Cousins solid commodity for Thunderbolts
June 20, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Lakeland ThunderBolts News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. - There's been a special bond between Aramis Haralson and Greg Golden. The two grew up in Ft. Lauderdale. Together, since they were five years old, these cousins have competed on the athletic field together and never once have felt the pressure of going against one another.
"We were always a team; never competing against each other", said Golden, who signed last week with the Lakeland ThunderBolts of the National Indoor Football League. "We've stuck together the whole time."
Golden was instrumental in the ThunderBolts 61-41 win at the Kissimmee Kreatures Saturday night, a game that moved Lakeland's record to 5-8 and with a forfeiture against New Jersey, could give the 'Bolts six wins and a shot into the playoffs.
It was Golden's first touch of an NIFL Spalding ball that set off a firestorm of comments in the press box. The 5-foot-10 speedster blasted up the middle from five-yards deep in the endzone to go untouched the remaining 50 yards for a touchdown.
Starred At North Carolina State
Many did not realize it at the time, but the former North Carolina State standout was a mainstay of the Wolfpack kick returners from 2001 to 2003. In those three seasons, Golden had a 21.12 yards return average, the best being his sophomore year when he had 11 KORs and a 22.43 average.
In his inaugural NIFL game at the Silver Spurs Arena, he had two kickoff returns for a total of 67 yards, of course, the biggest being the 55 yarder at 14:09 of the second quarter.
"I guess I am just blessed with the vision to see the field," said the 22-year-old Golden, who also had 2.5 tackles on defense against Kissimmee. "Part of it (KORs) is instinct. You don't want to dance around back there, but pick your spot and go."
Like all good return men in the indoor game, Golden said he makes just one move, if that, out of the end zone and the idea is to get by the first wave of tacklers. "When you get through, you only have one or two others to beat, so it makes it exciting on a short field. I just love plays like that, so I can shine in the game."
Played Both Offense & Defense
Having played both on offense and defense in college, makes him an even better commodity in the indoor game because the team's carry so few players. "I played defense most of the night in Kissimmee," he said, "but, I'll play wherever the team needs me. Winning is the first priority."
At North Carolina State, Golden played in 36 games and started 20. His big year was 2002 when he ran the ball 60 times for 265 yards and three touchdowns, two of those against East Tennessee State, and caught seven passes for 86 yards.
In '02 he also had 26 total tackles, 23 solo, and seven pass breakups as well as an interception. Against Texas Tech in 2003, he had a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown. He also had the 9th longest kickoff return in Wolfpack history, a 90-yard run as a freshman in 2001 and it was the first time since 1996 that an NCS player had returned a kick for a TD.
Despite all the good things on the field, Golden felt after his junior year that he would enter the NFL draft as an underclassman. "I had a lot of money issues at the time, with a child and everything, and I felt like I had a chance to be better," he said. Well, the chance never came and I was not drafted by the NFL. In fact, I've heard nothing since then.
The Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL gave him a workout. Again, nothing. No return phone calls, no letters of rejection.
Jumped At Call From CFL
his Canadian Football League season, he jumped at a chance to join the CFL-Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts. Just 21 days after joining the Argos, he was released on June 14, after playing in one pre-season game against the Hamilton TigerCats where he had three tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.
After a performance like that, one would think he had a chance to stick. "The team had re-signed everyone because they had won the championship, so there was no opportunity," he said. "It was the old numbers game" Greg and fellow DB Derek Combs got caught up in.
Toronto director of player personnel said as much and added, There's no doubt those two guys can play in this league. But, unfortunately, it's a numbers game because you can keep only so many Americans and we've got a lot of veterans back."
Head coach Garrett Hagin, of the Thunderbolts, said getting Golden was a real steal and that he had only one practice with the team last week before playing Saturday night at Kissimmee.
With the one NIFL game under his belt, it may not be the last time you see the fleet Golden at work. If Lakeland is in the NIFL playoffs, he will be assured of playing at least one more game.
That game again would be with his cousin, Aramis, and the two are a deadly tandem, despite playing different positions.
Haralson, Golden Team Up At 5
"I remember starting out at 5 (years old) and playing flag football with Aramis", said Golden of their days in Ft. Lauderdale. "His father (Calvin Haralson) was our first coach and we always worked together."
Greg played quarterback and Aramis was a receiver. "We worked a lot of plays together," Greg said, as the two cousins continued on to play tackle football and Little League baseball together.
"We were special," said Aramis, "In high school, he was a cornerback and I was the safety.
There was one time when the two did not play football together. That was in my junior year when I decided to concentrate on basketball," said Haralson, who collected his fifth interception of the season for Lakeland Saturday night. "That year he was a sophomore and they won the State football championship (St. Thomas Aquinas High School)."
"I begged him to come out his senior season, and he did," said Greg. "We added another State title that year too, so I know he was pleased I talked him into playing football again." In Golden's junior and senior prep seasons, he had 13 kick off returns for touchdowns.
Track Also Important to Cousins
Interestingly, the pair teamed up in track and formed the nucleus of the 4-by-100 relay team. They won the State 4A championship in that event with Aramis running second and, of course, Greg anchoring the team's stretch position.
Both are young and gifted, so it might be that someone will take stock in their trade and get them to the next level, which is either in the outdoor or indoor game of football.
For additional information about The Lakeland ThunderBolts, the NIFL, ticket purchasing information, or corporate sponsorship information, please visit our website at www.lakelandthunderbolts.com or call 863-687-8110. Additional information about the NIFL can be found at the league website, www.nationalindoorfootballleague.net or call 888-422-9682.
• Discuss this story on the National Indoor Football League message board...
National Indoor Football League Stories from June 20, 2005
- Greg Golden; Lakeland's 'Golden' Lad - Lakeland ThunderBolts
- NIFL suspends Fayetteville's Siani - NIFL
- Derrric Coakly dominate sack attacker - Kissimmee Kreatures
- Cousins solid commodity for Thunderbolts - Lakeland ThunderBolts
- Roughnecks win 13th of the season - West Texas Roughnecks
- Warbirds Last Home Game This Friday - Dayton Bulldogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
