win two state championships in the past two years.

At 5-foot-9 and 190 kilos, Mata went undrafted, so he and his father visited schools and did workouts. There was one taker: Sanders at Jackson State. Mata eagerly accepted the scholarship offer, although he never in his wildest dreams thought he can be kicking in front of 40,000 college football fans.

“So initially, when I started playing football, I didn’t really see myself as a great player,” Mata said. “I really thought I was going to be a footballer my whole life and then I was going to work a regular 9-5. But football definitely broadened my perspective on what was possible.”

Last yr, Colorado began the season fantastically. They began the season with a surprise to seventeenth TCU. Colorado’s quarterback Sanders-shedeur threw for a school-record 510 yards and scored 4 touchdowns, with the victory being decided by a 46-yard catch-and-run by the freshman Dylan EdwardsColorado won 45-42.

Colorado won just three games the rest of the season and finished with a dismal 4-8 record.

Things are a bit more serious this season. Colorado is currently 2-1 and opens its Big 12 schedule Saturday against Baylor.

Mata said the biggest change for the team this yr is its attitude.

“Definitely the mentality,” he said. “Last year I felt we got a little too comfortable with a few wins, and this year we want to go all out.”

The highlight of Mata’s season last yr got here against Arizona State, when he kicked a 43-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to provide Colorado a 27-24 victory. But once I asked Mata to call the best moment of his college experience to this point, the kick against Arizona State got here in second.

He returned to Jackson State.

“A lot of people might think that was my game-winning kick against Arizona State last season,” he said. “But honestly, I think my first field goal — that Hard Rock Stadium, my first year, my first year against FAMU, 34 yards — was just incredible. Especially knowing that’s how I started my college career.”

Colorado Buffaloes kicker Alejandro Mata (right) celebrates with punter Mark Vassett (left) after scoring the game-winning field goal against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium on Oct. 7, 2023.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mata’s story has so many dimensions. One of them is the role HBCUs play in providing opportunity, serving as launching pads for greater and higher things.

Although he was at Colorado for 2 seasons, the HBCU experience at Jackson State is etched in his heart. Whether it’s the homecoming, the Greek life or the atmosphere, the HBCU culture isn’t something you’ll be able to easily replicate.

“I talk about it with my friends all the time,” he said. “The culture and the fans there are just different. Like homecoming week, Greek life there, it was just a party every day, basically. Or at least that’s how it felt.”

Mata plans to return to Jackson State next month. “Luckily, this season, our week off falls on our home week at Jackson State. So I plan on flying out there for the game.”

Of course, one of the drawbacks of being in Colorado is that he now finds himself playing on a big stage in a Power 5 conference that has a history of producing skilled athletes. He is closer than he ever could have imagined to achieving what once may need gave the impression of an unattainable goal of playing skilled football.

“It’s great to know that I can create wealth for generations, not just for myself but for future generations, my family and my parents, because that’s really the only reason I do this,” Mata said. “My dad worked too hard for me not to be successful, and I want to be able to take that back once I get drafted or join the NFL.”

To try this, Mata knows he needs to enhance. He is usually described as a “line drive” or “low trajectory” field goal kicker. He is comfortable kicking field goals from 53 to 54 yards, although his longest field goal this yr was 27 yards.

As a sophomore, he made 10 of 12 field goal attempts — his misses were from greater than 40 yards out. His longest attempt of the season was 47 yards out. “I definitely need to get my distance up. That’s the most important thing for me right now. I know I have the accuracy to get to the next level, but if I really want to guarantee myself a spot there, I definitely need to get a few more yards up in range.”

How? “Getting in shape, obviously getting stronger, getting more flexible, getting more confident from a distance. I know I can get to 55, no problem. I just have to tell myself I can.”

Most importantly, Mata was in a position to complete his studies because of a sports scholarship.

Colorado Buffaloes kicker Alejandro Mata in motion against the Utah Utes on Nov. 25, 2023, at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Very few players in major league college football or the NFL have had an African-American coach. Mata is fortunate to have a coach like Sanders, who played in the MLB and had a Hall of Fame profession in the NFL. Sanders looks in school football through a business lens and encourages his players to look beyond the field and the immediacy of being a college football player.

“What’s special about him is not only that he’s a football coach, but I think he’s great at coaching us in life,” Mata said. “He’s great at preparing us for life after football, in case some of us don’t make it. And I think that’s what sets him apart from other coaches.”

