Football was on. Turner, a phenom when he was coming out of Yukon High School and when he jumped 7 feet, 7 inches as a Sooner freshman, had become a mystery. Several versions claim that he was flayed, quartered, and decapitated before his torso was finally buried in the local paupers cemetery. A road in Southampton County earned the name Blackhead Signpost Road. "The physicality of football allowed me to get my frustrations outI played so hard I'd be too tired to be upset.". "She said she would need to split the kids up and that changed everything for me," said Turner. Brutal mysteries remain unsolved., Archaeology of Virginia; The Uncovered Secrets, Pamplin City; The Ghost of a Railroad Boomtown, Abandoned Slavery Museum; The Forgotten Remains, Travel-Buffalo Springs a Historic Site in Mecklenburg County Virginia | Kathiey's World A Lifestyle Blog, Wash Woods; A Community Beholden to the Merciless Atlanic, An Idle Fleet Receding; The Ghost Fleet of the James River. Five years later, a Richmond Times article claimed that Turners skeleton was in Toano, near Williamsburg, being used for anatomical study by a local doctor. It, too, bore credentials and a plausible provenance. After being released, he played the last game of the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was Tampa's primary return specialist during the 1994 season. No jumping. Vernon goes back to his group and convinces them to steal the boat from Lee's group. Still, Turner cleared 7-3 this spring and finished second last weekend at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. While with Tampa in 1994, Turner made history -- becoming the first Bucs player to return a punt for a touchdownagainst one of his former teams, the Lions. His action set off a massacre of up to 200 Black people and a new . According to Bruce Turner, if theres even a remote possibility that it belonged to Nat Turner, there are three possible spots for burial, the most logical being a small, unmarked and overgrown plot in Courtland where the bodies of executed rebels were interred in a mass grave, and where archaeologists conducting a preliminary dig discovered human remains in 2016. The script has already been written by Brad Gann, the writer of the Disney hit Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg . Turner, however, felt like his trust had been violated. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. The uncertain identity of those remains invites reflection on the historical mistreatment of human lives and bodies. Several had heard reports or read newspaper articles stating that the skull had been donated to Hatcher at a 2002 charity gala for the Civil Rights Hall of Fame, a museum project Hatcher has long championed. It was his stepfather who took him to his first NFL game -- they took the train to Shea Stadium -- at the age of "10 or 11" and he was mesmerized by the Joe Namath-led New York Jets. The Denver Broncos picked up the phone, and Turner was heading to Colorado to join the likes of John Elway and Shannon Sharpe. A small group gathered last week in a hotel suite on the outskirts of Gary, Indiana. But they also must be 100 percent mentally consumed. He was training, improving, growing. He said that his team is taking great care with the identification of the skull and that the sophisticated techniques theyre employing take time. I was nowhere near the caliber of a pro football player. All rights reserved (About Us). Turner has participated in two Olympic Trials and no-heighted both times. This skull is believed to have belonged to Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in 1831. I had decent stats. said Turner. Then going into my senior year, my aunt called and said she couldnt take care of my brothers and sisters anymore. Getting hurt was a bummer. Been a long time. Until 10 pm for eastern NC. "But that translated to me as he's telling me you don't have a chance. Vernon Turner Meteorologist at Spectrum Raleigh, North Carolina, United States 2K followers 500+ connections Join to follow Spectrum North Carolina State University Activity On this Thursday I'm. But Turner still got to experience the game from the sidelines. "I'm not afraid of failing, but I'm terrified of not tryingI want people to be the best they can be.". "I forgot I wasn't that good," said Turner. One head scratcher after another. In the 185 years that followed the rebellion, Turner's place in history . It tells the extraordinary saga of the officers and crew of the Wager, a . Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. By Meteorologist Vernon Turner North Carolina. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Twitter: @WeathermanVern. tells the inspiring story of how the now 44-year-old Turner moved as a young child from the mean streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant to a quiet neighborhood in Sunnyside, where he discovered a love for. 'It was a great move':How risky strategy propelled Oklahoma State's Taylor Roe to national title. You either jump high enough or you dont. One issue: There are potential competitors. When hes not providing viewers with the weather forecast, you can find Vernon spending time with friends and family, or giving back to his community. A national champion. "He told me it was either that or I was the most gifted 14-year-old he'd ever met. Turner followed Payton's drills religiously. Turner talked to teammates, who encouraged him to meet again with VanHootegen. Hes also the unofficial keeper of the countys insurrection memorabilia and documents, such as Nat Turners original sentencing orders. It becomes clear that despite her lifestyle, Turner's mother played a pivotal role in his development with some real "tough-love." Only two men in the world this indoor season have gone so high. Turners agent, Howard Shatsky, told him to always carry his gym bag around and whenever a scout was visiting for a workout, show up with his teammates. The nagging ankle injury that still hurts from time to time. Aguirre and Wood, the guests of honor at the ceremony, shed tears of joy when they were handed what they believe are their ancestors remains. The very next day, the Buffalo Bills came calling while Vernon was at the dinner table with his family. But once I decided to turn pro and I knew what the odds were against me making it, I went into training mode.. Returned to OU. He writes profoundly of his deep love for his mother, and tells of the day when at the age of 11 he ran home from PS 35 only to find his mother in the bathroom with a needle in her arm. As a favor to Olivieri, SI football legend Dino Mangiero helped Turner hire an agent -- an agent who admittedly didn't think VT had much of a chance at cracking the league. We'll continue with the possibility of scattered showers and storms until 8 pm for central NC. Yet another possible Nat Turner skull might have stayed closer to home. And once a director is selected and the announcement is formally made, filming will commence. