​According to The Football Database website, 115 players from Tennessee State University have been drafted to the NFL/AFL since 1961. And with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie recently announcing his retirement from The NFL, I began to feel a slight sense of mourning for a long-forgotten legacy of TSU Greats that made an impact in The National Football League. Few recognize or remember a time when the option for black athletes to play at the collegiate level was at Historically Black Universities exclusively. Schools like Grambling, Tennessee State University, Southern University, Florida A&M, Alcorn State, and others put a product on the field that other universities feared. If you look at the list of Black NFL Hall Of Famers, pay attention to what schools they were drafted out of! As the barriers of segregation began to be dismantled, larger universities began to raid these programs, and things would never be quite the same. Still, it is imperative that we continue to keep telling our story. If we do not no one else will…

Few know this, but Ed “Too Tall” Jones actually came to TSU to play basketball. By his junior year though, Jones had transitioned to football and would earn All American Honors each of those two seasons before being selected 1st Overall in The 1974 NFL Draft by The Dallas Cowboys. After playing in two Super Bowls, Jones left to pursue a boxing career (impressively scoring a 6-0 record w/ five of those victories by knockout). In 1980, Ed “Too Tall” Jones returned to The Cowboys with a vengeance. With amazing size and speed, struck fear in opposing offenses right on up to his retirement in 1989. For his career, Jones totaled 1032 tackles, 19 fumble recoveries, and three interceptions. Quarterback sacks were not tracked as a stat, until the later part of his career; so while his is said to have sacked QBs 106 times-he is only officially credited with 57.5. Ed “Too Tall” Jones was a three time All Pro, played in three Pro Bowls, and three Super Bowls (winning one at Super Bowl XII). He is a member of The NFL Hall Of Fame, Black College Football Hall Of Fame, and Tennessee Hall Of Fame.
http://edtootalljones.com/bio/nfl-professional-career/
http://www.tsutigers.com/football/news/2015-16/6075/ed-too-tall-jones-will-be-john-merritt-classic-honoree/
http://tshf.net/halloffame/jones-edward-too-tall/​

Before becoming one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL History, Richard Dent was a three-time All American at TSU. Arriving on campus in 1979, young Richard Dent excelled with 158 tackles, 39 sacks, and six fumble recoveries. Drafted in the 8th round of the 1983 NFL Draft, Dent shined brightly despite being surrounded by one of the most impressive gathering of talent on what would become the greatest defense of all time. As part of that legendary 1985 Chicago Bears Squad, Dent would record 17 sacks and two interceptions. That season The Bears would get their first and only Super Bowl Victory; and Richard Dent was honored as Super Bowl XX MVP (only four other defensive players have ever been selected as Super Bowl MVP). Dent continued to dominate for several more seasons and won another ring with The San Francisco 49ers in 1994. Retiring in 1997, Richard Dent had amassed a total of 677 tackles, 137.5 sacks, 37 forced fumbles, 13 fumbles recoveries, and eight interceptions. He was a four time All Pro and made it to four Pro Bowls. Post-retirement, Richard Dent has been inducted into The NFL, Black College Football, Tennessee, and Georgia Halls Of Fame.
https://www.profootballhof.com/players/richard-dent/
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/2014/11/05/dent-inducted-black-college/18542009/
https://tshf.net/halloffame/dent-richard/​

Defensive End Claude Humphrey was selected in the 1st Round (3rd Overall) by The Atlanta Falcons in the 1968 AFL/NFL Draft. Hailing from Memphis, TN, Claude Humphrey would play at TSU from 1964 until 1967. In 1968, he would be named Defensive Rookie Of The Year by The Associated Press.
After a brief retirement, Claude Humphrey was traded to The Philadelphia Eagles for two fourth round draft picks. And in 1980, his 14.5 sacks would help lead The Eagles to The Super Bowl.
A six-time Pro Bowler & five times 1st Team All Pro, Humphrey is credited with a total of 122 sacks over his career (a statistic not tracked until after he had retired; so he may actually have more). He would go on to be inducted into The NFL Hall Of Fame in 2014. He is also in The Tennessee Hall Of Fame, Georgia Hall Of Fame, and Atlanta Falcons Ring Of Honor.
https://www.profootballhof.com/players/claude-humphrey/#statsContent
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2014/01/31/tsu-great-claude-humphrey-keeps-hall-of-fame-dream-alive/5083113/

