After going unselected in the 1990 NFL Draft, Turner was signed to a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos. A CT. Sam, VT's stepfather, was a Jets season ticket holder -- and Jackie made Vernon promise that he'd accept an invitation if asked to attend a game, which he reluctantly did. Turner fled and remained in hiding for more than two months until his discovery and capture by a local farmer. [1] Among those killed were Hayes and Mary Turner. 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. Turner, a phenom when he was coming out of Yukon High School, How risky strategy propelled Oklahoma State's Taylor Roe to national title, Five things to know about the Sooners' first-round opponent, David Sandlin's 'outstanding' outing highlights bounce-back week for Sooners, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Then all of a sudden, Turner remembered, he had all the money.. He speaks highly of many well-known Staten Island sports figures, starting with former Curtis head coach Fred Olivieri, who filled the role of father-figure to Turner upon his arrival at the St. George school. Its not hard to find Southampton residents who refuse to speak to strangers about the event. They had a higher expectation of themselves than what their coaches had.. In 1831, during a slave rebellion led by Nat Turner, several people were killed at the site of the Whitehead house. When the Yukon High product went missing in 2019, the rumors started to swirl. Vernon Turner tells all in his recently-published autobiography. Turner has participated in two Olympic Trials and no-heighted both times. If it is confirmed as Turner's, it will be laid to rest alongside other descendants. In fact, Olivieri spent so much time helping Turner that it prompted his wife to ask why. Some remember him as a fanatical killer, others as a freedom fighter inspired by his faith. Library of Congress After Turner's death, local doctors mutilated his corpse. "God put 10 army men in front of me on that return," said Turner. 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. Though offers were scarce, Turner found himself playing running back at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee, where he'd only go on to guide the football team to three NAIA championships, garnering first-team all-conference honors along the way. It becomes clear that despite her lifestyle, Turner's mother played a pivotal role in his development with some real "tough-love." I was nowhere near the caliber of a pro football player. White people killed at least 13 black people during the next two weeks. He was a 21-year-old kid who had promised his mother before she died that if anything happened to his father, hed step up and assume the responsibility of the household. In a very tangible way, it asserts the humanity of people who were systemically dehumanized. 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. Though Vernon's youth playing career was taking off, he was still busy managing his brothers and sisters -- often loading them up onto the city bus so he could bring them along with him to practice. How did the skull of a man born into slavery in Virginia wind up in Gary, Indiana? Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. You're only 15 years old right now, but I'm almost 50. In 1949, a man who lives in Southampton County today saw a change purse with a label claiming it was made from Turners skin. He was released before the end of the preseason. "Coach stepped in and helped me," said Turner. But what people don't see is the bad dreams I still have to this day due to events that occurred while I was growing up. Shanna Batten Aguirre, a descendant of Nat Turner, holds a box containing what some believe is Turner's skull. Woo cleared 7-9. Get up off your knees, Vernon. Turner had set a school record at 7 -feet, 5 inches during the outdoor season, won the Big 12 title and finished sixth at NCAAs. "I forgot I wasn't that good," said Turner. Rick Francis, a descendant of victims and survivors of the rebellion, is Southampton Countys clerk of the Circuit Court. Turner was named an Advance All Star in 1984 and '85, and took home Fugazzi and Fabbri awards during his senior year. You might say its the perfect Hollywood ending. "I didn't think much of myself," admitted Turner. *****************************************, NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. They were the ones who gave me a job that helped me save my family. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. But Shatsky called Turner and. Today, this is all that remains. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. And Turnerwants on the American team for the World Championships. Big Joe Turner, byname of Joseph Vernon Turner, (born May 18, 1911, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.died November 24, 1985, Inglewood, California), American blues singer, or "shouter," whose music included jazz, rhythm and blues, and boogie-woogie. But then a few weeks before the fall semester started, Turner sprained his left ankle playing pick-up basketball. In February 2021, Southampton officials changed the name of Blackhead Signpost Road to just Signpost Road, an acknowledgment of the names unsettling origin. Turner referred to his journey as being both "amazing" and "head-scratching". That accomplishment was significant because it enabled him to earn large weekly paychecks which he sent back to Staten Island so his four younger siblings could remain in their Sunnyside home. He was training, improving, growing. I am so blessed and grateful that I was given an opportunity to be with the Buffalo Bills. He's worked as a manager at a tire manufacturing facility and an office installation company, but is currently managing an oil refinery. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, 3 ways Jimmy Carter changed the world for the better, The meaning of the cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. Vernon Turner hasnt always called North Carolina home, though. "Sports is a brotherhood, I didn't want to lose their respect. You're frustrated that mom, a black woman, married a white Italian man and moved the family from Brooklyn out to Staten Island to live with him," wrote Turner in a letter to his younger self for the Players Tribune. To hear Turner tell his life story is an experience in and of itself. Now, as for those things he learned about himself at meets this season from people whod heard rumors? EXCLUSIVE: Undrafted punt returner Vernon Turner might have come into the NFL through modest auspices, but his inspiring life story will head to the screen backed by a high wattage group of produce During the process, Turner was writing letters to Walter Payton, who responded with some of his own workout regimens. Multiple sources say his head was separated from the rest of his body, which was skinned. I convinced [my aunt] to stick around a little longer and I started doing things like cutting hair on the side to make some extra money. Then Turner won the Big 12 Indoor in late February with a leap of 7-3. He thought it was important that people would know who the skull belonged to.. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? There is a reference in 400 days to Vernon's group having lost both Vernon and Brie but no specifics as to how exactly Vernon died. I went to a small [Division II] school. Limited Edition copies of "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play" are available through his website). In fact, throughout American history, many corpses have been mutilated, especially Black ones, though not exclusively. Wouldnt surprise me if you saw 7-10 come out of him.. Thats something I really need to do for myself.. 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. Vernon dreamed of playing running back like his idol Walter Payton -- but one day at practice he accidentally launched himself into the starting lineup at quarterback. Bruce Turner said many people sympathized with his ancestors motivations. They received it from Bob Franklin of Elkhart, Indiana, who says the skull was passed down in his family for three generations. Spectrum News 1 officially welcomed its newest member of the Weather on the 1s team Friday morning. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Turner was severely undersized, but he posted solid preseason numbersup until the final game. But within the past couple decades theres been a noticeable shift. Just being out of the rhythm of competition has really messed with me, Turner said. Yet another possible Nat Turner skull might have stayed closer to home. However, Turner's senior year, like the rest of his upbringing, was far from rosy. Injured an ankle. He piled up 1,257 yards during the 1988 season, capturing championship game MVP honors -- Turner finished his career fourth in school history in rushing yards. He was on the rebound. He was taken to the county seat, then called Jerusalem (now Courtland), tried, convicted and hanged. I know I can be one of the best high jumpers in the world, Turner said. "I witnessed one of the best players on the planet and I wanted to be just like him. Curators are realizing that returning looted artifacts isnt closing museumsits opening new doors. Turner still isnt pain free but says the pain is much more manageable. During his one season in Buffalo, Turner gave one-hundred percent in practice, so much so that some of his teammates would tell him to ease up, that it wasnt game time. Turner would turn to them and reply, It is for me. He couldnt afford to take it halfway or lose his job. He said that his team is taking great care with the identification of the skull and that the sophisticated techniques theyre employing take time. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The nine formally dressed guests joined hands while standing around a table holding only a white box. Abandoned Country is a companion blog to that project. While he was receiving some college offers to play wide receiver, Vernon was insistent on returning to running back -- where he was drastically undersized. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. If the tests . Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. Because for many years I thought I was trash. On his off-time, its likely that hes trying one of the areas new restaurants, attending a live show, or training on the soccer field. 