There was a significant Latino population in Buford, a small Latino population in Jackson, and now Colorado has a significant Latino population again. “Especially around Pueblo and Aurora, it’s just great to have people like me around,” Mata said.

When asked how he identifies, Mata said, “To be honest, I just say Spanish because I grew up in a lot of places, so I don’t really know what to say considering where I come from. So I just say Spanish.”

I asked Mata what he considered the pressing issue of immigration, knowing that as a college athlete he needed to walk a very superb line. He was a diplomat.

“Of course I see points of view on both sides, but for the most part I try to stay away from politics,” he said. “I just don’t try to piss anyone off over something I don’t like or something I like.”

Mata’s family still lives in Buford. His oldest sister is a junior in highschool, and his youngest is just starting middle school. Mata will not be a national star like Colorado teammates Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but he’s a legend at Buford High School. “My sister always tells me how the new freshmen come up to her and ask if she’s my little sister, if we’re related,” he said. “The new teacher she has on her roster who taught me always asks her if we’re related.”

Life is sweet, and it is going to be even higher if Mata will help Sanders replicate in Colorado the success he had at Jackson State, where he went 27-6 in three seasons and won two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.

“Right now, we’re just worried about Baylor,” Mata said. “But if we’re talking about the bigger picture, we’re thinking about competing for the Big 12 championship. We want to compete for the national championship, make the playoffs as a team.”

His individual goals: “I definitely want every opportunity to count for me, whether it’s a field goal or a PAT, and I want to be able to capitalize on every single one of them.”

Mata definitely made the most of the opportunity this trip of a lifetime gave her.

William C. Rhoden is a columnist at Andscape and the creator of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete. He directs Rhoden Fellows, a training program for aspiring journalists at HBCUs.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Former Super Bowl player arrested after allegedly assaulting 82-year-old at gym

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16 hours ago

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September 22, 2024

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A retired NFL player has been arrested after being accused of assaulting an 82-year-old man while they were each at an area Planet Fitness in August. According to , the incident occurred in North Providence, RI, where police arrested former New England Patriots defensive end Patrick Pass on September 18.

The assault allegedly occurred at a gym on Aug. 28. Pass allegedly punched 82-year-old Juan Muriel after the 2 argued over exercise equipment, police said. Muriel fell to the ground and suffered back injuries.

informed that the surveillance recording revealed According to Alfredo Ruggiero Jr., North Providence Police Chief, Muriel went to the machine to wipe it because she thought it was empty. That’s when an argument broke out with Pass, who was standing near the machine.

“I believe the victim thought the machine was empty, which meant he thought he could use it,” Ruggiero said.

Authorities say Pass is charged with assault on a person over 60, causing bodily harm and disorderly conduct. The former football player was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond pending a hearing, in line with court documents.

Police said he was scheduled to seem in court in December.

A Planet Fitness spokesman said:

“At Planet Fitness, the safety of our members is our top priority and we take incidents like this very seriously. The individual’s membership has been canceled and the local franchise group is working closely with authorities on the ongoing investigation. Please contact your local authorities for additional information.”

A reporter from spoke to Pass at his home, and he responded, “Look at me, do you think I’m going to do this? Really? Please come on,” Pass said. “I’ve got better things to do than try to mug someone.”

Pass is because of appear in court in December.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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‘Mike Doesn’t Look His Healthiest’: Fans Spot Disturbing Changes in Michael Jordan’s Appearance That Raise Serious Health Concerns

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1 day ago

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September 21, 2024

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Many sports enthusiasts consider Michael Jordan to be the best skilled basketball player of all time. However, fans of the NBA legend are actually concerned about his well-being.

Jordan traveled to Monaco together with his wife, Yvette Prieto, for the UEFA Champions League match between Monaco and Barcelona on September 19, which Monaco won 2-1.

Michael Jordan Donates $10 Million to Medical Clinics in His North Carolina Hometown: 'Everyone Should Have Access to Quality Healthcare'
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 24: Michael Jordan attends a press conference before the NBA Paris Game between the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks on January 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Photos of the American billionaire in the European country sparked concern from social media users after Bleacher Report shared photos of Jordan on Instagram. Fans who zoomed in on the photo immediately noticed that his sclera (the white of his eyes) appeared discolored.

