Golf Outing With Terance Mathis

by John Kim

Let’s face it, 81 is tough to beat. You have to be focused, lucky at times, and persevere throughout the entire match. Oh, I’m not talking golf, though 81 is a very good score. No, I’m talking football. I’m talking about beating the best player in Atlanta sports history to ever wear #81. I’m speaking of a man that holds practically every team receiving record, season or career. I’m talking about a player who has made the Pro Bowl and helped lead his often hapless team to the Super Bowl. This is a guy who still ranks in the top twenty in NFL history for career receptions. And one more bit of trivia, his longest reception of his illustrious career? You guessed it, 81 yards. Yeah, very tough to beat.

Terance Mathis once dove to his knees to grab a clutch 16 yard touchdown pass to tie an NFL football game. No big deal right? Well, it was his second touchdown catch of the day. Still not impressed? Alright, it came on the road against a team that had lost only one game all year. Want more? Ok, it happened with less than one minute left in the NFC Championship Game and it helped send the Atlanta Falcons (no I’m not kidding) to the Super Bowl. Let me repeat that: It sent the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl !!!
So what can a guy who is such an integral part of this city’s collective sports history do for a follow-up? More than you could ever know.

An argument could be made that Terance, for all his spectacular achievements, is not the most accomplished #81 to grace an Atlanta Falcons uniform. Well, if it’s not Terance, than it’s our other playing partner, Michael Haynes. Terance and Michael are close friends who often golf or fish golf together. Today, I’m fortunate enough to join them for a round out at Windermere Golf Club. The weather is perfect, the course is in outstanding shape, and my golf game…well, the weather was really nice. And to make matters interesting, before we head to the first tee, I announce that I will beat Terance and Mike’s best ball - drawing smirks and scorn from my all-star playing partners.

Terance takes only a few practice putts before we tee off. His swing is short and compact, fluid but not overly powerful. Still, he’s pretty accurate and certainly can hold his own in any group. His first drive is right down the middle, almost 250 yards. Warm up on the range? No thanks, not needed here. His approach shot lands next to the hole but rolls thirty feet past where he endures a three putt bogey to start. He bogeys the next hole as well, but he hasn’t really hit a poor shot yet. I’ve started bogey, double and am quickly two down to the pair. On hole #3, we all struggle off the tee. Michael somehow salvages a par, I hack my way to a bogey (and am now three down) and Terance goes from one hazard to another. I ask him his score and he tells me. “Nine”. No picking up, no throwing clubs, no pouting, no fudging about the number of shots. Just an honest, straight forward reply to the question. How many of you write “9s” on your card?

In 1996, Terance started The Terance Loves Children Foundation. The organization played a pivotal role in the community adopting Christmas families, distributing much needed Easter baskets, and supporting countless other charities in their effort to assist those in need. The group has now evolved into The Terance Mathis Foundation and has partnered with Outreach, Inc. to assist children who are affected in some way by HIV/AIDS and the many problems associated with the disease. I asked Terance why he started the Foundation, if there was any one defining event that compelled him to get involved in such a serious undertaking. “No,” he responded, “no one thing. I just knew that I needed to give back and be a big part of the community.” In other words, no revelation needed, it was just the right thing to do.
One of the ways that Terance raises money for his foundation is his celebrity golf tournament. Last year, the tournament was held here in Atlanta and was very successful. This year, he has opted to raise the ante so to speak and hold the tournament in The Bahamas. An all-star celebrity cast is expected as the setting and people involved could not be more ideal. You can learn more about participating in this tournament or donating to this very worthy cause at www.TeranceMathis.com. Terance has said his goal this year was to raise $100,000 for the foundation.

