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Tampa Native Who Played In NFL Teams Up With Groups To Put On Super Bowl Events To Benefit Local Charities
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Feature Writer
Native Tampan Edward McMillan is a huge football fan. The former pro football player played for seven seasons in the NFL after graduating from the original Howard W. Blake High School and Florida State Univer- sity.
In 1969, he was one of the four African American players that was allowed on the Florida State University (FSU) football team. He was the first Black man to score a touchdown at FSU.
He was drafted into the NFL in 1973 and played with the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Sea- hawks, and the Buffalo Bills.
While he was still in high school, he was the hurdles cham- pion at the National High School Championships at the Junior Olympics in Oregon. It was then that he decided to intergrate FSU to open the door for Black players
from Blake and other predomi- nantly Black high schools. While at FSU, he and others worked hard to build the Black experience at FSU.
Now McMillan is a co-owner of Celebrity Events Consulting (CEC), a professional consulting agency that advises and guides professional athletes.
For the Super Bowl, McMillan is combining his company and in- terests into two major events that promise to bring a lot of energy to Tampa. The events this weekend will celebrate Howard W. Blake High School and the NFL Alumni Association.
On Saturday, February 6, 2021, the Howard W. Blake High School, Howard W. Blake Athletic Booster Club, and Celebrity Events Con- sulting (CEC) will hold the Cele- bration of Champions. This event will honor the 1962, 1964, and 1969 Blake High School football teams.
The 1969 team was the first all-
EDWARD ‘EDDIE’ MCMIL- LAN
...Played on championship team at Blake High School and inte- grated the FSU football team in 1969; played in NFL for 7 sea- sons.
Black high school team to win a state championship in the state of Florida. These outstanding teams
were led by coaching legends, Abraham Brown and Big Jim Williams. Both men were influen- tial in the players’ lives and served as father figures, as well as coaches. The coaches were well- known for teaching and preparing their players to handle life suc- cessfully.
Special guests will include former players from those cham- pionship teams as well as mem- bers of the Tampa Bay NFL Alumni Chapter.
The event will be held at Freedom Park, 2100 Main Street, from 2 p. m. to 5 p. m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and masks so there can be safe and healthy interactions.
It is a perfect opportunity to reunite with old classmates and meet new friends. For more infor- mation, please contact Reggie Bolton at (813) 810-2906.
On Sunday, February 7, 2021, the NFL Alumni Association Tampa Bay Chapter and McMil-
lan’s company will host a Super Bowl Viewing Party at the Bay Cannon Brewery. All proceeds will go to the Caring for Kids Founda- tion.
The Alumni Chapter is highly active and stays involved in chari- table events to assist local organi- zations. Their aim is to support the community and foster goodwill.
Special guests will include former NFL players who reside in the greater Tampa Bay area. Fans can look forward to autographs and photos with former NFL play- ers. There will also be prizes, raf- fles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ trivia. There is a donation of $10 that will also go directly to the Car- ing for Kids Foundation.
The event will be all day, from12p.m.until11p.m.For more information, please contact Walter Carter, NFL Alumni As- sociation Tampa Bay Chapter President at (813) 478-1102, or Barry Smith, FSU Hall of Famer at (813) 244-0328.
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