Letter to the editor: Kenneth Pressley's record is unbroken nearly 40 years later

I heard the desk jockey say, "I am immortal at Newberry College and I helped to fund many of the new buildings and academic programs you will now see on the campus." Then his loving wife laughed admiringly yet hilariously at his unwavering bravado and said to the three of us, see I told you so; he said it again.

Nevertheless, the accountant ignored her well-known infectious laughter and repeated what some will say is a lie. His natural voice is deep and has a well-thought-out quality or at the very least is methodical and intelligently low in baritone measure. He sounds like a tax accountant sarcastically saying one plus one equals two and this is what you owe your government. Yet, for some reason, you hate to agree.

But, as usual about all things money and football, he spoke even more seriously, nonchalantly and confidently making direct eye contact. He spoke matter-of-factly as if he suffered to recount the true cost of gridiron savagery.

Being a recent football convert and fan, his wife is just now beginning to understand that the NCAA NIL agreements proved that this is an important ongoing nationwide conversation.

So, I asked him about his invitation to the upcoming Hall of Fame Football Game. He said the intercollegiate game will be played in Newberry this coming Saturday and that the new inductees will be recognized then.

He, Kenneth Pressley, was inducted into the Hall of Fame many years ago, and I distinctively recall him wisely turning down a financial offer to return to the Denver Broncos during the NFL strike. And if that wasn't impressive enough, the most athletic thing I witnessed was this speedy, hard tackling and college defensive-back do (in a single game) was block three field goal attempts in a row and intercept two passes. This record remains unbroken nearly 40 years later.

DARRYL PRESSLEY

Sumter