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C. L. Whittington: ?You make your own path"
By R.K. Speights
Special to African-American News&Issues
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In a recent interview with new Prairie View A&M head coach C.L. Whittington, the former Houston Oilers player made the statement "You make your own path."
That?s a profound statement considering the mentality of today?s society ? a society that revolves around the "You Owe Me" attitude. You make your own path is his philosophy on life. Throughout his career, Whittington has taught that philosophy to high school, college and professional athletes across the country.
When he hears someone whining about the hand life has dealt him or her, he just shakes his head and says, "Let?s talk.? Whittington accredits his mother with his philosophy on life. His father died when he was 10 years old. Shortly thereafter his mother sat her six kids down and said, "We?re going to make it but you are going to have to learn to make you own path." She said, "Work hard, get an education, get a job, and take care of your family. It?s up to you to make your own path.? It must be noted that each of the six children finished college, four have Masters Degrees.
Contrary to popular belief, there are no free rides in life. Whittington is a testimony to that. When he first started junior high football he had no talent or skill. Yet he began to make his own path, he accepted every offer his coaches gave him to play no matter the position. When he graduated from high school he received one scholarship offer. He accepted that offer. It came from Prairie View A&M. He received one offer to play pro football and that was from the Houston Oilers. After six seasons he retired. He accepted his first offer to coach high school football. His path has lead him up through the pro ranks coaching, the World Football League and the Houston Outlaws.
After he graduated from Prairie View he made a statement, "One day I will be head football coach here.? And on Friday, Jan. 10, Prairie View A&M selected him as the new head coach of the Prairie View football program. Whittington, who graduated from Prairie View in 1973, brings the Tigers a vast wealth of experience as a player, coach, administrator and educator. Whittington?s football career started at Lincoln Junior High in Beaumont under head coach Jack D. White. During the interview, Whittington commented, "Coach White was the best coach he had ever played for." He said, "Coach White taught me the basic fundamentals of football. He taught me disciple. He taught me to excel."
And excel he has with four years of high school football, four years of college football and six years with the Oilers. In a question about what position he played, his comment was, " I have played every position except center and quarterback." Proof of that is while with the Houston he played strong safety, free safety, linebacker, wide receiver, running back and tight end. In 1976 he lead the team in interceptions as free safety and played in two AFC Championship games. Whittington?s coaching career began in 1981 in Angleton as defensive back and special teams coordinator, strength and conditioning coach for Angleton Middle School, and later at Angleton High. Both the middle and high schools teams were district champions in 1981.
His next coaching job was at Ross Shaw Sterling High in Houston as defensive backs and special teams coordinator, along with strength and conditioning coach. They were bi-district champions in 1983. From 1984 to 1989 he coached the defensive backs, wide receivers and special teams for Prairie View A&M. He then spent five years as defensive coordinator for Texas Southern University. While at TSU, he also coached the defensive back/special teams intern program for the Washington Redskins. During his three seasons (1995-97) with the WLAF?s Frankfurt Galaxy, Whittington was defensive line coach or linebacker coach. The Galaxy won the 1995 World Bowl Championship and was runners up in 1996.
Whittington took a sabbatical from full-time coaching to spend time close to home in Hallsville. His daughter graduated from high school in 2002 and it was important for him to be able to support her during her high school years. During this time he served as linebacker coach and scout for the Houston Outlaws and as linebacker/special teams coach for the Houston Marshall Spring Football League. When asked his assessment of the Prairie View football program, players and their losing record over the past decade and what he plans on doing to change that, Whittington said, ?I can?t change the past but I can change the future.? What the future holds no one knows except Whittington but if it?s like the path he has already made, it will be one always moving up.
Coach Whittington and his wife, Winnie, have one daughter, Catherine, who attended Louisiana Tech. He has two sons by a previous marriage, Jason is an assistant public relations director for the San Francisco 49ers and Corey is an engineer for Motorola.
Whittington teaches the kids the difference between "dumb and stupid." He said, ?You can?t make your own path if you don?t know the difference. Dumb is making a mistake that sometimes you can?t prevent. Stupid is making the same mistake twice.? But that?s another story.
Coach Whittington will make his debut on August 29, 2003 when his panthers take on Texas Southern University(TSU) at Reliant Stadium in the annual Labor Day Classic. For more information call, (713) 313-7011.
