San Francisco 49ers Chaplain Earl Smith returned recently to San Quentin with 44 members of the football organization.
“There is a thin line between players and inmates. You have a number and they have a number. What can we do to make a difference for both sides?” said Smith about why he brings the players into the prison.
Smith is a former San Quentin Protestant chaplain.
He has brought 49ers into the prison for over 15 years and 49er legend Keena Turner has accompanied him on about seven occasions.
The pastor started the IMPACT program inside San Quentin and is teaching those same principles to the professional football players.
IMPACT stands for Incarcerated Men Putting Away Childish Things. It teaches that the male role belief system taught in the ghetto is wrong and IMPACT replaces the false beliefs with a positive way of thinking.
The June 3 tour started with the Niners being greeted by inmates Tommy Winfrey, John Windham, Clay Thompson, Adnan Khan, Leroy Lucas, Azraal “Big AZ” Ford, Sam Johnson, Miguel Quezada, Joey Mason, John Vaden, G. Lumumba Edwards, Curtis “Wall Street” Carroll and Upu Ama.
Winfrey told the visitors about the realities of prison life and then everyone broke into separate groups for discussions.
Rookie quarterback Dylan Thompson, a former South Carolina Gamecock, said, “It’s cool that inmates still see value in people. Society sees you as outcasts. You could have chosen to say, ‘Screw it,’ but you chose to make the best of it.”
Turner said, “It’s impactful that you guys share your experiences honestly with our guys. It gives us a chance to have a different perspective. Right after the tours, we have an open discussion about the visit to understand how life really is the choices that come down to a moment and their consequences.”
For the rookies, coming in was a mandatory part of trying out for the Niners. However, several active players and coaches volunteered to join the tour.
Niner guard and center Joe Looney heard about how impactful the experience is from his brother James Looney, who plays football for the University of California, Berkeley. The Cal Bear came in a few weeks before as part of the SQUIRES program, which offers a similar tour.
“A lot of guys here are real cool and they’re getting their lives together and making a change at the prison,” Joe’s brother told him. Joe said he agrees now.
Torrey Smith, who was a Raven for four years, is now a Niner. He came in for the experience and to “put some smiles on people’s faces and be a light.”
As he toured the Prison Industry Authority section of the prison where mattresses are made, he made a few fans’ that day.
“Torrey Smith! You stopped my Steelers from winning. You are awesome,” said an inmate.
Current Niner Tony Jerod-Edbie said he came in because, “This is real close to home. I have a lot of people in the system and I wanted to see what it’s like inside.”
Thomas McGaughey, a former Eagle and Bengal, is now coaching for the 49ers.
He came in “just for the experience and to see the famous San Quentin. It’s not often you get to visit a historic landmark.”
After leaving PIA, the Niners walked the yard, greeting fans, then toured the reception center and adseg upper yard.
Public Information Officer Lt. Sam Robinson led the tour into the South dining hall where he pointed out secrets the art murals there hold, like a hidden demon, and howthe pictures seem to change direction when looked at from different perspectives.
“I learned a lot of history and those drawings stuck with me,” said Michael Davis, a rookie from South Carolina.
By the end of the day, the Niners reported learning a lot.
Issac Blakeney (Duke University) said, “People try guys with high profile status at clubs. Seeing the other side of bad consequence is a reminder to swallow my pride and keep it moving. It’s not worth it.”
“My dad has been to prison. Seeing how small the cells are puts things in perspective. I don’t see how ya’ll do it,” said rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt from Samford University.
Rookie Bradley Pinion, an NFL fifth-round draft pick from Clemson University, said, “I learn from ya’ll as much as ya’ll learn from me.”
“I don’t place judgment on people because they made a mistake,” said Torrey Smith.
“I don’t want to come here (to prison). Seeing this place cemented that for me,” said Trent Brown, a rookie form the University of Florida.
The players had something to teach inmates too.
DeAndre Campbell, an Oakland native and rookie from the University of Washington, credits staying out of trouble to “staying busy and understanding that nothing good could come from what some of my classmates were doing. I’ve seen some of them die.”
“The league is a business. Everybody is competing for the same job and if you get it, somebody gets cut,” said Dres Anderson, a rookie from the Utah Utes. The wide receiver has a major in mass communication and plans to be a sportscaster after his last football reception.
For Tartt, listening kept him out of trouble. “My dad told me that (selling drugs) wasn’t the way to go,” said Tartt.
Jim Tomsula, the new Niners’ head coach, couldn’t make it.
“He’s mad he couldn’t come. He got stuck in meetings with some big wigs. He wanted to be here,” said assistant coach Ryan Cordell.
Other members of the Niners who visited included:
Dr. Harry Edwards (49er staffer), Pat Miller (Auburn), Marcus Rush (Michigan State), Trent Brown (Florida), T.C. McCartney (coach), Blake Bell (Oklahoma), Ian Silberman (Boston College and NFL 6th draft round pick), DeAndre Campbell (University of Washington), DeAndrew White (University of Alabama), James Hall (director of player engagement), Buster Anderson (South Carolina), DeAndre Smelter (Georgia Tech), Jermaine Whitehead (Auburn), and Eric Wolford (coach).