Clemson University is developing a reputation for producing NFL first-round draft picks at the quarterback spot. After Deshaun Watson won a national title with the Tigers, the Houston Texans selected him with the 12^th pick in 2017. Experts project current Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, who captured a national title as a true freshman, to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, long before Clemson produced these two amazing talents, Woodrow ‘Woody’ Dantzler was the top Tiger on campus. Dantzler was one the first signal-callers to thrive in the spread offense. In 2000, Dantzler set an ACC record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 220 against Virginia. The following year, he became the first QB in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. As a motivational speaker, he gears his speeches toward diverse skill building and critical thinking while trying to tackle communication issues among today’s youth. He also mentors current Clemson football players through the university’s Tiger P.A.W. Journey Program.

While discussing the cultural change that has led to the recent success of Clemson’s football program, Dantzler opens up about whom he idolized growing up and much more.

Percy Crawford interviewed Woody Dantzler for Zenger News.

Zenger: How is everything going, bro?

Woody Dantzler: Everything is going good.

Zenger: During your time at Clemson University, as a quarterback, you didn’t seem to mind running in between the tackles. To me you brought a certain level of toughness and physicality to the position. Did you develop that at Clemson?

Dantzler: You know what, that is the first time I have been slated as someone that was physical. I don’t know. It probably could have been my upbringing because I was an outside kid. I worked with my older cousins and playing around, so I was used to the physical stuff, martial arts being in my background and a few other things. But I was actually that guy that didn’t like contact. That’s why I was able to develop the knack for not getting hit. I say this, too. A lot of times it [the hits] looked worse than what they were because of my martial arts training; I had pretty good body control. So, I can go with the hit and go with that and move with that instead of really observing that hit like it may have looked.

Zenger: Absolutely. I guess your willingness to run in between the tackles … at the time you were doing it, it was not popular amongst some quarterbacks who were more protected back then.

Dantzler: Exactly!

Zenger: You left Clemson with more than 50 records. Does one stand out or mean more than the others?

Dantzler: To me, none really stands out. It’s just the totality of being able to play on that level, perform on that level. For me, it was more about not letting my teammates down. So, the preparation I put into each week, the film study, the working out, extending my conditioning level, all of that was because I know I had guys depending on me and I didn’t want to let them down. So, the way I prepared, that — coupled with the fact that my dad taught me —  ‘if you’re going to do anything, do it to the best of your ability’. So, with those two things in mind, the records, the standards and all that different stuff just kind of came with the territory.

Zenger: It seems as if you lived off your father’s words a lot. Two things I researched he told you and you utilize are: when you were going to Clemson, he told you to be more than just a football player and also he said each generation sets up the next generation. Basically, each one, teach one, and I love both messages.

Dantzler: You just pointed out two really important ones. ‘Don’t go up there just to be a football player’ was just to get me to go up there and not put myself in a bubble. Experience what life had to offer. Learn different cultures, learn different people, learn different environments so you will know how to adapt and move and gain insight in whatever environment you’re in. That will help you succeed in any environment — the whole thing of setting up the next generation to be equally successful. If you move back into your … just consider the civil rights movement. A lot of those people, what they did in fighting for the rights of Black people and fighting for the people to have the rights to vote, a lot of them knew that they would never get those rights, but they knew the people coming behind them would. That’s why they fought; that’s why they worked and strategized and sacrificed. That’s what it’s about. My life is not about me. That’s one of the things my dad was teaching me. Your life is not about you. Your life is about the people to come. You want to leave this world better than what you found it. You want to set your kids up to go further than what you went. You can only take the torch but so far, but sooner or later you gotta pass it off. And you want to make sure when you pass it off, you want to give it to them in space where they can take it and go further.

Zenger: It takes a different type of person to fight for something that you won’t directly benefit from but someone else will.

Dantzler: Right! You’re absolutely right.

