New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com (https://blackandgold.com/community/)

- Saints (https://blackandgold.com/saints/)

- - the perfect backup to AB (https://blackandgold.com/saints/8313-perfect-backup-ab.html)

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

More about Ben: Ben is a devout Mormon, he interrupted his college football career to spend two years as a missionary in Las Vegas for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also the first white player to start at quarterback for his historically black college and its 97-year-old football program....completed 477 of 764 passes in three seasons at FAMU
Projects as a second day draft pick

Position: Quarterback
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 215
DOB:
Hometown: Elma, WA
Previous Schools: N.Iowa JC
Iowa State

My name is Ben Dougherty and I was the starting quarterback for Florida A&M University the past two seasons. I deal with most of the same pressures, privileges, and activities that football players deal with across the United States who attend a school that loves their football. I am the average student/athlete and my life seems pretty ordinary to me. To others it seems anything but ordinary. You see Florida A&M is if not the biggest, one of the biggest HBCU's (Historically Black College/University) in the country (over 14,000 students, I think).

I am a white boy from a small logging town in Washington State who had only one black person in my entire graduating class. And I mean I'm white. Just ask my teammates. They have tried many many times to try and teach me to dance but with dancing, practice does not make perfect. I simply have no rhythm. Only a couple still have faith in me that I can still get it. Anyways, my situation really does not seem one bit weird or odd to me any longer.

After my 1st or 2nd week here at school I felt at home. To others from the outside looking in it is anything but normal. I've been shopping at a store or walking around campus, or the mall on several occasions and been stopped and asked by people (black

and white) in one way or another, "Do you really like FAMU? Be honest with me. I see you on the news and read in the paper how much you love being at FAMU. Do you really feel that way? Please tell me the truth."

My answer never changes, YES, I REALLY LOVE FAMU. I have never been treated with so much love by teammates, classmates, and teachers at any school I have ever attended. That includes an almost all white Iowa State University (I attended there out of high school for one year on a football scholarship).

I was invited to the National Football League's scouting combine at the end of this month in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is not just any tryout though. This is the one that you dream of getting invited to as a little kid. About 2% of college football seniors who are eligible for the NFL draft get invited to the combine. I feel extremely honored to be included in that group. I really wanted to get some help in thanking the FAMU fans that are literally scattered all across the country. We play in several Classic games each year that have more fans than most Division I schools ever see. Over 70,000 African-American fans flock to these games. Fans come from all over the country to watch these classic games. I also wanted to publicly thank my teammates for everything over the past few years. I have so many hilarious stories about my experiences here on campus and throughout town with teammates and classmates that people are brought to tears laughing. My experience has been an amazing one. I have had a few people say someone could make a ton of money doing a movie on my story.

No one from Florida A&M has been invited to the combine for almost 10 years and I want to thank my teammates for helping me get there. They have been such a support to me. Some of them seemed happier for me than I did. They continue to call or come over and tell me that I better ball out at the combine for them and to show those boys what FAMU football is all about. I promise them that I will. I would love to get across to my teammates, coaches, and fans how grateful I was and am for their support. Sure there were some fans not happy simply because FAMU had a white QB but that was probably less than 1% of the people. I respected those peoples opinions though when I would meet them. Some had choice words for me but that was OK. One of the biggest things I have learned here is that if you show others with respect in most cases you will get it back. I had heard that a lot before, but I have seen it with my own eyes here. I could go on forever with stories about teammates and fans loyalty and support of me. Dan Parrish my starting 6'7 350 lb. offensive tackle was not supposed to play in the last game of the season. He didn't practice during the week and the doctor recommended he didn't play. He came up to me and said before that game that nothing was going to keep him off the field for my last game with him. He started that game and gave everything he had. He couldn't finish the game and has since had surgery on that knee but I will never forget that.

Quote:

Strengths: Has great size...Has deceptive mobility and will run a little... Performed well despite not having the most talented supporting cast...Was extremely productive at his level.
Weaknesses: Did not always play against top competition and stuggled against the likes of Virginia Tech in 2004...Has a solid arm but it isn't special...May have been a big fish in a small pond.
Notes: Transferred from Iowa St...Had a great overall career and may be a better prospect than Casey Printers, another former Rattler signal caller

1. he's mormon-so we don't have to worry about character
2. he was a white player at a HBC...which means that he can earn the respect of teammates who are from different backgrounds
3. he played great despite having a crappy supporting cast...similar to brooks ;)

actually..does anyone know anything about this guy..is he any good?

the perfect backup to AB

The perfect backup would have been Delhomme or JT. We need to cut lose Buttman and let the others take a shot at number 2. Lets not waste draft picks on a number 2 QB unless it is a sure thing.

the perfect backup to AB

it was a half-joke/half-real....I wished jt would have stayed-I think he has a chance to make it..there are very few QB\'s I\'d actually be happy if we took-actually three:

walter, fitzgerald, laflors.

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

The perfect backup would have been Delhomme or JT. We need to cut lose Buttman and let the others take a shot at number 2. Lets not waste draft picks on a number 2 QB unless it is a sure thing.

