Tee Martin

NFL player


ImageWidth=
DateOfBirth=Birth date and age|1978|7|25|mf=y
Birthplace= Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
DateOfDeath=
Position=Quarterback
number=17, 12
College=Tennessee
DraftedYear=2000
DraftedRound=5/ Pick 163
Awards=
years=2001
2002
2003
2004-2005
teams=Pittsburgh Steelers
Rhein Fire
Oakland Raiders
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=MARTITEE01
PFR=MartTe00
NFL=MAR735446

Tamaurice Nigel "Tee" Martin (born July 25, 1978 in Mobile, Alabama) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League. Martin coached at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He helped lead the Maroon Tigers to the number 1 offense in their division. Currently, Martin is the Quarterback coach at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, GA. His nickname is pronounced "T-EE" not "T-AY" as some gather from his given name Tamaurice. Tamaurice married former singer Toya Rodriguez, who has had American and international success with "I Do!" and "No Matta What". On November 3, 2005 their son Kaden Martin was born. They reside in Atlanta, GA.

College career

While a junior at the University of Tennessee in 1998, Martin led the 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team to a 13-0 record and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida State University, as the school won its first NCAA Division I-A national football championship since 1951. Before his final two seasons, Martin was a backup to Peyton Manning. He was also teammates with running back Jamal Lewis in his early years at Tennessee and Peerless Price each who would go on to play in the NFL.

Also, in the 1998 season, Martin broke the NCAA record for consecutive completions. Against South Carolina Martin completed his first 23 passes. Combined with a completion the previous week against Alabama, Martin's string of 24 completions set the new record.

Martin's role on the national championship team caused a minor controversy on the University of Tennessee campus; some Knoxville, Tennessee African-American leaders said that since Peyton Manning, who did not win a championship, had had a street named after him after leaving the university, not considering the same for Martin would be racism. In response, South Stadium Drive was renamed Tee Martin Drive.

In 1999, Martin led the Vols to their third consecutive BCS bowl. During Martin's 2 years as a starter at Tennessee, the Vols were undefeated against 4 of his main conference rivals. (2-0 vs Alabama, 2-0 vs Auburn, 2-0 vs Georgia, 2-0 vs Kentucky, and Beat Florida)

Professional career

Tee Martin was drafted in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2004 Martin retired as an Oakland Raider after four NFL seasons. Martin also spent one season in the NFL Europe league. During the 2002 season, he led the Rhein Fire to a league best 7-3 record. The Fire lost in the World Bowl, falling 20-26 to the Berlin Thunder.

Martin currently owns Playmakers Sports, a company specializing in sports event planning, quarterback training, and skills development and is also a college football expert on Comcast Sports Southeast program "Talkin' Football". Martin also is one of the most well renown quarterback coaches in the country. He is a quarterback coach for the Nike Elite 11 Quarterback Camps, Nike Football Training Camps, and has trained many Division 1 and professional quarterbacks. Martin can be reached via website www.Playmakers-Sports.com

Video Games

* Tee Martin appears as QB #17 in NCAA Football series as a member of the 1998 Tennessee Volunteers historic team.
* Tee Martin appeared in a short season preview for "NCAA Football 99" where a virtual rendering of himself throws a long pass for a touchdown.

Sources

* 1999 Tennessee Volunteers Football Media Guide
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187594 NFL.com Player page]