Van Hamm

Hamm's career derailed by neck injury

Date published: 10/30/2005

By KURT NICOLL

Van Hamm was a trailblazer for the James Monroe football team, albeit a reluctant one.

The sophomore was preparing for the 1972 junior varsity season when he learned coaches Paul Neal and Bob Burch planned to switch him from running back to quarterback.

The idea did not sit well with Hamm, who considered himself primarily a defensive back and likened the quarterback job to being a "prima donna."

It worked out, though. Hamm was promoted from Burch's junior varsity to the varsity early in the season, and eventually became the starter.

The significance of Hamm's promotion did not register at the time. After a couple of games, friend and teammate Beverly Stewart informed Hamm that he was the first black player to start at quarterback for JM.

Although his athletic career was cut short due to a neck injury suffered at Shepherd College (now Shepherd University), Hamm expressed few regrets.

"I really enjoyed competing at JM and the short time I had at Shepherd," the 48-year-old building management specialist for the U.S. Department of Defense said. "If I had put a little more effort [into] playing quarterback, I may have done a little better and gone further."

Hamm has a couple of vivid memories from his high school football career--making a tackle against Woodbridge star running back Russell Davis and JM's near upset of unbeaten Spotsylvania during his senior year.

The Jackets were looking to increase their lead in the first half and had the ball inside the Knights' 20 when he spotted the late Charles "Honeycomb" Williams open in the end zone. The ball never reached its destination, as the pass was knocked down inadvertently by an official.

JM failed to score on the drive and the Knights rallied in the second half for a 38-27 victory.

With Hamm at the helm, JM posted an 8-4 record in 1974 with the senior passing for seven TDs and running for six more.

"Van was an exceptional kid and a team player," Neal said. "At the time, we didn't have a quarterback who could throw and run the ball. He took over the quarterback role and did a super job of doing it."

Some area fans believed Hamm had greater potential in baseball. He starred for the Jackets as a center fielder and catcher. He also played for the basketball team.

Robert Belman played football with Hamm for one season at JM.

"Van was a tough and aggressive player, and although he could emotional, he was a good leader, Belman said. "Off the field, he was one of the nicest guys I knew."

Younger brother Rick Hamm recalled the frequent skirmishes the two had playing rec ball.

"Van was the better athlete and I always played on the opposing team," the Spotsylvania County Parks & Recreation program assistant said. "I'd get angry and there would be shouting and fighting. I never won."

Date published: 10/30/2005