...Till The Last Buzzer Sounds

By R.K. Speights

Editor/Publisher, Freelance Journalist

The North East Sports Gazette a Texas high school sports publication covering Region II and across Texas.

Delivered Every Sunday Morning To Your Mouse!

BIO

Incentive or not.

By R.K. Speights

Does sending three teams each year to the playoffs increase a particular teams incentive to win.?

I think not....

Prior to 1990, every team set a goal and that goal was to be district champs. Why? That’s the only way they advanced to the playoffs. Every coach and every player knew they had to give it their all every game, every play or they would sit home or in the stands because another team was playing where they wanted to be.

Winning district or losing district was an emotional driving force for all teams. Losing just one game could mean the difference in starting the next season. Playoff season. Losing by one point - that wasn’t fought for and fought hard for - could mean the difference of advancing to the playoffs.

Now that we send three teams to the playoffs each year where’s the incentive to win. The incentive to be the top dog, cat, bird or whatever of the district.

I know, I know, coaches and players set the goal to be district champs each year but you can’t tell me, it isn’t in the back of their minds that, "If we don’t win district we can still make the playoffs as No. 2 or No. 3 seed."

That’s not an incentive but an escape valve for the players and coaches. In the past few years - due to the alignment - teams with 2-3 records made the playoffs.

Give me a break. Who wants to watch a team -besides the local fans - that only won two district games.

Granted, there are a few second and third seed teams that are almost as good as the district champs of their district but that scenario is rare. I use the word "almost" for good reason, you can’t almost be district champ. It’s like being pregnant, either you are or you’re not.

This new alignment will change that somewhat for many districts. The placement of seven, eight, nine and ten teams in the district will motivate the teams to try harder just to make the playoffs but is that good enough.

I think not....

The incentive to win a state championship should be to win district. Why? Because since 1990, ninety percent of the state champions have been district champions, ninety-five percent of the state finalist have been district champions.

There should be a banner in every fieldhouse that says, "Win district or dance with your sister." That’s right, not winning district and still making the playoffs is like going to a dance and ending up dancing with your sister.

I, for one, want to see more fire, more passion, more heart on the field. Teams seeking to make the tradition of winning district more important than making the playoffs.

Give us what we used to see in the old days before the three team split. A fight for every yard gained, for every point scored. a fight for the right to brag, "We’re district champs."

I think so....

 

"Signing on the Dotted Line"

By R. K. Speights

National Signing Day....College football’s national signing day this year is February 4th. This is the first day that a high school recruit can actually sign their letter of intent to attend a school. Some players get last minute jitters and change their mind from their non-binding oral commitments, while for some it is a formality that seals the deal from a handshake that may have taken place over a year ago.

Recruits have been wooed and cooed, enticed, pressured, promised and begged to honor their verbal commitment by "Signing on the Dotted Line." Till they do, it is like a chess game amongst the head coaches of the colleges across the nation. Each one waiting to exclaim "Check and Mate" to the opposing college. Till the ink is dry it’s anti-acid city for the coaches and recruits alike.

East Texas it is no different... Here is a partial list of verbal commitments from East Texas players but whether they sign on the 5th is another story.

Adrian Peterson - RB , Palestine, Oklahoma; Nathan Jones - WR, Texas High, Texas;
Nic Redwine - DE/LB, Robert E. Lee, Texas; Korey Sutton - RB, Texas High, Arkansas; Quinten Gardner - CB, Robert E. Lee, Texas A&M; Keondre Smith - RB, Robert E. Lee, Texas A&M; Tate Casey - TE, Longview, Florida; Dallas Washington - CB, Atlanta, Arkansas; David Chatterton - OL, Spring Hill, Texas Tech; 99. David Chatterton -OT, Longview Spring Hill, Texas Tech; Mark Young - LB, Mount Pleasant, Texas A&M ; Jemario Thomas - RB, Spring Hill, North Texas; Robert Henson - LB, Longview, TCU; Martel Van Zant - CB, Robert E. Lee, Oklahoma; Chris Pilot, Lufkin, - LB/DE, Houston; Brandon Pettigrew - TE, Robert E.Lee, Oklahoma St; Johnny Thacker - RB, Alto, Stephen F. Austin; Tad Scott - LB/DE, Alto, Stephen F. Austin; Cody McCasland - MLB, Atlanta, UAM; Nick Willson - NG, Atlanta, UAM; Darron Sheppard - OL, Longview, Central Arkansas;

