Fruit for Thought: the Intersection of Education, Culture, and Performance

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 20th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Profile: One-on-One with Bison Wide Receiver Kevin Simmonds It's not difficult to distinguish Kevin Simmonds from the rest of the student body at Howard. The senior COBIS major from Tallahassee, Fla. seems to be an average student, wearing shorts and a t-shirt to stay cool during D.C.'s seasonably warm September. With a 28-inch gold link and two diamond earrings, he's just the typical Howard male, right?    Wrong…   Simmonds is the leading wide receiver on the Bison football team. Rocking ...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 7th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Howard Bison Goes to Detroit for Classic "Gilmore, Gilmore, Gilmore" was the Bison chant as they came out of the tunnel of Ford Field. This wasn't pre-game or after halftime, this was at 2:45 p.m. on Friday's practice before the second annual Detroit Football Classic on Saturday.    "I've been talking mess all summer about Detroit calling me and they feed off of it," said Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach Keith Gilmore.   Coach Gilmore, born and raised in Detroit, expressed his ...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 7th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ The Detroit Football Classic: Strictly Black Business Ask any fan, when it comes down to game time, it's all about the paraphernalia. Whether it's those who collect as a piece of memorabilia or those who are representing their team, they have to have the right gear.   There was no Nike, no Reebok and no Adidas; at the Detroit Football Classic with two historically black schools, it was all about the black-owned business.    "We're the official apparel and promotions supplier for the DFC," s...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — September 7th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ The DFC: It’s On The last time the Bison were in the Midwest was in August of 2001 as the played the Jackson State Tigers in the Windy City Classic at Soldier Field. In the year following, Chicago wasn't able to host the classic because of renovations to Solider Field. Last year, it was Detroit who took the reigns of the Midwest classic and started the inaugural Detroit Football Classic. With the idea from Lions defensive end Robert Porcher and the help of businessmen Frank Taylor and John Graves, the kic...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — April 16th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Taking it to the Streets This isn't for the weak at heart. Whether it be hot rods, muscle cars or import tuners, these drivers are serious. The only difference: import tuners do a lot more work to increase in power.   "I am just laughing," said Robert Decker, the Shop Forman at Cherner Classics in Potomac, Maryland. He's been working with muscle cars for 25 years. From his grandfather, who worked with Chrysler in 1932 to Robert, the Decker family bleeds auto mechanics.   He's not laughing because t...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — April 2nd, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Running Dirty Down 95 It's not a joke and the only ones laughing are the Track Bison. April 1 was yesterday, but they're still going to make fools of anybody who's sleeping on them.    Not once, twice, but thrice times Howard's Track team will be heading south for a weekend of run and sun. Only this time it's a nine-hour trip past North Carolina to Clemson University in South Carolina. But don't think because the Bison had success in the Ca-ka-lac that it'll be a walk in the park one state south...