B

On the eve of the Citizen Tribune Kickoff Classic, West High football players and cheerleaders got some words of wisdom from Anthony Hancock, a former wide receiver who played for the Tennessee Volunteers and Kansas City Chief.

The event was part of the annual West High Quarterback Club kickoff at First Presbyterian Church in Morristown.

The West High students leaned forward eagerly in their seats as Hancock recounted his formative years as a professional football player.

Hancock explained how practice was pivotal in conditioning himself for the quick reactions necessary at game time, and he reminded them that sportsmanship is of utmost importance.

“You know what I used to do? I used to take the ball, and I’d go to the referee. When I made a catch, I’d get the ball and hand it back to the ref. I didn’t do all this and that,” Hancock said, demonstrating a victory dance.

“No, you can do that at practice. When you score [in a game], don’t act like you’ve never done it before!”

Hancock also placed significance on one’s ability to maintain good sportsmanship.

“Someone else makes a good play? Get up and go on, ‘Hey, nice one.’ If you give a pancake [block] Hey, I mean help them up. Make sure they’re OK.”

In particular, recruiting and signing day was something many young men were interested in knowing about. Hancock became nostalgic when providing a recollection of that life-altering day.

“I was scared. Literally I was scared,” Hancock said. “I thought I had done something wrong, really. My father was in the hospital [that day]. I was put in study hall until school was over with, and then my mother came and we went to the hospital. Then I signed the National Letter of Intent for University of Tennessee.”

Hancock was a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs for five years after graduating from his alma mater, the University of Tennessee.

He was also a first-round draft pick in 1982 for the NFL.

Hancock now lives in Knoxville and works as a Special Education teacher in Knox County Schools. He has a prominent leadership legacy in the community as both a Former District Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and an advocate for students.

The development of students by volunteerism is something Hancock has also taken great care to foster in the Knox County community, setting an example for a successful life after football.