BY TAMECA JOHNSON Freelance Writer

Most of the students at Andrew Ferrell Middle Magnet School were just toddlers when Coach Tony Dungy reigned as the beloved head football coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  However, that didn’t stop the kids from

taking in all he had to say about life, choices, and the importance of working towards a brighter future.

One of the keys to it all, Dungy told the crowd, is the ability to read.  “When I was in Middle School, I used to dream about being a professional basketball player. I never thought I was going to be a professional football coach, much less the first Black football coach to win a Super Bowl.  But I definitely would not have been able to follow that path and do those things had I not been able to read.”

Coach Dungy spoke passionately about the importance of reading to Ferrell’s 6th, 7th and 8th grade students Friday during the school’s Literacy Week celebration.

Many of the students asked questions about Coach Dungy’s educational and football career.  Some even expressed their desire to one day, play in the NFL.  Coach Dungy’s response to them: read, read well, read everything, read often.   “There are thousands of guys who can run fast, and play, and lift weights, and jump, and catch, but you have to be able to do all of that and read the material, (play books and scouting reports) and process that information.  That’s why some guys make it and some don’t.”

In addition to the importance of reading, Coach Dungy also touched on the importance of making good choices     and used the case of [private]Hydra Lacy, Jr., as an example.

Lacy was the 39-year-old St. Petersburg man accused in last week’s shooting deaths of two St. Pete police officers and wounding a U. S. Marshal.  Authorities later found Lacy dead in the attic of his estranged wife’s home.

Lacy is the older brother of World Champion Boxer Jeff Lacy. “Both brothers took two different paths,” Coach Dungy told the students.  “I’m going to suggest there were two reasons for this.  Number one, goals.  What are your goals in life?  What do you want to do.  It’s very important, because I don’t think you can end up here [gestures on top] if your goals are down here.”

Coach Dungy went on to say, “Jeff Lacy had high goals.  Jeff Lacy knew very early what he wanted to do.  He wanted to be a boxer, he wanted to be the best in the world.  He worked at it and that goal was always in his mind.”

Coach Dungy assured the students that even if they don’t know what they want to do in life, the best way to stay on track is to set goals, associate with people who share their goals, and find role models who will keep them inspired to reach those goals.

Gwen Luney is Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Hillsborough County.  She attended Friday’s event and says she hopes students realize just how much the community supports them in their educational success.

Coach Dungy is the author of several books.  Most recently, he and his wife, Lauren, co-authored You Can Be A Friend, a children’s tale that teaches the importance of being a good friend. [/private]