Pellom McDaniels 06G 07PhD is a big man.
You need to be to play seven years in the National Football League, and McDaniels, a defensive end and linebacker who played with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1993-98 before closing out his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons in 1999, retains every ounce of his athleticism and gravitas 10 years after he retired.

McDaniels, who earned master's and doctoral degrees in American studies at Emory when his playing days were over, was the special guest at the March 26 panel discussion, Changing the Game: Race and Sports at Emory and Beyond. The panel was presented by Emory's Transforming Community Project and co-sponsored by the Caucus of Emory Black Alumni (CEBA) an interest group of the EAA.

An audiofile of the discussion was recently uploaded to the EAA's Alumni Academy album on iTunesU and is available for free download.

McDaniels, who played collegiately at Oregon State, now lives in Kansas City and is an assistant professor of history and American studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Emory, of course, still doesn't have a football team, but if we wanted one, McDaniels, who is still in great shape, is a sure starter.

Joining McDaniels on the all-pro Race and Sports panel were Department of Athletics staff Tim Downes, Clyde Partin Sr. Director of Athletics, and women's basketball coach Christy Thomaskutty; student-athletes Jason Campbell 11C (men's indoor and outdoor track) and Amelia McCall 11C (volleyball), and as a special guest Lloyd Winston, first coach of Emory's men's basketball team as well as the first African American coach at Emory in any sport. Emory Alumni Board (EAB) member Amri Johnson 96PH served as moderator.

Each tells an intriguing story. Winston, now a resident of St. Louis, was a trailblazer without ever intending to be, and his wry recollections of the past and thought-provoking questions about the future of Race and Sports were among the discussion's highlights.

Campbell and McCall offered the enlightening perspectives of student-athletes of color who have to negotiate the pressures of succeeding on the track (or court) and in the classroom every day. And Downes and Thomaskutty, student-athletes themselves in their collegiate days, discussed the complicated world of administration, coaching, and how to put together winning programs in a society that doesn't always offer the easiest playing field.

And holding it all together was McDaniels, who presented some of his academic research while still remaining accessible. For more than a half hour after the panel was complete he was still shaking hands with guests and laughing with students, staff and alumni alike. None of whom apparently were quarterbacks.

--Eric Rangus, director of communications, EAA

At the 1 hour, 7 minute mark of last night's Sugarland concert at the Gwinnett Arena, Kristian Bush 92C stepped up for his first lead vocal of the night. He took took over the Jon Bon Jovi part of the duet, Who Says You Can't Go Home?, a no. 1 single for Bon Jovi and Bush's partner Jennifer Nettles. It was a great highlight for the hard-working musician, and something the sold-out crowd, few of whom sat down at any point of the night, appreciated.

As the song played, a large video screen flashed a smorgasbord of Atlanta-area icons (The Varsity, the Georgia Dome, Eddie's Attic, the "Gwinnett is Great" water towers). There were no Emory images, alas. but the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech got flashes (and the UGA logo won the fan vote).

The Atlanta love shown was just one way the duo expessed their great appreciation for their home state and its fans. Sugarland's show included not only a string of their new and old hits, strategic picks from the current album, Love On The Inside, but some inspired covers from Georgia artists, like an exquisite (albeit too short) cover of R.E.M.'s classic, Nightswimming. And their final song was a trippy cover of the B-52's Love Shack with Bush delivering a camp-free male vocal and Nettles donning a frizzy, foot-high blond wig, somehow channeling both Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson at the same time.

While Nettles (justifiably) earns her share of attention, Sugarland, which won two Grammys earlier this year and has been cleaning up the acronym-heavy country music awards or some time (CMA, ACMs, etc.) is a true partnership. For instance, when Nettles belts the Grammy-winning ballad, Stay, Bush is right next to her, passionately playing guitar. There are two spotlights shining down.

It's hardly diva-in-training behavior.

The pair is boundlessly energetic, too. Bush, in particular, endlessly sprints from one end of the stage to the other like he's just downed a half-dozen espressos. Their connection to the crowd, and to each other, is remarkable. For Bush, it's a long way from playing house parties on Fraternity Row.

For those of you who enjoy such things, the set list from the show (the first of huge tour that will cross-cross the continent this summer) is below. Fans will recognize a lot of the band's hits. The set also included a smattering of new songs that gave Bush and Nettles a chance to stretch. For instance, their second encore, So Long, featured Nettles on piano (one of four instruments she played on the night) and rockin' bass solo by Bush, while Blood on Snow plunged some moody lyrical depths that were a great contrast to their upbeat material.

Settlin'
It Happens
Want To
Nightswimming
Joey
Already Gone
Genevieve
Blood on Snow
All I Want To Do
Everyday America
Stay
That's How I Like It
Down in Mississippi (And Up To No Good)
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Something More

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Baby Girl (Acoustic)

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So Long
Love Shack
Jet (signing autographs)