The Passing of Aggie Great Ben Blacknall

[aggierattler]

Very sad to hear this evening of the passing of former Aggie great Ben Blacknall from SC State's Sports Information Director. Defensive line coach at Alabama A&M reportedly died due to diabetic coma.

I knew him as a good guy who always had time for an encouraging word. He will be greatly missed.

Link: www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/04/alabama_am_football_blacknall.html

[aggierattler]

Alabama A&M football assistant Ben Blacknall found dead

Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 2:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 2:38 PM

By Reggie Benson, The Huntsville Times al.com

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M defensive line coach Ben Blacknall was found dead this morning, The Times has learned.

Sources says Blacknall, a longime diabetic, died due to a diabetic coma. School officials are expected to release a statement later today.

Blacknall just completed his sixth season as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator with the Bulldogs. Before coming to A&M, Blacknall worked in the business world. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as the head coach at Delaware State from 2000-2003, compiling a 20-25 record with the Hornets. He was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2000.

Blacknall and A&M head coach Anthony Jones had a long relationship.

Blacknall coached Jones at Wichita State and they later coached together at South Carolina State and Morehouse College before Backnall came to A&M.

During Blacknall's tenure at A&M, he coached a number of All-Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive linemen, including Jeremy Maddox, Chris Traylor and Corey Hart.

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[Bigboy]

Sad to hear this about Ben. We were both at A&T together. We were both vets. Ben was one of the best LB to ever play here at A&T. My prayers go out to his family. He will be truely missed. "RIP"

[aggieblackie]

I met Ben when he first came to A&T. He was a heck of a Line Backer. When he hit a player
they knew they were hit. Ben was a very nice man who really cared about people and his
players. He will be missed. Great Man!!

[4XLAGGIE]

Great player and an even greater person. You will be missed Ben. RIP my brother.

[DECKS]

RIP Coach.

[aggierattler]

From the Huntsville Times: www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/04/alabama_am_loses_loyal_coach_a.html

Alabama A&M loses loyal coach and Jones loses loyal friend in the passing of Ben Blacknall

Published: Friday, April 27, 2012, 9:53 AM
By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- More than five years ago, I sat down with Ben Blacknall, the Alabama A&M defensive line coach who had taken a reprieve from the stress of managing a Super Walmart in Dover, Del., to get back into coaching.

He had joined the staff of head coach Anthony Jones, a man Blacknall had all but discovered and put on the road toward an NFL career.

We were on a sofa in the A&M football complex, talking about the dynamics of former teacher working for former pupil.

"Whenever we're working or in a business setting, I refer to him as 'Coach Jones,' " Blacknall told me.

And, "When we're on the golf course, it's 'A.J., I'm gonna kick your butt.' "

It was a rare dynamic that both men made work beautifully as Blacknall worked on Jones' staff until his death Wednesday. Blacknall, who suffered from diabetes, was 65.

Jones had played for Blacknall at Wichita State, then Jones hired his mentor at Morehouse in 1999.

"We talked about that ... him being a guy who had coached me and now I was his supervisor. I don't like to use the word 'boss,' " Jones said Thursday. "He told me, no, he would never have a problem with that. And we didn't.

"Now, him being stubborn and I'm stubborn, too, to get two stubborn people together every now and then you'll knock heads a little bit. But that's part of coaching."

The two men applied similar words to describe their relationship when Blacknall came aboard. Jones used "trust." Blacknall used "loyalty."

As Blacknall said then, "Coaches like to be around people they trust, they've been around, they've been to wars with. That means a lot."

I asked Jones what he'd want people to know about Blacknall.

"The most important thing people may not have thought about him was how much he cared about fellow coaches, the program and A&M. He really cared. He wanted this program to be successful," Jones said.

A few months after his arrival, Blacknall was at John Stallworth's annual golf tournament. Blacknall won the putting contest at the post-tournament barbecue. It earned him the use of a Mercedes-Benz for two years.

Because, well, this is just the way coaches do things, defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns wouldn't let Blacknall upstage him. Towns won the same contest a couple of years later.

Golf was a great bond on the coaching staff. Blacknall, in fact, taught Jones how to play, and I reminded Jones of Blacknall's "kick butt on the golf course" quote.

"I remember the first time I whooped him in golf," Jones said. "I'd always get close and something would happen, and he'd always tell me, 'I'm not ready for you to beat me.'

"When I finally beat him, when I had a big enough lead I didn't think he could catch me on the last hole, I said to him, 'I guess you decided it was time for me to whoop your butt in golf.' "

Contact Mark McCarter at [e-mail] and follow him on Twitter @markmccarter

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[aggierattler]

He touched a lot of people...thank GOD.

From the Huntsville Times: www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/04/alabama_am_football_assistant.html

Alabama A&M: Football assistant Blacknall found dead

Published: Thursday, April 26, 2012, 9:44 AM
Updated: Thursday, April 26, 2012, 9:51 AM
By Reggie Benson, The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones got more than he ever imagined when he decided to go to college football at Wichita State.

Not only did he get a quality education, but he met a quality friend in Shockers assistant coach Ben Blacknall.

In fact, Jones and Blacknall became best friends and that relationship spanned more than three decades.

Unfortunately, that relationship ended Wednesday when Blacknall, a long-time diabetic, passed away due to a diabetic coma.

"I lost a good friend, the university lost a good coach and the world lost a good man," Jones said. "He's going to be missed."

Sources say Jones found Blacknall, who was believed to be in his mid-60s, and alerted his coaching staff and university officials. He met with his players Wednesday afternoon. Counselors were made available and will be made available as long as needed.

"Our family mourns his loss, but we'll stay together," Jones said. "Our coaches, student-athletes, administration and alumni ... we'll help each other get through this."

Jones and Blacknall first met in 1979 at Wichita State.

"He coached me and helped me become a man," he said.

Later, Blacknall convinced Willie Jeffries to hire Jones at South Carolina State.

"He went to coach Jeffries and told him I would make an excellent coach and coach Jeffries hired me and the rest is history," Jones said.

Blacknall spent six seasons as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator with the Bulldogs. Before coming to A&M, he worked in the business world. Prior to that, Blacknall spent four seasons as the head coach at Delaware State from 2000-2003, compiling a 20-25 record with the Hornets. He was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2000.

Jones hired Blacknall at Morehouse in 1999 and at A&M in 2006. Blacknall's other coaching stops included North Carolina A&T (1972-76), South Carolina State (1977-78; 1989-98), Wichita State (1979-83) and Howard (1984-88).

During Blacknall's tenure at A&M, he coached a number of All-Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive linemen, including Jeremy Maddox, Chris Traylor and Corey Hart.

Blacknall earned a Bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T in 1975 and is a member of the school's Hall of Fame.

"He did some good things for the university," Jones said. "The university is thankful for the things he did. He appreciated his time here. He thought it was a special place."