About an hour before kickoff, Coach Snyder met me at the Vanier football complex in front of the stadium, and said he wanted me to follow him. Leavitt is the alpha and omega of USF football. As an inspector, Saunders was responsible for checking export grain elevators at major ports. Paste as plain text instead, Saunders remained in that role with the team through 2005, during which time the team went from having the worst cumulative record in the country ranked last among NCAA Division I-A teams to one of the most consistent winners, including a run of 11 straight bowl games. After graduating from college, Saunders began training to become a federal inspector for the USDA. He has captivated audiences at thousands of schools, colleges and universities, not to mention businesses of every size. Saunders then presented these students with a gold medal in recognition of their accomplishments. In 1984, Saunders won the bronze medal in the National Wheelchair Athletic Associations Track and Field competition in Johnson City, Tennessee. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1996. He would spend nearly a year in the hospital and in rehabilitation, before being released in a wheelchair, completely paralyzed from the chest down. Management representatives met with the head engineer and declined to act on the inspection report, opting instead to continue normal operations. Some of my duties as motivational coach included speaking and working with the team giving inspirational goal-setting talks. By sharpening his body and mind together, he became a world class competitor. C.J. Not necessarily true. Saunders attended college on athletic scholarships for football, track and field, and soccer. He pushed his racing wheelchair across the US, covering over 2,500 miles under his own power. Please loginhereto accesscontent or gohereto purchase a subscription. I love to serve others and live out my Biblical morals and values by example. Adaptive Sports USA is a registered multi-sport organization of the United States Olympic Committee/United States Paralympic Committee, dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles by implementing sports and recreation opportunities for children and adults with a physical disability. Contact. Saunders became a motivational speaker and consultant in 1984, shortly after winning the bronze medal at the USATF Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee. Saunders Library Media Center Resources; Class of 2023 Page; Class of 2024 Page; Class of 2025 Page; . Coach Leavitt was the co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State and Kevin Saunders was the motivation coach for the team. His injuries included a fractured skull, collapsed lungs, shattered scapulas, various internal and external injuries and a severed spine at (T5). In the report, the Baltimore Ravens and former strength coach Steve Saunders got by far the worst ratings of any team in the league with a grade of "F-" and a few players can explain why. The crackling and popping of the concrete being blown apart was so loud it felt like it was going to split my head wide open.. As the explosion garnered national news coverage, doctors worked to first stabilize Saunders condition, and then to begin treating some of the injuries. On April 7, 1981, at the age of 23, Saunders identified and reported safety hazards at the Corpus Christi Public Grain Elevator, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Later, Coach Snyder asked if Id be interested in staying on as motivational coach for the team, says Kevin. Coaches; Football Power Index; Weekly Leaders; Total QBR; . He served on the Council until 2000. Paralyzed from the chest down, he struggled to find a new meaning and focus for his life. In 1983 (two years after his injury) Saunders was persuaded by his brother Gerald to try entering his first wheelchair race, the Peachtree Road Race held in Atlanta, Georgia, every year on July 4th. SPARTANBURG, S.C. The veteran coach always wanted all his players to go into multiple sports when they . He was instantly knocked unconscious and was blown through the roof of the building. They claimed the 2022 Big West Tournament title and made their first NCAA appearance in 11 . Share More sharing options. In 1989, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole nominated Saunders to serve on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (PCFSN). He is the only coach the school has ever had as he was presented the . Kevin Saunders Football coach at Cross Keys high school Marietta, Georgia, United States238 connections Join to connect Dekalb County Schools Radford University Experience Head Football Coach. Based on that experience,he's not someone I would choose to get to know. In 2000, Saunders received a commendation for his outstanding contributions to the Presidents Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition from President Clinton. You can post now and register later. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Kevin Saunders was just like any other young man from the Kansas countryside. Having heard the sudden blasts erupting just yards away, his last recollection of the event is that the walls blew out in my face. Saunders credits former rugby teammates and workout partners, Robert Hays and Bruce Acuna, with forcing him to get back into the gym where he began strength training. This season, Coach Saunders led the Bobcats to a 3-6 record after reclassifiying down to 3A, and for the first time in 4 years, Gilmer was in the playoff discussion. He would tell them, Without an education youll be operating with a real handicap! At each school, Saunders asked administrators to choose two students (one boy, one girl) who had overcome adversity. Mailing Address: Kevin Saunders was just like any other young man from the Kansas countryside. Every Richlands Blue Tornado Head Football Coach is given a Gold Card to show to Richlands area business. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He was instantly knocked unconscious and was blown through the roof of the building. Kevin Saunders resigned from his position as Gilmer High Schools football head coach last Wednesday. . The crackling and popping of the concrete being blown apart was so loud it felt like it was going to split my head wide open.[10][11]. While at KSU, he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and continued to play sports until graduating from the university in 1978. As an inspector, Saunders was responsible for checking export grain elevators at major ports. k***@dist428.org. While Kevin is shy about claiming any credit for the teams success, others seem to feel differently. In fact, the grateful players, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in and out of football, even dedicated an annual award in his honor. 