What’s so unique about National Signing Day?  It’s the day approximately sixty percent of all recruits sign formal commitments on day one. It is not set in stone that a recruit must sign of this day. Many choose to wait and look over their possibilities instead of signing. Some get what is known in the sales field as "Buyers Remorse". Maybe just maybe what the other coach said is true: "The grass is greener on the other campus." This is what adds the gray distinguished look to a coach’s head.

Last year 1,800 players were signed by colleges and universities to play Lacrosse. Over 6,000 were recruited. Did you catch that? I said Lacrosse players. Approximately 1,500 colleges and universities recruit for football. They offer 20 to 45 scholarships. That’s more than 30,000 football players being signed each year.

So the chess game of recruiting goes on till they "Sign on the Dotted Line."

"Our Beloved Mascots"

By R.K. Speights

The North East Texas Sports Gazette

In the state of Texas there are 1363 public and private schools, each having their own mascot. A school mascot and/or school colors define the school and sets it apart from other schools. The school mascot is a source of pride, it sets school spirit, so choosing a mascot is serious business.

To those of us who love football, a mascot name should invoke fear into the hearts of the opponent. Names like the Bulldogs, the Lions, the Bears, the Eagles, the Vipers, the Hornets, the Vikings, the Warriors, the Indians, the Hawks, to name a few.

A school name coupled with the mascot has a forceful ring to it like the Carthage Bulldogs, the Abilene Cooper Cougars, the Amarillo River Road Wildcats, the Bangs Dragons, the Bay City Black Cats,  the Dimmitt Bobcats, the Huntington Red Devils, the O'Donnell Screamin' Eagles, the Pilot Point Bearcats, the Port Neches-Groves Indians, the Santa Rosa Warriors or the Arlington Lamar Vikings. The thought of ferocious beast or warriors taking the field of play - competing to the death or at least till the last buzzer comes to mind - when we hear such names.

Across the state there is a menagerie of mascot names. Over 300 different name are used to represent the schools. Wildlife creatures like: the Abernathy Antelopes, the Austin Westlake Chaparrals, the Carrollton Hebron Hawks, the Dallas Sunset Bisons, the El Campo Ricebirds, the El Paso Jefferson Foxes, the Joaquin Rams, the Karnes City Badgers, the Los Fresnos Falcons, the Sharyland Rattlers, the Ralls Jackrabbits, and the Wichita Falls Coyotes

Some mascots are indigenous to Texas like: the Aqua Dulce Longhorns, the Arlington Sam Houston Texans, the Bellville Brahmas, the Burkeville Mustangs, the Dayton Broncos, the Fort Worth North Side Steers, the Happy Cowboys, the Marshall Mavericks, the Mason Punchers, the North Mesquite Stallions and the West Mesquite Wranglers.

Others are synonymous with the town or school like: the Deer Park Deer, the Farmersville Fightin' Farmers, the Frost Polar Bears, the Harlingen Marine Military Academy Leathernecks, the Houston MacAuthur Generals, the Jayton Jaybirds, the Muleshoe Mules and the White Deer Bucks.

A few stick out as not being one to invoke fear into the heart of their opponents but school history says otherwise. For example; the Dallas Hockaday School Daisies, the Farmersville Fightin' Farmers, the Hamlin Pied Pipers, the Kress Kangaroos, the New Braunfels Unicorns and the Robstown Cotton Pickers.  Excuse me...but Daisies just doesn't strike fear in my heart. I have know some farm boys that might be feared; but kangaroos and unicorns, well you know what I mean.

