Legendary Curtis coach Fred Olivieri knew exactly what Vernon had done -- and an eternal bond between player and coach was born. In Southampton, as elsewhere, Nat Turners Rebellion still sparks strong emotions. His chief competitor got the draw on him. Its my life and I know what happened in it, but to read a script of that caliber brought me to tears. ", "People ask me how'd you do it?" The daily chores of caring for four young children as a pre-teen while his mother continued to struggle and his father was busy taking care of her routinely caused Vernon to arrive late to practice -- a problem that teammates, who didn't understand his situation, took issue with. More than most, because if youre just a hair off, it doesnt line up.. Singing in his youth in church choirs and informally for tips . For that alone, not to mention all the great coaches and great players that I was blessed to be around, they provided me with an opportunity to take care of my family.. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. If the tests . The NFL draft came and went, but Vernon's name was never called. On his off-time, its likely that hes trying one of the areas new restaurants, attending a live show, or training on the soccer field. I was five-foot-nine. So Turner doubled down. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. I dont think my goals ever wandered, Turner said. Please be respectful of copyright. The skull has been in the museums custody for more than 4 years. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. Her first nonfiction book, "Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League" is available now. "I didn't think much of myself," admitted Turner. In a very tangible way, it asserts the humanity of people who were systemically dehumanized. Theres also reason to believe the skull at the Smithsonian may not be Turners. Aguirre and Wood, the guests of honor at the ceremony, shed tears of joy when they were handed what they believe are their ancestors remains. Turner's football memories stretch back to his Pop Warner League games at Clove Lakes Park and a youth coach, Bill Thatcher, who had the wisdom to reach out to the youngster's family and encourage Turner's athletic abilities. Cousins and two of Turners great-great-great-great-great-granddaughters, Shanna Batten Aguirre and Shelly Lucas Wood, took possession of the skull and turned it over to a team led by Douglas Owsley at the National Museum of Natural History for forensic analysis. When Vernon Turner ran 80 yards to the end zone on a punt return in 1994, he broke an infamous drought in Bucs history and also validated his own life-or-death journey to make it in the NFL The script has already been written by Brad Gann, the writer of the Disney hit Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg . Today, this is all that remains. You see it slowly approaching and all you can do in the meantime is prepare and figure out how strong it will be once it arrives. So when Southern Mississippis Corvell Todd cleared 7-6 (2.29 meters) on his first attempt at the height in the NCAA Indoors last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, and Turner missed on his first jump at 7-6, Turner said screw it. That accomplishment was significant because it enabled him to earn large weekly paychecks which he sent back to Staten Island so his four younger siblings could remain in their Sunnyside home. Accompanied by a small army of his brethren, the group fought their way through the countryside of Southampton County, Virginia, with hopes of ending the scourge of slavery. He won the Big 12 Indoor High Jump title last month. "You're frustrated because you've been a parent to your younger brothers and sisters since you were a little kid yourselfcooking dinner, changing diapers, braiding hair -- things a mom is supposed to dobut she's always too "sick," wrote Turner in his letter. The chain of custody seemed plausible. "He told me to have something to fall back on and I loved that coach," acknowledged Turner, who chose not to share the coach's name. Many of them had been alive during the attacks. Turner probes deep into his soul, however, to reveal other secrets. After the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2018, Turner says he was told his scholarship would be increased to a hundred percent. The 2018 election through then Republican candidate Mark Harris' eyes. But its happening. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "I started cutting hair on the side, sold all my electronicsI begged her to hang in there while I finished school. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. In the 185 years that followed the rebellion, Turner's place in history . Those goals are clear. OU vs. IUPUI women's basketball:Five things to know about the Sooners' first-round opponent, I had a lot going on outside track, Turner said. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Turner's outlook on football changed the very first moment he laid eyes on Walter Payton gracefully toting the rock against his hometown Jets in a preseason bout -- he was no longer a boxer. It becomes clear that despite her lifestyle, Turner's mother played a pivotal role in his development with some real "tough-love." A road in Southampton County earned the name Blackhead Signpost Road. Tracking hurricanes is like being stalked by a turtle. [6] He scored his first six points on an 80-yards run in the game's first play from scrimmage. EXCLUSIVE: Undrafted punt returner Vernon Turner might have come into the NFL through modest auspices, but his inspiring life story will head to the screen backed by a high wattage group of producers. Nat Turner. He was a 21-year-old kid who had promised his mother before she died that if anything happened to his father, hed step up and assume the responsibility of the household. The legacy of Nat Turner has had enduring impact, not simply upon our family, but upon American history, Aguirre said. Turner's mother Jackie finally succumbed to her addiction during his freshman year -- though football kept Vernon going and his only two goals from that point forward were to play ball and keep his family together. "I found a 10-pound weight in the weight room, unlaced my shoe, and tied it around my waist under my pants on weigh-in day.". It seems minor, but when you're launching your body over a bar that's more than a foot higher than your head, every detail is important. Comparing that to DNA of descendants should be able to provide an answer, and can typically be done within months. Fought off a malaise. Setting everything aside, putting myself first, has helped me accomplish the things I wanted to.. That gave him a chance to focus on school, and he soon realized he didn't like the direction his academics were heading. I think hes in a much better spot mentally than he was a couple of months ago or a year ago. He ended up writing a letter to his younger self for the Players Tribune, recounting significant moments in his life that set him on a rollercoaster course to the NFL. Returning home to Raleigh and helping the community he cares for so deeply prepare for impending severe weather has emerged as one of the unique highlights of Vernons career. "I threw the ball back to the quarterback in practice one day, and the next day they moved me to QB.". Returned to OU. With all he's accomplished and overcome, Turner travels as a motivational speaker these days. That stuff makes him scratch his head. Vernon Maurice Turner Position: WR-RB 5-8 , 185lb (173cm, 83kg) Born: January 6 in Brooklyn, NY (Age: 56-025d) College: Carson-Newman Weighted Career AV (100-95-. OU baseball rewind:David Sandlin's 'outstanding' outing highlights bounce-back week for Sooners. Or it may just add another wrinkle. "He went to Florida." "He turned pro." "He's done." Every time the high jumper has gone to a meet this season, he has heard another tale about his supposed whereabouts last season. Just the players I came across and learned from Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Cornelius Bennett, Daryl Talley, Bruce Smith, Don Beebe. But after signing with Buffalo, he had a promise to fulfill. [5] During the championship game in December 1988, the running back helped to lead CarsonNewman to a 5617 victory over Adams State University of Colorado while rushing for 189 yards and three touchdowns. ): 3 (12284th overall since 1960) High School: Curtis ( NY ) Twitter: @VernonMTurner 86 82 30 44 45 30 23 SUMMARY Career G 54 AV 3 Rt 134 Yds 2626 TD 0 Vernon Turner Overview Game Logs You either jump high enough or you dont. Turner admits he reached a point where he didnt know what to do and felt incredibly helpless. It tells the extraordinary saga of the officers and crew of the Wager, a . One of his patients was the daughter of a physician who was present when Turners body was cut up. Now its trying to stay consistent.. Beginning late on the night of Aug. 21, 1831, Nat Turner, a 30-year-old, literate, enslaved preacher, launched a rebellion in Southampton County, intending to strike a fatal blow to the institution of slavery. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He is writing a book on places of historic value that have been forgotten and are being reclaimed by nature. His mother was an African native who transmitted a passionate hatred of slavery to her son. You're frustrated that mom, a black woman, married a white Italian man and moved the family from Brooklyn out to Staten Island to live with him," wrote Turner in a letter to his younger self for the Players Tribune. This guy actually lived the American dream.' Turner followed Payton's drills religiously. tells the inspiring story of how the now 44-year-old Turner moved as a young child from the mean streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant to a quiet neighborhood in Sunnyside, where he discovered a love for football that took him from Curtis High School to Carson-Newman (Tenn.) College to an improbable NFL career with four different teams. The final segment (The Fourth Quarter) enthusiastically records Turner's roller-coaster ride through the NFL. He wasnt invited to the combine. My entire life has been one big arcade game, Turner laughs. "But football was the only thing I wanted to give my heart and soul to.". #NCwx @SpecNews1RDU @SpecNews1ILM GIF 1 Meteorologist Vernon Turner The Turner family will provide genealogical information as well as DNA samples in hopes that the skull matches their genetic profile. "Coach Olivieri drove this green Chevy Nova, it was a little piece of crap," remembered Turner. [1] Among