Teaming up again

By Raymond Linex II

July 07, 2009 10:24 pm

— From the grass of Tiger Field to the world’s biggest stage, Billy Yates and Bethel Johnson have seen all football has to offer.
Tuesday, they gave a little back to their old neighborhood.
Yates, 29, a member of the New England Patriots, and Johnson, 30, a former Patriot, signed autographs at the Boys & Girls Club, and offered some words of encouragement for the children.
“We’re here today to support you, to let you know you have somebody here behind you,” said Yates, a 6-2, 305 pound guard who started seven games last season for New England. “You can achieve whatever you want to achieve if you put your mind to it.”
The two were first teammates as eighth-graders, and in 1997 helped the Tigers get to the Class 4A Division I state finals, where they lost to Texas City, 34-31, on a last-minute touchdown.
Both went on to star at Texas A&M. Johnson, a wide receiver, was a second-round draft choice of the Patriots, while Yates originally signed with Miami as a free agent.
Johnson spent some time with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts last year, and still looks like he can play.
“I grew up in Corsicana,” Johnson told the kids, “and this is a fortunate situation you’re in. You have no idea.
“We didn’t have a Boys & Girls Club when I was growing up.”
Johnson said many people during his childhood designed positive programs for the youth of his time, but nothing like what the Club offers.
“You have an opportunity to take all of this in and grow from it,” he said.

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