“What’s up with his eyes, man?” one person wrote in the comments section. Another asked, “Does he have jaundice??? His eyes are way too yellow.”

A 3rd fan wrote: “Mike doesn’t look the healthiest. Maybe he’ll have to give up the cigars and cognac.”

Jaundice is a disease that causes the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes to show yellow. According to Cleveland Clinicthe disease could also be brought on by liver dysfunction.

“His liver is begging for help,” one Instagram user wrote of Michael Jordan. Another account exclaimed, “Check out the GOAT’s liver!”

People on the web also offered advice to the six-time NBA champion. For example, one suggested, “MJ, drink some water, man, for fuck’s sake.”

There was also speculation that His Airness can have been smoking marijuana, with an Instagram user wondering: “Is this guy high or did he have a shot to the liver?”

Jordan was often known as a celebration animal in the ’90s. According to his former teammates and players, he had a habit of drinking beer while playing golf all day, then heading to the basketball court for a game. Today, he can often be found partying on yachts with friends, smoking a cigar.

Magic Johnson told an identical story about how Jordan, whom he described as “the strongest, non-basketball player… athlete I’d ever seen,” once wanted him to come back home after hours.

“I told Mike I can’t stay up until 4 a.m., have a drink, get up, play 18 rounds of golf, sleep for an hour and then come in and score 30 (points) by halftime,” Johnson told Shannon Sharpe on “Club Shay Shay.” “I know who I am.”

This isn’t the primary time Jordan’s eye color has been rumored. After the 10-part Netflix docuseries The Last Dance premiered in 2020, viewers theorized a few possible MJ condition.

“Yellow eyes should not be ignored because they are a sign of something more. There is literally more than meets the eye,” said ophthalmologist Dr. Val Phua VICE in 2020 in response to Jordan’s appearance in the film “The Last Dance.”

The doctor from the Eagle Eye Centre in Singapore also said that “leaving eye diseases untreated leads to vision deterioration and even blindness.”

While questions on his health proceed to arise, Jordan has expressed interest in helping others receive treatment. The North Carolina-raised athlete has teamed up with Novant Health to open three clinics in his home state.

Two Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics have opened in Charlotte. The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington will open in May 2024.

“Everyone deserves access to high-quality health care, no matter where they live or whether they have insurance,” Jordan said in press release earlier this yr.

He added, “I am truly inspired by the many moving stories of people who are now experiencing success thanks to the support of our medical clinics in Charlotte.”

Jordan was previously married to Juanita Vanoy in September 1989. She was reportedly awarded a $168 million settlement after filing for divorce for a second time in 2006. They had three children: Jeffrey, 35, Marcus, 33, and Jasmine, 31, who’s involved in her father’s athletic shoe line.

The NBA Hall of Famer married Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto in April 2013. The couple, who met in 2008 and got engaged in 2011, share 10-year-old twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels steps into action

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2 days ago

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September 20, 2024

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Star black quarterbacks aren’t any longer the exception, they’re the rule. Throughout the football season, this series will explore the importance and influence of black quarterbacks from the grassroots level to the NFL.

ASHBURN, Va. – The Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is off to a solid start, which comes as no surprise to the previous Commanders quarterback.

Jason Campbell, a former first-round pick of the Washington Redskins and a four-year starter for the franchise, became a fan of Daniels after watching him play in college at LSU. Daniels’ success as a running back has benefited the Commanders during their 1-1 start, Campbell said, and can help Daniels change into more comfortable within the team’s passing game. Campbell is optimistic about Daniels’ future, provided the Washington coaching staff properly handles the young player’s development.

Campbell said Daniels continues to make the precise decisions because the team prepares on the practice facility for a Week 3 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“One of the things he does really well is protecting the ball. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet, and for a rookie quarterback through his first two games, that’s really good,” Campbell told Andscape on Tuesday. “Even when that (fumble) happens, and it’ll occur, you’ll be able to see he understands he has to make good decisions with the ball. I do know they’re attempting to protect him from running an excessive amount of. I understand it’s a giant deal (a couple of potential injury). There was quite a lot of discuss him rushing 16 times in Week 1.