If Terance’s goal of raising $100,000 seems ambitious, it’s because – well, it is. But long odds have never stopped him before. Once considered too small or too slow to be a major college football player, he received only one Division I scholarship offer – to New Mexico. He attended New Mexico University as a fifth-string quarterback and scored a 65 yard touchdown the first time he touched the ball. He was immediately converted to a starting wide receiver. He became New Mexico’s first consensus All-American in 1989. He became the NCAA Division I’s all-time yardage leader for a receiver with 4254 yards in his career. He started his NFL career with the New York Jets and in his rookie season, tied an NFL record with a 98 yard punt return for a score. In 1994, he was named to the Pro Bowl after he became only the eighth player in NFL history to catch at least 100 passes in a season (111). Long odds? Pul-leaze, shall we talk about that Minnesota game yet?

I start playing a little better golf but I’m having no luck making up ground on the two former Falcons. On hole #6, a tricky dogleg right par 4, I hit my approach to eight feet. Terance is next to hit and puts his to five feet. I’m telling you, the man can play. Of course, we both miss our putts, but his game is starting to come on and he’s not backing down from any challenge. I asked Terance what made him excel in football, despite what the "experts” said about him as he came out of Redan high school in Stone Mountain.
“Thinking ahead, studying the game, being smarter, working harder,” he answered. A mantra I’m sure translates into all areas of his life.
“Do you think that will be your attitude as you grow as a golfer?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” he said confidently.
I’m telling you, it won’t be long before Terance is throwing around a single digit handicap.

Terance is still among the top twenty receivers of ALL-TIME in receptions but undoubtedly, he will be most remembered for his part in that incredible NFC Championship Game. For those not familiar, here is a quick recap. In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings were the darlings of the NFL. They had scored an NFL record 556 points during the regular season. They had lost only one game all year and featured a rookie sensation that was proving to be unstoppable: Randy Moss. Minnesota was a nightmare for opposing teams to play in, the loud (and amplified) crowd noise made audibles and adjustments virtually impossible. The Falcons were 11 point underdogs and basically had no chance. But someone forgot to tell Terance and his teammates.

In one of the most memorable NFL games of all time, Terance caught a touchdown pass at the close of the first half to keep the game competitive and another touchdown pass at the end of the game to tie things up. In overtime, Morten Anderson made a 37 yard field goal to send the Falcons and the city of Atlanta to the Super Bowl for the first time. Terance considers that game and that season one of the highlights of his illustrious career. But his work now is just as important and in some ways, so much more so.

Somehow, I managed to fight back and even get the lead on the duo (who were also locked in a battle of their own) somewhere on the back nine. But as Michael and I had our own “Hackfest 2004” on hole #14, (collective 5 over between us), Terance calmly made par to give them a 1 up lead. It was a lead they would never lose.

Terance doesn’t try to be spectacular on the golf course. He knows his limits, but he’s eager to expand his game at the same time. The traits that have pushed him to succeed in football, business, and life will guarantee his success on the course as well. Moreover, his professionalism and graciousness that served him so well in the NFL is genuine and enduring. Those looking for a cause or a person to support in their efforts really need look no further than this fellow golfer and good friend to the city.

One final note: I’m one down going into the always fun hole #18 at Windermere. All three of us hit good drives, and then I ceremoniously end the match by plunking my second shot into the water. Michael adds insult to injury by hitting his second shot right at the flag, the ball coming to a rest about ten feet behind the hole. Terance plays the hole a bit more conventional and makes par easily. Michael’s eagle attempt barely slides by the cup and he taps in for birdie. The round of golf was complete and I had been beaten soundly by the pair of #81s. Hey, I told you 81 was tough to beat, much less having to beat two of them! (Michael ends up being the one to beat 81, he shot 80) We shake hands and agree to have a rematch in the near future.

The golf at times was spectacular (a few tap in birdies in the group) and at times, wretched. Regardless, it was relaxed, fun, and entertaining. Terance has hopes his football career is not over, but I am confident he will find fulfillment and success in anything he takes on next. And yes, that includes his golf. I’m already looking forward to our next round.

Again, I urge you to consider supporting this very worthwhile cause and gracious individual. Visit http://www.TeranceMathis.com for any other details and inquiries on how you can help.