VUU is Prepared with Hunter in the Arsenal

Virginia Union's All-American Free-Safety, Ralph Hunter, lives by the motto "Preparing will always give you a competitive jump."

Ralph Hunter

The 2001 CIAA Football Champions are counting on that edge in their debut in the 5th Annual Pioneer Bowl, December 22, 2001 in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

Hunter has perfected the "competitive jump", with an astonishing 23 career total blocked punts, field goals, and PATs, including 9 this season.

As a three-year starter for the Panthers, Hunter learned the technique of anticipating, "In high school you usually rely on your athletic ability, but on the college level you pay more attention to detail and by reading your opponents' keys you can anticipate their next strategy," says the former Atlantic City H.S. (New Jersey) Wide Receiver stand-out.

By studying and preparing, "Pete" has been one blink ahead of his foes with 19 career interceptions and led the conference in 2001 with 10.

His competitive spirit developed out of the Hunter household. As the only boy among two sisters, he was determined that neither one of them were going to bring home better grades then he, "The competitiveness in my house among my sisters always inspired me, I had to have the best grades in order to have bragging rights."

Hunter has maintained the bragging rights in the classroom. The senior Criminal Justice major is on schedule to graduate May 2002. "I made a good decision to come to VUU, and I have taken advantage of the opportunity by bonding with people who have similar interests, academically, socially, and athletically," says the 3.4 GPA honor student.

This Panther team captain is involved on campus with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, and when at home, substitute teaches for grades K-8 and in the After School program. For his efforts he was named to the CIAA All Community Works team.

-more- As a competitor on the field, Hunter has accumulated several honors as a three year All CIAA Defensive Back, 2001 Pre-Season All-American, 2001 American Football Coaches Association All-American Free Safety, and in this week's Mel Kipper Jr's Mirror Image Management poll ranked as the 8th Safety.

But the most important accomplishment for Hunter has been the victory of November 10, 2001 over Winston-Salem State University for the CIAA Football Championship.

"We may not have had the best talent, but we were the best prepared and we owe a great deal of that to Coach Bailey and his staff, they are extremely dedicated to us. It's nothing to see the assistant coaches putting in late hours, preparing information for us. The commitment reflects on the team," says the ALL-CIAA Defensive Back.

"I'm proud to be able to represent the conference, its camaraderie in the league, all the coaches from one time or another have given me pointers, or expressed 'Good job" after the game. I hope to be able to do the same for other players."

Hoping to return and give back to the CIAA as a professional player, Hunter is ready to do whatever it takes to advance to the next level, whether it is training harder or watching more film, he is ready for the opportunity.

All 33 National Football League teams have scouted Hunter this season, and will get an another opportunity to see his talents in Bowl competition. In addition to the Pioneer Bowl, he was selected as a Defensive Back to the Division II Whataburger Cactus Bowl Jan. 11 and the Hula Bowl Maui All-Star Football Classic Honolulu Feb.2. At 6'3"-205 at the Safety position, he has one of the fastest times in the nation, at 40 yards 4.32 and has the highest test scores on the NFL's Wunderlick test.

"I think Pete will be successful law student, family man, and a good citizen. As far as a professional career, he is certainly the best Defensive Back coming out of college, this year out of all divisions. However, it is the other three that will matter the most in the long run, and that is what I am most proud of," says Bailey, the winningest coach in the conference, and second active Division II coach with the most victories. "When recruiting Pete, it was his character and discipline towards academics that sold me, and he has never disappointed me."

-more- Bailey continues, "Our system excels because we have more than one individual such as Pete, kids can be successful in this type of system. Leadership, determination, and our commitment are what have led us to achieve our goal this year. We have young men who have chosen the college route, realizing that education is the only key to success, and by them taking it seriously, it places us on the same page."

The feelings of admiration are mutual between Coach Bailey and Hunter. When Hunter became aware that a win would give his most admired leader, his 200th Collegiate Football win, it became a Panther motivational tool. "We definitely will work harder for him, he is so wise, it doesn't surprise me that he is the winningest CIAA football coach, He knows each player personally and now that we know he can reach this milestone, it will definitely have us working even harder for the win."

Looking towards the CIAA versus SIAC showdown, the Panthers will meet head on with the 2000 Black College National Champions and the defending Pioneer Bowl champions, Tuskegee University. The SIAC representative has the 4th ranked cornerback in the country, Roosevelt Williams.

Hunter salutes the Tigers as worthy opponents, "Tuskegee is an excellent opponent, they are nationally ranked, and well coached, however, we are prepared to bring the Pioneer Bowl trophy back to the CIAA."