Mary Madison
Contributor
Sam Madison, Jr., a Jefferson County native son, professional football player and coach, was honored on Saturday, July 8, with induction into the FAMU High DRS Inaugural Baby Rattler Sports Hall of Fame. The inaugural class included 11 posthumous inductees, 19 individual inductees and 11 championship teams.
Sam, as one of the individual inductees, was recognized for his sports accomplishments in football, basketball, track and baseball at Florida A&M University Developmental Research School (FAMU DRS) and beyond. Due to his current work as Miami Dolphins' defensive backs coach, he was unable to attend the ceremony, but his mother, Mary, accepted the award with recognition of his dad, Sam, Sr.; his sister, Teresa, and her husband Dwayne Precia; godsister, Angela Davis, and daughter, Ashley; and DRS former cheerleader, classmate and friend, Jakita Jones.
Throughout many years, Jeffersonians have been instrumental to FAMU DRS sports achievements. Coaches Johnnie Williams (1967-1980 track, football, basketball) and Harry Jacobs (1980-1996 football and track) were posthumously inducted, as was Clemon Johnson, a Hall of Fame Vision Founding Board Member and individual inductee (basketball). Team inductees included seven Boys Basketball State Championship Teams, three Girls Basketball Championship Teams and one Girls Basketball State Runner-Up Team.
This is Sam's second sports induction. In 2009, he was an inductee in the Kentucky Hall of Fame, when he played at the University of Louisville, where he was a four-year letterman in football; set Cardinal career records for interceptions (16) and passes defended (44); and was named 2nd Team All-American and 1st Team All Conference USA as a senior, finishing with 52 tackles, two sacks six interceptions (including one for a touchdown and 16 passes defended). After this, he was a second-round draft choice (44th pick overall) by the Miami Dolphins in 1997. In 2006, he signed with the New York Giants as a free agent and helped that team win Super Bowl XLII in 2008.
As a veteran cornerback with the Dolphins, he was voted to four consecutive Pro Bowls and played a vital role in mentoring the Giants young defensive backs. His 37 career interceptions placed him 6th among active players at the conclusion of the 2007 season.
Career highlights include appearance in 166 regular season games with 154 starts and 11 post-season games with nine starts. Career regular season statistics included 517 tackles (425 solo), 37 interceptions, 143 passes defended, nine forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. In post-season play, he had 34 tackles (23 solo) and eight passes defended. Over his 12-year professional football career, he has received many honors, including defensive co-captain, Pro Bowl starter, permanent co-captain (voted by teammates) and named Defensive Player of the Week three times in 1999.
Sam has always given his all on the playing fields, and throughout his professional career he has felt a responsibility to give back to the community he grew up in and the one he calls home. In 1999, he started his non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Madison Avenue for Kids Foundation (MAFK, Inc.), whose mission is to motivate and inspire children to get a quality education and encourage parental involvement for families to achieve a better way of life through educational, social and economic empowerment. Over the decades, MAFK, Inc. continues to be instrumental in giving back to both communities through shopping sprees, free hair cuts, school supplies and fun activities.
Special thanks to Roger L. Walker for being Master of Ceremony; Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor for saying grace; and City of Tallahassee Commissioner Diane Williams-Cox and Florida House Dist. 8 Rep. Courtney Jones for giving official greetings and presentations.
For the delicious banquet, green salad, steamed broccoli, squash, steamed potatoes, baked chicken, fish, rolls, and drinks were enjoyed by the capacity crowd.