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Tears flowed on a special night at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School’sLeBron James Arena.
Akron natives Parris Campbell and Doran Grant embraced their emotions as STVM retired the football jersey number – 21 – the former Ohio State players wore while starring for the Fighting Irish.
During a ceremony held June 19 on Coach Dru Joyce Court, Campbell put his prewritten speech aside and spoke from the heart. Campbell used a tissue at times while he reflected on faith and family after Grant delivered a speech and football highlight videos featuring each of them were shown.
“I really didn't think I would get that emotional, honestly,” Campbell told the Akron Beacon Journal after the event. “But just standing up there in front of everybody, in front of my family, just the look on their faces, especially after watching that video, just reliving everything, it just brought all my emotions to the front, and I just couldn't let go.”
A newly signed Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who won the Super Bowl last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Campbell thanked influential figures in his life, including his mother, Shelly Woodruff. He spoke with gratitude about how he and his father, Parris Campbell Sr., have rekindled their relationship, and he directed a powerful message to Grant.
Campbell, 27, explained he arrived at STVM with a desire to emulate Grant, 32.
“I wanted to be just like him and literally followed the same exact path,” Campbell said. “It's so special that we got to share this moment together. This is something we’re going to remember forever. I never got to tell Doran straight to his face that I wanted to be just like him. When I told him, I was emotional, he was emotional and it was just a really cool moment.”
Grant noted he “broke down,” even though he doesn’t usually cry.
“When you're here playing, you're not necessarily thinking about the younger crop coming behind you,” Grant told the Beacon Journal. “But to inspire (Campbell) to that degree and then he's actually fulfilling what he wanted, it just made it all the better. I love that kid.”
After Grant graduated from STVM in 2011, Campbell took the torch as another legendary No. 21, winning Division III state titles in football in 2012 and 2013 before graduating in 2014. Grant and Campbell reunited as Ohio State Buckeyes and captured a national title when OSU won the first College Football Playoff on Jan. 12, 2015.
Grant started at cornerback and served as a captain on OSU’s national championship team. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the fourth round in 2015, and now he's gearing up for his second season as the head coach of STVM football.
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Campbell in the second round in 2019, and he’s preparing for his seventh NFL season. After playing for the Eagles in their 40-22 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, Campbell was honored during the jersey retirement ceremony with an Akron proclamation presented by Denico Buckley-Knight, the city’s youth opportunity strategist.
“With all the talent (Campbell and Grant) had, they never accepted that or took those things for granted,” former STVM football coach Dan Boarman said. “They worked harder, they practiced hard, they never missed practice and they were true leaders. That's what makes the team better. When your better players are working their tails off, that brings everybody else along.”
Grant speaks about Campbell as if he is a proud older brother. He even pointed out Campbell has won at every level of football. Campbell won two state titles with STVM, a national championship with Ohio State and a Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Campbell said winning a Super Bowl is “quote, unquote the greatest victory in all of sports,” and he added another fantasy became reality when he signed with the Cowboys this offseason.
“This is a childhood dream for me to have a star on my helmet,” Campbell said. “I grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan, believe it or not, so it's, like, come full circle for me.”
NFL news: Joe Thomas plans to visit Browns training camp, has advice for Dawand Jones
STVM's jersey retirement ceremony also provided a trip down memory lane. No. 21 banners with the names Grant and Campbell emblazoned on them will hang in the school’s gymnasium.
“St. Vincent-St. Mary is just totally unique,” Grant said. “You can try to mock it. You can try to get close to it. You can try to knock it off the pedestal. It is what it is. It’s a place of family. It's a place of tradition. It's a place of culture and love. The people around it love it and do their best to take care of it.”
More NFL coverage: It's a shame Nick Chubb won't have his wish granted to retire as a wire-to-wire Cleveland Browns player
A subject repeatedly broached during the jersey retirement ceremony is the support Grant has received from the STVM community as he attempts to revive its football team, which went 1-9 last season. Campbell is among those who gave Grant an emphatic vote of confidence.
“It felt good, and it’s expected at a place like this,” Grant said. “But, at the same time, there's a lot of work to get done, there's a lot of work to continue to do and we’re building.”
The guys who wore No. 21 know what is required, and looking back at the journey can evoke tears of joy.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Parris Campbell, Doran Grant have HS football jersey number retired
Continue reading...
Akron natives Parris Campbell and Doran Grant embraced their emotions as STVM retired the football jersey number – 21 – the former Ohio State players wore while starring for the Fighting Irish.
