Many of us grew up at a time when we were encouraged as grade school and high school athletes to participate in more than one sport.
That concept of multi-sport athletes is not as widespread in this age of specialty and coaches wanting their high school players to focus only on their sport.
NFL alum Bert Emanuel was such an outstanding high school and college athlete 35 years ago that he was drafted by two different pro leagues.
MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays first drafted him right out of high school and then the Pittsburgh Pirates again selected him while he was in college. Emanuel turned down both baseball offers to focus on his football career.
After attending high school in Houston, Emanuel elected to play quarterback at UCLA. After two seasons on the West Coast, he returned home to Texas to play as a dual-threat quarterback for Rice University.
His college football play paid off as he was the first player drafted by the Falcons in the 1994 Selection meeting. He spent eight seasons as an outstanding wide receiver for five different NFL teams.
Emanuel’s experience as a high school baseball player helped him develop two of his daughters into All-SEC softball athletes at the University of Georgia.
His extensive athletic background as a player, coach and front office executive also helped him earlier this month land his current job as head softball coach at Houston Christian University (HCU).
“We are so pleased to announce Bert Emanuel, Sr. as our school’s new softball coach,” says HCU’s Athletic Director Stan Williamson. “Bert and his family are firmly planted in Houston from his time at Rice and on through developing his own children and so many others in softball. He is uniquely qualified to take the reins of our program.”
The school’s softball program largely has been successful since its inception in 1989. However, the team is looking to rebound off a disappointing 11-36 record this year. The administration believes Emanuel is the leader who can accomplish that.
“My vision to build a team culture centers on faith, discipline, development and competitive excellence while creating an environment where our players can grow as athletes, students and young women,” says the 55-year old Emanuel.
We at NFL Alumni are rooting for our brother and his HCU softball players. Bert Emanuel was a success as an NFL player and expectations are high he can perform equally well in his new position.
