Bishop was not a troubled kid. He was active in school but his mother felt he needed a male mentor in his life. This is what led them to Big Brothers Big Sisters. He was on the waiting list, but he soon received his Big Brother, TJ.
Recently, Bishop opened up about his story and how Big Brothers Big Sisters needs more men to volunteer as mentors and how the best role models for children are the men in their everyday lives, not professional athletes.
What type of activities would you do with your mentor?
“I would say going to the Indianapolis Indians baseball games, which was the coolest thing we did. I had never been to a stadium of any kind. He would talk to me, we opened up and became good friends. We would talk personally, about being a man, and setting goals in life. Talking was sometimes better than anything…I don’t know why. TJ was the first one to put into my head the thought of college.”
Was there any advice that your Big Brother told you that has stuck with you?
“I would say him talking to me about college was the major impact and sticks out the most because that didn’t even cross my mind- and I was the first to attend college in my family. He helped in giving me confidence, and he always pushed me, and everyone played a part in that even my mom and other family members.”
Did you keep in contact with you mentor?
“Yes until he passed, but I didn’t talk to him as much when I got into my 30’s.”
How did you feel when you got drafted to the Houston Oilers?
“No way around it I was excited, but wished I had a higher draft number. When I got to the team, I was very competitive and wanted to work harder than ever. Nobody thought I was going to make the team, but when I did I was backup… and then I was a starter.”
Many NFL players are seen as role models. Did you see yourself as a role model?
“As a kid I would tell myself, and even today, your role model is supposed to be your parents. I don’t think a child’s dominant role model should be a professional athlete. I know that everyone in America thinks they should, but soon they find out we all make mistakes- and we’re all going to fall down and get back up. That’s why you need a mentor. It can be your parents or brother and sisters. I used to follow the Chicago Bears a lot and I would watch Walter Payton play. I never got an autograph, or collected cards, I just enjoyed watching him play.”
Did you mentor any of the Titans players?
“I was Captain of the team my whole career. I mentored all the guys and taught them about being a professional and knowing how to study your opponent. I was a smart player and all they had to know was what you are supposed to do, and not knowing what you are supposed to do is unacceptable. Coaches didn’t have to do much yelling, I did the yelling for them.”
What was the best part about being a Tennessee Titan?
“Being a part of the whole experience of moving here to Tennessee… a new stadium, new uniforms, it was a whole new experience. It was like ‘Wow’ and then we go to the Super Bowl our first year in a new stadium, and we’re like ‘Oh no, people are going to think it’s easy to get to the Super Bowl.’ It took the players by storm because no one thought that we would go to the Super Bowl.”
You are now a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. What are your personal goals to accomplish as a board member?
“Bring awareness, not only to Tennessee, but to the world, that we need more mentors is the ultimate goal. There are so many kids that are off on the wrong track and it’s bad. I believe in mentoring, and I experienced it first hand. I know that it can work and kids need to be aware that there are other options. I think growing up in an underprivileged area, kids don’t realize there are other options and there is no one around to tell them otherwise and show them a brighter future. My Big Brother was talking to me about going to college and I thought that wasn’t an option. Maybe my mother would have mentioned it me, but I don’t recall that conversation with her. I think Big Brothers Big Sisters is the best program out there… and it’s changing the world.”
What kind of advice would you give to the kids in our community?
“I would say determine your own future- you can be anything you want to be. Your mind can take you further in life than you can imagine, because no one can take it away from you.
"Using me as an example playing professional sports, at the end of the day professional sports can be taken away, but no one can take the education I have.”
