If anyone doubted that Terry Beckner Jr. wasn’t going to qualify academically to play college football at the University of Missouri, then you don’t know Terry Beckner Jr.
The 6’4” 293-pound five-star defensive lineman made it clear that in his last semester at East St. Louis Senior High School, he was going to make the grade off the field as well.
Terry, his parents and the people in his tight circle never doubted that he would qualify to play as a freshman. I coached this young man in high school, and I’ve been around him since he was in middle school. He’s a bright young man who can do whatever he wants when he has his mind made up to be successful. And he will be a heck of a player for the Tigers.
First, let’s set the record straight. Terry Beckner Jr. always had the necessary grade point average to get into school. It was the biased ACT test that was keeping him from being cleared by the NCAA. But the rules are the rules, and our youth have to get it done to compete.
Second, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and assistant coach Cornell Ford never blinked when rumors surfaced that the First Team All-American wouldn’t make it academically. There were plenty of doubters around here who turned on Terry Beckner Jr. and assumed the worst.
People who would make Archie Bunker sound reasonable were running their mouths all over the place – some not even knowing what the NCAA Clearinghouse or the ACT test are! Even some crab-in-the-bucket parents (only a few) who have an agenda at East Side wished the worst for the Mizzou recruit.
Then there are some former coaches and hangers on who just want to be around when things are going good for our youth – only to tear them down or find a way to make a dollar off them if they can. They also had a lot to say when they thought Terry wouldn’t make it.
Pinkel said in an interview a few months ago: “Terry has some work to do, just like some of the other top players being recruited across the country. We’ll see how it all plays out.” And that’s what a fair person who really cares and who understands the pressure being put on student-athletes these days should say.
Make no mistake, there is a responsibility on our students to get the work done, whether the tests are biased or not. The level of society’s playing field isn’t fair; therefore, we must tell our youth to strive for excellence, both in the classroom and on the field.
However, it is time to put an end to the crab-in-the-bucket mentality of people within the black community. We should want our youth to achieve their goals and to get a good education. Our youth need to get away from the haters and enjoy life, get an education and become productive citizens. Forget the NFL or the NBA, just be a productive person, have fun in college and forget the naysayers!
We should be proud of our local hero, not because he’s an excellent talent on the football field, but because he’s giving himself another opportunity to do better for himself in the future.
Good luck, Big Dog!
