The Number One Source For Leesburg Yellow Jackets Football News. www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
Presented by the Carver Heights Quarterback Club.
Noor Davis will make his college decision on Friday at 12pm. / Gator Country photo by Derek Tyson
The Villages (FL) linebacker Noor Davis talks about his favorite schools in this unedited letter to GatorCountry. Davis will make his final college decision on Friday.
By Noor Davis
First and foremost, I would like to thank God for blessing me with these wonderful recruiting opportunities and experiences.
However, I accept these blessings with great humility as I am mindful of those who have not yet experienced the same.
Since September of last year, and actually even before, I have been involved in the recruiting process. From letters to unofficial visits to telephone conversations to recruiter’s school visits to recruiter’s school practice evaluations...it has been a very hectic, but exciting time for me.
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Top-ranked high school linebacker Noor Davis has committed to Stanford. Davis, of Oxford, Fla./The Villages Charter School, made his college decision known just minutes ago in a small presentation at his high school (which is really nice), and wrapping up his recruiting experience, at least for now, before his junior year of high school is even over. READ MORE CLICK BELOW
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
UPDATE — (1:56 EST) Just minutes ago Davis chose Stanford, proving most of the pundits wrong… and in some cases twice. That said, my final thought probably holds true. Expect this to go down to the wire, with the Irish’s visit to Palo Alto at the end of the season possibly playing a determining factor…
I don’t usually make it a habit of posting on the early press-conferences of a recruiting cycle, but Florida outside linebacker Noor Davis seems like a pretty good exception to the rule.
If there’s a player that’s universally beloved amongst college recruiters, Davis qualifies. He’s got an offer list that rivals anybody’s, quite literally. Thanks to some research done by friend of the program BPH, Davis already has offers from Alabama, Florida, FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC. Or as BPH would put it, 9/10th of the golden list of offers — missing only Texas, a school that rarely reaches out of state for players.
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
By MIKE FOWLER
Commercial Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
October 8, 1969
LEESBURG - It's official - by next football season, Leesburg High will have a new concrete stadium facility to replace the outdated and inadequate bleachers on the east side of Memorial Field.
There are no ifs anymore - Mack Nigel, engineer at Dura-Stress Concrete, begins drawing up plans next week, and the Leesburg High Stadium Committee, headed by Frank Ezell, is busy now arranging financing.
The facility will seat 3,000 originally, and will be built so expansion to 5,000 is possible later. It will have room underneath for concession stands, rest rooms, shower and gym facilities - all to be added later. It will be built of prestressed concrete, given at cost by Dura-Stress.
Work will begin as soon as possible. The Stadium Committee is aiming for a starting date right after the football season, when the field is no longer in use - or this summer, after school is over.
Resources
Mike Fowler
Commercial Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
1970 Leesburg High School head coach Wilbur Lofton
BY WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 22, 1970
This Friday night at Memorial Stadium, Leesburg's Fighting Yellow Jackets usher in the 1970 local football season with an opening game clash that could very well be the toughest game of the year for the Jackets of Coach Wilbur Lofton.
The opening foe of the 1970 Yellow Jackets will be the DeLand Bulldogs, a Class AA team that is always a well prepared ball club and one that gives the Yellow Jackets a titanic struggle in every game they engage in.
Friday night promises to be nothing less than a donnybrook, after the notice that the Bulldogs served concerning their strength in their big 35-32 victory over highly-regarded Gainesville in their first game Friday night.
Gainesville was a team that was accorded much preseason ink regarding their fine prospects for the upcoming year but were outplayed by a DeLand team that refused to pay any attention to the experts and simply beat the GHS Hurricanes at their own game, offense.
Led by Rodney Harris, a whirling dervish quarterback who gave the Yellow Jackets fits in their battle last year, DeLand used the big play to turn back the challenge of the Hurricanes. Harris is a quarterback who appears to be simply an average thrower at first glance but in crucial situations, the senior signal caller can unleash a tremendous passing arm to five Bulldogs a very potent long distance aerial threat.
1970 Leesburg High School Assistant Coach Hubert O. Dabney
In his big receiver Prince Durant, Harris has a target for his long bombs and this pair is bound to provide the Yellow Jackets with a major defense problem in their Friday night duel.
This game shapes up to be a very big one in the 1970 plans of both schools and DeLand very likely will be the strongest team Leesburg will face during the upcoming season. After the performance of Winter Garden-Lakeview against Dade City in their opener Friday night, the Red Devils of Vel Heckman don't appear to be as strong as most area football people figured.
Sanford-Seminole, another powerful team on the Yellow Jackets slate this year, played a strong game as anticipated but showed a leaky defense against a weak Oviedo team.
The prospects of the 1970 Yellow Jackets appear very bright for 1970. Despite the loss of several top performers off the 1969 State Class A runner-ups, a fine football team is available for local fans to rally behind this year and Friday night's game with DeLand holds the promise of being an outstanding high school football game.