Zenger: You look at where Clemson is as a program and the success that it has had of late. Obviously, Coach Dabo Swinney changed the culture, but you were a part of that era where Clemson started to win eight or nine games a season. What do you think of these highly successful Clemson teams?

Dantzler: It is the culture shift. You get to the point where, Coach Swinney has said it himself, the guys go into the game and they expect to win. It’s not, “I hope we win,” it’s not, “I think we can win,” it’s an expectation. No matter how the game flows, no matter what happens, it’s an expectation to win. So now that I expect to win, I know there are certain things that I’m going to have to do to put myself in a position to win. So, that whole culture has shifted, the mindset of the players has shifted, the staff has all bought in. He talks about being all in. One thing that I like that they do, before each game … I’m not sure if they still do it; they probably still do. Right before they come out for pre-game, there is a token on their bench where their locker is. And as they are walking out of the locker room, the strength coach is standing there with a bucket, and I got this one chip, this is all I got, and they drop it into the bucket as they go out to the field. It’s that whole thing of, I’m going all out. I’m putting in everything I got. It shows you what that environment is like. And it’s not just the players, but it’s the coaching staff, it’s the support staff. You think about the video department, you think about the nutritional department and the strength department — all of these things that come together in working towards one common goal.

It’s just a different culture there now. Even preparing the guys with Tiger P.A.W. Journey. I talk about them all the time because most people see football. And they see the guys out there on the field, and you see them practicing and all these different things. But you don’t see what’s going on with them actually developing the individual. So, I’m teaching this because not everybody is going to go to the NFL. And then after that, there is life after football. So, these guys are getting internships during the summer. They are traveling overseas to do servant work. They are going through the interview process. They are bringing companies into Clemson to sit down and teach them how to prepare for an interview and how to prepare for corporate America. All these things that are building a total man are just wonderful. Again, it just speaks to the culture of Clemson now.

Zenger: I read an interesting article the other day and it basically asked the question, in today’s game, would Woody Dantzler be drafted into the NFL as a quarterback? Do you think the position has changed so much that you would not have been switched to running back?

Dantzler: Oh, most definitely! And I hear that a lot. It’s that whole thing that we discussed earlier. It just wasn’t my time. I played the role that I was supposed to play for this thing to be what it is. I’m not taking all of the credit because there were guys that came before me that were opening people’s eyes, too. I just took the torch from them and carried it as far as I could. Another good friend of mine, Antwaan Randle El, he switched over to receiver, but he was another one. Kordell Stewart. He was ‘Slash.’ If you go back to that, he was the guy that got into that because he was playing quarterback, receiver and whatever else position they wanted him to play in Pittsburgh. You got different guys that were able to do different things, and I am just happy to be a part of that conversation. It was coming because if you think about it, look at some of these guys on defense now. The way they move, how big they are, how fast they are, how athletic they are. Even though he’s been around for a while, the “Tom Bradys,” guys sitting in the pocket and pick you apart are kind of becoming extinct because these guys are so fast and smart on defense. You gotta have somebody that can move at some point. That 6-5, 6-6 [QB] standing in the pocket, throwing the ball down the field is not the thing right now.

Zenger: During your time, there were only a handful of black quarterbacks. Did you have one in particular whom you idolized?

Dantzler: It was Warren Moon, all day and all night. That’s why I wore the No. 1. That was actually one of the highlights of my life; I actually got to meet him a couple of years ago at an event in Atlanta. So, that was beautiful for me. I looked up to him because he was the one … even though he had to take that route and go to Canada, because back then there was the stigma that the quarterback was a cerebral position, and they didn’t believe the black athlete could handle that pressure, and have those leadership skills to do it. So, we can run, we can jump and do everything else, but the quarterback position is not where they wanted us at that time. It wasn’t overt, but it was covert. … a lot of people had that thought process in them and really didn’t know that they were influenced by some of the people they were taught by. It was a fight. So, to watch him come out of college and take the route of going to play in Canada, and then come back and be successful and make it into the Hall of Fame, it was proven that it can be done — a guy like Doug Williams being the first to win a Super Bowl.

