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Wake-Up Call: Armwood's Jackson a 'Man-Man' among boys

At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Jackson is a sculpted, ferocious defender who earns respect from opponents.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2009

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

The given name of Armwood High School's star defensive lineman is Theodore Jackson.

"But I don't like that name,'' he said. "I dislike it. Nobody calls me that.''

He goes exclusively by a nickname – Man-Man.

"I think it fits me just fine,'' said Man-Man, a defensive lineman for the Hawks (5-1, 1-0), who host the Hillsborough Terriers (5-1, 1-0) on Friday night in a game to likely decide the Class 4A-District 9 championship.

The mother of Man-Man gave him the name – and he has grown into it. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, he is a sculpted, ferocious defender who earns respect from opponents.

The same can be said for T-Rex.

"I like my nickname a lot,'' said Terrence Mitchell, the Hillsborough defensive back known as T-Rex. In youth football, he once laid out an offensive player. Mitchell stood over him and roared, sounding very much like a dinosaur that captured his prey.

One of the coaches spoke up.

"Hey, T-Rex!''

The nickname stuck.

"You're always running into guys with nicknames,'' Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "They're all over the place – Man-Man, T-Rex, all kinds of names. Sometimes, they come to your program with a nickname. Sometimes, they get one when they're playing for you.

"It's fun. There are a lot of personalities out there.''

In particular, this seems to be a vintage year for nicknames in Hillsborough County football.

Jefferson wide receiver Andre Davis is the "Freak Show.''

"When I make big plays or do good things, I can hear people say my nickname from the stands,'' Davis said. "It makes me feel good. I jump around, go over people to make the catch. Some people think I'm an athletic freak.

"So all of a sudden, I'm the 'Freak Show.' It starts slow. People hear it and like it. Before long, everyone is calling you by the nickname. It's almost like an accident.''

Alonso wide receiver Justen Davis is "Black Magic'' or the shorter version – "Magic.''

Davis played for Middleton as a freshman. During a particularly productive practice session, with several acrobatic receptions, a junior-varsity coach referred to Davis as "Black Magic.''
It stuck.

"I do love being called 'Magic,' '' Davis said. "It's one of those nicknames that everyone responds to. You can't be a mediocre player. You've got to live up to the name. That's what I try to do.''

"We he first came to our school and told me his name – "Magic'' – yeah, you wonder what's up with it,'' Alonso quarterback C.J. Bennett said. "Then you see him jump in the air and watch how he can make plays. That's what's magic about it, I guess.''

T.O.

The Toe.

Crazy Legs.

Sweetness.

And, of course, He Hate Me.

What would football be without nicknames?

Only Jackson's nickname has become more than that at Armwood.

Callahan first met Jackson as an eighth grader.

"He introduced himself as Man-Man,'' Callahan said. "I said, 'What's your real name?' And he said, 'Man-Man.' He finally told me the real name, that he didn't like it and now we all know him as 'Man-Man.' ''

All-righty, then.

"Hardly anybody calls me by my real name,'' said Mitchell, the Hillsborough defensive back. "I get all kind of versions – 'T-Rex' or 'Rex' or just 'T.' That's how I'm known. I'm a physical player and like to hit people. T-Rex works for me.''

"I know T-Rex very well,'' Man-Man said. "We went to middle school together. Great player. Great guy.''

Then Man-Man smiled.

"I call him Terrence.''

USF-Miami tickets almost gone

The University of South Florida's Nov. 28 game against the Miami Hurricanes at Raymond James Stadium is nearing a sellout.

USF officials said Monday only 650 tickets remain and they can be obtained only through purchasing a USF mini-plan package for $75 (a three-game deal that also includes the contests against West Virginia on Oct. 30 and Louisville on Nov. 21).

For more information, log onto www.GoUSFBulls.com or call 1-800-GO-BULLS.

Ronde Barber: Bucs' iron man

The news from One Buc Place is not good these days.

But in the aftermath of Sunday's 28-21 loss against the Carolina Panthers, which put the Bucs at 0-6, some remarkable statistics were lost in the shuffle.

Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber played in his 183rd career game. He's tied with former offensive tackle Paul Gruber (1988-99) for third-most games in club history (behind 224 from linebacker Derrick Brooks and 190 from tight end Dave Moore).

Barber has 157 consecutive starts at cornerback (every game since Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 21, 1999). The next-highest active cornerback for longevity is Will Allen of the Miami Dolphins – with 42 consecutive starts.

Barber has started the third-most consecutive games among active players behind Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (275) and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (181).

Here are the leaders among most consecutive games played by active players:

• 342 – Jeff Feagles, punter, Giants.

• 277 – Brett Favre, quarterback, Vikings.

• 214 – Ethan Albright, long snapper, Redskins.

• 198 – Ryan Longwell, place-kicker, Vikings.

• 182 – Ronde Barber, cornerback, Bucs.

• 182 – London Fletcher, linebacker, Redskins.

• 181 – Peyton Manning, quarterback, Colts.

Rhett's words of wisdom

Former Bucs running back Errict Rhett, still the University of Florida's all-time leading rusher (4,163 yards), returned to Gainesville for homecoming weekend, then stayed over and spoke to UF's women's basketball team.

"I told them that if they trust in their coaches and trust in their teammates, they can collectively accomplish anything they want,'' said Rhett, who lives in Sunrise and runs the Errict Rhett Foundation, which strives to improve the lives of inner-city youths through financial and community support.

"I love my school so much. People here love me regardless if I was a good football player or not. That's what I cherish the most when I think back to my time here.''

Hatcher goes the distance

University of Richmond safety Derek Hatcher (Berkeley Prep) was named Colonial Athletic Association special teams player of the week after scoring on a 90-yard punt return in Saturday's 38-21 victory against Maine.

Hatcher, the son of former Rays first base coach Billy Hatcher (now with the Cincinnati Reds), averages 12.6 yards on punt returns, tops in the CAA and 11th nationally in Division I-AA. His 90-yard punt return fell 2 yards short of Richmond's school record and 3 yards short of the CAA mark. He has 799 career punt-return yards, second in Richmond history.

Colborne gets his kicks

Colgate University place-kicker Evan Colborne (Hillsborough) was named Patriot League special teams player of the week after converting a 30-yard field goal and four extra-point attempts in a 31-14 victory against Georgetown.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Bucs defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, the franchise's only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who will be the inaugural inductee into the team's Ring of Honor on Nov. 8 at Raymond James Stadium. Today, Selmon turns 55.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Friday's trivia question:

The Bucs have earned the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft six times – 1976 (Lee Roy Selmon); 1977 (Ricky Bell); 1978 (traded to the Oilers, who selected Earl Campbell); 1984 (picked was traded to the Bengals, then the Patriots, who selected Irving Fryar); 1986 (Bo Jackson) and 1987 (Vinny Testaverde).

Tuesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

From 2003-05, Armwood High School's football program played in three consecutive Class 4A state-championship games. Who were the opposing quarterbacks?

Check for the answer in Wednesday's Wake-Up Call.

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