As a Kingston College man who bleeds purple and white, many times I am taking aback by the fact that a tiny little institution on a tiny Caribbean island can produce so many brilliant and thoughtful leaders. Not only does this tiny little institution produce leaders, it is their humility that is the embodiment of the "purple spirit".
This tiny little institution has produced its share of winners; however, if one was to take a dispassionate look at what its graduates are winning in, its life in general. Too often, victory is defined in such a narrow sense so much so that it fails to capture the imagination of a captive audience.
A sprinter breaks the tape first and he is feted and celebrated; however, what is not seen is the countless hours of toiling to hone a physical ability that will deliver the win. Winning isn't everything. How about the politician who runs a campaign and wins an election. He is now in office and is noted in that role; however, what is not seen, is that politician's almost insatiable quest to find the right voice for change. Winning isn't everything.
What I am trying to say is that the "winners" that Kingston College produces, are not winners for the fame and glory that is bestowed upon them. Kingston College produces winners who are change agents. Change agents not only in their only little sphere of influence, but agents who transform cities, states and countries. I know by now some of you are saying, "what a bag of rubbish", or "a wey da eediot bwoy de Ector a chat bout."
Walk with me a minute as I take outside the glare of the podium, and position you behind the scenes of what change agents do. However, before we go behind that podium, let me lay the ground rules by stating what characteristics are embodied in a "purple and white" change agent. They are:
1) Humble
2) Driven
3) Passionate
4) Blessed beyond measure with an innate ability in their respected fields
All of this introductory jibberish is simply to let all of you know that another Fortisan has broken down another barrier, and in process has transformed an entire university, and its environs, and by so doing has now positioned himself to move to the upper echelon within his profession. I am talking about Mr. Lennox Graham. Yes, the imcomporable Sir G, as he is affectionately called by all his athletes. You see friends, behind the hot white glare of fame and noteriety is where Sir G plies his trade. Quietly he has been building a track and field program at a tiny 1,500 student university in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in the process has set off a firestorm in terms of the noteriety that not only his program receives, but him personally.
Lennox Graham
Two years ago, this man took a risk on a university that only boasted an impressive state of the art track and field facility. There was no track and field team, and more embarassingly, it hosted the NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships with no athletes participating. Ironically, Sir G was at that meet, and seeing the facility alone and the potential it had started the ball rolling. Where others saw total chaos and ridicule, he saw All American athletes. Where others saw a fancy track and field facility, he saw a venue that would draw world class athletes and visitors to this tiny campus.
In May of 2007, it seemed all like a pipe dream; however, against the advice of many of the naysayers in Jamaica, he made the switch. Leaving family and career behind in Jamaica, he launched out into the deep. The only thing he was armed with was a vision, and a passion to bring the vision to fruition. I wonder what the naysayers have to say now. I often wondered if the folks who talked students out of attending the University because of jealously and envy have to say now. Its an intriguing question that one day I hope to find the answer to.
In two short years, what was a dream now show signs of a life of fruitful labor, toiling, blood, sweat and tears. There were days of doubt and days of joy. There were times of frustration, and there were times of pride. Through it all, Sir G has done something that has shocked an entire campus, an entire city, an entire coaching fraternity, an entire state, and fairly soon, I know it will be an entire nation. Before I ramble on any longer, just simply let me share what working behind the podium can produce in two years:
Year One:
1) Two national champions at the NCAA Indoor National Champioships (2 All Americans)
2) Leford Green scores a perfect 4.0 grade point average in Computer Systems Engineering
3) Shermaine Williams takes silver at the World Youth Championships
4) Shermaine Williams scores a grade point average above 3.5 majoring in Biology
5) Leford Green CIAA Champion both indoors and outdoors
6) Starts a team with two full scholarship athletes and the rest being "walk ons". The struggle to start was a real one.
7) Shermaine Williams shatters NCAA record for 60 meters hurdles twice in one meet. She still owns the record.