Zenger: Does Woody Dantzler play college football during a COVID-19 pandemic?

Dantzler: I would have most likely decided to play. That’s just me again, the whole thing of not wanting to let my teammates down. Other factors may have come into it, but you know, it’s one of those things where, as an individual, yeah, you’re a part of a team but you gotta look at the factors, do the real research. That’s what I hope — these kids that are opting out are doing the research themselves, gathering an understanding, talking to different people to get the full scope of making an intelligent decision. Once they make the decision based off of information that they researched and understood and they feel like it’s the best decision for them, then I’m all for it. I just don’t want them to be making a decision based off of false information, bad information or someone with slanted motives trying to get them to do something that they don’t need to do. If they have done the research and they are making the best decision for them, I’m all for it. Nothing against that, but if it’s done to where they don’t have all the information and they could’ve made a different decision had they had all the info and done the research themselves.

Zenger: Were you able to be hands-on with Deshaun Watson when he was at Clemson or able to mentor him in some manner?

Dantzler: Yeah! I mentioned Tiger P.A.W. Journey. That’s the name of the program run by Jeff Davis and headed up by Rashard Hall. I participated in what they call ‘Tiger Hood.’ It’s where former players mentor current players. I’m in sales; my territory allows me to work the upstate. So, I’m in Clemson a good li’l bit. I pass through. Yes, I’ve had conversations with different guys. I mentor guys on the team currently. I have been doing that the past few years. DeShaun was that special individual. You just knew something was different about him. He doesn’t remember our first meeting because I actually remember him when he came to camp as a sophomore. I hope I don’t get in trouble (laughing), but I remember telling him, “Man, you’re a sophomore. You’re in the 10th grade. You have two more years. Enjoy high school.” They wanted me to go over there and convince him why to come to Clemson and this and that, but I went over there and I sat down and I was like, “Look, you got two more years of high school. Enjoy it! When you get into your senior year, then you can start thinking about which college you want to go to. If you come to a decision before then, then great. If not, don’t feel pressure to make a decision as a sophomore to go anywhere.” So, that was just the type of things we just talked about. We talked about real life.

Zenger: What are your thoughts on Trevor Lawrence, who by most accounts will be the first pick in next year’s draft?

Dantzler: With Trevor, as they say, he’s just one of those guys. He has that factor. DeShaun had that factor, and Trevor has that same “it” factor. He walks into a room and he just changes the environment with his presence alone. And not to mention he has the work ethic, he has the humility, he has all of the intangibles to be great. So, I’m not surprised at all that most likely he is going to be the #1 pick in the draft. He’s just that guy.

Zenger: You mentor Clemson players and you also do some motivational speaking all over the country. How important is that for you to give  back and integrate that ‘each one, teach one,” mentality?

Dantzler: That’s the thing. One thing I noticed is the generation gap has gotten so big to where there’s no passing down of information. There’s no conversations. With the explosion of single parenthood, these kids having babies when they’re young. Grandma, too, grandmas now are 45 years old. Those conversations and that knowledge is not being passed down like it used to be. My role … all I want to do is do what my dad did for me. We would talk, and I would ask him a question about something, and he would answer my question with a question. But what he was doing was making me think through the process, think through the situation myself to come up with an answer. Now, if I struggled a little bit, he would give me a little nudge, but for the most part he was teaching me how to think.
And right now, a lot of our young people don’t have those critical thinking skills. They don’t know how to look beyond the surface. They don’t know how to come outside of their own bubble to truly understand what’s going on. They get information and then they just go with the information. That whole thing of trust but verify — we don’t do the verifying part because it takes effort on our part. And that’s what I want to instill in these kids. Just the art of conversation. We don’t talk no more. People don’t talk no more, and it’s even more evident to the fact of, if I disagree with you, then you hate me. That’s what it really boils down to. We can have a disagreement about an issue and not hate one another. Just pushing kids to go beyond the surface to develop themselves to reach their full potential is what I want. And you can’t reach your full potential when you’re only looking at half the information or only taking in half the information. My goal is to get people to get back to thinking and thinking things through. We need to get back to critical thinking — having those conversations and being able to build — because we need one another.