​In 1974, young Joe Gilliam Jr. briefly broke the unwritten rule that barred Black Men to play quarterback in The NFL. Like most other myths used to support White Supremacist Propaganda, the idea implied was that Black Men were not smart enough to play the field general position. A couple of Black QBs broke through the barrier, due to injuries to the other QBs in front of them; but “Jefferson Street” Joe earned the starting nod during the preseason and was the first Black Quarterback to go into the season as the starter. Even more impressive, he had unseated former 1st round pick and future Hall Of Famer Terry Bradshaw. Expectations were extremely high-only outmatched by the venom of racist fans fearing that once again their positioning was being threatened. Gilliam endured harassment and death threats, including an infamous call from a stranger telling him everywhere that he had been (and what time) that day. The implication being that he could have killed him whenever he wanted to. Joe’s play suffered, and by week six he had been benched. At some point during that season, Joe fell victim to the lure of narcotics and would be out of the league the following year. Though he never started another game, “Jefferson Street” Gilliam would still be the face to inspire the next generation of Black Quarterbacks in The NFL. He was a Hero and A Martyr.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/remember-when-joe-gilliam-takes-terry-bradshaws-starting-qb-job/

Though his career was shortened due to injury, Cleveland Elam still made his presence felt while playing Defensive Tackle for The San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. As part of The 49er’s infamous “Gold Rush” Defensive Line, Elam racked up 14.5 quarterback sacks in 1976 & 17.5 the following year. Having been selected in the 4th Round of The 1975 NFL Draft, Elam would earn Pro Bowl Honors in both 1976 and 1977.
https://www.revolvy.com/page/Cleveland-Elam

Anthony Pleasant spent 14 seasons, playing Defensive Lineman in The NFL. Drafted in the third round, by The Cleveland Browns, in 1990, Pleasant had been a staple of the Big Blue Defense and 1989 AP All-American. No other D-Lineman has been drafted since then. Pleasant would go on to play for the Ravens, Falcons, Jets, and 49ers-before earning two Super Bowl rings with The New England Patriots (2001 & 2003). Over his career, Pleasant is credited with 531 tackles, 58 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. That included six forced fumbles in one season!! Anthony Pleasant briefly served as an assistant coach with The Kansas City Chiefs & Houston Texans. It is unclear what he is doing now.
http://www.tsutigers.com/football/news/2012-13/2955/100-moments-pleasant-becomes-a-pro/​

​The last NFL Star to come out of TSU, DRC was a little over 1/3 of the way through his 11th season when he retired. Drafted with the 16th pick in the 2008 Draft, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie picked up 30 interceptions (six of them returned for touchdowns) and seven forced fumbles. Cromartie played in two Pro Bowls, was a major free agent acquisition on the ill-fated Philadelphia Eagles “Dream Team,” and played in two Super Bowls (winning on his second trip, in 2016, with The Denver Broncos). At TSU, he was a three-time All OVC First Team Selection and FCS All American in 2007. He also excelled on The Big Blue Track Team. 

Eldridge Dickey led Tennessee State University’s Football Team, as a three-time HBCU All-American at quarterback, to its first undefeated season in history, and a National Black College Football Championship (1966). In 1968, he made history as the first Black Quarterback selected in the 1st Round of The AFL/NFL Draft by The Oakland Raiders. Unfortunately, there was still a movement in place that refused to allow any Black Man to play such a coveted field general position. As a result, Dickey would never actually play a single regular season down at QB. Like so many others, before and after him, he would be switched over to play Wide Receiver.  Like another much-heralded TSU quarterback, that would come along shortly thereafter, Dickey would eventually turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. One can only wonder what he could have been…
Eldridge Dickey died in 2000. He would be inducted into The Tennessee Sports hall Of Fame in 2014.
https://www.revolvy.com/page/Eldridge-Diersckey
https://theundefeated.com/whhw/eldridge-dickey-first-black-quarterback-drafted-tennessee-state-in-the-first-round-nfl/

Having played a vital role on the undefeated (10-0) TSU Tiger Team that won the 1973 Black College Football National Championship, Mike Hegman would later be a part of the legendary “Doomsday Defense” of The Dallas Cowboys. Selected in the 7th Round of The 1975 NFL Draft, Hegman had not played a down of football until his senior year of high school and was only a junior when drafted to the league. Hegman would go on to enjoy a 12 year career, in which he would see victory in Super Bowl Xll; and provide one of few bright spots in a losing effort at Super Bowl XIII the following year.  Mike Hegman retired in 1988.
https://www.revolvy.com/page/Mike-Hegman

​While Golden Tate may have not may not have made the impact in the pros that some of his peers have made; but his legacy is too strong to be left out of this post. In 1983, Golden Tate took the records for receiving yards and receptions in a season. He also became the only TSU Tiger to gain more than 200 receiving yards twice in one year. Golden Tate would go on to be selected in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft; but yet his contribution to the football world rolls right into to 2018. Golden Tate is the father of current Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Golden Tate ll (previously of The Seattle Seahawks & Detroit Lions). 

