NFL linebacker hasn't forgotten Fort Scott

Former Fort Scott Community College linebacker Lavonte David, seen here in a publicity still shot by Kenny Felt prior to the 2009 Citizens Bank Bowl, recently wrote for an online journalism site that he gives credit to Fort Scott for being the place where he says he "became a man." David currently starts for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Tribune file photo)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David hasn't forgotten the place where he says he "became a man" in a recent article he penned for the website, theplayerstribune.com.

David played linebacker for Fort Scott Community College in 2008-09, helping lead the Greyhounds to the Citizens Bank Bowl, which was that year's NJCAA National Championship Game. The 'Hounds fell to Blinn, which was led by current Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, in the final moments of that game.

In the opening paragraphs of the article, David points out that he has not yet played in a primetime game in the NFL but that when he does, he has already thought about what he will say.

"You know when the starting lineups come on TV and the players introduce themselves -- the little talking headshots in the corner of the screen?" he wrote "Some guys have a lot of fun with it, shouting out to their high school or their neighborhood from when they were kids.

"...I'm going to pay homage to the place that made me who I am today -- the place where I learned about myself and where I became a man. When it's my turn, I'll say, 'Lavonte David, Fort Scott Community College.'"

David writes about how he ended up at Fort Scott, not understanding how important keeping up good grades was. Then-assistant FSCC coach Eddie Brown called David and persuaded him to come to Fort Scott. After his time at FSCC, he went on to the University of Nebraska.

The complete article can be seen on the web at http://www.theplayerstribune.com/lavonte-david-fort-scott-nebraska-tampa-bay-buc...