While browsing various mascot names it came to mind that some would make interesting bowl games such as:The Eddy Muenster Bowl - the Bruceville-Eddy Eagles vs the Muenster Hornets; 

The Eddy Haskell Bowl - the Bruceville-Eddy Eagles vs the Haskell Indians; 

Forces of Nature Bowl - the Galveston-Ball Tornadoes vs the Sugarland Hightower Hurricanes; 

The Terminex Bowl - the Progresso Red Ants vs. the Mesquite Skeeters; 

The Blarney Bowl - the Shamrock Irish vs the Highland Park Scots; 

The Medieval Bowl - the Woodlands Highlanders vs the Lindsay Knights; 

The NASA Bowl - the Sharpstown Apollos vs the Converse-Judson Rockets; 

Farm Bowl I  & II- the Lewisville Farmers vs the Roscoe Plowboys; the Pampa Harvestors vs the Robstown Cotton Pickers

Let's suppose for a minute, that a school decided to change their mascot.  What would be some name changes? What about changing the Boling Bulldogs to the Boling Balls, the Brady Bulldogs to the Brady Bunch, the Yoe Yoemen to the Yoe Mommas, the Wylie Pirates to the Wylie Coyotes, the Kermit Yellow Jackets to the Kermit Frogs or the Valentine Pirates to the Valentine Cards (Cardinals).

While researching this article I noticed some curiosities. 1) Of the letters of the alphabet, none of the mascot names begin with N, Q, U or X. What no Uglies or X-rays, Nukes or Quagmires. 2) The most popular names are Bearcats -14, Dragons - 15, Bears- 17, Warriors - 21, Longhorns - 25, Yellow Jackets - 25, Bobcats - 30, Hornets - 34, Indians - 36, Cougars - 38, Lions - 49, Wildcats - 55, Mustangs - 56, Panthers - 56, Tigers - 75, Bulldogs - 99, with Eagles topping the list with 117. There is even one Zebra and, 3) Since 1920, 54 Bulldog teams have won state championships, followed by 33 Panther teams, 29 Eagle teams and 24 Mustang teams.

Of all the mascot names I looked over,  the Trent Gorillas stuck out in my mind. It may well be the most feared mascot of them all. If the football team lived up to it’s name, the Gorillas, comments could be, "Have you seen the size of the Gorillas we play next week?" or "Who needs speed when you have gorillas like that on your team?" or "They have six gorillas on their offense." Further research shows the Gorillas are a feared team in the realm of 6-man football in Texas.

Yes, our beloved mascots are a source of pride and do define who we are but contary to belief, it's not the mascot name that puts fear in the opponents hearts but the young athletes that take the field year after year to do battle for their school.

Are you Addicted?

By R.K. Speights

Are you addicted to high school football? How do you tell?

Let’s see...

You go watch the Hamburg drills in spring practice or just go to the fieldhouse in the off season to just hang around.

You bring you chair to the first day of practice - no pads just helmets - and sit on the sideline just to hear the beginning sounds of football.

You stand in line for the first day of season ticket sales.

The first thing you do in the morning after you get your cup of Java is go to your favorite internet high school forum to check the latest high school football gossip and are offended when you read a post about soccer or baseball.

You take a radio to the regular games to listen to the other teams or during the playoffs you stay at home with three or four radios going at the same time so you don’t miss any action.

You anticipate the release of pre-season rankings and college signing day.

You get to away games two hours early so you can get a good seat.

You experience withdrawal symptoms in January that begin to subside in late July.

You go to the local barber shop to talk about the upcoming football team, beginning in January.

As you see it is not easy to tell during season if you are addicted because you are getting your needed fix for the game. It’s only when season is over that you can tell that you are addicted.

