Football alum Deion Sanders inspiration at North High
On Saturday, Feb. 5, it was announced that North Fort Myers High School football alum Deion Sanders was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The next day, he did the coin toss at the Super Bowl – an event that media analysts said is the top most watched event on television – second only to the finale of MASH.
Deion Luwynn Sanders was born Aug. 9, 1967. He is still a name up on the record boards at the Fieldhouse of North Fort Myers High School. Nicknamed “Prime Time” and “Neon Deion”, he played for the NFL as a cornerback and in Major League Baseball as an outfielder. Today he is an NFL Network analyst and one of the most recognized players in sports, something that inspires his high school team to this day.
It’s great to be part of North Fort Myers High School football, said player Brandon Makar. I think this (Sander’s fame) brought back the tradition – what this program means. “It is always great to see Deion talking about football on pre-game shows, etc.,” said North High Head Football Coach Barry Goettemoeller. “But it was especially sweet hearing about Deion getting announced as a new inductee into the Hall of Fame.”
Goettemoeller has a special connection to the Hall of Fame. “Canton, Ohio is a special place. I know, because I used to coach there. The Hall of Fame stadium was our home stadium, and the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony is like no other event in the world. Deion has always been respected for his play on the field, as well as how much he does for the development of kids. Now he will also be known as Deion Sanders, Hall of Famer!”
Goettemoeller was not his coach – that was local legendary Coach Ron Hoover. “Even though I don’t know Deion personally, his presence is everywhere at North,” Goettemoeller said. “Most of our players weren’t born when he was playing here, but they all know who he is, and the tradition he started. Our guys strive every day to play with the same passion for the game as he did.”
“I knew he was was a shoe in for the Hall of Fame – there was hardly any way they could keep him out of it,” said Hoover. “He is probably the greatest athlete to come out of the state of Florida, and I’m really proud of him, and think he was the best thing to come out of the North Fort Myers High School Football Program.
“They had and have a close personal relationship,” Hoover said. “I know his mother and his sister and all of his family. His family was always very proud of him.”
Of his current fame, Hoover said. “I never expected this, what he’s done over the years.”
He said Sanders was highly recruited.
“I was glad to see him stay in the state (for college) and he’s a good family man and husband. I saw him a couple times in Kansas City and in baseball in St. Louis.”
He ran football, baseball and track, Hoover said, and he could have gone to the Olympics as well, in his opinion. “I’m just so proud of him, and this is such a shot in the arm, the honors.”
North High Assistant Principal Steve Casolino said, “Deion is how I came to North High. I was coaching back in the day at Naples High, and they sent me out to scout, to see how we could beat North Fort Myers High.”
He said Sanders was his main focus, looking for ways to defeat him. Year after year I’d come here, and thought, how can you beat Deion Sanders?
Casolino said the staff at North High was so great, that when he was looking for an administrative position, the school was his first choice.
“Deion is one of four North High Football players who have played in the pros,” said North High Principal Kimberly Lunger. “Warren Williams, Richard Fain and Jevon Kearse have also made it pro. We have a strong line of athletes who have made it to the pros; baseball, golf, and football. Remember that Deion played pro football and pro baseball! The man has the drive to be the best. I remember him making a couple of visits here to the school a few years back. As he walked around the campus, he was very comfortable with students talking to him and asking him questions. It’s great to be able to say that Deion is a Red Knight!”