Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 10-1-21

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021
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Dream Comes True For Blake High Grad: Now Teacher, Coach At The School
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
It’s a dream that came true for a current Howard W. Blake High School teacher, and coach with the Yellow Jackets football team.
With no scholarship of- fers, but he had desire, Randall M. Tucker boarded a Greyhound bus in Tampa 5 years ago to at- tend Alcorn State Univer- sity in Lorman, Mississippi. Along the way, Tucker, known to family and friends as “Frosty,” had the support of Alcornites and friends: Shinita Jordan, John- nie Keys, Tyrone and Bessie Keys.
He also had the support and encouragement of his mother, Ms. Ariane James, and grandmother, Ms. Patricia James.
Back in Tampa, he is readjusting to the class- rooms where he once sat and the football field where he once played at Howard W. Blake High School. He is fulfilling his dream. When he left Tampa, his goal was to re- turn to Tampa and follow in the footsteps of former members of All Sports Community Service (ASCS), many of whom be- came educators after their college days.
Tyrone Keys, former NFL player and founder of ASCS and one of those who has mentored Tucker since his youth years said, “He is a real live root-to- fruit testimony. He was so determined to go to col- lege, sight unseen. He has left us all with the picture and the meaning of the verse, ‘Hope - Faith and the Greatest of all, Love’ -- - which is the greatest asset.”
Coach Randall “Frosty” Tucker is the
The teacher, Randall “Frosty” Tucker, poses with his mentor, Ty- rone Keys and Faith Hall at Blake High.
Defensive Line coach for the Yellow Jackets, and an ESC Teacher with Special Need Students.
Randall shared these comments about his return to his alma mater:
“Being back at Blake is more than a dream come true, since there was a teacher who shared with others that I wasn't college material. The students here at Blake see me as a walking testimony.
“I share with them when the dream is big enough, the facts don't matter. But, I also share with the students to find adult mentors, let them know your goals and dreams and that you are willing to learn and you’re coachable.”
Randall is back at Blake, but says he’s not fin- ished.
“I’m thankful for the leadership and mentor- ship by Blake High School
principals, Mrs. (Jacqueline) Haynes and Mr. (Jesse) Salters and the coaching staff, Coach Muldrow, Coach Thomas and Mr. Ty- rone Keys, community advocate, who also visited and checked on me while I was at ASU.”
Randall says Keys arranged a radio interview for him in Mississippi, “for me to share my journey of arriving to Alcorn U on a Greyhound bus, sight un- seen and being accepted and becoming part of 2 SWAC Championship teams and leaving with a degree. It was the 1st time I had the opportunity to share by root to fruit story.
“I am happy to be back at Blake, teaching and coaching, but it’s just the beginning. I have started to work on my Master’s (degree) in education. I love it, but I’m not satis- fied.”
Coach Tucker with members of Blake High’s Defensive line.
Randall “Frosty” Tucker when he graduated from Alcorn State University in 2019.