For those of you that might, just might, think you are addicted,. go to this website http://TheNetGazette.freeservers.com

Click on the scoreboard link. Scroll down to "Try your skill at field goal kicking." If you get up at two o’clock in the morning to play this little game then your are addicted.

Well, I gotta’ go, it’s almost two o’clock now.

PS: My best is 69 yards.

 

"If The Ball Ain’t Pointed"

By R.K. Speights

High school football season is over for a few months so let’s talk about the other sports.

I know. ..I know.... There’s some of you that’s gonna say, "If the ball ain’t pointed on both ends then it ain’t a sport."

I went to school in Louisiana. And no my feet aren’t webbed. This school was small, real small. All we had for sports was basketball, baseball and track.

B-ball was the main course on the menu for about 20 schools in Louisiana back then. That’s how many class C schools there were. Folks from these little towns ate , slept and breathed basketball. You didn’t make the mistake and tell a man his dog was a egg-sucker or his basketball team sucked eggs either.

On Tuesday and Thursday nights the local gym was packed. When I say packed, I mean packed. The little gyms held about 500 people in the bleachers. If you got there late, you stood if you could find a spot. The criminal elements today could have robbed everybody blind back then cause nobody was home on game nights.

Saying the crowds were rowdy and noisy might be an understatement. Fans this day and time don’t understand what school spirit is. From the first buzzer to the last everybody was hollering for their team. Winning or losing they supported their team vocally. And again, I can’t emphasize enough, just how vocal they were.

Now when we played, we had a boys 7th-8th grade team, a girls varsity team and a boys varsity team. One coach for all the teams. The Girls played half-court.

Oops....I can see I just lost a few of you. so let me explain half-court. They were six girls on a team. Three forwards and three guards. Three of the forwards for one team and three of the guards for the other team played on half of the court. The other set played on the other end. The rules were the same as full court except the players couldn’t cross half-court. The guards passed the ball to the forwards for their at half-court. Vise versa for the other team. Talkin’ about a full court press, that’s what this was. I remember a left handed girl named Sharon Nethercutt that had a hook shot when she crossed the foul line that was deadly. In my opinion, a far more exciting game than today.

Can any of you remember 1964? I do and anybody still living from back home that was older than six, can too. Ask them what they remember about 64’ and the first thing out of their mouth will be, "That’s the year we went to state." Boy was that a year!

As I said, we had track and baseball, too. Track wasn’t my cup of tea. I never could understand why anyone wanted to run a mile and end up in the same spot.

I played catcher on the baseball team. The coach tried to get me to play outfield but I didn’t like the long walk back in when it was our turn to bat. We played ten inch speed ball in the summer, too. But that’s another story.

I love football but you might call me a softball groupie. Love girls softball. My home team, the Hallsville Ladycats, went to state in 2000. Didn’t miss a game that year. We lost a nail biter against Smithson Valley for the state title but boy did that season get your blood flowing. Hallsville’s catcher, Jenilee Skender, set the all time Texas high school state record for home runs in a season (14) and career home runs (39) for both boys and girls.

Soccer’s another story. I don’t really understand the game but there’s one thing for certain. the players are in good shape. Running up and down a field two and a half times the size of a football field for 90 minutes, you have to be in shape. Another thing about soccer is that the refs make up the rules as the game progresses.

America’s game, baseball. Back in the 80’s, Hallsville had a hitter they likened to Mickey Mantle. Ron Giddon, manager for the Dust Devils, hit a home run 490 feet according to his catcher at that time, Hallsville head softball coach, Shane Wilson.

And then there’s golf. I never understood why you would want to hit a ball as far as you can and then walk after it and hit the thing again. At least in baseball they catch the ball and try to give it back or in football they try to take it away.

Tennis anyone... This is another game you really have to be in shape to play. I prefer ping pong, less area to cover to return the serve.

Last but not least, there’s volleyball. A type of group tennis without the rackets. Can be an exciting game and with the new rules this coming season a faster pace game.