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. [2] Growing up in difficult circumstances, he moved from the slum area in Brooklyn to the quiet neighborhood of Sunnyside on Staten Island while a young child. Let's talk about the whole snake video while I have lunch and you enjoy breakfast. Vernon Turner (born January 6, 1967) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back, wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) and NFL Europe League (NFLE) for eight seasons during the 1990s. In 2010, Turner released his self-published autobiography "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play" and is currently working on a followup self-help book. Phootgraph by Rebecca Hale and Mark Thiessen, National Geographic, Photograph by Jed Winer, National Geographic, Illustration by ullstein bild/ullstein bild/Getty, One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. That stuff makes him scratch his head. So Turner doubled down. It was a financial strain.. A DNA test will determine if this is actually the skull of the Virginia slave rebellion leader. Those familiar with the intensely-driven, competitive young man understand the passion and sincerity he displayed while helping raise four younger siblings and making sure that his family's physical needs were met. Several versions claim that he was flayed, quartered, and decapitated before his torso was finally buried in the local paupers cemetery. Jim, you now have my life in the palm of your hands!". He called his high school coach and said he was turning pro. A world contender. Much more accurate, according to Blakey, is genetic analysis. When Turner reached high school, he faced more challenges. Social vs. medical egg freezing: Whats the difference? New AI may pass the famed Turing test. All rights reserved. "I went to the bathroom and just paced back and forth clapping my hands because I was able to keep my family together," remembered Turner. He wants to win championships. 5h Rain continues to move into the area. OU vs. IUPUI women's basketball:Five things to know about the Sooners' first-round opponent, I had a lot going on outside track, Turner said. The Denver Broncos picked up the phone, and Turner was heading to Colorado to join the likes of John Elway and Shannon Sharpe. Turner, a junior, is the first NCAA Indoor High Jump champion in Oklahoma history. [6] He scored his first six points on an 80-yards run in the game's first play from scrimmage. 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. 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. "I didn't even wanna play quarterback, that's a sissy position," quipped Turner. All rights reserved. Turner said that hes learned to focus on himself. The ethnographic museum of the past is making its way to the exit.. Hes the oldest, and just a few years later, when Turner was a freshman in college, his dad died. My entire life has been one big arcade game, Turner laughs. Nathanial "Nat" Turner (1800-1831) was an enslaved man who led a rebellion of enslaved people on August 21, 1831. 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! (Matt McClain . He was always pushing money in my pocket. As a junior in 1988, he led the team in rushing with 1,257 yards on 232 carries, and in scoring with 96 points. 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 And on the subject of Nat Turners skull, the historical record offers no straightforward answers. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. His deeds have proven to be an enduring episode that still stirs emotion. Turner was born the property of a prosperous small-plantation owner in a remote area of Virginia. Hes humble from the get, saying he had no business ever playing in the NFL at all because it wasnt talent that got him there. Many stories have circulated about the fate of Turners remains after his hanging. MOUNT VERNON Herman Turner is still seeking answers, and justice, after his wife, Raynette Turner, was found dead in a police holding cell. Turner's outlook on football changed the very first moment he laid eyes on Walter Payton gracefully toting the rock against his hometown Jets in a preseason bout -- he was no longer a boxer. 0:53. Walter "Sweetness" Payton was his idol, and the future Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Bears later corresponded with the Carson-Newman running back with detailed workout recommendations. But this last season (2021) at the Olympic Trials, those sit on my head. It was a book Turner felt he had to write, because he had been holding in a lot of angst and built up emotions for over 30 years. In recent years, Francis has been leading tours around Southampton to acknowledge some of the important sites, although hes conducted none since the onset of the pandemic. 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. The daily chores of caring for four young children as a pre-teen while his mother continued to struggle and his father was busy taking care of her routinely caused Vernon to arrive late to practice -- a problem that teammates, who didn't understand his situation, took issue with. That gave him the confidence to believe in what theyre doing right now.. "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.". John Elway and Shannon Sharpe county seat, then called Jerusalem ( now Courtland,. Is actually the skull was passed down in his family for three generations started, Turner said that learned... 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