Fortisans make their mark at Johnson C. Smith University
By Gerald Hector
Gerald Hector
When a College Man does something big, it is only appropriate that it is shared worldwide. Two years ago when Lennox Graham took over the reins of Johnson C. Smith University's track and field program, I am sure that many people thought he was crazy for leaving when Kingston College at the height of its successes at Boys Champs.
However, Lennox had a vision, and he is marching toward the vision at break neck speed. One of the parameters that surrounded his hire was his ability to recruit and maintain a "student athlete" program. He should be able to produce quality performances on the track, but his athletes should perform in the classroon as well. Dr. Dorothy Yancy wanted him to bring a first class program to the University.
He has met that requirement at a speed that many of the Administrators at the University, and also the general public are wondering where will it all go. One of the things that has impressed so many is his laser like focus on his vision for the program, and despite its nascent nature, and relatively major successes, he remains humble.
The link below depicts the caliber of a person he is, and how his focus and tenacity for both on and off the field performance has produced a winning combination for his student athletes. Leford Green has shown the caliber of the student athlete that Lennox is molding at the campus. Recently there was snickering that his Penn Relays team was not really up to par. The hard truth is that he is rebuilding a program, and what is not known to many are the strides he has made to rebuild a program with a few key athletes and walk ons.
Shermaine Williams and Leford Green: Pettis Norman award winners
When you can get a student athlete to move from obscurity to making the nationals in one year (as is the case with many of the walk on athletes), that highlights a coaching accumen that few posses. Here are the facts that have evolved over the past year and a half:
Two National Indoor Champions in 2008
Two All Americans Indoor for 2008
Two Athletes made the Nationals
Two Athletes qualify for Outdoor Nationals
One National Indoor Champion in 2009
Three All Americans for Indoor for 2009, for a total of five in less than two years
Three Athlete made the indoor Nationals
Eleven students qualify for Outdoor Nationals
CIAA MVP for both male and female
Female Junior 100 meters record holder at 13.06 seconds
Personal best for all athletes coached in 2009. Some walk ons improved by not hundredths of seconds, but by whole seconds
Program grew from a total of 22 to over 32 with the others being walk ons who want to be a part of the movement
Highest combined GPA score for the entire University with all top athletes having a GPA greater than 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
The news of Leford's successes in the classroom is what prompted this nostalgic look at what Lennox has accomplished in such a short time. Leford Green has notched the CIAA SCHOLAR/athlete for males from the CIAA. Leford, also a Fortisan, has a perfect 4.0 in one of the most challenging majors the University offers and is known worldwide for excellence. Shermaine Williams and Rosemarie Carty are also burning up the classroom. Ms. Carty "lit it up" with a 4.0 this past semester.
Gentlemen, I am bursting with pride not because I am an Adminstrator at the University, but the mere fact that when we were at the hallowed halls at Kingston College, we were always told that we can be great if we applied ourselves. Lennox is definitely showing quite a bit of people the way to get things done. I am proud of him, because I remember when Kingston College was in doldrums at Champs, and he brought it back. He led a team of coaches to a number of consecutive victories. Now a southern Metropolitan city is experiencing the power of the Purple and White and one of its stellar sons.
I would like everyone to give him a big respect for being an example of what it means to step out on faith, and watch what God can do when you simply trust and follow him despite what all the critics and talking heads have to say. Later on in life these young people are going to look back and say, I took a chance as well, and it paid off for me. For those of you who know something about prayer, I am asking that you send one up for Lennox for the good Lord to keep him focused, and also that JCSU will win the right to host the 2010 Nationals as it did in 2007. He will complete a full circle from when he interviewed. However, this time his stamp would be on one of the most exciting up and coming programs in the United States bar none.
Click on the link below and read the article about Leford's stellar accomplishment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