So for all of you that think, "If the ball ain’t pointed it ain’t a sport" you might want to think again, Cause I’m here to tell you there’s lots of sports in them round balls.

The Other Round Ball

By R.K. Speights

In a previous column I talked about sports that used a ball that wasn’t pointed on both ends and how they don’t get the same respect in most states as the little pointed ball.

I must confess I was guilty of that charge for one of those round balls.

Soccer.......

I played kick ball in the first and second grade so give me a break. There can’t be much to this game.

Well, I covered my first soccer game last season. Sometimes, as a free lance sports writer, when the sports editor tells you to cover a game, even soccer, if you expect to get paid you cover the game.

The first thing I did was buy a rule book. I took it back to the book store and told them I wanted my money back. When they asked why. I told them it was a misprint.. It had terms in it like midfielder, center, forward, goalie, passing the ball, blocking the ball, blocking and tackling, shooting the ball, side out.. The book read like someone took pages from a football manual and added them to pages from their baseball, basketball, hockey and volleyball manuals.

Needless to say, I made the game and I must confess, I came away with a new respect for soccer. First off, any athlete, who can run up and down a field two and a half times the size of a football field, almost no-stop, you got to respect. And that’s 45 minutes per half.

Midway through the first half, I torn out the glossary in my trusty rule book and threw it away. I had already learned one important fact about soccer: The refs make up the rules as they go along.

By the end of the game I had learned something else. There was a method to the madness that took place during the game. I watched as the team, I was there to cover, systemically moved the ball up the field and scored a point.

A few minutes later they scored on a penalty kick. The penalty was an offside penalty. I have as yet to figure out how a ref can determine who is offside. After I thought about the score I could see it was a designed play that the team excuted to perfection.

Now, in my opinion, the best position on the team is the goalie. Beats that running all to pieces. And at least they kick the ball at you to catch. The only bad part to the job is when they score it’s your fault and nobody else’s.

I got an education that first game and I can tell you this, "It ain’t kick ball for sure." I have been to a few more (without pay). and I can now see where kicking that little round ball might be fun for a real "young" person.

A Sick Feeling

By R.K. Speights

Have you ever sat at a game and watched your team and have the sick, sinking feeling that this won’t be a good year?

Have you ever watched you team play their hearts out and know that an 0-5 district record is the most probable district record you can foresee for you team?

Have you ever dreaded going to a game knowing your team is going to get beat and big time?

I could list the names of the East Texas teams that fit that scenario this year but that’s not the point.

The point is: Do we give up on our team and quit going to the games? Do we start bad mouthing the players and coaches? Or do we suck it up and keep supporting our team? Win, Lose or Draw. Good, Bad or Ugly!

Do we go out on the field and pat these young athletes on the back and tell the how proud we are of them or do we look them in the eye and say, You Stink. Do we lift them up or do we break them down?

Do we sit in the stands with our mouths silent and send them a message, you don’t deserve our support or do we show them how adults are supposed to act. Love them no matter what. Holler for them and praise them like we did when they were six years old.

So remember this the next time you get that sick feeling. There are 1220 teams this year and only nine will be state football champions but there are over 60,000 football players that are all champions.

Till The Last Buzzer Sounds.

 

Scrimmages: Fact or Fiction

By R.K. Speights

I have read numerous articles and watched several scrimmages over the past two weeks, with one or both teams claiming they won. Claiming they whooped, and badly, the opposing team.

I understand bragging rights and team motivation but this is a bit ridiculous.

How can you win a scrimmage?

Let’s see.....

You can score 30 TD’s against the third string defense.

You can substitute every player--good, bad or ugly--on the team with the coaches calling plays from the backfield. Fifteen plays in a row without making a first down.

You can say oooops, let’s try that one again, cause one of the linemen moved, without worrying about the imposed penalty. Hey, it doesn’t matter this is only a scrimmage.

You can pit the smallest man on the team against the opposing Goliath just to see what he can do.

