"This guy was not only a football player, this guy was a philanthropist [who] gave back to the community with his time." That is how former UVA standout and current New York Jets offensive lineman D’Brickashaw Ferguson would like to be remembered in the future.
And this has not gone unrecognized. Yesterday at 10:00 am, the Village of Freeport, NY dedicated South Ocean Avenue in the name of the hometown hero. This street is where he grew up on, and is now appropriately named, "D’Brickashaw Ferguson Way" (it is still unclear to me how we’ll say this street in everyday parlance, though I think "D'Brickaway" sounds awesome).
State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District) was present and sang great praise, saying that "D’Brickashaw Ferguson is a great success story because he shows how hard work and dedication can lead to great things. He is also a perfect example of someone using their success to give back to the people of their community. The entire community takes pride in D’Brickashaw’s accomplishments and I congratulate him on this well-deserved honor."
This is great, and he really deserves it. Those of you who follow the man on Twitter (@DBrickashaw) know that he still roots on his Hoos, and is just as confused as we are about what exactly is happening to our program. While at UVA, he earned All-American and All-ACC honors, and upon graduation, was drafted as the fourth overall pick by the Jets in 2006.
I don’t think enough can be said about D’Brickashaw. I think the Long Island Expressway should be renamed the "D’Brickashaw ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE Expressway." But perhaps this is why they do not let me participate in such decision-making processes.