Year Two:
1) Recruits three more Jamaican students from the "second tier" after the larger schools have discarded them. In essence giving them a chance.
2) Rosemarie Carty joins her former Alpha Academy teamate in Shermaine Williams. The dynamic duo team up again with their former coach.
3) Leford Green sets 500 meters record at Clemson University's brand new facility. Eyes now start to see what is taking place at JCSU.
4) Williams and Carty demolishes all comers. Division I schools are turned back as well. Likkle but dem tallawah.....
5) Green maintains perfect 4.0 average. Williams, Carty and all the other Jamaican students are scholastic standouts
6) Green and Williams named male and female scholar athletes of the year at JCSU's athletic banquet
7) Green named CIAA Male Scholar Athlete of the Year from among all the universities in the conference (it is about more than athletics)
8) Williams and Carty team up to take gold and silver at the Pan Am Junior Games
9) NCAA Contingency grows from two (2) to well over eleven (11) in just one year. Interest in the program grows leaps and bounds
10) Green is currently in Berlin, Germany for the World Championships. Coming strong this year, after suffering first injury in his career last year
11) Shermaine Williams graced the cover of the NCAA Champions Magazine with a full length article to boot...
Shermaine Williams on the cover of Champion Magazine
Some of you might now be saying, so what is the big deal. He took some talented Jamaican athletes that he had been coaching since youth days (since age twelve in the case of Shermaine Williams) and started a track program. Big fat hairy deal. Allow me to go further. Please keep in mind that this is just the second year. Although Sir G does not like talking about these things, I can do it:
Year One:
1) Nutten na gwaan.....
2) Jus a try figga out farin
3) No support from the community or colleagues both in Jamaica and in the United States
Year Two:
1) CIAA Female Coach of the Year
2) Five All Americans (seven total)
3) Builds a credible team with walk ons and wannabees
4) Lands the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Championships in May of 2010
5) Named Meet Director fo the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Championships in May of 2010
6) Currently turning down help from locals in city, and now fielding calls from Jamaica seeking to be his Assistant Coach
From my vantage point, I saw all the behind the podium activiities, and some of them were not pretty to say the least. However, I watched a single minded individual make chicken soup out of chicken poop. I watched a man deal with the betrayal of colleagues back home in Jamaica. I watched a man who takes an active interest in the academic enrichment of his athletes beyond the track. I watched a man who sacrificed repeatedly time with his own three (3) children to work on molding some young people who have been "given" to him to watch over. It is no accident that all of his athletes are on either the Dean's List or close to it. It is no accident that the NCAA has noticed what is taking place at JCSU so much so that for the first time in school's history one of its athletes graced the cover of the summer edition of the Champions magazine.
My friends, these are the behind the podium activities that places individuals such as Sir G in a special place. How do you go from no respect in one year, to one of the most respected the next. I know; CONSISTENCY OF CHARACTER. With Sir G what you see is what you get. He is not as unique as you might think. Those of us who walk around with purple and white blood in our veins know what I am talking about. The College birthed in all of us something that is unique, and if it is managed correctly, it will produce fruit.
I don't know where the future is heading in terms of Sir G's exploits, but I can say unequivocally that we have not seen anything yet. Sir G serves as a reminder that without risk, there is no reward. His ultimate reward has not not manifested; however, as a bible believing man myself, God has some special things in store him. I am just glad that I am close by to watch it happen. It is truly exciting to witness a city and a university transformed by the exploits of a man who is trying to exceed the expectations and limitations that were placed on him.
His exploits has shown me that Victory is indeed in the eye of the beholder, and we all see things in this life from our own jaundiced view. However, victory is a good thing when the effects of it are wholesome and uplifting. I will close by sharing with all of you a simple quote I recently read, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to is". What a powerful statement. It forces one to think about what exactly in this life do we want to be successful with. Is it parenting? Is it coaching? Is it mentoring? Truth be told Sir G has modeled something that we can all take to heart and be reproduce.