those killed were Hayes and Mary Turner. And all the while he kept his family situation to himself he says no one in college or the NFL knew. I dont know what it is, Turner said. I was just here practicing, he said with a glance around OUs indoor track. Michael Blakey is director of William & Marys Institute for Historical Biology. When Turner reached high school, he faced more challenges. But there were a few players on his teamwho were getting workouts from scouts. Turner was born the property of a prosperous small-plantation owner in a remote area of Virginia. Vernon Turner was a topic of conversation when he was gone last year, but if all goes as planned, he'll again be creating a buzz for what he does when he jumps. [6] Despite concluding his senior campaign only second in rushing yards to teammate Robert Thomas, he was selected to the first team All-South Atlantic Conference in 1989. After two months as a fugitive, Turner was captured, tried, and hanged. Hayes was killed on May 18, and the next day (May 19), his . Limited Edition copies of "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play" are available through his website). "That was the second time my life changed," noted Turner. California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He believes he can jump 7-10. Wouldnt surprise me if you saw 7-10 come out of him.. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, 3 ways Jimmy Carter changed the world for the better, The meaning of the cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. Other than the Rebecca Vaughn House in Courtland, the homes associated with the rebellion have been neglected, nearly all fallen into ruin. Dealing with pain and getting back into competitive shape has been a struggle. Hes gotten to the point where he's focusing again on technique, working again on fundamentals such as when to start his curve on his run up. Those messed with me. He knew at that point, he had to jump higher than 7-6 anyway, to win. At some point in his life,Nat Turner got kicked in the head by a mule. Get up off your knees, Vernon. You can contact him at benswenson@cox.net. This memoir is a brutally honest and inspiring look back on the life of one of Staten Island's greatest football heroes. Yet another possible Nat Turner skull might have stayed closer to home. But scores of enslaved and free Blacks were killed in the wake of the rebellion, some through trial and conviction, others by vigilantes, and mutilation of their bodies was not unheard of. He was training, improving, growing. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. "I can never repay that man for what he's done for me and my familyhe's my everything," added Turner of Olivieri. Marv [Levy] let us coach ourselves on the field during practice, and thats what made that group so special. I didnt know why I was on this earth because of how I entered the world.. But within the past couple decades theres been a noticeable shift. An article from April 1920 in The Journal of Negro History, an academic publication, claims that Turners skull graces the collection of a physician in the city of Norfolk., It wasnt just Turners skull that numerous people claimed ownership of in the decades after his execution. Hes humble from the get, saying he had no business ever playing in the NFL at all because it wasnt talent that got him there. "I owe him, he gave me everything he had," Turner says Olivieri told his wife. 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. He subsequently joined the Buffalo Bills practice squad and played in one regular season game. Turner acknowledges the past year has been tough. Decades ago in Southampton, few people brought up the insurrection in racially mixed company. I always had the same goals. Turner's defining moment comes in Tampa Bay, when he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown -- the first regular-season punt return for a TD in Buccaneer history. He was released before the end of the preseason. To this day, I call him and tell him how much I appreciate what he's done for me and my family.". "The physicality of football allowed me to get my frustrations outI played so hard I'd be too tired to be upset.". The electrifying play was made even sweeter because it came against the Detroit Lions, coached by Fontes. So it was no surprise, then, that when Turner sent an autographed copy of "The Next Level" my way, he added the following note: "Writing this book was the hardest thing I ever had to do because it forced me to re-live events in my life I had buried deep in my mind and heart for over 30 years. "I decided right then and there that I wanted to play professional football," recalled Turner. Sweet tea, Southern hospitality, football, and the opportunity to deliver the latest weather headlines to his friends and family are just a few reasons why this North Carolina native loves living in the South. So when Southern Mississippi's Corvell Todd cleared 7-6 (2.29 meters) on his first attempt at the height in the NCAA Indoors last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, and Turner missed on his first jump at 7-6, Turner said screw it. 'It was a great move':How risky strategy propelled Oklahoma State's Taylor Roe to national title. 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