You can run the same pass play against different defenders till you make the TD, then jump up and down because you just scored against the opposing field goal kicker cause the opposing coach got a wild hair and decided to see if the kicker could defend against the pass.

You play your starters all scrimmage long cause you have a game zero week.

Your starting defense is awesome cause after the opposing "A" team finally sits on the bench you are able to run through the "B" and "C" teams and sack the quarterback 10 times in a row.

I could go on but I won't.

Now, is it "Fact or Fiction"? Can you win a scrimmage?

Till the last buzzer sounds.

Two State Champions (Good or Bad)

By R.K. Speights

AUSTIN, TEXAS--In 1990, the University Interscholastic League* (UIL) in conjunction with the high school coaches and superintendents across the state of Texas voted to establish two divisions in class 5A football, that would compete for two separate state championships. Big School--Division I, Little School--Division II.


The scenario was this: Each class** 5A district would send three teams to the playoffs.. The three teams with the best district record would advance to state competition. The school with the largest enrollment would compete in Division I and the other two smaller schools would compete in Division II. Whether a team won their district was not given preference as to which division they competed. The large school-small school scenario applied to football only.


In other sports, the district would send three schools to the playoffs with the district champions receiving a first week bye and then all schools would compete for one state title. Size would have no bearing on who played where. Everybody would compete for a single state championship in each class.


In 1996, the UIL created two divisions in class 4A and again in 1998 added two divisions in classes 3A and 2A. Class 1A competes for a single title (sending two schools) but in two separate classes, eleven man teams and six man teams.
The idea behind this concept was to allow teams and athletes that barely missed the playoffs an opportunity to complete at the state level. By creating two divisions it was thought that a team or teams within a district that were equally as talented as the district champion should be allowed a chance to compete for a state title.


Prior to the first vote a great controversy arose as to who would actually be crowned state champion in 5A football and rightfully so. Many thought that district champions should play in Division I and the other two teams should play in Division II. This way a true state champion could be determined. Many were opposed to the idea period. Many said unless there was a final game between the winning teams no true state champions would to determined and they were right and are still right.


In the beginning, a committee was formed by the UIL to research creating two divisions. This committee determined that it would be unfair to require a team (whether district champions or not) with a smaller enrollment to compete against a larger school.


That first year (1990) the four teams that competed in the two divisions were the champions of their respective districts.   Since that time, 81 of the 104 teams that have competed for a state championship title in football, have been district champions. Of the 52 state title games played since 1990, 47 games have been won by district champions.


Another determination by the committee was that countless thousands of athletes would have an opportunity to compete in the playoffs that wouldn’t under the old system but did they really have an equal chance at the state title or was it just an opportunity to play in the playoffs.

Whether considered or not by the committee, one of the fringe benefits of having two divisions in football and sending three schools from each district to the playoffs in all sports competitions is a “cash cow” was created for the schools.

Now that more games are played, the gate revenues and concession receipts add an enormous amount of extra revenue to school athletic programs. In the 2001 football playoffs, one school hosted many of the playoff games each weekend. Their net profit from concessions exceeded 150,000 dollars plus a percentage of the gate. Not only do the schools benefit but the towns and business in the towns where the games are played receive a boost to their economy. When a state championship playoff game draws 40,000 fans and the preceding playoff games draw anywhere from 10 to 20 thousand fans, every extra game played means more money for the “coffer”.

As mentioned before, a great controversy arose as to who would be crowned the true state champions with the new system. After twelve seasons, no one is still able to answer that question but as time rolls on it seems it is not as important as it was in 1990. The fringe benefits have tempered some of the most diehard fans.

As to the fairness of big schools playing small schools, hadn’t the district champions been doing just that since 1920.   Weren’t the state champions each year always district champions no matter what their school enrollment was in their particular class.


When 90% of the state champions (since the new system was implemented in 1990) have been district champions, a fitting answer might be to have the winners of each division play a final state championship game for the bragging rights.