Zenger: It’s an honor speaking with you, brother. Thank you and continue to be a voice to educate.

Dantzler: Thank you. I appreciate you thinking about me. I appreciate the conversation.

(Edited by Stan Chrapowicki and Allison Elyse Gualtieri)

The post Before Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, There Was Woodrow ‘Woody’ Dantzler appeared first on Zenger News.

After a rare diagnosis, Aubrey Glencamp began the fight of his life — and won.

October is dedicated to breast-cancer awareness. Pink symbolizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This potentially deadly form of cancer claims more than 42,000 lives a year. Usually detected in women, there are rare cases when the disease is discovered in men.

Aubrey Glencamp is one of them.

According to research, only 1 in every 833 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. After a double mastectomy and chemo in 2016, Glencamp, who was diagnosed at 33, is now cancer-free. He credits early detection as the key to beating the disease.

(In fact, mammograms are one of the best forms of prevention and early detection of breast cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.)

Glencamp, who lives in Northern Florida, hopes his experience serves as a reminder that no one is exempt from breast cancer. He encourages other men to share their story, rather than suffer in silence. Helping to remove the stigma that breast cancer is a “woman’s disease,” is a part of his mission.

His story is one of inspiration and determination — he even had a miracle baby along the way.

Percy Crawford interviewed Aubrey Glencamp for Zenger News.

Zenger: How are you doing today?

Aubrey Glencamp: I’m feeling fine. I’m still taking the medication Tamoxifen. I have some side effects, usually weight gain. I’m not having the hot flashes I first had. Next year, I should be done it.

Zenger: Has Covid affected your recovery?

Glencamp: No! Since I’m four years out, it hasn’t really affected it, but at the same time, I’m still careful and try not to congregate because I’m at high risk.

Zenger: In 2016, your wife actually discovered the lump in your chest. You were dieting and working out a lot, so at first you were not concerned because you thought it was some sort of fatty tissue. When did it become real and how?

Glencamp: In February 2016, I was laying a certain way and she happened to touch that exact spot. “What is this bump on your chest?” she asked. I had no idea. It didn’t even register to me. I went to the doctor that same week and got checked. Even my doctor was thinking it was fatty tissue. We weren’t thinking breast cancer. He didn’t think it was anything to really worry about and told me to continue living my life.

I was getting ready to do a Fitness Bootcamp at the time. He said: “Continue to do what you’re doing. Don’t worry about it.” Probably four weeks later, I went for my first appointment, which happened to be a mammogram.

Zenger: Aside from the lump that your wife discovered, you didn’t feel sick or any other symptoms, correct?

Glencamp: No. I had no other symptoms. Some guys will get some kind of blood or discharge, or inverted nipple. I didn’t have anything like that. At that time, I didn’t even feel it.

Zenger: After you were diagnosed and did your research, I’m sure you discovered that a male being diagnosed with breast cancer was super-rare.

Glencamp: It’s pretty rare. As far as percentages are concerned, it’s a 1% net, depending on where you do your research.

Zenger: What was the most difficult part of your cancer ordeal?

Glencamp: It may have been just getting over the stigma. Here you are as a male being diagnosed with breast cancer. And there wasn’t a lot of information out there. So, prior to me being connected with The Men’s Breast Cancer Coalition, I had no idea of any male that had breast cancer, other than Richard Roundtree. (Roundtree is the actor who played private eye John Shaft in the 1971 film “Shaft.”)

Even in my family, no one had breast cancer. I didn’t have any reference as to what to expect. And most things were geared toward women.

Zenger: Were you able to maintain some of your normal way of living?