“But it’s not like they designed 16 runs for him. If they did, yes, that would be a problem. But most of those runs were rushes. Those runs are going to open up explosive plays in the passing game because of the pressure they put on the defense when a quarterback can run like he can. There’s just not a lot of guys who can do that. The difference in Washington from LSU is that in addition to the running, he had so many explosive passing plays at LSU. Once he starts building that chemistry with his receivers, combined with the running, those plays are going to happen.”

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels steps out from outside the penalty area at Northwest Stadium on September 15 in Landover, Maryland.

Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Selected second overall within the 2024 draft, the 23-year-old Daniels is amongst six quarterbacks chosen in the primary round, tying a record set in 1983. Through two games, the Washington rookie has been the perfect of the bunch.

Daniels accomplished 75.5 percent of his passes for 410 yards. While he didn’t have any touchdown passes, Daniels, crucially, didn’t have any interceptions either. Daniels has 132 rushing yards (and a formidable 5.1 yards per rush average) with two rushing touchdowns. He fumbled the ball twice, however the Commanders recovered it each times.

For comparison, the opposite two rookies playing at point guard, the No. 1 pick Caleb Williams Chicago Bears and the twelfth pick Because Nixa The Denver Broncos struggled. Both seemed overwhelmed by the speed of the sport.

After the visiting Commanders lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Daniels’ profession debut, he showed poise of their home opener, confidently leading the game-winning drive that capped a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants. With the Commanders trailing 18-15 late within the fourth quarter, Daniels led the team in back-to-back field goals, including a 30-yarder as time expired. On those drives, he accomplished 7 of 9 passes for 91 yards. Daniels ran twice for 15 yards.

After watching Daniels at LSU, Campbell thought the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner’s game would translate well to the NFL because “it’s all about the RPO (run and pass option) in the league these days,” Campbell said. “NFL coaches want guys who can make plays with their legs now. And from the first time you watch him, you can see he really does that.”

In his current role as a radio analyst for Auburn Sports Network, Campbell has often watched Daniels play within the SEC. Selected as an analyst for his alma mater in 2023, Campbell was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. That season, he led undefeated Auburn to an SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl victory.

Washington chosen Campbell in the primary round (twenty fifth overall) of the 2005 draft. He then had a 10-year NFL profession, also playing for the then-Oakland Raiders, Bears, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

When Campbell first saw Daniels, who transferred to LSU after three seasons at Arizona State, play in person, one thought immediately got here to mind: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Although Daniels wasn’t as polished as Jackson, the two-time AP NFL MVP, “you could see some of the same things,” Campbell said. “Guys like Lamar, Jalen Hurts (of the Philadelphia Eagles), Justin Fields (of the Pittsburgh Steelers) … they make big plays with their legs.

“When I was playing, they (coaches) always wanted you to stay in the pocket. If you didn’t stay in the pocket, it was like, ‘Oh shit. I did something wrong.’ Now, if you can get out of the pocket and run like they do, coaches see that as an added threat. The whole coaching mindset has changed. It’s a big bonus now. The RPO game has really allowed guys to come in and start right away and learn on the field. A guy like Daniels can beat you with his legs and his arm.”

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates after a game against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on September 15 in Landover, Maryland.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

As a member of the fraternity of black quarterbacks in Washington, Campbell is a giant fan of Daniels’ development.

Quarterback Doug Williams’ iconic, myth-busting Super Bowl performance got here when he led Washington to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. Williams became the primary black quarterback to start out a Super Bowl game and won the sport’s MVP award.

Although Williams, who’s a senior adviser to the Washington general manager, was not drafted by the Commanders and commenced only 14 games for the franchise in 4 seasons, all the black quarterbacks who play for the team accomplish that in his shadow, Campbell said. The club also drafted Robert Griffin III (2012, No. 2 overall) and Dwayne Haskins (2019, No. 15 overall) in the primary round.

“You feel like there’s a little extra pressure to live up to that,” Campbell said. “Because he was the primary black quarterback to win a Super Bowl and he did it for Washington, that’s a giant deal.

“But the bottom line is, to get anywhere in this league as a quarterback, you have to be in the right place, in the right situation, and have the right pieces around you. For (Daniels), it’s going in a pretty good direction right now.”

Commanders fans, hungry for fulfillment, are hoping Daniels continues on his current profession path.

Jason Reid is a senior NFL author at Andscape. He enjoys watching sports, especially any games involving his son and daughter.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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