The Baker Honees Football Team Has a Lot to Prove

During the 2015-2016 season, the Baker Honees football team had a successful season. They went 9-3-0, earning them the number two seed in the Southeast Division. They also earned an appearance in the playoffs, where they defeated the Charlotte Knights in the second round.

Signing LaDareyen Craig

Besides the obvious signing of star quarterback and former Alabama wide receiver D’Angelo Breaux, the Baker hornets are set to add four more high-end collegiate footballers to their arsenal. As a result, the school has a lot to prove in the short term and beyond. With a 5-5 record in the latest edition of the state’s most prestigious football league, there’s a definite need for a new head coach. With a new head coach in place, the team will have the opportunity to rebuild its sagging program under the right conditions. The coaching staff will also have the opportunity to rehabilitate a team that’s seen its share of success in recent years. Hopefully, the new regime can turn things around quickly.

While the Hornets have yet to prove they are the next big thing in Birmingham, the program has proven itself to be a pillar in the Alabama football industry over the last three decades. This past season, the program was able to put together a competitive schedule for the first time since 2010. The newest Hornets players will be competing in the newest conference in the state, the Coastal Carolina Golden Lions.

Honored for football careers on the next level

Several of the Hornets football players honored for football careers on the next level have been a part of the rich history of the Fullerton College program. Some of these honorees were athletes that helped the Hornets win a national championship in 1967 and a national title in 1969. Others were players that were recruited by almost every major college in the nation. Some of these players were also NFL players.

In 1969, Marvin Owens and Jeff Baker became offensive staples for the Hornets. In the end, Marvin earned two NCAA All-American awards and two NAIA All-American awards. In addition, he was selected as an All-American wide receiver by the South Coast Conference. He also earned All-American honors in track, as well. He was also an outstanding football player, and played for legendary coach Hal Sherbeck. In addition, he also served as a coach for the Hornet football program. He coached quarterbacks and wide receivers, and he also served as the offensive coordinator for the program.

Marvin was the Most Valuable Player of the 1969 Hornet Football team. He also earned first team All-American honors in track and football. He also earned first team All-Conference honors and was named the conference’s Most Valuable Player. He also earned the Man of Distinction Award, which is the most prestigious honor Fullerton College can bestow on a player. He was also a member of the champion Eastern Conference 440 and 880 relay teams. He was also a member of the North-South All-Star football game.

Marv Sampson served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Hornets for four seasons. He was also the head coach of the wide receivers. He also coached the defensive line, defensive backs, and punt returners. In his four years, the Hornets won three national titles. He also coached the wide receivers for the Southern California Regional Championship. In 1969, Marv was named Most Valuable Player of the California Junior College playoffs. He had a 52% completion average in the playoffs. He also scored five touchdowns in the games. He also ran for a touchdown. In his lone game for the Hornets, Marvin was voted Most Valuable Player in a 53-0 victory over Cypress College.

Jeff Baker, Marv’s son, also played football at Fullerton College. He had a record setting season, rushing for a career high 1,127 yards and 164 attempts. He also threw 18 touchdown passes. He was also voted first team All-Conference in 1969. He also earned first team NAIA Western States honors. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1972. He also played in the World Football League for the Portland Storm. He also played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos.

Marv and Ruthie Sampson have five children. They have eight grandchildren, one of which is a soon-to-be great grandchild. They also have one son that is a future member of the Hornet Heritage Foundation.

Ownership of the team

Getting your hands on a branded version of the AFC was not the only time in the Hornets aces history book. The biggest and most enduring challenge was a lack of financial clout, something which could be averted by the right footwork. The AFC was the only organization to finish with a winning record in the league. The only reason the Hornets aces could not field a full team was because the Hornets aces were unable to qualify for post season play. This would eventually result in the aforementioned move. AFC was renamed the Charlotte Hornets in the fall of 1974. The team made its final game the following season. During that time, the AFC lost the AFC championship game to the Cleveland Browns. The aforementioned Browns also had a similar story to that of the Hornets aces, but this one was a bit more palatable. This may have been the AFC’s final season in the city, but the Hornets aces were in good hands. Despite the loss, the AFC was able to play a playoff game at the Charlotte Stadium, a feat of organizational alchemy that would take several more years to attain. AFC’s aces of the 1970s would eventually be enshrined in the AFC hall of fame.