Edgerrin James believes Immokalee's best days lie ahea

IMMOKALEE — Even though the Immokalee playoff run came to an end on Friday night, the school's most prominent alumnus said the team's players have no reason to hang their heads after a 42-21 loss to Palmetto.

"This team is something special," former Immokalee, University of Miami and NFL star Edgerrin James said. "Even two years ago I was hearing about how good this team was going to have a good two- or three-year run so imagine how they're going to be next year."

James, who graduated from Immokalee in 1996 before going on to star at the University of Miami and in the National Football League with the Indianapolis Colts, was taking in his fifth Indians game of the year. He said he enjoyed watching this year's team, especially because of how long they've been playing together.

"The thing I like about them is that they've been playing with each other for years," James said. "That's the thing that takes them to another level. They've been together for a while so they're like a family."

James, who officially retired from the NFL earlier this year, said he's been enjoying his time away from football. He said he's spending most of his time with his family and working with his charitable foundation.

"I love it," James said. "We just took 100 kids to the Miami-Boston College game last week. It's a trip that we do every year. It's a great chance for the kids to get to a game and have a good time."

Despite his connection to many of the current Indians players (James said he's related to "everybody" in Immokalee), he said he plans to just keep enjoying the team from afar as a fan, and has no plans of becoming a coach.

"I've been playing football since I was eight years old," James said. "I still coach my son's team in Naples, but I just want to take a break and enjoy the game as a fan."

As far as the Indians' future, James said another offseason of work will only make his hometown team that much better.

"On every level you look at the teams that play together for a long time have success," James said. "When you have a team that's put together at the last minute it takes a while for them to jell. These guys are only going to get better."


(naplesnews.com)