ALCORN STATE, MS --Alcorn State University is known for educating the best and the brightest minds, developing champions and equipping leaders. Thus, today's Southwestern Athletic Conference 2012 Hall of Fame announcement only solidifies the fact that 1000 ASU Drive is truly the home of champions and scholars and the HBCU Awards committee got it right when they named us the 2012 Historical Black College and University of Year. What it means to be an “Alcornite” many will never understand or have the privilege of knowing but for those of us that bleed purple and gold we know that this honor has been a long time coming and definitely well deserved. It is a true testament that hard work, dedication, and perseverance do pay off.
When the nomination forms hit my desk and I pondered over whom I should nominate; it was truly a no brainer. I thought about the days I watched him play on the “yard”, his love for faith, family and football, his work off the field in the various communities throughout Texas, Mississippi and Wisconsin and his personal story “struggle to success” or “rags to riches” whichever you prefer; one of which captivates my heart everytime it airs. He represented everything that is Alcorn State.
From Super Bowl Champion to winner of Dancing with the Stars; Alcorn State's Donald “Quickie” Driver has another milestone to add to his list of accomplishments. Earlier this morning, he was announced as one of eight to be inducted into the 2012 SWAC Hall of Fame.
Donald Jerome Driver was born in Houston, TX on February 2, 1975. Driver was the middle child in a five-sibling family where he earned his nickname "Quickie" due to his parents chasing him around the house and because of his quick learning skills. Donald's childhood wasn't easy; he lived out of a U-Haul truck for a period of time during his early teens after a collection agency confiscated his family's possessions. He spent multiple nights in motel rooms that his mother, Faye Gray, purchased with food stamps. In order to help support his family, Driver turned to a life of crime which included stealing cars and dealing drugs. "Hey, when things are so bad you have to live in the back of a U-Haul truck with your mom and four siblings for a month, you go with whatever skills you have.” Although it was hard, Faye decided the best thing for 14 year old Donald would be to move in with his grandmother, Betty Lofton.
Driver shined as an athlete in high school, lettering four times each in track, football, basketball and baseball at Milby High in Houston. He was a Texas All-State honorable mention in football where he played wide receiver, defensive back and returned kickoffs. He continued his football career when he committed to Alcorn State on an athletic scholarship. While he was on the “Reservation” he was a two-year starter where he recorded 88 career receptions for 1,933 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also competed in track where he shined in the high jump and earned all-conference honors his senior year. In addition, he qualified for the 1996 Olympic Field Trials and could have likely qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the high jump competition.
However, Driver will tell you the best thing he did at Alcorn had nothing to do with sports. While here, he met his wife, Betina. Donald and Betina were married in 2000; they have three children together, a son Cristian, and two daughters Christina and Charity.
Driver was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 7th round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire NFL career in Green Bay and he is the Packers' all-time receiving leader in yards and receptions, and is the only player in Packers history to record seven 1,000 yard receiving seasons. A top performer his entire career, Driver has been a four-time Pro Bowl selection (2002, 2006, 2007, and 2011). In 2010 Driver and the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV giving him his first Super Bowl ring.
Driver is a proven champion on and off the field, whereas he donates much of his time and efforts to institutions such as Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Special Olympics Wisconsin, and Goodwill Industries.
He was awarded the “Community Service Award” by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2002, and Red Smith Award in 2010.
Joining Driver in the 2012 class is fellow Alcorn State alum Willie Norwood. He was a dominant power forward at Alcorn State in the late 60's. He scored 1,973 points during his career, ranking him second all-time at Alcorn. He is also ranked second all-time in rebounding with 1,413. Among his numerous awards, Norwood earned All-SWAC honors in 1967, 1968 and 1969.
In 1969, he was drafted in the first round by the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA and the second round by the Detroit Pistons. He was also selected by the San Diego Chargers as a tight end, making him the only player in Alcorn's history to be drafted by three different teams in the same year.
In 2000, Norwood was inducted into the Alcorn State University Hall of Fame.
The 2012 SWAC Hall of Fame class also includes: Harold Carmichael (Southern), Hubert O. Clemmons (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Eugene "Doc" Harvey (Grambling), Lawrence A. Davis (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), LyVonne LeFlore (Jackson State) and Herman Sanders (Mississippi Valley State). They will be enshrined on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. The induction is set to begin at 6 p.m. with a reception.
For more information regarding the Hall of Fame ceremony please visit
www.swac.org or you may contact the Alcorn State University department of athletic media relations and communications at 601.877.6501 or via email at lwilliams1@alcorn.edu.
