{"id":22855,"date":"2018-08-15T08:10:57","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T12:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=22855"},"modified":"2018-09-17T09:54:39","modified_gmt":"2018-09-17T13:54:39","slug":"for-you-terrell-owens-dedicates-hall-of-fame-induction-to-mocs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2018\/08\/for-you-terrell-owens-dedicates-hall-of-fame-induction-to-mocs\/","title":{"rendered":"‘For You’: Terrell Owens dedicates Hall of Fame induction to Mocs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With UTC Chancellor Steve Angle at his side, Terrell Owens reacts to the name of Lansing Court, which leads to the University Center, to Terrell Owens Way.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Often characterized by critics as overly focused on self, Terrell Owens said today\u2019s celebration of his reaching the Pro Football Hall of Fame was \u201cfor you.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2014all of the 1,000-plus fans gathered Saturday inside McKenzie Arena, where UTC hosted the celebration. You\u2014the 100 UTC student-athletes in reserved seating on the arena floor. You\u2014Owens\u2019 former teammates on the 1995-1996 Mocs basketball team also given places of honor alongside family and friends seated on the arena floor.<\/p>\n

And you\u2014former UTC coaches Frankie DeBusk, Mack McCarthy and Buddy Green, who recalled Owens\u2019 time as a Mocs wide receiver from 1992 to 1995. And, of course, you\u2014former San Francisco 49ers receivers coach Larry Kirksey and former Dallas Cowboys receivers coach Ray Sherman, who talked of Owens\u2019 work ethic, drive and passion.<\/p>\n

Speaking for more than 25 minutes, Owens\u2019 remarks were a series of expressions of gratitude for people who touched or enhanced his life, beginning with a tribute to his mother, who was front and center in the VIP audience seating.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour belief in me has never wavered. You told me you always knew I would be something special,\u201d Owens said, his voice breaking. \u201cMama, you are the real hall of famer. Thank you for being the best mother you could be for me and for my sisters and brothers. I love you. And for that, this is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moments earlier, Owens\u2019 mother had joined him on stage to present him with the signature gold-colored sport coat given to Hall of Fame inductees. In a press conference following the celebration, Owens explained that extraordinary help from special friends had made it possible for the jacket to reach Chattanooga on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Owens acknowledged his decision to celebrate his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Chattanooga, rather than in Canton, Ohio, where the traditional celebration happens tonight. Describing his unconventional choice as \u201cthe elephant in the room,\u201d he cited his disagreement with the current process for selecting inductees. Then he resumed his focus on thanking those who have been part of major milestones in his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI greatly appreciate those who support my decision,\u201d he said, \u201cand I\u2019m glad to be here in Chattanooga, where it all started, and this is where I close this chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Owens also thanked those in the audience \u201cwho have traveled near and far,\u201d calling out\u2014and getting responses from\u2014fans of each of the NFL teams on which he played: the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for always having my back,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renee Davis isn\u2019t just one of those fans,she\u2019s a superfan. Davis, an IT specialist who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, made her first-ever trip to Chattanooga just to attend Owens\u2019 celebration. When she heard about Owens\u2019 selection for the Hall of Fame, Davis bought a ticket to the event in Canton; when she heard Owens\u2019 celebration was going to be at UTC, she sold her ticket to Canton and made plans to be in Chattanooga.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a fan of him ever since he was drafted by the NFL. I just love watching him play,\u201d Davis said Saturday, wearing a Mocs jersey with Owens\u2019 UTC playing number, 80, on it. \u201cThere was no way I was not going to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked at the post-event press conference how soon or how often he might return to Chattanooga, Owens said a visit to UTC homecoming a few years ago began what\u2019s become an annual tradition for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t the best in high school, and I wasn\u2019t the best in college, but then I saw what I could be, and I got lost in trying to be the best I could be, and that was my whole focus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I came back here to homecoming, and I really felt the love. I\u2019ve been back the last three years for homecoming, and every year, it feels like it did that first time again. I\u2019ve told the staff, (Chancellor) Steve Angle, this place is like home away from home for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I was back, I realized the impact I\u2019ve made. I feel welcome, and it\u2019s special here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier, he had closed his public remarks with a similar thought\u2014to a thunderous standing ovation inside McKenzie Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so, with my parting words, I say, Chattanooga, this is for you,\u201d Owens said. \u201cYou have no idea of my appreciation for you and how it runs deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

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