By R.K. Speights
Special to African-American News&Issues
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a recent interview with new Prairie View A&M head coach C.L. Whittington, the former Houston Oilers player made the statement "You make your own path."
That?s a profound statement considering the mentality of today?s society ? a society that revolves around the "You Owe Me" attitude. You make your own path is his philosophy on life. Throughout his career, Whittington has taught that philosophy to high school, college and professional athletes across the country.
When he hears someone whining about the hand life has dealt him or her, he just shakes his head and says, "Let?s talk.? Whittington accredits his mother with his philosophy on life. His father died when he was 10 years old. Shortly thereafter his mother sat her six kids down and said, "We?re going to make it but you are going to have to learn to make you own path." She said, "Work hard, get an education, get a job, and take care of your family. It?s up to you to make your own path.? It must be noted that each of the six children finished college, four have Masters Degrees.
Contrary to popular belief, there are no free rides in life. Whittington is a testimony to that. When he first started junior high football he had no talent or skill. Yet he began to make his own path, he accepted every offer his coaches gave him to play no matter the position. When he graduated from high school he received one scholarship offer. He accepted that offer. It came from Prairie View A&M. He received one offer to play pro football and that was from the Houston Oilers. After six seasons he retired. He accepted his first offer to coach high school football. His path has lead him up through the pro ranks coaching, the World Football League and the Houston Outlaws.
After he graduated from Prairie View he made a statement, "One day I will be head football coach here.? And on Friday, Jan. 10, Prairie View A&M selected him as the new head coach of the Prairie View football program. Whittington, who graduated from Prairie View in 1973, brings the Tigers a vast wealth of experience as a player, coach, administrator and educator. Whittington?s football career started at Lincoln Junior High in Beaumont under head coach Jack D. White. During the interview, Whittington commented, "Coach White was the best coach he had ever played for." He said, "Coach White taught me the basic fundamentals of football. He taught me disciple. He taught me to excel."
And excel he has with four years of high school football, four years of college football and six years with the Oilers. In a question about what position he played, his comment was, " I have played every position except center and quarterback." Proof of that is while with the Houston he played strong safety, free safety, linebacker, wide receiver, running back and tight end. In 1976 he lead the team in interceptions as free safety and played in two AFC Championship games. Whittington?s coaching career began in 1981 in Angleton as defensive back and special teams coordinator, strength and conditioning coach for Angleton Middle School, and later at Angleton High. Both the middle and high schools teams were district champions in 1981.
His next coaching job was at Ross Shaw Sterling High in Houston as defensive backs and special teams coordinator, along with strength and conditioning coach. They were bi-district champions in 1983. From 1984 to 1989 he coached the defensive backs, wide receivers and special teams for Prairie View A&M. He then spent five years as defensive coordinator for Texas Southern University. While at TSU, he also coached the defensive back/special teams intern program for the Washington Redskins. During his three seasons (1995-97) with the WLAF?s Frankfurt Galaxy, Whittington was defensive line coach or linebacker coach. The Galaxy won the 1995 World Bowl Championship and was runners up in 1996.
Whittington took a sabbatical from full-time coaching to spend time close to home in Hallsville. His daughter graduated from high school in 2002 and it was important for him to be able to support her during her high school years. During this time he served as linebacker coach and scout for the Houston Outlaws and as linebacker/special teams coach for the Houston Marshall Spring Football League. When asked his assessment of the Prairie View football program, players and their losing record over the past decade and what he plans on doing to change that, Whittington said, ?I can?t change the past but I can change the future.? What the future holds no one knows except Whittington but if it?s like the path he has already made, it will be one always moving up.
Coach Whittington and his wife, Winnie, have one daughter, Catherine, who attended Louisiana Tech. He has two sons by a previous marriage, Jason is an assistant public relations director for the San Francisco 49ers and Corey is an engineer for Motorola.
Whittington teaches the kids the difference between "dumb and stupid." He said, ?You can?t make your own path if you don?t know the difference. Dumb is making a mistake that sometimes you can?t prevent. Stupid is making the same mistake twice.? But that?s another story.
Coach Whittington will make his debut on August 29, 2003 when his panthers take on Texas Southern University(TSU) at Reliant Stadium in the annual Labor Day Classic. For more information call, (713) 313-7011.