The Mannings are the Men

When I was in the 7th grade in Jackson Mississippi, the greatest football player that I knew was Archie Manning, not be cause he was the establishment's football player but because he was a nice guy who loved the sport and took superficial things like race and politics out of it. Archie was the real deal.
Sports writers tried to get him to expose on whether Ole Miss should or should not play against teams with black players. Archie did not see football players as black or white just players opponents and team mates . He saw the game as a game and players as players.
Archie was never pretentious never verbose . I remember being at music camp ( not football camp) at Ole Miss and Archie came by to visit friends of his who worked at the camp. We all got to meet him he was kind and cordial to us all black or white male or female. Archie was kind and made us all proud that he played for Mississippi, not just the University but the state for us all not just half of the state. A few years later when I was a student at Ole Miss, the school had changed since Archie played there many of the players were black and many of the students thought like Archie with a since of fairness and a concern for the future of Mississippi and the nation.
I often judge people by there children and Archie is no exception, his sons Peyton and Eli are fine examples of what young athletes should be positive in their public image always giving back to the community of humankind. When Katrina hit the Manning boys were the first on the scene along with Archie to do whatever they could to help their city.
I think Archie was an all-American and the name not only applied to his football playing ability but to his overall manner. I am proud to be from the same state as Archie and will never forget what he did for the state and the nation.