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Ernest Pastell Givins Jr.
Ernest Pastell Givins Jr. was born on September 3, 1964 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Givins attended Lakewood High School and become a star football player there. After high school, Givins attended Northeast Oklahoma Junior College. He was a star receiver, rusher, passer and kickoff/ punt returner there. His talent caught the eyes of the University of Louisville football coaches and he would then transfer there.

Givens had a nice stint at the University of Louisville that includes setting a new kickoff return and punt return record there. He still currently holds those records today. In the 1984 and 1985 seasons with the University of Louisville he played in 22 total games and recorded 67 receptions for 1,266 yards and 8 receiving touchdowns. Givins also had 20 rushing attempts for 222 total rushing yards and a touchdown. He returned 14 kickoffs for 253 yards (18.1 average per kickoff) and returned 4 punts for 22 yards. During the 1985 college football season, Givins started his emergence as an NFL caliber punt and kick returner. Givins would return 29 kickoffs for 801 yards (27.6 average per kickoff) and two touchdowns. He also returned 18 punts for 154 yards (8.6 average per return).

After college, Givins was drafted in the second round of the 1986 draft by the Houston Oilers. Givens would have the benefit of playing with Quarterback Warren Moon for the first eight years of his career in Houston. Givins found success playing in Houston’s run and shoot offense. He would play 10 NFL seasons from 1986 to 1995, all but one of them with the Oilers. Givins would also be named to a pair of Pro Bowls. He appeared in 10 playoff games including the famous 1993 Wild Card Game playoff between the Houston Oilers and the Cleveland Browns which Cleveland won 41-38.

In the 1986 season (his rookie year), Givins played in 15 games catching 61 passes for 1,062 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 9 rush attempts for 148 yards and a touchdown. Houston would make the playoffs and Givins played in both games combining for 13 catches for 173 receiving yards and a touchdown.

In his second year in the NFL, Givins continued to showcase his ability as a receiver. He only played in 12 games but still had 53 receptions for 933 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. In Houston’s two playoff games in 1984, he only made one reception in each game. Givins finally played his first complete NFL season in 1988. In 16 games, he would record 60 receptions that led to 976 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns.

On Sept. 24, 1989, Givins caught a sideline pass at the Buffalo 18-yard line, did a split to avoid an ankle tackle, leaped at the 2 as Bills cornerback Nate Odomes hit him waist-high, somersaulted over Odomes, landed feet first in the end zone and did his signature dance. NFL Films named it one of the league's 100 best-ever touchdowns. Givins ended the 1989 season with 55 receptions and 794 receiving yards. He would also have 11 receptions for 136 yards for 2 touchdowns in the Oilers’ lone playoff game that season

Givins was finally elected to his first Pro Bowl in 1990 after successful season that saw him record 72 receptions and amass 979 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. He caught 6 passes for 60 yards and 2 touchdowns in the playoffs as well. Givins followed it up with an equally impressive 1991 season catching 70 passes for 996 yards and 5 touchdowns. Givins did well in both playoff games in 1991 for the Oilers catching a total of 12 passes for 194 yards and 2 touchdowns.

An impressive 1992 season, earned Givins his second invitation to the Pro Bowl. He caught 67 passes for 787 yards but had a career high 10 receiving touchdowns. He would have 9 receptions for 117 yards in the Bills playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns. Givins continued his strong production in 1993 season with 68 receptions for 887 receiving yards. In his last playoff game, Givins had 7 receptions for 63 yard and a touchdown.

The 1994 season would be Givins’ final season with the Houston Oilers. It also happened to be the only season where he was the team’s primary punt returner. He would have 37 punt returns 210 yards and a touchdown. His receiving numbers took a hit as he only caught 36 passes for 521 yards and one touchdown.

Givins played in only 9 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and only had 29 receptions for 280 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Givins would retire at the end of the season.

Givins hold’s the Oilers’ team records for career receptions (542) and receiving yards (7,935). His trademark touchdown celebration, the Electric Glide, became synonymous with his play. Givins is currently very involved with the city of St. Petersburg (his hometown) and very involved in youth football. He has been involved in anti-drug and AIDS awareness programs and is known to give motivation speech’s to schools while donating time and money to his alma mater Lakewood High School’s Football and Track teams. Givins also has an annual $2,000 scholarship fund at St. Petersburg’s First Baptist Institutional Church.

The St. Petersburg Sharks are a semi-pro football team that Givins founded, coached and even occasionally played for in the Suncoast Semi-pro Football League. He established the Silver Raiders Little League football team and is currently the head coach for the Sarasota Millionaires in the United Football Alliance. Givins is also the Offensive Coordinator for Boca Ciega High School’s football team. He now works at Bay Point Middle School in St. Petersburg as a hall monitor.