Legendary football coach and North Carolina Central University Athletic Hall of Famer Herman “Ike” Boone recently donated $5,000 in support of the NCCU football program.

Boone presented the check to NCCU football head coach Henry Frazier III on Sunday (Dec. 9) while Frazier was in Boone’s hometown during a recruiting trip to Florida.

“We are pleased and honored that such a prestigious alum has chosen to give back to our football program,” Frazier said.  “We look forward to more Eagles giving back to assist us move this proud program to the upper echelon of the FCS level.”

Boone, a native of Rocky Mount, N.C. (Booker T. Washington High School), is best-known as the high school football coach whose story inspired the hit movie Remember the Titans, starring Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington as Boone.

After earning his bachelor of arts and master’s degrees from NCCU, Boone decided to be a teacher and coach so he could motivate youngsters.

Boone’s journey landed him in a racially-divided Alexandria, Va., as the head football coach at T.C. Williams High School in 1971. Boone was able to unite a diverse team and coaching staff into the most powerful football team in the state of Virginia.

The Titans posted an unblemished 13-0 record, winning the state championship title and earning a No. 2 ranking by the national polls.

In December 1971, President Richard M. Nixon was quoted as saying “the team saved the city of Alexandria.”