  What would seem fair is to have the district champions play in Division I no matter their school enrollment and the second and third seat teams play in Division II with the winner playing a final state championship game. This would insure the teams that weren’t district champions but made the playoffs a shot at the state title and a true state champion in each class would be crowned.


Another option is to send three teams to the playoffs like in all the other sports but give the district champion a bye week. Let the second and third seats play elimination game and then start the playoffs for real, everybody playing for a single title in one class.

Last, if you want a true state champion go back to the old system. Let the right of claiming a state championship go to those who earned the right, the district champion.

Granted, 208 more teams have been allowed an opportunity at a state championship but is it really a fair chance at winning a state title and does it actually determine who is state champion. No, until one more game is played by the division champions a true state champion for Texas high school football will remain in limbo.

*University Interscholastic League (UIL) is the statewide organization for public elementary and secondary interschool competition in Texas is named the University Interscholastic League. The objectives of the League are: a. to enhance students educational experience; b. to prepare them for citizenship by providing interschool competition among the public elementary and secondary schools of Texas; and c. to establish rules and procedures for sanctioning and conducting interscholastic competition, including rules providing penalties for rules violations by school district personnel, that are consistent with rules of the State Board of Education.

**These numbers are high school enrollment and class divisions in Texas schools for the 2002-04 alignment. Enrollment is determined from ninth through twelve grades. 5A class is 1910 students and above, there are 227 class 5A schools in Texas. (The largest 5A school has 5481 students, 93 schools have over 2500 students) Class 4A is 900 to 1909 students with Texas having 223 class 4A schools. Class 3A is 345 to 899 students with Texas having 210 class 3A schools. Class 2A is 180 to 344 students with Texas having 222 class 4A schools. Class 1A is 179 students and below. There are 338 1A class schools in Texas

Dreams Come True For Minden Native Son

By R.K. Speights

PALM BEACH, Fla.-- Aaron S. Lee fell in love with sports at Minden High School in Minden, La. Lee continued this love affair with sports during his college days at the University of Southern Mississippi. His passion for writing and covering sports were kindled at Southern Miss, so naturally his major became journalism.

After attending college, he - along with his wife, Joanna - started a weekly paper called the Attack Eagle, which covered Southern Miss & Conference USA athletics. As a college student, his dreams were to become a nationally recognized sports columnist and an author. Although his column "One Fan’s Opinion" is not nationally syndicated yet, it has been featured in many newspapers throughout the country.

After college, Lee worked the sports beat for papers in Louisiana and in Wyoming before becoming sports editor for Marshall News Messenger in Marshall, Texas.

From there Lee returned to the old beaten path, as sports writer for Palm Beach Post. Covering teams like the Dolphins, Hurricanes, Gators and Seminoles - just to list a few.

At the present time Lee is the managing editor for a nationally published coaching trade magazine, American Football Monthly.

As far as dreams go, his aspiration to become an author just became reality as his first book, Quotable Eddie Robinson, will hit the shelves on Jan. 15. Quotable Eddie Robinson is about the another Louisiana native son and the winningest college coach of all time, former Grambling coach, Eddie Robinson.

Other books in the works include an autobiography of the Road Warriors, professional wrestling's most celebrated tag team, and an autobiography of Olympic gold medallist barrel racer, Martha Josey, of Karnack, Texa.Both books are due out later in the year.

Lee's philosophy on life shows why dreams can come true for anyone even a native son from Minden. A quote from Lee explains his philosophy: Lee, "My experience as a sports writer has been a pretty good one. I have been places and met people that I will forever remember with a tender heart and a warm smile. One of those people is former head coach for the Marshall Mavericks, Bill Harper. During an interview while Coach Harper was relating a story on his football career, he turned and tapped the desk. He said, "Son, that is opportunity...and it only knocks once.That will forever stick in my mind."