At the conclusion of last week's practice session, Lofton was pleased with the overall condition of his squad's physical health. He should be set for his big opener with a strong lineup to throw against the visiting Bulldogs.
The spirit of the Yellow Jackets is sky high, paying a tribute to the way Lofton and his assistants, Max Wettstein and Hubert Dabney, have primed the Yellow Jacket Machine for their tough opener. The practices have been lively affairs, even in the throes of a sever heat wave that has made the afternoon sessions a torturous experience.
The spirit will be one of the major factors in the way the Jackets fare in a game where they will be regarded as the underdogs by the state-wide press. The 1970 group shows a lot pride in their ability and will be trying to overcome the critics who say the 1970 group is not nearly as strong as the team Leesburg fielded last year.
The new swarm of Fighting Yellow Jackets are a very solid, well balanced squad, being strong on offense and defense. The line is anchored by the highly regarded future high school all-American, Greg Johnson, and big Greg has a solid supporting cast in Lynn Gilbert, Phil McEachern, Leon Scott, and Dale McClelland, with a very strong performer working at the tight end spot.
Kenny Hicks holds down the spot at tight end and he has developed into an all-star prospect at his new position. Hicks catches the ball very well and turns in a devastating blocking job.
The same crew does double duty when on defense, with Ken Mosely coming into the lineup to man one of the defensive end spots.
The forward wall of the Jackets has a lot of experience and ability. It will be their responsibility to put the heat on the DeLand quarterback and if this is accomplished, the Jackets will win the ballgame.
The pass rush of Leesburg this year should not be exceeded by any team in the state. The talent and strength is there and it is here that the key to the Jackets chances for victory over DeLand is found.
We think that the line will get the job done in proper fashion and the quick secondary should have field day against the sure-to-come aerial attack from Rodney Harris.
Get your tickets early, because Friday night will find a packed house in Memorial Stadium as the Yellow Jackets open up 1970.
Resources
WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 22, 1970
Leesburg Public Library
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Leesburg High School Outside Linebacker Noor Davis and University of Southern California Coach Lane Kiffin on a unofficial recruiting visit last summer.
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
November 29, 2011
LEESBURG - Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Florida) linebacker Noor Davis made his last official recruiting visit last weekend when he visited the University of California. Davis verbally committed to Stanford University earlier this year and stands firm on the commitment. Davis has been encouraged by his parents to weigh out all of his options before National Signing day.
Davis has already made official visits to Alabama, Stanford and Auburn this season. An Orange County native, Davis watched the USC Trojans 50-0 shellacking of UCLA Saturday night.
"I wanted to get an inside look at USC," said Davis in a interview with Gerard Martinez of USCFootball.com. "I have tremendous respect for their program and their school. It's always been a great university and very prestigious - a powerhouse. I really wanted to get a closer look.
"I had a chance to spend time with the players and coaches to see how close they are as a team, which is very special. It was a neat set up with the pep rally before each home game and the Trojan Walk. Those things were interesting and very unique to their program.
"They wanted me to get an inside look at the program, so I sat in on all of the meetings and got a close look as if I was a player at USC."
USC has recruited him as a linebacker, while visiting with USC Davis got details on where he would fit in the Trojans defense.
"Yes, they said I could play any one of the three linebacker spots, but they definitely want me on the outside," said Davis to Gerard Martinez . "They feel like I could be a Brian Cushing or Clay Matthews type that could walk up to the line in a 3-4 package and utilize my pass rush abilities."
Traditionally, USC has run a base 4-3 defense, which is the defense Davis played in for head coach Randy Trivers at Leesburg High School. The team's big win over its rival UCLA and the Los Angeles Coliseum's scene had the 2012 Under Armour All-American leaving Los Angeles impressed USC.
"It was a great environment, and a packed house," said Davis. "The fans were very rowdy and into the game. It was a big rivalry game against UCLA and the players reacted very well. It was very intense and they were very focused.
"It showed in the outcome of the game, which was not pretty. I knew USC was a great team and that they were playing for everything because they could not go to a bowl game. So I expected a three to four touchdown win, but not a seven touchdown win."
While on the official visit Davis had a chance to stand on the Los Angeles Coliseum sidelines and speak with fellow four-star linebacker recruits Jabari Ruffin and Scott Starr. With two commits at linebacker for USC, and three freshmen starting at linebacker this season, Davis sees a bright future for the Trojans' defense.
"They're going to have a great team, and they always have been traditionally," said Davis. "I think there's no question that they're going to have success. Not just with Jabari and Scott, but with their team as a whole and their coaching staff. I wish them the best of luck."
Davis still remains firmly committed to Stanford with no sign of changing before National Signing Day.
"USC is a school that would be high on my list, but I am still firmly committed to Stanford," said Davis.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Hayes Pullard was Davis host for the weekend while at USC.
"I enjoy competition, and I'd be willing to work wherever I go including Stanford" said Davis. "USC is a program not afraid to play their freshman and I respect that. They said that if you come in ready, you will play."
