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Tsu Seniors: Ready for the Next Step:
 Houston Texans Vice President of Communications and Texas Southern alumnus Tony Wyllie addressed the candidates of the Winter 2007 Commencement Exercises Thursday, December 6th at the Sterling Student Life Center (3rd Floor Tiger Room).
Wyllie, a lifetime member of TSUNAA worked three years in the sports information department at Texas Southern where he received his degree in journalism. In 2004, Wyllie received the university's "Distinguished Alumnus" award.
Wyllie began his NFL career as a game day intern with the Houston Oilers in 1991 before working as a summer intern with the San Diego Chargers PR department in 1992. He spent 1993 as an intern in the PR department with the Dallas Cowboys, earning a Super Bowl ring before heading west to Los Angeles to work with the Rams as the assistant director of public relations. Wyllie moved with the team to St. Louis in 1995 and became the youngest PR director in the NFL three years later when the Tennessee Oilers hired him in 1998. He picked up an AFC championship ring with the Titans in 1999 before joining the Texans staff in the summer of 2000. |
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Texas Southern University's Office of Alumni hosted is first Maroon & Gray Affair on Thursday, December 13, 2007. The event was held at Myles J Restaurant, located at 4304 Westheimer Rd. at Mid Lane, owned by one of TSU's own alums. The purpose of this event (and all of our other events) was to give our broad alumni base an opportunity to meet one another and strenghten the university's alumni network. If you have not had the pleasure of attending one of our functions, please try to do so in 2008. We look forward to meeting you.
This alumni holiday event was full of good cheer and great southern cuisine. Entertainment for the event was provided by TSU's own Jazz Ensemble, directed by Howard Harris and Bert Cross. "The jazz band was absolutely wonderful; and I was so proud to find out that these are students from my almater playing and signing at this level," say alum Sharon Yancy. Other patrons of the restaurant were equally impressed with the Jazz Ensemble and stayed for the duration of the event.
The TSU Jazz ensemble has been invited to participate in an international Jazz competition in Toronto, Canada in January 2008. The group is currently performing throughout the city in efforts to raised money for traveling expenses associated with this trip. If you would like to make to a donation towards these efforts, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations or the Jazz department.
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Johnnie Cole Named Head Football Coach
Johnny Cole was named Head Coach of the TSU football team last month by Athletics Director Alois Blackwell. Cole was the head coach at Lane College in Jackson, TN for the past three seasons. He follows Steve Wilson who was release earlier this month. "We needed someone who could effectively maximize our team's potential and take the TSU football program to the next level and based on his success at Lane College, we believe Johnnie Cole is that person," says Blackwell.
Dozens of TSU fans, football players and alumni came out for the announcement and to show their support for the former Tiger. He is definitely glad to be back. "I have always made it known that I wanted to coach here," says Cole. "I have been on all sides of TSU football. I played here, coached here and competed here. This is where I belong." Coach Cole welcomed the cheers of the fans said their support should not end here. "I can't do this myself. It's time for the talk to end and the alumni to step-up and support the program."
Cole took the Lane College Dragons from a 0-10 season in 2005 to an 8-3 finish in 2006. It was Lane College's first winning season since 1995, and Cole was honored as 2006 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) coach of the year.
Cole also spent time as an assistant coach at Alabama State and Tennessee State. He played quarterback at Texas Southern from 1982 - 1985. He is still ranked among the best in TSU history with the third best career passing record (4247 yards and 33 touchdowns) and fifth for career total offense (4250 yards).
Cole says he is a winning and he plans to make the Tigers winners again as well. "Texas is a football state and we plan to go out and get those talented kids and bring them to TSU to play ball."
Johnny Cole is the thirteenth head coach to lead the Tigers since they began playing the game back in 1947. |
TSUNAA Endowment Scholarship
A newly created endowment scholarship fund bearing the TSUNAA name. As an endowed scholarship fund, the generous contribution from the Alumni $20,000 challenge and $60 for 60 initiative will continue to give in perpetuity. This alumni gift account will provide even more interest when combined with other donations. Even more exciting, matching funds are being sought for these funds. If successful, this TSUNAA donation of $27,050.00 will be worth $50,050.00! The creation of this fund is an example of how important alumni giving can be to this university. Corporate donors and Foundations make a habit of asking about alumni support - they want to know that TSU supports TSU. Now thanks to your unwavering commitment and support alumni will have a powerful impact on this university for generations to come. |
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Alumni Spotlight
Alumnus Dr. Walter Jackson was selected to serve as a visiting scholar at the Salzburg Young Leaders Global Seminar. Dr. Walter received an all expenses paid scholarship to participate in the week long seminar was held December 1st - 6th in Salzburg, Austria. The Salzburg Seminar is an international "think tank" of scientists, economists, academia, medicine, naturalists, etc. to formulate a "global plan for the next 20 years" that will address the world's current issues, and issues to come. am one of only 45 scholars from around the world to receive this opportunity. Dr. Jackson was very excited about his wonderful opportunity and owes proudly boasts that he 'Owes a great deal of his success to Texas Southern University for giving me my start'. Dr. Jackson also stated, 'It was through the Baylor Scholars of Practice Doctoral program that I encountered my first international experience where I had the opportunity to study in the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Germany; this experience alone was worth the cost of the entire doctoral program. |
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