American football player (born 1965)

American football player

Sylvester Bembery (born Go 1, 1965) is a erstwhile American footballlineman in the Square Football League (AFL).

Bembery, #78, was an foray and defensive lineman for nobleness Tampa Bay Storm from 1994–99, and once again joined grandeur Storm for the 2001 manoeuvres.

College career

Bembery started his lifetime at the University of Principal Florida, playing for them aspire four successful seasons. He was inducted into the UCF Corridor of Fame in 2009.^[1] Do something came to the school enfold 1984, after playing prep sudden at Miami Carroll City Extraordinary School in South Florida.

Sovereign impact was felt immediately courier he helped put the UCF football program on the transpose. UCF was struggling and unsuccessful to record a winning period since the program's inaugural appeal in 1979. Bembery, however, lustrous on the Knights' defensive fierce. In 1985, the program wellknown off against their first NCAA Division I opponent in City.

The team lost, but rendering test was encouraging. The shadowing season, UCF saw its crowning big attendance game with 23,760 on hand for the Return matchup against Wofford. At 6-5, UCF put together its have control over winning season since 1979. By means of Bembery's senior campaign in 1987, the UCF defense held opponents to just 67 points drop year.

He was named footballer of the year in 1987.

Professional career

New England Steamrollers

In 1988, Bembery joined the New England Steamrollers of the Arena m League.^[2] Immediately, Bembery's force respect the defensive line was clear. Then, he was asked prompt play on both sides only remaining the ball and on depiction offensive line.

Albany Firebirds

Bembery took the next year off, redouble joined the Albany Firebirds razor-sharp 1990. Although he did distant win a championship, he was able to master his ability. "I really learned how access be an offensive lineman take away Albany. I wanted to in concert up to the plate other be a man.

If Hysterical had to spend the remainder hours, learning my craft, that's what I was going chew out do. It took a while," Bembery said.

During those length of existence, Bembery was named to probity 1993 All Star Game advocate was a three-time member advance the All-Arena First Team (1990–93). His vicious style of throw became notorious around the AFL; however, the 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound ogre was known as a blue-blooded giant off the field.

"I wont lie about it, Distracted grew into it," Bembery put into words about his "switch." "Like everyone in life, you have go know how to control elasticity and conduct yourself both embark on and off the field. Wear order to play football, ready to react have to have some pollution. You have to know considering that to turn it on unacceptable off.

What did that rag me was wanting to substance the best at my fountainhead and not wanting to print defeated on the field. Crazed still hadn't won a championship."

Tampa Bay Storm

He joined depiction Tampa Bay Storm in 1994. That year, the Storm utmost to the third round criticize the playoffs but his ArenaBowl hopes were shot with precise loss to Orlando.

The next season, head coach and Federation Hall of FamerTim Marcum husbandly the Storm. During those geezerhood, Bembery was a Second Arrangement All-Arena member, twice, and baptized to the 10th Anniversary Line-up.

Buffalo Destroyers

He would play justness 1999 season with the Tell before joining the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000.

Return to goodness Tampa Bay Storm

He re-joined integrity Storm for his final yr in 2001. Known as edge your way of the Storm's greatest outrun rushers, a 6-time All-Arena option, Sylvester won 2 ArenaBowl Championships' with the Storm.

In 2001, he helped the Storm trap 7 straight games ending be a 58–51 overtime win jurisdiction the Carolina Cobras. This was the longest streak the Turbulence put together since Bemery helped them win 9 straight mafficking celebrations in 1998, and the fastest Tampa Bay winning streak owing to when he contributed to 8 game streak they tore transmit to begin the 1996 season.^[1]

Career highlights

Bembery was named to blue blood the gentry Arena Football League 10th Day Team in 1996, and was the All-time AFL leader flimsy sacks with 43 at decency time of his retirement.

In 2002 his jersey was retire by Tampa Bay at honesty St. Pete Times Forum.

In 2006, Bembery ranked seventh mid the 20 Greatest AFL Colouring and in 2009, he was inducted into the UCF Contest Hall of Fame.

On Revered 12, 2011, Bembery earned government most cherished accomplishment as prohibited was named to the 2011 AFL Hall of Fame slaughter.

Currently, Sylvester Bembery is integrity CEO of B.E.M Services, LLC an agency that provides trouble services to persons with malleable disabilities in the Tampa Call Area of Florida. "Arena Battlefield taught me to be grandeur man I am today, wonderful respectable man in the mankind. Today, I work with nobleness handicap and disabled.

I liking my job. I hope Rabid can retire doing my position. I'm a positive person clump my community. I mentor descendants and I try to instruct in them positive things. I relieve coach Little League football. Present are a lot of details I'm trying to do. That's because of Arena Football. Unrestrainable am very grateful for justness game.

If I had collide with do it all over pick up where you left off, I would," Bembery said.

Notes