Hometown Hero Reflects on Football Journey, Family, and the Power of Community
By: Shelia Mader
For a man who never wanted to play football, Philip Sylvester’s journey from the fields of Jackson County to the bright lights of the Florida Classic is nothing short of extraordinary.
Recently honored with a prestigious community award for his accomplishments both on and off the field, this outstanding young man, a proud native of Marianna, is both humbled and reflective. Now the general manager of four short line railroads and a father of three, two boys and a girl, ages six, three, and a six-month-old daughter, Sylvester admits that the recognition feels “surreal.”
“It’s a moment that kind of brings it all full circle,” he said. “I never even really wanted to play football. The only reason I started was because my older brother played.”
He began his football career in 1998 or 1999, under the guidance of coaches Daryl Williams and Alan Golden. With a brother three years his senior setting the standard, the younger sibling followed reluctantly at first but found a passion for the game.
“Football is so much work, you gotta love it,” he said. That love carried him all the way to Florida A&M University (FAMU), where he built a career of memorable moments, none more thrilling than his final collegiate game. That game, a high-stakes Florida Classic against longtime rival Bethune-Cookman, capped off an unforgettable season. Bethune-Cookman was undefeated heading into the matchup, but FAMU staged a dramatic comeback to secure a win and a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship.
“We were down, maybe 21 to 7, I can’t remember exactly, and came back to win,” he recalled. “It was a good game. A great way to go out.”
But football was only part of his story. Deeply rooted in Jackson County, where his family has lived since the 1800s, Sylvester holds a profound appreciation for his hometown and its people. That appreciation stretches far beyond the gridiron.
“Marianna means a lot. We’ve (his family) probably been in Jackson County before Florida was even a state,” he said with pride. “Being close to Tallahassee, so many people from home came to the games. That support meant everything.”
He remembers his first FAMU game, not as a player, but as a fan, attending with local friends Travis Ephriam and Carolyn Hodge, and a school group called Afro Activate.
Looking back, he credits three major institutions for shaping his life: “God, family, and the school system.” He’s lived in roughly 10 counties across the state and ranks Jackson County’s school system among the top two. His praise is rooted not only in academics and athletics, but in something even more vital: safety and support.
“When your children go to school here, you know they’ll be safe. You know they’ll get a good education,” he said. “That’s something we can’t take for granted.”
He expressed concern over rising trends in other counties, like the proliferation of charter and private schools, that create an imbalance in access to quality education.
“When that happens, it becomes a world of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ But at the end of the day, we all have to live together. We want the same outcome for all kids.”
His reverence for the school system is personal. He’s watched as teachers became principals, librarians became district leaders, and community members remained committed to growth. He fondly recalled figures like Amy Allen, a former band teacher who is now a principal, and Danny Sims, who rose from principal to superintendent, LuAnne Law who went from librarian to assistant principal.
“You can always tell when a place is being cared for. Like the old Kmart—it was dim, junky, and you knew it was closing. But when you drive past our schools today, the grass is mowed, the lights are on, the buses look clean and good. That means something. Hunter (Nolen) is doing a good job.”
Above all, he sees football not just as a sport, but as a metaphor for life, and teamwork. “Football is the truest team sport. In basketball, one player can carry a team. In baseball, maybe a pitcher can. But in football, it takes all 11. You’ve got to do your job, and others have to do theirs. It teaches unity and sacrifice.”
His gratitude runs deep for everyone who helped shape his journey: “Too many people to name, but I thank all my coaches, teammates, support staff, and everyone who played a role.”
With roots running deep in Jackson County soil and his eyes on the future for his own children, this honored young man is not only a symbol of athletic achievement, but a voice for community, education, and the enduring spirit of hometown pride.