Glencamp: It definitely changed. Prior to that, I was doing half-marathons, Spartan Races, 5K’s, 10K’s, you name it. Even leading up to my surgeries, I had a race every weekend, because I didn’t know when I was going to be able to race again. Once surgery happened, I actually had a double mastectomy. I had both removed just in case. And my levels went down. My bones were a lot sorer. Just going through chemo and trying to get back in that lifestyle. I haven’t been as active as I was prior to the diagnosis. That part of my life has changed.

Zenger: And there was a fear that you wouldn’t be able to produce children.

Glencamp: Yeah! They said once you start chemo, there’s no telling if chemo is going to make you sterile or what chemo is going to do to you. They were trying to get us to go to a fertility clinic, but by the time we got work figured out and made all the doctor’s appointments, I just never got a chance to go. And then God blessed us two days before my surgery with the news that my wife was pregnant. My daughter is definitely our miracle baby.

Zenger: Does she know that she is a miracle baby and why?

Glencamp: She’s only three, so it’s still early. She sees the scars, but as far as me having cancer, she has no idea.

Zenger: What does it mean to you to be a survivor?

Glencamp: It means a lot. The reason why I share my story is because I wanted other men to know that it was OK, that there are other guys out there supporting them. I’m working on a blog to let them know what to expect — and that there is life afterwards. You always have that thought that something could come back. I was Stage 2 HER2 positive, so it was aggressive, and by the time I had surgery, it had reached my lymph nodes. So, I’m constantly worried if something may come back, but while I’m here, I definitely want to share my story and hopefully save a life or two for somebody that may not have checked. They may start checking and be able to find something through early detection.

Zenger: I also read you mentioned not realizing what women went through in terms of how uncomfortable a mammogram is. I’m sure that was a teachable moment, as well.

Glencamp: It’s not a fun process. Now when I go for check-ups, it’s more of the physical feeling around trying to make sure there are no bumps. That process was definitely different and just going through that procedure shed the light on what women have to go through, and that pressure and how uncomfortable it can be.

Zenger: What advice would you give anyone diagnosed with breast cancer?

Glencamp: Have faith and a great support system around you. The biggest thing for me and something I have always shared was, don’t treat us any different. If someone is going through cancer, don’t cry around me. I’m going through this, if I’m smiling and putting on a brave face, then I want you to, as well.

What you do in private is completely up to you, but while I’m smiling and joking, I want you to do the same thing or stay away from me (laughing). I would say, just have a positive outlook. Know that you can, while you’re here, do the best that you can to enjoy life to its fullest.

Zenger: You are a true inspiration, brother. Always stay in the fight, and I appreciate you sharing your story with me.

Glencamp: Thank you. I appreciate it.

(Edited by Fern Siegel and Allison Elyse Gualtieri)

The post A Mammogram? ‘It’s Not a Fun Process’: Male Breast Cancer Survivor Shares His Journey appeared first on Zenger News.

In 23 fights, Gervonta Davis has 23 wins and 22 knockouts, deservedly earning the moniker of “Tank”. In fact, the last time one of Davis’ opponents saw the final bell was in October 2014. The only decision of Davis’ career came in his ninth bout, when he defeated 79-fight veteran German Meraz. Davis’ other 22 opponents weren’t so lucky.

“Speed is power” is an old boxing adage, and “Tank” possesses both in his hands. The southpaw from Baltimore, Maryland will grace the biggest stage of his career on Halloween night to face Leo Santa Cruz. Headlining his first pay-per-view, Davis has been called “must-see TV” by many A-list celebrities and boxing pundits alike.

Davis has been under the watchful eye of boxing legend and self-proclaimed “TBE”—The Best Ever—Floyd Mayweather Jr., who also serves as his promoter under Mayweather Promotions. Davis is one of the promotion’s brightest stars, and on Saturday night, he has an opportunity to become one of the sport’s brightest stars as well.

Davis and Santa Cruz will be clashing for the World Boxing Association’s super featherweight title and lightweight title. The bout takes place Oct. 31 on Showtime PPV.

