Tony Washington
Encyclopedia
Tony Washington is a Gridiron football
offensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
.
Washington played one year of high school football as a junior while living in New Orleans. That year he was awarded with all-league honors as a member of the Alcee Fortier High School football team. His family moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina
struck New Orleans. After graduating from high school, Washington did not plan to attend College. He decided to go to college, however, after a car salesman suggested he continue his football career. He then enrolled at Trinity Valley Community College
in Athens, Texas
. While at Trinity Valley Washington served on the 2007 all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference first team. Washington then attended Abilene Christian University
, playing on the football team for two years. Both years he was voted the Lone Star Conference
Offensive Lineman of the Year.
As a teenager, Washington was convicted of "prohibited sexual conduct" under Texas law after a consensual relationship with a relative. As a result of the conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender
and his conviction was made public. (Arrest of juveniles are otherwise sealed under Texas law). This conviction greatly hindered his efforts to gain a contract to play professional football.
Though Washington excelled at the NFL Draft Combine workouts he was undrafted. He was very agile and quick for a lineman, running the 40-yard dash in 5.09 seconds. After leaving school, Washington played for the Dallas Vigilantes
of the Arena Football League for two years before signing with the Calgary Stampeders in 2011.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
offensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Washington played one year of high school football as a junior while living in New Orleans. That year he was awarded with all-league honors as a member of the Alcee Fortier High School football team. His family moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
struck New Orleans. After graduating from high school, Washington did not plan to attend College. He decided to go to college, however, after a car salesman suggested he continue his football career. He then enrolled at Trinity Valley Community College
Trinity Valley Community College
Trinity Valley Community College is a community college in the state of Texas.TVCC operates four campuses serving the Texas counties of Anderson, Henderson, and Kaufman, southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex:...
in Athens, Texas
Athens, Texas
Athens is a city in Henderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,710. It is the county seat of Henderson County. According to the Texas Legislature, Athens is the "Original Home of the Hamburger"...
. While at Trinity Valley Washington served on the 2007 all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference first team. Washington then attended Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
, playing on the football team for two years. Both years he was voted the Lone Star Conference
Lone Star Conference
The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico...
Offensive Lineman of the Year.
As a teenager, Washington was convicted of "prohibited sexual conduct" under Texas law after a consensual relationship with a relative. As a result of the conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender
Sex offender
A sex offender is a person who has committed a sex crime. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and by legal jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions compile their laws into sections such as traffic, assault, sexual, etc. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a...
and his conviction was made public. (Arrest of juveniles are otherwise sealed under Texas law). This conviction greatly hindered his efforts to gain a contract to play professional football.
Though Washington excelled at the NFL Draft Combine workouts he was undrafted. He was very agile and quick for a lineman, running the 40-yard dash in 5.09 seconds. After leaving school, Washington played for the Dallas Vigilantes
Dallas Vigilantes
The Dallas Vigilantes were an Arena Football League team based in Dallas, Texas. Like its AFL predecessor, the Dallas Desperados, the Vigilantes played at the American Airlines Center. The Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks began play in the 2010 season, the first after the league's...
of the Arena Football League for two years before signing with the Calgary Stampeders in 2011.