Sports

FORMER NFL STARS GATHER FOR COLEMAN TOURNAMENT

By Josh Tinker/COMMERCIAL SPORTS EDITOR
Friday, June 26, 2009 12:11 AM CDT

Vernon Dean has no affections toward the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas-Pine Bluff or the Golden Lions’ athletic department. Neither does Ken Coffey. Tony Peters? He doesn’t either. But that didn’t stop the trio from making appearances in Jefferson County Thursday night. As former Washington Redskin football players, all were in town to tee off today in the Second Annual Monte Coleman Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff football coach Monte Coleman (right) gets a hug from long-time friend and former Washington Redskin teammate Ken Coffee on Thursday during the meet and greet reception for the Second Annual Monte Coleman Celebrity Golf Tournament at the J. Thomas May Fieldhouse. PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL/RALPH FITZGERALD.

It’s their connection to Coleman, the Golden Lions’ second-year football coach who played 16 seasons with the Redskins, that brought the trio to town Thursday night for a meet and great reception at the J. Thomas May Fieldhouse.

“Monte is a brother to all of us,” Dean said. “Not a blood brother, but we grew up as men. When I met Monte, I was a kid out of college. I didn’t know anything, and my first job happened to be in the NFL. We are brothers in that sense. Just like my blood brother calls me, I would do it for him. I feel the same way about Coleman.”

Dean, Coffey and Peters, as well as former Golden Lion star Ceasar Belsar, were part of a contingent of celebrities being honored Thursday. With nearly a dozen former NBA and NFL stars expected to participate, the bulk of which are expected to arrive in town before today’s noon tee-time, Thursday’s reception was a time to praise the work of the UAPB athletic department for having a successful 2008-2009 school year, hand out trophies for the winners of the women’s division, which was held Thursday at Pine Bluff Country Club and mingle with those celebrities who had already made it into town.

For Dean, Peters and Coffey, it was a chance to reunite with old teammates and friends.

“Monte Coleman is a first class individual,” said Peters, of his decision to come to Pine Bluff for the golf tournament. “He deserves everything one can give him. He’s a real person. He wants to make a positive contribution to the community. I didn’t hesitate last year. I didn’t hesitate this year. I let him know that I would be here.”

For Belsar, the trip served much of the same purpose. The former defensive end for the former AM&N College from 1962-’66, he used the trip to survey all the progress the university is making.

“I walked around campus today, and I’ve seen some of the growth and some of the changes that have been made since the 40 years since I’ve been here,” Belsar said. “I’m impressed. I love the stadium. I donate to it. I believe in what they’re doing.

“The fieldhouse is one of the changes I’m speaking about. The stadium is one of the changes I’m speaking about. There are a lot of good changes. One of the changes that impresses me is the dedication that is with the staff here in all sports. I’m impressed. I’m behind them. I love this institution.”

The tournament will conclude today with two flights for the men. The first flight starts at 8 a.m., and the second flight, the one with the celebrities, will start about noon, UAPB athletic director Skip Perkins said. All rounds are being played at the Pine Bluff Country Club.

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