Percy Crawford interviewed Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis for Zenger News.

Zenger: I’m sure you are all interviewed out, so I won’t keep you long. How are you doing?

Gervonta Davis: I’m great. Yourself?

Zenger: I’m doing great as well. How important was it for you to have fans at this fight?

Gervonta Davis: It means a lot now, but if I had to do it [without fans], so be it. We had to adapt to whatever comes with the sport. We’re professionals. I was prepared to fight with no fans, but as far as us having fans there now, I’m excited. I’m grateful to be in this position and I’ll be ready.

Zenger: It’s in San Antonio, which will have a pro-Mexican crowd. Do you expect to silence the fans with your performance or use them as fuel during your performance?

Gervonta Davis: Definitely both! I want to see them come out and show support to Leo and also me. Even if they are all cheering for Leo, I’m grateful for that. I’m excited to go out there and put on a great performance for his fans and my fans — the ones that show up and the ones watching on pay-per-view. I’m just happy to be in this position.

Zenger: It’s a testament to your maturation as a person and as a fighter, but you came out of the seclusion of Baltimore to train in Vegas. However, you also have “All Access” cameras following you along with all the COVID testing protocols. You seem to be handling it well. What has it been like for you?

Gervonta Davis: I had to adjust quickly. I’m the type of guy that adapts to what comes with my responsibilities. And this is what comes with it. I asked for it, I prayed for it and it’s just me growing up and handling the task that I have in front of me. Come Saturday night we gotta get a job done, so we’re not quite there yet.

Zenger: Did you focus on one fight in particular when studying Leo or just an accumulation of his body of work?

Gervonta Davis: I watched a few quick fights, but it wasn’t like I watched a whole fight or watched one particular fight. It was just here and there; I would watch it.

Zenger: I hear more and more fighters say that. Do you not watch a lot of film, so you don’t get your mind wrapped around them doing one thing and they come out and do another?

Gervonta Davis: No! It’s just me not going out there and worrying about what he got going on and focusing on what I got going on.

Zenger: I think you are very underrated regarding at the angles at which you throw your punches. Some of your uppercuts come from a very strange angle when you land [them]. Not to give away the plan, but are you expecting those odd angles to make Leo hesitant to throw so much volume?

Gervonta Davis: Leo comes with a lot of punches, so I’m going to have to go out there and throw at all angles. That’s what my main goal is, is to go out there and do whatever I can possibly do to win and look good while I’m doing it. I don’t mean look good as in pretty, but as far as being explosive, being fast and strong. Whatever punch I have to throw, I’m throwing it.

Zenger: When the Abner Mares fight fell through, and I know you have had other fights since, but in terms of a step-up fight, did Leo Santa Cruz make the most sense to you?

Gervonta Davis: Yeah, I think so because Leo is a four-time world-champion. His resume speaks for itself. So, me fighting someone who is destined to be great like Leo is attempting to be is best for me to fight them type of guys.

Zenger: How has being around Floyd Mayweather the past few months changed your perspective or your approach to the sport if at all?

Gervonta Davis: It just pushed me harder to become a multiple-time champion. It also humbled me. It shows me that I haven’t done nothing yet. I am a three-time world champion, but there is more I need to do to become that superstar. That’s basically what I took away from being around Floyd.

Zenger: Any fans watching Gervonta “Tank” Davis for the first time or any fan trying to familiarize themselves with you, what can they expect on Saturday night?

Gervonta Davis: Just an explosive fight. A fight that you can’t walk away from. You can’t leave your seat during my fights to go get popcorn, use the bathroom or anything like that. Just make sure your eyes are glued to the TV; or if you’re there live, don’t take your eyes off of the ring. Come Saturday night it’s going to be a hell of a fight.

(Edited by Stan Chrapowicki and Allison Elyse Gualtieri)

The post Halloween Fight Night: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Battles Leo Santa Cruz in Texas appeared first on Zenger News.