Adams, Burney L. - Football, 1985
Burney Adams started his career on the playing fields of Savannah as a high school student at St. Pius X of Savannah in the mid 1950s. It was during this time that Adams came under the coaching influence of Thompkins’ Joes Turner and Boys’ Club Coach Walter Simmons. By the time Adams left St. Pius in 1955, he was an All-Conference performer in football, as well as a starter in basketball and baseball. After a three year stint in the U.S. Army, he was offered a football tryout by Florida A&M University. Not only did Adams earn a full scholarship, but he went on to become a small college All-American for the Rattlers as a 6-foot, 210 pound offensive guard. Adams was also the co-captain of the team his senior year. Adams blocked for a backfield that included Bob Hayes, Bob Paramore, and Hewart Dixon – all of whom went on to play in the National Football League. However, his life took a different direction. Adams spent one year on the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger Cats before shifting his focus to teaching and coaching. In 1970, he became head coach of Weequanic High School in Newark, N.J. Adams has spent his life in service to the community, working to improve the future of young people in the Newark area.