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Turner came to learn that he was conceived when his mother was gang-raped and beaten as a teenager by a group of men in Brooklyn -- a badge of shame that he carried around throughout his youth, seeing himself as a daily reminder to his mother of the trauma she suffered. Reich, a geneticist, is a controversial figure among some scholars for assertions he has made about genetic variations between different races. I had that moment. The Turner family will provide genealogical information as well as DNA samples in hopes that the skull matches their genetic profile. It was just trying to figure out how to get back where I was. Alarm spread through the countryside, and the rebels lost the element of surprise. Turner was named an Advance All Star in 1984 and '85, and took home Fugazzi and Fabbri awards during his senior year. I went to a small [Division II] school. Deetz cited a description of Turner that a Southampton resident created while authorities were trying to capture him in 1831; it said he had a scar on one of his temples produced by the kick of a mule. The skull at the National Museum of Natural History possibly shows signs of this injury. In fact, Olivieri spent so much time helping Turner that it prompted his wife to ask why. I was 160-something pounds. Nathanial "Nat" Turner (1800-1831) was an enslaved man who led a rebellion of enslaved people on August 21, 1831. I think these last two meets were big for him. When the Yukon High product went missing in 2019, the rumors started to swirl. Though he grew up a boxing fan and often boxed his friends in makeshift rings, by the time he was 11 he was a full-fledged Pop Warner football player -- thanks to his mom, and stepdad, who Vernon affectionately refers to as just "dad" these days. Vernon Turner's story and upbringing is one of the most powerful and inconceivable triumph tales ever told, and much of it took place right on Staten Island during his days as Curtis HS's star quarterback. Or it may just add another wrinkle. Whether any of these morbid relicswas actually once part of Nat Turner may never be known. guyI'll show you.". The Denver Broncos picked up the phone, and Turner was heading to Colorado to join the likes of John Elway and Shannon Sharpe. Its not hard to find Southampton residents who refuse to speak to strangers about the event. Hurricanes are so massive and can grab the attention of a nation as they make landfall. Turner had two jumps at 7-7. As an athlete, everyone hits their times where they might not be doing what they want to do. I really cant believe Im talking to you, Hatcher told Aguirre when they spoke. [6] He scored his first six points on an 80-yards run in the game's first play from scrimmage. During the recent filming of the National Geographic Studios documentary Rise Up: The Legacy of Nat Turner, there were frequent discussions with descendants and historians about the fate of Turners remains. "I felt bad, so I handed my equipment over to the coach and told him I can't play anymoreI walked away crying and he followed me and gave me a life lesson: "one thing you're never gonna do is quit.". One of his patients was the daughter of a physician who was present when Turners body was cut up. "I knew I had limited time, so I had to make something happen fast," he added. Turner reportedly told Thomas Ruffin Gray in a jailhouse interview published in The Confessions of Nat Turner that when he was three or four years old, he could . More than most, because if youre just a hair off, it doesnt line up.. So when Southern Mississippi's Corvell Todd cleared 7-6 (2.29 meters) on his first attempt at the height in the NCAA Indoors last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, and Turner missed on his first jump at 7-6, Turner said screw it. For years, Hatcher held on to the skull, but in 2016, long after it became clear the hall of fame wouldnt happen, he agreed, with the National Geographic Society facilitating, to hand over the skull to descendants of Nat Turner. Discovering whether part of him still physically exists will illuminate a formative era in American history and help an expansive family find closure in an honored memorial. My father typed a letter that he kept in the box with the relic just in case anything unexpected happened to our family. Among many Americans, the general details of Nat Turners Rebellion may be fairly well known. The sources disagree on the fate of Turners corpse from the neck down. [citation needed], National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, "Ex-NFL player Vernon Turner tells his story, no holds barred", "Carson-Newman carries on football successes", "CarsonNewman rushes to NAIA championship", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vernon_Turner&oldid=1131071940, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 11:55. But its happening. [3], After graduating from high school, Turner enrolled at CarsonNewman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he was recruited by head coach Ken Sparks to play running back. No training. ", Most of all, Turner wants to represent his three children - Ashley (30), Darris (29), and Liam (5) - the "right way. Its incredible existence demands acknowledgment that, yes, this black life mattered.. He believes he can jump 7-10. | By Meteorologist Vernon Turner 2.4K views, 55 likes, 13 loves, 66 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Meteorologist Vernon Turner: Let's talk about the whole snake video while I have lunch and you enjoy breakfast. They discussed the movie project and soon Relentless was off and running. Please be respectful of copyright. Once his father passed away, fulfilling that promise was all he could think about. If no one is at the house to guard the boat when it is stolen Vernon will leave a note detailing the reasons for his actions. When Vernon Turner ran 80 yards to the end zone on a punt return in 1994, he broke an infamous drought in Bucs history and also validated his own life-or-death journey to make it in the NFL "When people look at me and my life from the outside," Turner wrote, "they say, 'Man, VT has it all. Knowing how I was conceived, I chose football because I didn't like people looking at meI always had my helmet on. "I threw the ball back to the quarterback in practice one day, and the next day they moved me to QB.". Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. He travels around the country to talk about his personal journey, with hopes of inspiring people in the process. Accompanied by a small army of his brethren, the group fought their way through the countryside of Southampton County, Virginia, with hopes of ending the scourge of slavery. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. The 2018 election through then Republican candidate Mark Harris' eyes. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. And the Smithsonian scientists arent saying what theyve found so far. The return. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. He fathered two children, a daughter and son, out of wedlock while a college student in Tennessee and only recently did he meet his son, Darris, who tracked his father down through Facebook. Keep your ears open, the trumpet is his favorite! This guy actually lived the American dream.' Even if it cannot be proved to be Reverend Turners skull, she said, I dont think that diminishes the relevance and its symbolic importance.. You're only 15 years old right now, but I'm almost 50. He also makes it clear he didn't care for Wayne Fontes during his time with the Detroit Lions. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Turner was severely undersized, but he posted solid preseason numbersup until the final game. Nat Turner looms large 190 years after his death. Multiple sources say his head was separated from the rest of his body, which was skinned. 1. He put on fifteen pounds of muscle and dropped his 40-yard dash time down from 4.5 to 4.3. "People look at me like this guy is full of crap, they don't believe it all happened to me," he said. What if we could clean them out? If the tests confirm it to be his, it will be buried next to his descendants. Sex and race are more problematic because there is a lot of crossover in different traits. 5h Rain continues to move into the area. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. But then a few weeks before the fall semester started, Turner sprained his left ankle playing pick-up basketball. OU baseball rewind:David Sandlin's 'outstanding' outing highlights bounce-back week for Sooners. More specific information will be announced soon. Maybe 7-11. He wasnt invited to the combine. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In 1949, a man who lives in Southampton County today saw a change purse with a label claiming it was made from Turners skin. Certainly, this fragile fragment holds enormous emotional value for me, for my family. His flesh was made into grease, according to The Southampton Insurrection, by William Drewry, a Southampton native who interviewed more than 80 white and Black residents for that 1900 volume. The Richard Porter House, where rebels found that the homes namesake had fled, was standing as late as a few years ago. Owsley confirmed that the institution retains possession of the skull but did not offer details on the progress of the forensic analysis or an estimated date of completion. Less than two weeks away from the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Turner is still working to re-establish himself. The cast is almost set. Regardless of the skulls ultimate identity and resting place, many feel that the attention it is receiving signals a larger shift in perceptions about the importance of the rebellion to American identity. You see it slowly approaching and all you can do in the meantime is prepare and figure out how strong it will be once it arrives. Eternal God, we are gathered here today to honor you, and to honor the legendary liberator, emancipator of the enslaved, and revolutionary of righteous, the Reverend Nathaniel Turner.. For that alone, not to mention all the great coaches and great players that I was blessed to be around, they provided me with an opportunity to take care of my family.. He was always pushing money in my pocket. White people killed at least 13 black people during the next two weeks. Still, the skulls potential identification comes at a time of change. But thanks to extraordinary circumstances a family seeking truth and science that can reach beyond the grave an ongoing forensic analysis may finally provide an answer. "Sports is a brotherhood, I didn't want to lose their respect. The Razorbacks have one of the nations best track programs, and after moving to Fayetteville in the summer of 2018, Turner felt good about his decision. He heard through the grapevine VanHootgens days at OU might be limited VanHootgen eventually did step down but Turner ultimately opted to return to Norman because he wanted to work again with high jump coach Jerel Langley. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I dont know necessarily how its going to be once I really get back into it, but it doesnt feel normal yet.. His chief competitor got the draw on him. I dont know where theyre getting their information from, he said. He wants to win championships. Turner's defining moment comes in Tampa Bay, when he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown -- the first regular-season punt return for a TD in Buccaneer history. He called his high school coach and said he was turning pro. In 1831, during a slave rebellion led by Nat Turner, several people were killed at the site of the Whitehead house. Other than the Rebecca Vaughn House in Courtland, the homes associated with the rebellion have been neglected, nearly all fallen into ruin. To hear Turner tell his life story is an experience in and of itself. And I don't think Vernon's height is really not the issue with some viewer's but I'm going to refrain from saying what I think it is! Facebook. 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