Early Years
At Proviso West High School, Adams played the trumpet for the school's band until his junior year when he took up football, becoming a two year starter at left tackle, while receiving All-American and first-team All-State honors as a senior. He also earned four letters in track for the shot put and three letters in wrestling. His number 76 is only one of three numbers retired by the school, along with Ray McElroy and Awvee Storey. He also was involved in foreign language clubs.
He went on to play football at Michigan State University for head coach Nick Saban. His massive size (6-foot-7, 330-pounds) earned him the nickname “The Hotel”, and served him well as a three year starter (2 at right tackle and 1 at left tackle). After earning Honorable mention All-Big Ten in 1995, he went on to develop into one of the best offensive linemen in the nation. As a junior in 1996, he was a second team All-Big Ten selection. As a senior in 1997, he received All-America honors, was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and was a semi-finalist for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He also was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.
Read more about this topic: Flozell Adams
Famous quotes related to early years:
“I believe that if we are to survive as a planet, we must teach this next generation to handle their own conflicts assertively and nonviolently. If in their early years our children learn to listen to all sides of the story, use their heads and then their mouths, and come up with a plan and share, then, when they become our leaders, and some of them will, they will have the tools to handle global problems and conflict.”
—Barbara Coloroso (20th century)