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WatersChavusSuperHlt; Mr/ f or*Chavous DedicatedLET ME AT HIM!Denver s Barney Chavous. a native of New Ellenton. tries to push through to get to Pittsburgh quar terback Terrv Bradshaw,To FootballChristBv GREG PITTSSports EditorBarney Chavous is a dedicated individual. He isdedicated to football and most importantly, he says, he is dedicated to living a Christian life I've always been the type person who has tried to do the best I can at whatever 1 do.' Chavous saidrecently' wChavous has certainly come a long way from his days as an offensive and defensive tackle at Schofield High, which now houses Aiken High'sninth and 10th grade classes Last January, he lined up as the starting defensive end for the Denver Broncos in Suocr Bowl XIISURPRISEThe New Kllenton native’s professional career has been somewhat of a surprise. In looking back, though, Chavous said he feels really good about the wav things have gone so far.I'm fortunate in getting to play with a good team and a good organization,'' Chavous saidThe five-year National Football League veteran, though, has not always found things so rosv in Denver. The Broncos had suffered through a number of losing and break-even seasons when they shocked the football world this past season with their 12-2 record and a pair of playoff wins over Pittsburgh and Oakland before going down to defeat to the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl,Chavous’ football talents first began taking shapein the late 1960's at Schofield High, which was consolidated with Aiken High after the 1969 seasonAiken Elementary principal William Clyburn, who was the head coach at Schofield during Chavous’ playing days, remembers when the Broncos’ defensive end first came out for football.HIGH SCHOOLOverall, he was a verv good football plaver in high school He didn't have any football finesse at first, and it took him a while to learn the game But once he did, he was just an outstanding player,” Clvburn said.wChavous remembers how he did not come out for the football team until his junior year of high school, adding that it seemed like he grew up over night.And South Carolina State University and itswformer head coach Oree Banks could not have been happier about the growing up that Chavous did.After arriving at the Orangeburg campus he went on to become one of the school's most noted football players, being named to the small college All-America squad; playing in the North-South All-Star game in Miami; the Senior Bowl in Mobile,Ala ; and the Coaches All-America game in Lubbock. Tex ; after his senior year in 1972 Banks, who coached four years at South CarolinaVState, called Chavous one of the best players he ever coached, adding that he was “a great athlete, a team man and a great leader SECOND ROUNDThen it happened Chavous. who admitted that he expected to be drafted professionally in the fifth or sixth round, became the 36th player picked in the NFL draft, going to the Denver Broncos in the second roundChavous said togetherness was the main ingredient in the Broncos’ championship season lastAnd the chef who lumped all of the ingredients into a team at Denver was ‘ Bed' Miller, a man for whom Chavous has the highest respect for and who he calls a ‘ true Christian.”The lineman admits that it would be nice this vear to reward the Denver fans with another championship season with one big victory added on We'd all love to go back to the Super Bowl It was an experience I will never forget We want toget back not just four ourselves, but for our fans aswell. They are just great.” he added Chavous and his schoolgirl sweetheart, the former Odessa Key, whom he married almost five vears ago, return to the Aiken area several times each year during the offseason And it’s no surprise since Chavous has a list of relatives seemingly the size of a football field who reside in this area. Included in that list is his mother. MarvAlso. Chavous numerous speaking engagementsbring him back into the area from time to timeI was put in this world for a reason I get a real enjoyment out of sharing with people I have a great appreciaton of where I came from, and I like to think I can tell young people something that will help them later in life,” Chavous said after one area speaking engagement.Chavous said that he is just one of a number of professional athletes who speak out for what theybelieve With teams like Dallas and the Broncos there are a lot of Christians. I’m involved with anything concerning Christ,” the former AFC Rookie of the Year said.But, each Sundav afternoon in the fall Chavous lays aside his Bible for forearm pads, shoulder pads and a helmet and becomes one of professional football’s most dedicated defensive linemen.And when each game is over Chavous says. I like to be able to walk over and shake my opponent’s hand, knowing that I played the very best that I could in a clean, competitive manner.”
Newspaper Details
Aiken Standard
Aiken, South Carolina, US
Tue, Aug 29, 1978
Page 22
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
USA 10 May 2023
Other Publications Near Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken Daily Mail
Aiken County Rambler
Aiken County Register
Aiken County Journal
Aiken Standard
