Bruce Turner said he learned more about it from reading history books in California than he did as a boy in Southampton. Still, the skulls potential identification comes at a time of change. Once Turner got back to OU, they realized his ankle was going to need serious rehabilitation. Turner was an educated minister. No training. 2.4K views, 55 likes, 13 loves, 66 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Meteorologist Vernon Turner: Let's talk about the whole snake video while I have lunch and you enjoy breakfast. "I never though I was all that good," added Turner. Hayes was killed on May 18, and the next day (May 19), his . His skull and brain were then sent away for study. With a special interest in severe weather preparedness, Vernon knows a thing or two about the importance of being a calm voice within the storm. Aguirre, Nat Turners fifth-great-granddaughter, said that examining history, uncomfortable as it may be, serves the common good. The nine formally dressed guests joined hands while standing around a table holding only a white box. While Vernon began working for Spectrum News in 2018, his passion for weather coverage began long before that. I dont think my goals ever wandered, Turner said. Only two men in the world this indoor season have gone so high. This skull is believed to have belonged to Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in 1831. With objective measures of skeletal remains, its possible to estimate the age of an adult within about 10 years, he said. When the bloodletting ended, 55 whites lay dead. "I was so grateful, to do it against the Bills who cut me the year beforeit was the exclamation point on an unbelievable journey.". However, if you listen closely, you just might find him with one of the many instruments he knows how to play. A CT. But then a few weeks before the fall semester started, Turner sprained his left ankle playing pick-up basketball. guyI'll show you.". A lot can happen in four years, and did. read vernon turner's ou bio Those are good, but might not be good enough to get a spot on Team USA. Sam, his stepfather, had passed away due to health complications -- leaving four young children behind while Vernon was all the way in Tennessee. To this day, I call him and tell him how much I appreciate what he's done for me and my family.". [6] He scored his first six points on an 80-yards run in the game's first play from scrimmage. I went to a small [Division II] school. As high jumpers, we go through slumps, Langford said. [citation needed], National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, "Ex-NFL player Vernon Turner tells his story, no holds barred", "Carson-Newman carries on football successes", "CarsonNewman rushes to NAIA championship", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vernon_Turner&oldid=1131071940, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 11:55. Turner, a phenom when he was coming out of Yukon High School and when he jumped 7 feet, 7 inches as a Sooner freshman, had become a mystery. We should be able to talk about the events that have been the foundation of our countrys continuing evolution, she said. On the other hand, one of Turner's assistant coaches encouraged him to focus on his grades in college -- a message that Turner interpreted differently. The Denver Broncos picked up the phone, and Turner was heading to Colorado to join the likes of John Elway and Shannon Sharpe. At some point in his life,Nat Turner got kicked in the head by a mule. Sam, VT's stepfather, was a Jets season ticket holder -- and Jackie made Vernon promise that he'd accept an invitation if asked to attend a game, which he reluctantly did. Drewry said a local doctor took possession of his skeleton. "He'd take me to school everyday and pick me up until I got my high school diploma.". The final segment (The Fourth Quarter) enthusiastically records Turner's roller-coaster ride through the NFL. The Covid shutdown which wiped out both 2020 championships. Woo cleared 7-9. Disappearing history and the natural world reclaiming it, Nat Turners Skull; A Grisly Mystery Nearly Two Centuries in the Making, Forgotten Asylums; A Solemn History of Mental Health, Its been 190 years since Nat Turners Rebellion. Who created it? How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. "Coach Olivieri drove this green Chevy Nova, it was a little piece of crap," remembered Turner. You either jump high enough or you dont. They had a higher expectation of themselves than what their coaches had.. He did not compete last season, and the story behind his year away is both complicated and convoluted. One skull is a very small sample of this highly variable world, he said. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Some sources contradict one another. A road in Southampton County earned the name Blackhead Signpost Road. Turner referred to his journey as being both "amazing" and "head-scratching". But what people don't see is the bad dreams I still have to this day due to events that occurred while I was growing up. Sweet tea, Southern hospitality, football, and the opportunity to deliver the latest weather headlines to his friends and family are just a few reasons why this North Carolina native loves living in the South. "I forgot I wasn't that good," said Turner. Curators are realizing that returning looted artifacts isnt closing museumsits opening new doors. When his flight touched down in NY, Olivieri was waiting at the airport. tells the inspiring story of how the now 44-year-old Turner moved as a young child from the mean streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant to a quiet neighborhood in Sunnyside, where he discovered a love for. A dropped touchdown and fumbled punt return doomed VT's chances, and he was subsequently informed of his release on the final day of cuts. (Hatcher died in 2019. Hes also the unofficial keeper of the countys insurrection memorabilia and documents, such as Nat Turners original sentencing orders. 5h Rain continues to move into the area. In Southampton, as elsewhere, Nat Turners Rebellion still sparks strong emotions. The OU high jumper hadnt cleared the bar at more than 7 feet in four years. Vernon Maurice Turner Position: WR-RB 5-8 , 185lb (173cm, 83kg) Born: January 6 in Brooklyn, NY (Age: 56-025d) College: Carson-Newman Weighted Career AV (100-95-. He owned an office furniture installation business in North Carolina, moved into the tire manufacturing business, and currently works in the oil refining industry in Houston, Texas. Alarm spread through the countryside, and the rebels lost the element of surprise. It tells the extraordinary saga of the officers and crew of the Wager, a . He writes profoundly of his deep love for his mother, and tells of the day when at the age of 11 he ran home from PS 35 only to find his mother in the bathroom with a needle in her arm. I really cant believe Im talking to you, Hatcher told Aguirre when they spoke. Vernon Turner tells all in his recently-published autobiography. Bruce Turner said many people sympathized with his ancestors motivations. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Turner was severely undersized, but he posted solid preseason numbersup until the final game. It received such incredible feedback that Derek Jeter flew Turner to New York City to meet with him personally. Turner still isnt pain free but says the pain is much more manageable. Turner reminisces about his high school teammates, including classmate James Jenkins, who went on to a 10-year NFL career himself as a tight end with the Washington Redskins. I will never, ever be able to pay back the Buffalo Bills for what they did for me, Turner confesses. "I went to the bathroom and just paced back and forth clapping my hands because I was able to keep my family together," remembered Turner. After two months as a fugitive, Turner was captured, tried, and hanged. He knew at that point, he had to jump higher than 7-6 anyway, to win. He thought it was important that people would know who the skull belonged to.. My father typed a letter that he kept in the box with the relic just in case anything unexpected happened to our family. So it was no surprise, then, that when Turner sent an autographed copy of "The Next Level" my way, he added the following note: "Writing this book was the hardest thing I ever had to do because it forced me to re-live events in my life I had buried deep in my mind and heart for over 30 years. And all the while he kept his family situation to himself he says no one in college or the NFL knew. But it is of immeasurable value because it is a poignant reminder of the price of freedom. OU vs. IUPUI women's basketball:Five things to know about the Sooners' first-round opponent, I had a lot going on outside track, Turner said. Cant seem to pull it together at the Trials. She, Vernon and, by then, his little brother moved to the man's Staten Island home. "I'm so blessed and grateful just to be on this Earth and be able to pay it forwardI'm not worthy of this," said Turner. The administrators family had kept it in a closet for decades. Get up off your knees, Vernon. "It was the 1970s, and Staten Island wasn't known for its affection for black people," says Turner. Its about time, Turner said. In 2002, a former mayorof Gary named Richard G. Hatcher held a fundraising gala for a project he hoped to usher to fruition, the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame. If I had to choose a few words to describe my story, they would have to be sadness, embarrassment, heartbreaking guilt, regret, anger, fear, determination, triumph and relief.". Today, this is all that remains. Dear Young Vernon, Get up. Unfortunately, his younger sister Ellen passed away a few years ago. But this time, Turner stayed mentally strong. Vernon Turner (born January 6, 1967)[1] is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back, wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) and NFL Europe League (NFLE) for eight seasons during the 1990s. The 42-year-old mother of eight died . And while he was there, he figured hed learn as much as he could from some of the best players in the league. The script has already been written by Brad Gann, the writer of the Disney hit Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg . Amid the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, activists saw inspiration in Nat Turners Rebellion. "God put 10 army men in front of me on that return," said Turner. He wasnt invited to the combine. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He was a 21-year-old kid who had promised his mother before she died that if anything happened to his father, hed step up and assume the responsibility of the household. There is a reference in 400 days to Vernon's group having lost both Vernon and Brie but no specifics as to how exactly Vernon died. "He went to Florida." "He turned pro." "He's done." Every time the high jumper has gone to a meet this season, he has heard another tale about his supposed whereabouts last season. See what I mean about the mental side? EXCLUSIVE: Undrafted punt returner Vernon Turner might have come into the NFL through modest auspices, but his inspiring life story will head to the screen backed by a high wattage group of produce 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. And thats exactly what he did. Other than the Rebecca Vaughn House in Courtland, the homes associated with the rebellion have been neglected, nearly all fallen into ruin. I dont know if I was burned out. Many of them had been alive during the attacks. A world contender. Many stories have circulated about the fate of Turners remains after his hanging. But deep inside he felt that Turners remains should be reunited with his descendants. Nat Turner. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Turner admits he reached a point where he didnt know what to do and felt incredibly helpless. Turner hadnt been working much with trainers or coaches as he tried to figure out where to transfer, and it left him in lots of pain when he tried to jump. During the recent filming of the National Geographic Studios documentary Rise Up: The Legacy of Nat Turner, there were frequent discussions with descendants and historians about the fate of Turners remains. Born in BedfordStuyvesant, a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Turner is the oldest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. Hes got that confidence in himself. Football was on. He decided to transfer and landed at Arkansas. Cousins and two of Turners great-great-great-great-great-granddaughters, Shanna Batten Aguirre and Shelly Lucas Wood, took possession of the skull and turned it over to a team led by Douglas Owsley at the National Museum of Natural History for forensic analysis. Turner had set a school record at 7 -feet, 5 inches during the outdoor season, won the Big 12 title and finished sixth at NCAAs. OU baseball rewind:David Sandlin's 'outstanding' outing highlights bounce-back week for Sooners. "He told me it was either that or I was the most gifted 14-year-old he'd ever met. ): 3 (12284th overall since 1960) High School: Curtis ( NY ) Twitter: @VernonMTurner 86 82 30 44 45 30 23 SUMMARY Career G 54 AV 3 Rt 134 Yds 2626 TD 0 Vernon Turner Overview Game Logs All Turner has to do is sit back and watch as his inspirational true tale of how he somehow made it to the NFL and onto the Buffalo Bills is magically reinvented on the big screen for the world to see. Aguirre and Wood, the guests of honor at the ceremony, shed tears of joy when they were handed what they believe are their ancestors remains. In 1993, Turner signed with the Detroit Lions, backing up return specialist Mel Gray. Less than two weeks away from the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Turner is still working to re-establish himself. Nat Turner organized and planned to overthrow a system that supported oppression, he said. However, Turner's senior year, like the rest of his upbringing, was far from rosy. While his mother was often "sick" and his stepfather, who Turner resented at the time but later grew to love, tried to quell her, young Vernon was left to provide as the caretaker for his four siblings. The movie "Relentless", based on his life, is currently in pre-production thanks to investments from celebrities Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Russell Wilson, and Ciara. HTML tags allowed in your comment:
. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Sex and race are more problematic because there is a lot of crossover in different traits. Turner played college football for CarsonNewman College, and then professionally for the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. I still believed I was the best, even when I wasnt winning.. Vernon dreamed of playing running back like his idol Walter Payton -- but one day at practice he accidentally launched himself into the starting lineup at quarterback. In other words, elite high jumpers must be strong and fast and possess impeccable technique. He is writing a book on places of historic value that have been forgotten and are being reclaimed by nature. Now 51, hes a businessman and a motivational speaker. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. I convinced [my aunt] to stick around a little longer and I started doing things like cutting hair on the side to make some extra money. The electrifying play was made even sweeter because it came against the Detroit Lions, coached by Fontes. Turner's aunt was pitching in with the kids, while Olivieri was doing all he could for Vernon financially, but eventually his aunt informed him she could no longer support the family. Vernon Turner's story and upbringing is one of the most powerful and inconceivable triumph tales ever told, and much of it took place right on Staten Island during his days as Curtis HS's star quarterback. Once his father passed away, fulfilling that promise was all he could think about. Discovering whether part of him still physically exists will illuminate a formative era in American history and help an expansive family find closure in an honored memorial. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Shanna Batten Aguirre, a descendant of Nat Turner, holds a box containing what some believe is Turner's skull. Returned to OU. I was just here practicing, he said with a glance around OUs indoor track. So Turner doubled down. These animals can sniff it out. April 30, 2019 at 11:46 a.m. EDT. Yet another possible Nat Turner skull might have stayed closer to home. American JuVaughn Harrison also has cleared 7-7. After going unselected in the 1990 NFL Draft, Turner was signed to a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos. But 6'6 not bad at all you kidding me! Turner pours out the rest early in the book: He lost his mother during his freshman year in high school and his Italian stepfather, Sam, while in college. Those were the questions floating around in the no-excuse world of track and field. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. He was unable to attend his induction in 2001. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. Born in Bed-Stuy, Turner, the oldest of five children, relocated along with his mother, Jackie, and stepfather, Sam, to Sunnyside just prior to his seventh birthday. This guy actually lived the American dream.' Eternal God, we are gathered here today to honor you, and to honor the legendary liberator, emancipator of the enslaved, and revolutionary of righteous, the Reverend Nathaniel Turner.. Beginning late on the night of Aug. 21, 1831, Nat Turner, a 30-year-old, literate, enslaved preacher, launched a rebellion in Southampton County, intending to strike a fatal blow to the institution of slavery. A sign erected by Turner descendants to acknowledge the places where he concealed himself while hiding from authorities has been repeatedly riddled with gunshots. But within the past couple decades theres been a noticeable shift. For that alone, not to mention all the great coaches and great players that I was blessed to be around, they provided me with an opportunity to take care of my family.. His action set off a massacre of up to 200 Black people and a new . For those of us who remember him, it comes as no surprise that life's bumps and bruises have not deterred him. An 1831 woodcut depicted Nat Turner's insurrection. "I owe him, he gave me everything he had," Turner says Olivieri told his wife. Hes humble from the get, saying he had no business ever playing in the NFL at all because it wasnt talent that got him there. Turner came to learn that he was conceived when his mother was gang-raped and beaten as a teenager by a group of men in Brooklyn -- a badge of shame that he carried around throughout his youth, seeing himself as a daily reminder to his mother of the trauma she suffered. The skull has been in the museums custody for more than 4 years. Thats something I really need to do for myself.. "I threw the ball back to the quarterback in practice one day, and the next day they moved me to QB.". Vernon Turner never imagined his life story would be turned into a major motion picture. He shaved his 40-yard dash time from 4.54 to 4.37 -- and NFL teams took notice. In many ways, Turner's life story is one of redemption. What got him there was why he was so motivated to succeed in the first place the need to take care of his family. Brutal mysteries remain unsolved.. He'll be at Jody's Pub on Forest Avenue on May 13 and the Wild Goose on Forest Avenue on May 14. But after signing with Buffalo, he had a promise to fulfill. The uncertain identity of those remains invites reflection on the historical mistreatment of human lives and bodies. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Facebook. The pandemic did nothing to speed the process along, he said, but the complicating factor is the level of direct genetic comparisons they are undertaking. Library of Congress After Turner's death, local doctors mutilated his corpse. Having spent three years living in Hawaii as well as two previous jobs in Mississippi and Alabama, Vernons travels have led him on adventures far away from here. The nagging ankle injury that still hurts from time to time. I need you to listen to me and if there is anyone in this world you should listen to, it's me. The Richard Porter House, where rebels found that the homes namesake had fled, was standing as late as a few years ago. Turner as a freshman produced disappointing performances in the 2018 NCAA Indoors (fourth) and NCAA Outdoors (sixth). Thats not to say the past should be forgotten. "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play!" All rights reserved. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You would never understand the suffering of people so long ago without the history. ", Most of all, Turner wants to represent his three children - Ashley (30), Darris (29), and Liam (5) - the "right way. Brutal mysteries remain unsolved., Archaeology of Virginia; The Uncovered Secrets, Pamplin City; The Ghost of a Railroad Boomtown, Abandoned Slavery Museum; The Forgotten Remains, Travel-Buffalo Springs a Historic Site in Mecklenburg County Virginia | Kathiey's World A Lifestyle Blog, Wash Woods; A Community Beholden to the Merciless Atlanic, An Idle Fleet Receding; The Ghost Fleet of the James River. Or it may just add another wrinkle. All rights reserved (About Us). I had two options: leave school and take care of them, or stay and theyd have to go into foster care. Vernon I need you to stop explaining to some of these.. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. The Southampton County Historical Society began a push to create a tour years ago, and Francis said that walking guides of Courtland will be available soon and that an official driving tour will be developed. Legendary Curtis coach Fred Olivieri knew exactly what Vernon had done -- and an eternal bond between player and coach was born. Wouldnt surprise me if you saw 7-10 come out of him.. The familys patriarch was a doctor in Richmond, Virginia, in the early 20th century. He concluded his career with the Frankfurt Galaxy and Scottish Claymores in NFLE. MOUNT VERNON Herman Turner is still seeking answers, and justice, after his wife, Raynette Turner, was found dead in a police holding cell. Jim, you now have my life in the palm of your hands!". And on the subject of Nat Turners skull, the historical record offers no straightforward answers. They didn't know what I was going throughI saw the way they were looking at me and I didn't like how it felt, I cared. It was a financial strain.. After two months he was captured and tried, and on November 11 he was hanged from a tree in the town of Jerusalem, now Courtland, Virginia. Aguirre said thats why this skull will be accorded honor and respect, no matter the outcome. "Vernon Turner's Improbable Journey to the NFL" will air on Fox Sports 1 at 10:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 21. . After a three-year stint in NFL Europe, Turner retired in 1998. And he also developed an endearing love for his stepfather, a man he resented greatly during his early years. The second option wasnt even on the table. Ive been waiting years for this phone call.. I am so blessed and grateful that I was given an opportunity to be with the Buffalo Bills. Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at 405-475-4125 or jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Injured an ankle. I like a tall man! [6] Despite concluding his senior campaign only second in rushing yards to teammate Robert Thomas, he was selected to the first team All-South Atlantic Conference in 1989. 0:53. Then going into my senior year, my aunt called and said she couldnt take care of my brothers and sisters anymore. Its incredible existence demands acknowledgment that, yes, this black life mattered.. After Turners death,local doctors mutilated his corpse. "Even with all the accomplishments, I didn't take compliments wellI was trained that way by Coach Olivieri," said Turner. She is quick to point out that she does not speak for all of Turners descendants who, seven generations on, are numerous. "I'm not afraid of failing, but I'm terrified of not tryingI want people to be the best they can be.". Seems everyone had an idea what happened to Turner after an electric freshman year at OU in 2018. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. If the tests . The guests of honor, Shanna Batten Aguirre and Shelly Lucas Wood, both descendants of Turner, flew in from Washington, D.C., to accept the remains. Aguirre, the Turner descendant from Washington, expressed strong interest in contacting Hatcher to see if hed be amenable to returning the skull to Virginia for a proper burial. Its my life and I know what happened in it, but to read a script of that caliber brought me to tears. I have two brothers and two sisters, he says. The 52-year-old former six-year NFL veteran is a successful father of three who resides in Houston, Tx.
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