During a ceremony held June 19 on Coach Dru Joyce Court, Campbell put his prewritten speech aside and spoke from the heart. Campbell used a tissue at times while he reflected on faith and family after Grant delivered a speech and football highlight videos featuring each of them were shown.
“I really didn't think I would get that emotional, honestly,” Campbell told the Akron Beacon Journal after the event. “But just standing up there in front of everybody, in front of my family, just the look on their faces, especially after watching that video, just reliving everything, it just brought all my emotions to the front, and I just couldn't let go.”
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A newly signed Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who won the Super Bowl last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Campbell thanked influential figures in his life, including his mother, Shelly Woodruff. He spoke with gratitude about how he and his father, Parris Campbell Sr., have rekindled their relationship, and he directed a powerful message to Grant.
Campbell, 27, explained he arrived at STVM with a desire to emulate Grant, 32.
“I wanted to be just like him and literally followed the same exact path,” Campbell said. “It's so special that we got to share this moment together. This is something we’re going to remember forever. I never got to tell Doran straight to his face that I wanted to be just like him. When I told him, I was emotional, he was emotional and it was just a really cool moment.”
Grant noted he “broke down,” even though he doesn’t usually cry.
“When you're here playing, you're not necessarily thinking about the younger crop coming behind you,” Grant told the Beacon Journal. “But to inspire (Campbell) to that degree and then he's actually fulfilling what he wanted, it just made it all the better. I love that kid.”
Parris Campbell, Doran Grant won national championship together as Ohio State Buckeyes
After Grant graduated from STVM in 2011, Campbell took the torch as another legendary No. 21, winning Division III state titles in football in 2012 and 2013 before graduating in 2014. Grant and Campbell reunited as Ohio State Buckeyes and captured a national title when OSU won the first College Football Playoff on Jan. 12, 2015.
Grant started at cornerback and served as a captain on OSU’s national championship team. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the fourth round in 2015, and now he's gearing up for his second season as the head coach of STVM football.
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Akron honors Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Parris Campbell with proclamation
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Campbell in the second round in 2019, and he’s preparing for his seventh NFL season. After playing for the Eagles in their 40-22 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, Campbell was honored during the jersey retirement ceremony with an Akron proclamation presented by Denico Buckley-Knight, the city’s youth opportunity strategist.
“With all the talent (Campbell and Grant) had, they never accepted that or took those things for granted,” former STVM football coach Dan Boarman said. “They worked harder, they practiced hard, they never missed practice and they were true leaders. That's what makes the team better. When your better players are working their tails off, that brings everybody else along.”
You must be registered for see images
Parris Campbell reflects on winning Super Bowl, signing with Cowboys in NFL free agency
Grant speaks about Campbell as if he is a proud older brother. He even pointed out Campbell has won at every level of football. Campbell won two state titles with STVM, a national championship with Ohio State and a Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Campbell said winning a Super Bowl is “quote, unquote the greatest victory in all of sports,” and he added another fantasy became reality when he signed with the Cowboys this offseason.
“This is a childhood dream for me to have a star on my helmet,” Campbell said. “I grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan, believe it or not, so it's, like, come full circle for me.”
NFL news: Joe Thomas plans to visit Browns training camp, has advice for Dawand Jones
You must be registered for see images attach
Doran Grant feels love as a high school football coach from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary supporters
STVM's jersey retirement ceremony also provided a trip down memory lane. No. 21 banners with the names Grant and Campbell emblazoned on them will hang in the school’s gymnasium.
“St. Vincent-St. Mary is just totally unique,” Grant said. “You can try to mock it. You can try to get close to it. You can try to knock it off the pedestal. It is what it is. It’s a place of family. It's a place of tradition. It's a place of culture and love. The people around it love it and do their best to take care of it.”
More NFL coverage: It's a shame Nick Chubb won't have his wish granted to retire as a wire-to-wire Cleveland Browns player
A subject repeatedly broached during the jersey retirement ceremony is the support Grant has received from the STVM community as he attempts to revive its football team, which went 1-9 last season. Campbell is among those who gave Grant an emphatic vote of confidence.
“It felt good, and it’s expected at a place like this,” Grant said. “But, at the same time, there's a lot of work to get done, there's a lot of work to continue to do and we’re building.”
The guys who wore No. 21 know what is required, and looking back at the journey can evoke tears of joy.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Parris Campbell, Doran Grant have HS football jersey number retired
Continue reading...
