By By Chris Vaccaro

Some players aren’t fortunate enough to walk across the stage at Madison Square Garden during the NFL Draft and put on the jersey of a professional team.

Of the four current NFL players to once wear Pride uniforms, one was drafted and the other three were happy to sign free agent contracts to make their dreams come true.

Pride football head coach Joe Gardi is proud of those players who have made it to the next level and is confident his program gave them a chance to improve and display their abilities.

“We gave them an opportunity to show their skills,” said Gardi, who keeps in contact with his NFL players. “They all had the ability to get bigger, stronger and faster, and we saw good changes in all of these kids.”

One of the most successful Pride athletes of all-time is Wayne Chrebet. The 5-foot-10′ receiver left the Pride with his name etched on many pages of the record books. He was a two-year letter winner and four-year starter for the Blue & Gold and also received a degree in criminal justice.

He’s smaller than the average receiver, yet he has the fire and passion to play and has the reputation as one of the best third down clutch receivers in the NFL.

Since his free-agent signing with the New York Jets in April 1995, Chrebet was an instant fan favorite and has been embraced even more since he still practices on University grounds at the Jets’ facilities.

Chrebet feels fortunate to have the opportunity to play where he developed into a complete player.

“It’s definitely special,” said Chrebet, who took a liking to the campus when watching a football game that his sister’s boyfriend from Fordham University played in. “To train and play at the place where I spent four years going to college is certainly an advantage as far as comfort.”

Similar to his days with the Pride, he has tallied some impressive career numbers and ranks high in many statistical categories.

As of Nov. 10, he is fifth in Jets franchise history with 577 receptions and 7,326 yards from scrimmage. He has 41 career touchdowns, nine of which came in 2002 (his career high), and he set an NFL record for the most receptions by a receiver (150) during his first two seasons.

Currently, Chrebet holds the record for most touchdowns in a game (five at Delaware in 1994), most touchdowns in a season (16 in 1994), most career touchdowns in a season (31 from 1991-94) and most yards in a single game (245, also against Delaware in 1994). His 1,200 yards in 1994 were the second most for a Pride receiver in a single season, and his 2,297 career receiving yards and 150 career receptions are fifth most in school history.

During the 1993 and 1994 seasons he eclipsed the 50-catch mark, recording 57 each year. He averaged 21.1 yards per catch during his senior year, up from 13.8 YPC in his junior season when he accumulated 788 receiving yards.

Chrebet said the Delaware record-breaking game was one of the most memorable games of his collegiate career.

“It was a game we weren’t supposed to win,” he said. “It was the last game of the year and one last time to go out there and play with the guys I had spent four years with, it was a special day.”

Gardi suggested that receivers often shine in his program because of the frequent amount of passes thrown every game.

“The nature of our offense is to make our kids catch a lot of footballs,” Gardi said.

He also mentioned how Chrebet’s speed improved drastically from a 4.7 40-yard dash as a freshman to a 4.49 when he graduated.

Chrebet is one of only two Pride football players to have their numbers retired. His No. 3 jersey will never be worn again, and he was honored during a ceremony at James M. Shuart Stadium.

While it doesn’t look like he’ll win a Super Bowl with the Jets and may retire in the next year or so, he will go down as one of the greatest receivers in both Pride and Jets history.

If the Jets do decide to leave the University’s confines, Chrebet will not be affected because of his retirement from the NFL, but he still wouldn’t get used to the team not playing in Hempstead.

“It’d be strange,” he said. “As far as I’ve ever known the Jets have trained here. I’ve been here 15 years; it feels like I’ve been here my whole life.”

The broken foot Lance Schulters suffered last season with the Tennessee Titans shouldn’t have hurt too much considering the Brooklyn native grew up playing tackle football in the street, taking hits into cars and hard gravel.

Before Schulters transferred from Nassau County Community College to play for the Pride, he attended Canarsie High School where he knocked out himself and an opposing running back on his first contact on the gridiron. During his senior season, he hit a quarterback so hard that he ruptured his spleen. Any college or pro team would be grateful to have a player with that intensity.

He was the eighth Pride player and the first in 27 years, to be drafted by an NFL team when he was taken during the 1998 draft in the fourth round (119th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers. During his rookie season he led the team with 17 special team tackles and the following year was selected to the Pro Bowl as a starting defensive back for his six interceptions and 54 total tackles.

After four seasons with the 49ers, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Titans on April 11, 2002. He started in all 16 games and two playoff contests, recording six tackles in the AFC Championship Game against Oakland. He posted a career high 94 tackles and had a team-high six interceptions as well.

In 2004, Schulters suffered a Lisfranc injury to his foot in a Week 3 contest against Jacksonville. He missed the rest of the season and was released by the Titans on June 16.

