Sylvester Bembery Sylvester Bembery ( born March 1 , 1965 ) is a former American football lineman in the Arena Football League . Bembery , # 78 , was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1994 – 1999 , and once again joined the Storm for the 2001 campaign . College career . Bembery started his career at the University of Central Florida , playing for them for four successful seasons . He was inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame in 2009 . he helped to put the University of Central Florida football program on the map . He came to the school in 1984 , after playing prep ball at Miami Carroll City High School in South Florida . His impact was felt immediately . UCF was struggling and failed to record a winning season since the program ’ s inaugural campaign in 1979 . Bembery , however , shinned on the Knights ’ defensive line . In 1985 , the program faced off against their first NCAA Division I opponent in Louisville . The team lost , but the test was encouraging . The following season , UCF saw its first big attendance game with 23 , 760 on hand for the Homecoming matchup against Wofford . At 6 - 5 , UCF put together it ’ s first winning season since 1979 . During Bembery ’ s senior campaign in 1987 , the UCF defense held opponents to just 67 points all year . HE was named lineman of the year in 1987 . Professional career . New England Steamrollers . In 1988 , Bembery joined the New England Steamrollers of the Arena Football League . Immediately , Bembery ’ s force on the defensive line was evident . Then , he was asked to play on both sides of the ball and on the offensive line . Albany Firebirds . Bembery took the next year off , then joined the Albany Firebirds in 1990 . Although he did not win a championship , he was able to master his craft . “ I really learned how to be an offensive lineman in Albany . I wanted to step up to the plate and be a man . If I had to spend the extra hours , learning my craft , that ’ s what I was going to do . It took a while , ” Bembery said . During those years , Bembery was named to the 1993 All Star Game and was a three - time member of the All - Arena First Team ( 1990 - 93 ) . His vicious style of play became notorious around the AFL ; however , the 6 - foot - 3 - inch , 285 - pound monster was known as a gentle giant off the field . “ I wont lie about it , I grew into it , ” Bembery said about his “ switch . ” “ Like everybody in life , you have to know how to control yourself and conduct yourself both on and off the field . In order to play football , you have to have some nastiness . You have to know when to turn it on and off . What did that for me was wanting to be the best at my craft and not wanting to be defeated on the field . I still hadn ’ t won a championship . ” Tampa Bay Storm . He joined the Tampa Bay Storm in 1994 . That year , the Storm advanced to the third round of the Playoffs but his ArenaBowl hopes were shot with a loss to Orlando . The following season , legendary Head Coach and AFL Hall of Famer Tim Marcum joined the Storm . During those years , Bembery was a Second Team All - Arena member , twice , and named to the 10th Anniversary Team . Buffalo Destroyers . He would play the 1999 season with the Storm before joining the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000 . Return to the Tampa Bay Storm . He re - joined the Storm for his final year in 2001 . Known as one of the Storm ' s greatest pass rushers , a 6 - time All - Arena selection , Sylvester won 2 ArenaBowl Championships ' with the Storm . In 2001 he helped the Storm win 7 straight games ending with a 58 - 51 overtime win over the Carolina Cobras . This was the longest streak the Storm put together since Bemery helped them win 9 straight games in 1998 , and the longest Tampa Bay winning streak since when he contributed to 8 game streak they tore through to begin the 1996 season . Career Highlights . Bembery was named to the Arena Football League 10th Anniversary Team in 1996 , and was the All - time AFL leader in sacks with 43 at the time of his retirement . In 2002 his jersey was retired by Tampa Bay at the St . Pete Times Forum . In 2006 , Bembery ranked seventh among the 20 Greatest AFL Players and in 2009 , he was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame . On August 12 , 2011 , Bembery earned his most cherished accomplishment as he was named to the 2011 AFL Hall of Fame Class . After football . Currently , Sylvester Bembery is the CEO of B . E . M Services , LLC an agency that provides care services to persons with developmental disabilities in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida . “ Arena Football taught me to be the man I am today , a respectable man in the community . Today , I work with the handicap and disabled . I love my job . I hope I can retire doing my job . I ’ m a positive person in my community . I mentor children and I try to teach them positive things . I help coach Little League football . There are a lot of things I ’ m trying to do . That ’ s because of Arena Football . I am very grateful for the game . If I had to do it all over again , I would , ” Bembery said .