Former Football – Where are they now?: Calvin James focused on future

bbrown@theadvertiser.com • "Prayer," said Calvin James, "changes things." • September 22, 2010

Bruce Brown

Calvin James, left, spends time with his son, Jordan. Jordan is a former wide receiver for St. Thomas More. (Submitted photos)

James knows about change, and is thankful for redemption.

If ever there was a can’t-miss prospect in south Louisiana high school football, it was James, whose mere presence intimidated opponents in both football and basketball at Comeaux High in the mid-1970’s.

Tall, chiseled, with enormous hands and a passion for the game, James looked like he was ready for the NFL after his 1976 senior campaign at CHS … let alone the college game.

He was the blueprint for a tight end.

That notion gained steam his freshman season at UL in 1977 as he caught 41 passes as a favorite target of star quarterback Roy Henry.

Then, he was gone.

Calvin James walks with a cane now, the result of an industrial accident in 1992 that damaged his spine. He has graduated from a wheelchair and then a walker, and is driving again.

His days are inspired by his role as a youth minister at St. Thomas More High School, as well as his continued involvement in other ministerial avenues.

And, every day, he dreams that his son Jordan will go where he could not.

"The recruiting wars had an adverse effect on me," James said Tuesday. "I chose to stay home and go to UL, because I saw what some of the others were offering under the table and I could see going there, being mistreated, and then I would be stuck.

"I thought if I stayed home, it would be better because people knew me."

Raised by his grandparents in Broussard, James found it easy to excel on the field when he just played offense instead of going both ways. And not playing basketball left him time between seasons. As it turns out, perhaps he should have stayed busy.

"I got back from playing in the All-Star Game, and I was fired up," James said. "It was a breeze for me, just playing offense. I had so much extra energy. During two-a-days, between practices, the other players would go to sleep. I would go to the mall, or mow somebody’s lawn for extra money.

"The others were fascinated by that. And that carried over into the games. It was the easiest season for me to play."

Then he met a young woman, and admitted that he soon "was paying more attention to her than I was to my future. I got into drugs, alcohol, started partying at 19. I could see my life start to spiral, and tried to get out of it, and that’s when the trouble started. She didn’t want it to end."

Their union produced a daughter, and their breakup helped fuel the dissolution of a career.

"I didn’t report (for football) the next year," James said. "I wanted to transfer. I needed more time to get ready. Then, I dropped out. They gave me a second chance at UL in 1979, but I had lost my desire."

James briefly saw action on the practice squad of the USFL’s Jacksonville Bulls in 1981, but was back home by 1982, his football dreams a rapidly fading memory.

"Within six months, I was associated with some unsavory people," he said. "I was headed in the same direction. I had taken my focus off my goals to (pursue) the here and now."

The saving grace was meeting Jacqueline Narcisse, now James’ wife, mother of daughter, Gracelyn, and son, Jordan. His road finally turned toward stability.

"In 1986, Jackie’s brother in California lost his wife, and we moved there to help with the kids," James said. "It wasn’t long before some people from the local church came knocking on doors, inviting us to join."

That fellowship took hold for James, who in 1990 moved the family to Houston, where Jordan was born. Then in 1992, a co-worker ran a vehicle into a building, resulting in equipment falling on James and injuring his back and neck.

"We didn’t find out about my neck until 4 years afterwards," James said. "I had surgery in 2002 and they told me I’d never walk again. In two years, I was out of the wheelchair. Now I’m able to drive."

James took Jordan under his wing when his son was 8, teaching him to catch the ball, tackle, run pass routes, "and to be humble on and off the field."

"I would touch his head to mine, and will all of my talent, experience and ability to him," James said. "He was 10 years old before we moved here, and I told him my story because I knew he would hear things. I told him so he would know the difference between what was true and not true.

"I told him to be successful, he should put God first, to avoid girls, drugs and alcohol, and to put his education first. If he could avoid those pitfalls, he could be the individual I could have been. And, he has exceeded my expectations."

 

Jordan James is now a redshirt freshman receiver at Tulsa after a stellar career at St. Thomas More that featured 86 catches, 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is up to 220 pounds, swift and strong like his father once was.

"His blocking definitely reminds me of myself," James said. "I’ve never seen a wide receiver block like that. His strength is phenomenal. I used to love to hit. On game day, I was always so excited. I would release that pent-up energy on the first play.

"I had people tell me they couldn’t believe how hard I hit, and when you hear that enough it starts the wrong tune playing in your head. You believe it, then you start to live that way."

That tune quickly turned sour, but the son is here now to learn from the missteps of the father.

James prays for truth and integrity these days, "instead of the opposite."

After all he’s been through, his path ahead is finally clear.