Stokes’ path is paved

Rick Devereux

Andy Stokes was chosen as the 255th and last pick in the NFL Draft by

the New England Patriots, making the William Penn University tight

end the 30th Mr. Irrelevant.

William Penn University, located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, is a member

of the NAIA and the Midwest Classic Conference. The Statesmen play in

the Mid-States Football Association.

While William Penn -- a school of about 1,500 students -- may get

lost in the shadow of Iowa and Iowa State, Stokes will not be the

first Statesman to play professional football.

The 1971 NFL Draft featured future Hall of Famers John Riggins

from Kansas, Jack Youngblood from Florida and Jack Ham from Penn

State. But four picks before the St. Louis Cardinals picked Michigan

tackle Dan Dierdorf and 40 picks before the Denver Broncos selected

Yankton defensive lineman Lyle Alzado, the Kansas City Chiefs

selected defensive tackle Wilbur Young from what was then called

William Penn College.

Young enjoyed a seven-year career with the Chiefs before playing

for the San Diego Chargers for five more years. He finished off his

professional career in the USFL with the Arizona Wranglers for two

more seasons.

The two-time All-NAIA selection was a 2002 NAIA Hall of Fame

inductee.

The Oakland Raiders had a nice draft in 1973. Along with selecting

punter Ray Guy from Southern Mississippi in the first round, John

Madden picked defensive back Bruce Polen from William Penn with the

23rd pick in the 14th round.

While Guy sustained a 13-year career with six straight Pro Bowl

appearances and three Super Bowl victories, Polen’s career did not

last quite so long.

Pulen, who was a second-team All-NAIA selection once and a

first-team selection twice, tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs but

his playing days were over before 1982 when he took over as the head

coach for Pittsburg State, where he led the Gorillas to a two year

record of 13-6. Under Polen’s guidance, Pitt State was co-champion of

the Central States Intercollegiate Conference in 1982 with a 6-1

record.

Jim Portese was a first-team All-NAIA center from William Penn in

1980 and ’81 and was a second-team selection in ’82. After

graduation, Portese played in the USFL for the Arizona

Wranglers/Outlaws from 1984 through 1986.