Over the next couple of months Davis will take time to analyze his visits and make a final decision on where he will play college football sometime in January.
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Stetson University football fans will see the Hatter gridiron machine in action on the home field in three out of seven games thus far arranged for the 1936 season according to Head Coach Brady Cowell.
In releasing the list of contests for next fall, Cowell said he was still negotiating for an opening encounter October 2 at DeLand against an unnamed opponent. The schedule so far reads:
Oct. 17 - Florida at Gainesville.
Oct. 23 - Tampa at Tampa.
Oct.. 30 - Erskine at DeLand.
Nov. 6 - Miami at Miami.
Nov. 14 (Homecoming) - Union University at DeLand.
Dec. 4 - Rollins at Orlando.
Despite the loss by graduation of fifteen first-string warriors, Coaches Cowell and Chester Freeman expressed themselves as pleased with the showing made by candidates for the 1936 squad during the first three weeks of spring practice.
As a nucleus the Stetson mentors have experienced material in MacCalla and Minehart, center; Nichols and Bridges, tackles; Coombs and Frison, guards; Barber, Cudmore, Haddock and Dickson, ends. In the backfield Branham, Martin and Clonts comprise the most promising material.
From the 1935 freshmen ranks Cowell and Freeman have several likely youngsters for the backfield. Lyndol Warren should prove a mainstay of the passing attack. Lowery, Cobb, W.T. Hall, Jr., and Stewart have also attracted attention in the backfield Kirkland, Swanson, Bob Anderson and Butler are viewed as good line material. Hall is from Leesburg and is making an excellent showing. He will make the varsity barring injuries without a doubt.
Resources
Lake Breezes
Leesburg Ledger
Fall 1936
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Senior Taiedo Smith returned his interception that sealed Kentucky's victory over Tennessee. Danny Trevathan #22 looks to make a block during the return.
Seniors on 'D' leave final mark
By Matt May, November 26, 2011
The seniors on Kentucky’s defense had been in this position so many times before. Maligned for much of their careers, called the weak link more often than they could recall they were a group of players intent on leaving one final mark on Kentucky football.
With a last stand that will long be remembered by generations of Kentucky football fans those prideful, humble seniors etched their collective names into the lore of Wildcat football.
Kentucky beat Tennessee 10-7, ending a 26-year losing streak that had grown to mythical proportions. In a season gone awry it was the storybook ending a cast of all-stars, cast-offs and everything in between had longed to live.
“It’s probably the best feeling in the world,” senior linebacker Winston Guy said. “It’s like a tattoo, once you get it it’s there. This game is like a tattoo. We won and no one can take it away from us. We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this. It’s emotional. I don’t have the words to explain it.”
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Kentucky’s Danny Trevathan exhaled late Saturday afternoon and became the unofficial spokesman for the entire Big Blue Nation.
“It was about time,” Trevathan exclaimed. “We’re celebrating two things today. The streak is dead, and this is a new beginning for Kentucky football.
“These guys can now go on about their business and not have to worry about a streak that lasted 26 years. That’s crazy … 26 years. I mean, a lot of marriages don’t last that long.”
It wasn’t a memorable season by any means for the Wildcats, but nobody’s complaining in the Bluegrass State about how it ended.
For the first time since 1984, Kentucky can celebrate a football victory over Tennessee after holding off the Vols in a 10-7 slugfest at Commonwealth Stadium.
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Former Jackets standout R.J. Peppers and his Towson University Tiger football teammates took advantage of their bye in the NCAA FCS playoffs and were honored at halftime of the men's basketball game against Oregon State in the Towson Center on Saturday afternoon. Courtesy: Athletics Media Relations Release: 11/26/2011
TOWSON, Md. - It is a tradition that national championship teams get to visit the White House. Apparently, when you are the most improved team in the nation and win the Colonial Athletic Association championship after going winless in the league the prior season, the White House comes to you.
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
2012 Under Armour All-American Noor Davis and USC head coach Lane Kiffin at a unofficial recruiting visit by Davis last summer.
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
November 26, 2011
LEESBURG - Leesburg High School senior outside linebacker Noor Davis will be making a official recruiting visit to the University of Southern California this weekend. Davis is the first official visit for the Trojans this year. The Trojan's take on it's longtime rival UCLA in it's season finale. Davis has already made a unofficial visit this past summer but wants to view the campus and it facilities on a official visit.
"I want a more in-depth look at USC," Davis said. "To spend time with the coaches and the players. And I know it's going to be a good game because it's a rivalry game."
Davis stands firm with his commitment to Stanford University but is leaving his options open. Davis is originally from Irvine, California and is very familiar with USC and the surrounding area.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Davis said. "I have family, friends, teammates and coaches coming and it will be good to share that experience with them. I've watched the last three games and I knew that if the opportunity presented itself, then that was the game I would play in. I'm blessed to be able to make that dream come true."
Resources
ESPN
Erik McKinney
We Are SC
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
