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Vann Earns His Place In History

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2009

First-team All-American.

It is the goal of every elite college football player, but only a select few can be recognized with that special distinction.

That's why Florida A&M University junior return specialist LeRoy Vann, a Blake High graduate, will always consider 2008 as his most special season.

Vann, after a record-setting season, was named to the Walter Camp Foundation NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) All-America Team.

"He's creating a larger recognition base for himself, but it goes to show no matter where you are, if you work hard, it will not go unnoticed," FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. "Individually, it brings him great recognition, but it brings recognition to Florida A&M University in a very positive way. It's going to help with our recruiting, because young men are going to see that Florida A&M is where you can play and still get recognized."

His accomplishments were difficult to ignore.

Vann, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound cornerback, was the only Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player to make the team. He set an FCS single-season record for combined kick-return yardage (1,583 yards), breaking the mark of 1,469, set by Samford's David Primus in 1989.

Additionally, Vann had six touchdowns on kick returns, tying the single-season record of Eastern Washington's Bashir Levingston (1998) and Montana State's Corey Smith (2003). He had 66 combined returns - another national record - breaking the mark of 64, set by Connecticut's Joe Markus in 1981.

Vann shared the glory, giving credit to FAMU special-teams coach Rod Plummer.

But Vann's attitude change during preseason camp also had plenty to do with his emergence.

Shortly after the Florida Classic in Orlando on Nov. 22, when Vann's 83-yard kickoff-return score helped FAMU past Bethune-Cookman University 58-35, Taylor spoke about that turning point.

Vann was struggling to find his place on the team, showing some outward frustration.

"I told him he is the kind of kid I couldn't love because he was too emotional," Taylor said. "He was pouting in practice. I told the team he has great potential, but I can't trust him."

Vann set out to change the coach's impression. He channeled his energy in a more positive direction and did his job. Taylor began to notice.

"I just wanted to show people that I could play football," Vann said. "Nobody can really go on the field and say they're going to break records."

Just like you can't go on the field and proclaim yourself a first-team All-American.

That distinction must be earned.

And that's what Vann did. With each return and with each yard, he changed the mind of his coach and won a permanent spot in Rattlers lore.

RAVENEL'S BABY STEPS: Boston College men's basketball freshman Evan Ravenel (Brandon) is averaging 2.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and about 10 minutes for the Eagles (12-2), who play at top-ranked North Carolina today.

Ravenel, a 6-foot-8, 260-pound forward who averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds as a Brandon senior, seems pleased with his early results.

"I never thought I'd be playing here at a big-time school like this," Ravenel said when the season began. "I thought I'd be a low-major, mid-major type player."

Instead, he is finding his way in the ACC, and it doesn't get any bigger than a road date at North Carolina. That's the type of intensity Ravenel will see during his entire college career.

ORANGE BOWL MEMORIES: The Orange Bowl celebrated its 75th anniversary with Thursday night's game between Virginia Tech and Cincinnati. Former Miami linebacker Bernard Clark (Leto), defensive MVP of the 1988 game, was nominated for the Orange Bowl's all-time team.

Six players with Buccaneers ties - Oklahoma DL Lee Roy Selmon, Miami DL Warren Sapp, Florida State LB Derrick Brooks, Kansas CB Aqib Talib, Oklahoma OL Davin Joseph and Alabama WR Ray Perkins - also were nominated.

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