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| FAMU alumni Peter Tulloch, Damien Fleming and Terry
Johnson help propel the Sharks to the playoffs |
Former Florida A&M University (FAMU) four-year starter, Damien Fleming, has led the
Sharks as the team's signal caller.
Fleming is right at home with the Sharks as the Jacksonville native who
attended Ribault High School is playing in front of a true home crowd. Fleming is excited about the opportunity to
play in familiar territory.
“It's a blessing to be able to play right here. To have my high school career at Ribault,
college in Tallahassee at FAMU and to be here in Jacksonville with an
opportunity to play the game I love, it's just all you could ask for,”
Fleming said.
Sharks fans showed up in mass, to the tune of over 10,000
to support their previously undefeated Sharks.
With all the glitz and glamour of a WWE wrestling match, the Sharks were
introduced to shimmering lights, dancing cheerleaders and fire that shot nearly
to the roof of the arena. A familiar
voice to the Rattler Nation bellowed through the P.A. system as Rattler
Football Network play-by-play announcer Joshua Jackson, another FAMU grad, kept
the place in check.
“It has been an absolute honor to announce for this team for
the last eight years. I've had the
opportunity to talk about players from schools all over the country. But, this year, having Damien at the helm,
Marvin Ross having the awesome year he did before he was snatched up and Peter
(Tulloch) and Terry (Johnson) on the squad, it feels even more special. There's a certain pride about announcing a
player and ending it by saying he's from Florida A&M University,” Jackson
said.
Tulloch and Johnson both joined the team recently as the
Sharks looked to bolster its defensive backfield with the departure of
Ross. Johnson, a dual threat at FAMU as
a defensive back and kick returner, picked off a Steel pass on the second
offensive play of the game, setting the Sharks up for their first score.
Johnson, who graduated from FAMU in three and a half years,
was a four-year starter for the Rattlers.
His professional football journey led him to Jacksonville and he
couldn't be more content. “To have the
opportunity to play for a successful team like the Sharks is a blessing. I have had some great opportunities to play
football after college, but no fans are more dedicated than the ones in this
arena. It's exciting to be able to play
the game I love and to have players that I am familiar with around me, makes it
feel that much better,” Johnson said.
Tulloch had a very active day for Jacksonville. Playing both on defense and special teams,
his pure athleticism was on display.
Known as a hitter, he ended some plays with big stops for the Sharks.
“It doesn't get any better than playing with teammates. The FAMU bond is strong. There are players from teams all over the
country, but there's just something special about playing with guys that you
started with. I can also play with
confidence that if it all ends, I have my degree from FAMU. It's like a badge of honor,” Tulloch said.
Vaughn Wilson, director of Rattler Productions, took a team
of interns to the game to cover the former Rattlers. Wilson, a former player himself, knows the
impact the players are having.
“A lot of people know the success of the Sharks and the FAMU
connection…We are very proud of these young men, as we are with all of our
student athletes,” Wilson said.
The Sharks will open the NAL playoffs today, Sat., June 24 at 7 PM
against the Monterey Steel.