On July 28, 2005, Schulters started a new chapter in his life when he signed a one year deal with the Miami Dolphins. He has adjusted nicely to Nick Saban’s complex system and earned a starting role in the preseason. Saban said Schulters has good ball skills, and his knowledge and experience will help out tremendously in the Dolphins’ secondary.

Schulters was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his Week 3 performance against Carolina, intercepting a fourth quarter Jake Delhomme pass and returning it 37 yards with 1:51 remaining and setting up Olindo Mare’s game-winning field goal. He also had four tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in the contest.

Schulters was a two-year letter winner with the Pride in 1996-97. During his senior season he posted 145 total tackles and four interceptions, which resulted in his nomination for Division I-AA first team All-America by the Walter Camp Foundation and Sports Network and a second-team All-America pick by the Associated Press. He also finished second in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in I-AA.

In order to benefit inner city youths, he started the Lance Schulter’s Foundation and enjoys providing children with after school programs to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. He chose to attend the University to stay close to his community and credits his teachers and coaches for helping him identify his strengths, build character and pursue a meaningful path in life. Schulters still comes home when he is not busy punishing opposing offensive players.

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“When I go home in the off-season I go there to work out,” Schulters said. “I am familiar with some of the guys on the team, and of course, Coach Gardi.”

Although many friends and acquaintances still speak with Schulters, none have a football relationship like that of his former defensive coordinator. “I still go there and visit, especially with defensive coordinator Greg Gigantino,” Schulters said. “I hope he gets the head coaching job when coach Gardi retires.”

It’s only half way through the NFL season, but if Schulters continues with his defensive dominance (team leading two interceptions and 41 tackles), he’ll be sure to receive a long-term contract at season’s end.

There are many NFL journeymen who travel from team to team, making practice squads, playing in reserve roles and trying to earn a spot on the active roster. Charlie Adams has been on and off the Denver Broncos roster for the past three seasons and has secured an everyday spot since his playing days with the Pride.

“They told us what it took to get there (the NFL),” said Adams, who agrees that Gardi and the staff had a significant impact on him. “They showed us what it took to play at a higher level.”

Adams, the University’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,649) signed with the Broncos as a free agent on April 29, 2002. He was waived, released and signed numerous times and signed his current active roster deal on Dec. 8, 2004.

He saw his first NFL action in 2003 against Kansas City and after a year hiatus from football in 2004, Adams provided the Broncos’ special teams with a boost. He made his first career tackle against Miami, and during that year’s AFC Wild Card Game at Indianapolis, he made his first career reception. He also had the longest punt return (39 yards) for the Broncos that year.

This season he caught a career high three passes against San Diego, has 13 receptions for 134 yards and seven kick returns for 153 yards.

Adams ranks third on the Pride’s all-time reception list (159) and led the team in 2000 with 64 catches and 1,006 yards. In 2001 he led the team with 18 kick returns for 291 yards and had the highest return average (16.2) since 1978. He said his most memorable moment in a Pride uniform came when he broke Chrebet’s yardage mark.

There is no definite answer from the Broncos on whether or not they’ll sign him again after the season, but if he continues to make strides on special teams and do the little things that count, then Adams will be an NFL mainstay.

When asked what advice he would give to current Pride players, he said, “Don’t try to play as if you’re going to be in the NFL. Focus on what you have to do now, because that is what’s important.”

Renauld Williams is the latest Pride player to sign a contract with an NFL team. Williams inked a deal on Sept. 25 to play on the Jets practice squad and come back to Hempstead.

“I have to get used to being on this side of campus [the north side],” said Williams, who credits the Pride football program for working him hard during his collegiate career. “I’m excited about getting a chance to play in front of friends and family.”

He signed a free agent contract with the 49ers in April 2004, had a brief stop in Cleveland before getting injured with a strained hip flexor and was released. Before signing with the Jets, he played with the Dolphins, having been activated for seven games.

He lettered four years as a member of the Pride and was one of the top defenders in the Atlantic 10 (A-10). During his senior season, Williams had 97 total tackles and was a co-captain. He ended his Pride career with 233 career tackles and 20.5 sacks.

His efforts placed him on the All-American Associated Press second team, Sports Network second team, and Football Gazette third team. He was also on the A-10 first team in 2002-03.

When asked about what the University provided him as a student and an athlete he said, “It helped me in becoming a man, and I learned that I have to work to get what I want.”

Quick Facts:

Walter Kohanowich, a captain during the 1950-51 seasons, was the first to have his jersey No. 33 retired. He rushed for 915 yards and seven touchdowns during his senior season under legendary head coach Howard Myers.

Defensive back Terry Kosens was the first Pride player to be drafted by an NFL team when he was taken in the 10th round of the 1963 draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

There have been 45 Pride players to play for pro football teams. Of those players, 41 have been affiliated with NFL teams and some have played for the Canadian Football League as well.