Former Big Blue Wide Receiver Mike Jones may not have made as big of an impact as his peers mentioned in this post; but his story is impressive nevertheless. A two-time All American at TSU, Jones went on to play six seasons in The NFL, scoring 11 touchdowns along the way. After his playing career was over though, he would go on to coach in NFL Europe. As a receiver’s coach he would see action in four out of the next six World Bowl Championship Games (winning two with The Rhein Fire), before going on to three more as The Frankfurt Galaxy’s Head Coach. Of those three seasons, he would win in 2006 (he was also named Coach Of The Year).  Mike Jones returned home to TSU, as Offensive Coordinator, from 2010 until 2014. It is unclear where he is currently employed.
http://www.tsutigers.com/football/roster/2010-11/4497/mike-jones/

On the morning of September 15th, 1963, a bomb was detonated from under the front steps of The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. While most of the church members had already transitioned upstairs to begin, five young girls were still downstairs in the basement area of the church. As a result, Cynthia Wesley, Denise McNair, Carol Robertson, and Addie Mae Collins would be killed in the explosion. Addie Mae’s sister Susan Collins would survive; but would be blinded for life due to her injuries. Another 14-20 people were reportedly injured in the bombing; and two teenagers (Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson) would be killed for protesting the murders of these young girls. This horrible moment of domestic terrorism and racist evil would serve as one of the most notable events among those that would galvanize the fight for civil and human rights in America and around the world.
“The blood of our little children is on your hands.”
The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church had been the base of operations for most of the activities centered around the fight for desegregation and equal rights in Birmingham; and was also considered to be a centerpiece of The Black Community. After intense efforts by Dr. King and The SCLC to mobilize the masses, a victory in the overall war had been achieved. On May 10th of that year, Birmingham officials would relent to desegregating the local restaurants, public restrooms, public fountains, stores, and more. This led to an onslaught of retaliatory violence from white groups that included fire-bombings and other bombing attacks at The Gaston Hotel (where Dr. King has previously stayed), the home of Dr. King’s brother A.D., and twice at the home of NAACP Attorney Arthur Shores. Four members a local KKK Splinter Group (The Cahaba River Group) would be named as suspects in 1965; but no indictments would come after an almost five-year investigation. In 1971, a new investigation would be launched, by then Alabama Attorney General Bill Blaxley. Robert Chambliss would eventually be found guilty of murder in 1977.  As for the other three assassins, Bobby Frank Cherry and Thomas Blanton would be sentenced to prison after The State Of Alabama again re-opened the case files in the year 2000. Herman Cash escaped punishment, as he died in 1994. 
SOURCES:
https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/1963-birmingham-church-bombing-fast-facts/index.html
https://www.nps.gov/articles/16thstreetbaptist.htm
https://www.britannica.com/event/16th-Street-Baptist-Church-bombing
BONUS READING:
https://www.npr.org/2013/01/25/170279226/long-forgotten-16th-street-baptist-church-bombing-survivor-speaks-out

Dr. Ossian Sweet was highly successful Detroit physician, and graduate of Howard University Medical School. But he would most well known for an incident that occurred at his home in the Fall of 1925. Having purchased a two-story home in an all-white neighborhood that July, the residents immediately began to protest. Dr. Sweet and his wife would not actually move in until September of that year; and he came escorted by armed "associates" and a police escort. One night later, a mob of whites would attack the house-throwing rocks and bottles. Their attempts to intrude further, and enter Dr. Sweet's home were met with gunfire. One member of the racist mob was killed; and another one was wounded. Dr. Ossian Sweet, and his associates would each be arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder.  

Famed Attorney Clarence Darrow would be brought in by The NAACP to defend them at trial. A mistrial would eventually be declared, and the subsequent retrial would ensure the freedom of Dr. Ossian Sweet and his comrades.  

Though racial codes were already routinely used in real estate contracts, this practice would be made more aggressively in the aftermath of his victory in court. Dr. Ossian Sweet's life would never again be the same. His wife and daughter died shortly after he was freed; and he would be harassed over taxes, medical licenses, and more for decades. He would ultimately commit suicide in 1960. The house on Garland Road is now listed upon those preserved by The State Of Michigan, as a historical landmark. 

SOURCES: 
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/sweet-ossian-1895-1960
https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/detroit/d4.htm
http://www.detroit1701.org/SweetHome.htm