Perfect backup is ABB....Anybody But Booman!

the perfect backup to AB

Fun thought: JT is a restricted free agent and can be had for a sixth rounder. Just sayin\' ...

the perfect backup to AB

Andrew Walter. The guy will be a stud, might as well go for youth

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

Leigh Steinberg, the superagent representing him, wandered onto the field alongside NFL great Warren Moon

that\'s the first goood news I\'ve heard about this kid.

Quote:

The toughest part of his day came afterwards when he was grilled about his past, which included the highly-publicized trial in the spring of 2003 for using the Internet to place bets on college and professional sports. The trial ended in a hung jury.

McPherson denied he ever gambled.

\"I didn\'t gamble,\" he said. \"It\'s not going to change. It is what it is. People are saying he did it, but his name wasn\'t associated it with it. I didn\'t do it.\"

The subject comes up often - when he talks with reporters

somehow i actually believe him...

[Edited on 30/3/2005 by baronm]

the perfect backup to AB

perfect would be home town boy from louisville

STEFAN LEFORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

No one from Florida A&M has been invited to the combine for almost 10 years and I want to thank my teammates for helping me get there.

So the only white guy at FAMU was the first invited to the combine in almost 10 years?

What\'s up with that???

the perfect backup to AB

FAMU is not exactly considered a football powerhouse....

the perfect backup to AB

um mutineer instead of scanning every area of life for racism why dont you look at things realistically. hampton u is a black college and they have a very high draft pick getting drafted. are you kidding me to think that people would care if talent came from a black college or not. thats just an unintelligent comment. thats ridiculous. there are colleges and pro teams that are giving players that are thieves, rapist, and spouse beaters a second, third and fourth chance if they can. look around the league. thats a silly assumption and you unfortunately have been brain washed. i feel so so sorry for you.

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

um mutineer instead of scanning every area of life for racism why dont you look at things realistically. hampton u is a black college and they have a very high draft pick getting drafted. are you kidding me to think that people would care if talent came from a black college or not. thats just an unintelligent comment. thats ridiculous. there are colleges and pro teams that are giving players that are thieves, rapist, and spouse beaters a second, third and fourth chance if they can. look around the league. thats a silly assumption and you unfortunately have been brain washed. i feel so so sorry for you.

spkb25,

Well, so much for civilized discussion. Your overreaction to a simple, slightly-sarcastic remark makes it sound to me like someone needs to check the mirror. I could care less what color a player is, and upon watching the combine I\'m convinced those who send the invitations feel the same way.

I did find it slightly ironic that the only white player on his squad was the only player invited to the combine, but I don\'t think there\'s anything racist about it, and you\'ll notice the only person to bring the word \"racism\" into the discussion was ... you.

Feel \"so so sorry\" for me if you must, but check yourself first...

:peace:

the perfect backup to AB

hey 25, that may be a little premature....

I read mutie\'s post, and it sounded to me his was pointing out simple irony... not making an attack on the issues of race.

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

that CB from hampton is someone I wouldn\'t mind getting in the mid to late rounds. He\'s supposed to be pretty good.

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

that CB from hampton is someone I wouldn\'t mind getting in the mid to late rounds. He\'s supposed to be pretty good.

Oh-and by the way-steve mcnair went to a traditionally black school...

the perfect backup to AB

Also like the cat from hampton

the perfect backup to AB

nothing premature about what my interpretation of the comment was. where else could he have been going. if it was a joke it didnt come off that way to me. he knows what he was insinuating. i dont think i need to worry about what my feelings are. my children will be half black. i love my wife and i know where i stand. it has been insinuated on here before. people have tryed to link the dislike of brooks to the fact that he is black. im just getting tired of the listening to it. if you want to discuss that or make those types of insinuations do it on the everything board

the perfect backup to AB

I think you\'re overreacting.

the perfect backup to AB

:bandhead: Probably gonna regret responding, but...

Quote:

where else could he have been going. if it was a joke it didnt come off that way to me. he knows what he was insinuating.

And what, exactly, was I insinuating?

Quote:

i love my wife and i know where i stand.

That\'s excellent. I love my wife, too. I know where I stand as well ... and I stated it above. You apparently didn\'t read it.

Quote:

people have tryed to link the dislike of brooks to the fact that he is black. im just getting tired of the listening to it.

Who in the heck has done that? ME? I don\'t remember reading it, and I certainly haven\'t made any such assertions. I haven\'t said it, nor do I think it. For the record, Warren Moon and Steve McNair are a couple of my all-time favs. So are Joe Namath and Joe Montana. Brooks ... eh, not so much so ... but that has everything to do with lousy performance and nothing to do with skin color.

Quote:

if you want to discuss that or make those types of insinuations do it on the everything board

That\'s EXACTLY what you should\'ve done. YOU are the one who brought the word \"racism\" into this, I simply pointed out (lightheartedly, I might add) simple irony. Get real...

the perfect backup to AB

Chill out guys or this ones locked.

the perfect backup to AB

no you werent the one that said that about brooks.

hey mut its cool i like your posts and i may have been reading to much in to a joke. its all good. no problem. hope all is good.

the perfect backup to AB

all\'s good here, too