From the grass of Tiger Field to the world’s biggest stage, Billy Yates and Bethel Johnson have seen all football has to offer.
Tuesday, they gave a little back to their old neighborhood.
Yates, 29, a member of the New England Patriots, and Johnson, 30, a former Patriot, signed autographs at the Boys & Girls Club, and offered some words of encouragement for the children.
“We’re here today to support you, to let you know you have somebody here behind you,” said Yates, a 6-2, 305 pound guard who started seven games last season for New England. “You can achieve whatever you want to achieve if you put your mind to it.”
The two were first teammates as eighth-graders, and in 1997 helped the Tigers get to the Class 4A Division I state finals, where they lost to Texas City, 34-31, on a last-minute touchdown.
Both went on to star at Texas A&M.; Johnson, a wide receiver, was a second-round draft choice of the Patriots, while Yates originally signed with Miami as a free agent.
Johnson spent some time with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts last year, and still looks like he can play.
“I grew up in Corsicana,” Johnson told the kids, “and this is a fortunate situation you’re in. You have no idea.
“We didn’t have a Boys & Girls Club when I was growing up.”
Johnson said many people during his childhood designed positive programs for the youth of his time, but nothing like what the Club offers.
“You have an opportunity to take all of this in and grow from it,” he said.
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July 7, 2009
Teaming up again
Yates, Johnson take positive talk to B&G Club
- Local Sports
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- High School Basketball Box scores Here are Friday night's high school basketball scores:
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Rice’s White, 4 from Mildred make Academic All-State
Rice middle linebacker Keith White said he’ll know sometime soon whether or not he’ll be the school’s valedictorian for the 2010 senior class.
He knows for certain he’s a Class 2A Academic All-State team member. -
Golden Circle girls basketball: Stealing one
DAWSON — Wortham coach Anthony Branch has been waiting all season for a victory to turn around the Lady Bulldogs’ season.
They might have gotten it Tuesday night. - GC Basketball Roundup: Keele, Kerens drill Rice, 60-22 Anna Keele had eight points and 10 rebounds as Kerens rolled past Rice, 60-22, on Tuesday night in Kerens.
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Wills: Coming together
Every Friday night around 10 or so my Blackberry starts pinging, which means only one thing.
Basketball scores.
There was one this Friday night that kind of stunned me.
Wortham 90, Hubbbard 66. -
Lady Tigers soccer: CHS girls beat Jacksonville 2-1
The Corsicana Lady Tigers won at Jacksonville on Tuesday night, 2-1.
The first goal of the game was scored by Katy Driver and assisted by Aricelia Castaneda at the 25-minute mark. -
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It is a coach trying to mold a championship team. - Golden Circle Basketball Box scores Here's a look at the Golden Circle basketball box scores:
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