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Keys' Life Has A Purpose

By Joey Johnston, The Tampa Tribune, February 2, 2008

Tyrone Keys, who has made helping others his lifelong mission, returned last Saturday to his alma mater, Mississippi State University. Keys was honored for his work with All Sports Community Service, his Tampa-based non-profit organization that was featured in "Story of Character" television spots to commemorate the SEC's 75th anniversary.

The theme was giving back.

So Keys made certain his high school football coach, Odell Jenkins, received proper recognition during the ceremony before the Ole Miss-MSU men's basketball game.

"Jenkins believed in me and gave me a vision that I could do something meaningful with my life, even more than just playing football at the highest level," said Keys, a former NFL player who received a Super Bowl XX ring with the Chicago Bears.

"Not everybody can play in the NFL or reach the Super Bowl. But everybody can do things to help other people. That's what I learned."

Keys, 48, began his organization in 1993. It helps aspiring athletes with academics and exposure to colleges. In turn, the athletes give their time for community service.

Jenkins, who coached Keys at Callaway High in Jackson, Miss., couldn't be more proud.

"I tell people, if I'm considered an artist, Tyrone is my masterpiece," Jenkins said. "I always felt part of a coach's responsibility was to build character in his young men. Tyrone is what it's all about.

"He was one heck of a player and a tremendous physical specimen, even back in high school. But that was just part of the puzzle. He recognized that. What he's doing has helped the world be a better place."

When Keys was introduced and recognized by MSU athletic director Larry Templeton, his work in Tampa was spotlighted. Also shown on the big screen was the highlight from a 1980 game against Alabama, when Keys forced a late-game fumble that clinched MSU's 6-3 upset victory.

The crowd roared, as if Keys' play had just happened.

But Keys' work with All Sports resonates even more.

Jenkins, a science teacher who has retired from football coaching after undergoing two knee replacements, has started his own after-school community service program, modeling it after Keys' organization in Tampa.

Last year, Jenkins took his students to New York where Adedayo Banwo, an attorney and former All Sports member, took off work to guide the group around the city.

"Sometimes, it all comes full circle," Jenkins said.

Keys remembers being a teenage football player at Callaway. He wasn't sure about his future, but he sensed the confidence of Jenkins, who constantly talked about opportunity. Sometimes, the coach drove Keys and his friends around to colleges on the weekend, during his only off-day.

Jenkins told his players real-world tales about inspirational figures, people who overcame odds to build productive lives.

"Does he still tell the stories?" Keys asked one of Jenkins' students last week.

He does.

But now, the student said, many of the stories are about Tyrone Keys.