2y Kevin Pelton "Chris brings a wealth of basketball experience from his time in the NBA, G League and Internationally. View the profiles of people named Kevin Saunders. After meeting with President George H. W. Bush, Saunders became the first person with a disability to serve on the council, working alongside Chairman Arnold Schwarzenegger and other notable health and fitness experts. In 1991, Saunders began a collaboration with the Kansas State University College of Engineering aimed at prototyping a faster and lighter racing wheelchair. . While at KSU, he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and continued to play sports until graduating from the university in 1978. He transferred to Kansas State University, majoring in agricultural economics. Though untrained in the discipline and lacking proper material, he participated, and this led to his entering competitions, finding success at the regional, and then national levels. 0:00. He also won field events including javelin, discus, swimming, air rifles and pistols, earning Best Athlete of the Games honors on several occasions. 87Tiger 62 87Tiger 62 Mitey-Mite; Members; 62 314 posts; Report; Share . Kevin Saunders is a Head Football Coach at DeKalb County School District based in Dunwoody, Georgia. Last Update. During the race he was unable to maintain pace with other competitors and was eventually disqualified once he was passed by the leading foot runners. He has also been featured in over 50 TV commercials promoting safety, fitness, education, sports and wellness. They said that we had a lot in common and a similar outlook on life., Kevin recounts, They called Coach Snyder to come and meet me. I accepted, and worked as the motivational coach with the Kansas State football team from 1991 until 2005, during whats been referred to as the greatest college football turnaround in history. Some of my duties as motivational coach included speaking and working with the team giving inspirational goal-setting talks to help them break barriers, transcend limitations, and reach for new levels of excellence, and achievement.. [7] The suspended grain dust particles instantly ignited, producing a series of powerful explosions that ripped through the facility at a speed calculated by experts at Texas A&M University to be in excess of 1,082ft per second.[8]. The rising volume and tremor of the floor told an unmistakable truth that the building he was standing in would soon burst into flames. Before he had time to even think or move, a blast rocketed the office and sent him over a 2-story building three hundred feet into the air. Saunders compiled a 411-326 record in 10 1/2 seasons on the Wolves' bench, coaching a Kevin Garnett-led team to eight straight playoff berths the only eight postseason trips in franchise . 0:33. In 1989, Saunders worked alongside Tom Cruise and Oliver Stone as a principal actor during the filming of Born on the Fourth of July. Southampton and Poole Pirates fan Kefaloniaman23 - @KevinSaunders23 loves anything related to Marilyn Monroe. At 32-years-old, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders is trying to create his own legacy while honoring his late . safety hazards at the Corpus Christi Public Grain Elevator, reappointed to the Council by President Bill Clinton. He enjoyed sports from an early age, and by middle school and high school, he was involved with football, basketball, track and baseball. Ronald Harrod. Saunders attended college on athletic scholarships for football, track and field, and soccer. During the tour, Saunders also visited over 50 childrens hospitals. Divorced, bankrupt, and utterly alone, Kevin fell into a deep depression. Discover Kevin Saunders's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Saunders & Associates Speaking He also knew an asshole when he saw one. To this day, theKevin Saunders Never Give up Awardgoes to the one player whose perseverance, courage and determination inNever Giving Upin the pursuit of team goals. Former Ole Miss assistant football coach David Saunders is taking on the NCAA. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Free Meals, Free Booze Hell, I think you can even have a funeral for free with that card. In 2016, Saunders was inducted into the Hall of Fame,[17] recognized for his outstanding achievements as a multiple World & International Champion, multiple Paralympic medalist, multiple Pan American Games medalist and World and Paralympic record holder. Saunders was in the USDA government building when the largest explosion struck. He was also commended for his help in the creation of the National Initiative on Physical Fitness for Children and Youth with Disabilities, or the I Can Do It, You Can Do It Program. Athletically, he won hundreds of gold medals and earned the title of the greatest all-around wheelchair athlete in the world. And that success was only the beginning. Management representatives met with the head engineer and declined to act on the inspection report, opting instead to continue normal operations. While at KSU, he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and continued to play sports until graduating from the university in 1978. All Rights Reserved. Avid Luton Town and Liverpool FC fan Show all results. By 87Tiger, November 2, 2016 in SWVA Football. Kevin Saunders (born December 8, 1955, in Smith Center, Kansas) is an American Paralympian, author, public speaker and athlete Saunders was the first person from the state of Kansas to make the Paralympic Team USA and also the first Kansan to medal at the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. As the explosion garnered national news coverage, doctors worked to first stabilize Saunders condition, and then to begin treating some of the injuries. Kevin received a Bachelor of Science degree f rom Radford University. Saunders credits former rugby teammates and workout partners, Robert Hays and Bruce Acuna, with forcing him to get back into the gym where he began strength training. Email: kevin@kevinsaunders.com. There was massive loss of life as many grain elevator employees were either killed by the blast instantly or succumbed to fatal injuries in the moments that followed. 0:58. The Blue-White game is set for Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium. Some say this 2012 season for the Kansas State University Wildcats has been the 2nd greatest turnaround in college football history. Kansas State University finished the regular season with its first ever #1 BCS ranking and an 11-1 regular season and winning the BIG XII Championship. From left to right Kevin Saunders, Legendary Head Coach Bill Snyder, Dora Saunders & Dr. Gary Cleveland Manhattan, KS. Cave Spring basketball standout Dylan Saunders has flipped his commitment from Fairleigh Dickinson University to Iona University after former FDU coach Tobin Anderson jumped to Iona . Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. During the 2012 season, Coach Bill Snyder asked Kevin Saunders after his presentation to the football team to come back to be the motivational coach as he had done in the past for the team. michaes@uci.edu. 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