It's Hot In East Texas!
By R.K. Speights

It's hot in East Texas and across the state but that's not a climate report. Hot under the collar would be a better characterization of the attitude of high school coaches, players and fans in East Texas and across the Lone Star State.
When the University Interscholastic League dropped the bombshell, last Monday, that they were changing their stance (of not allowing private schools membership in the UIL) to: Allowing two private schools (Dallas Jesuit and Houston Strake Jesuit) to submit applications for membership, the temperatures soared.  

The popular slogan Don't Mess With Texas may soon be changed to Don't Mess With Texas High School Sports. Cries from the coaches, players and fans range from Lynch the varmints to We've been sold out--particularly in high school football.   It seems what everybody is afraid of, is that these two schools will do what private schools across the country like Evangel, Valley Christian, Jesuit (Carmichael), Jacksonville Trinity Christian and Detroit Catholic Central have done and that is win state titles and win them regularly.  

Like most issues, people are uninformed. Most have never read the UIL press release  pretaining to this matter. The press release states: that only Dallas Jesuit and Houston Strake Jesuit will be allowed to apply and if they meet all the criteria set forth by the UIL they will be allowed to join. One of the stipulations is that they (Dallas Jesuit and Houston Strake Jesuit) drop any and all litigation and/or  lawsuits pending against the UIL. Then they must conform to all the rules and regulations as set forth by the UIL. For those of you that have never glanced at these rules and regulation you need to drop by the UIL's website and spend a day or two reading. The kicker is that this recommendation must be approved by the Commissioner of Education.  

So folks, grab you a cold glass of ice tea, sit back and cool off because this ain't a done deal, yet. And remember this: There are a more voters whose kids go to public school in Texas than voters whose kids go to private school. Let your voice be heard. Contact the commissioner but drink that glass of ice tea before you do.  

NFL: East Texas style ...
With the pending Super Bowl just days away, I thought the East Texas fans might like to know just how well East Texas is represented in the Pro football teams.  

The following East Texas football players are currently on NFL rosters: Arizona Cardinals: Barron Tanner-DT (Athens HS), Josh McCown-QB (Jacksonville HS) and Bryan Gilmore-WR (Lufkin HS). Atlanta Falcons: Edward Jasper-DT (Troup HS) and Kynan Forney-OT (Nacogdoches HS). Baltimore Ravens: Gary Baxter-S (John Tyler HS) and Wes Pate-QB (Arp HS) *practice squad*. Buffalo Bills: Larry Centers-FB (Tatum HS ) and Anthony Denman-LB (Rusk HS). Green Bay Packers: Jacoby Shepherd-DB (Lufkin). Houston Texans: Chad Stanley-P (Ore City HS) and Chris Carter-DB (John Tyler). Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Blaylock-RB (Atlanta HS). New England Patriots: Fred Coleman-WR (Tyler Lee). New Orleans Saints: Toby Gowin-P (Jacksonville HS) and Keyuo Craver-CB (Harleton HS). Oakland Raiders: Travian Smith-LB (Tatum HS) and Terrence Shaw-CB (Marshall HS)

I'm not finished yet.... playing for the Philadelphia Eagles: Bobby Taylor-CB (Longview HS) and Bobby Williams-OG (Jefferson HS). San Francisco 49ers: Quincy Stewart-LB (John Tyler HS) St. Louis Rams: Damione Lewis-DT (Sulphur Springs HS) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rickey Dudley (Henderson). Washington Redskins: Jeremiah Trotter-LB (Hooks HS) and Wilbert Brown-OL (Hooks HS).

Now that's not a bad representation. And that's just from Region II in East Texas.  

Name dropping ...
As a journalist I get to meet some interesting people. A few days, Mrs. C.L. Whittington (wife of the new Prairie View A&M head coach) introduced me to a little lady from Hallsville.  This intriguing lady will turn 99 shortly. I plan on doing an article about her later on. Her name: Ms. Bennie Newhouse.  

Oops, there it is....You can hear those rusty gears turning, the light bulbs clicking on.. Yes, Ms. Bennie is the grandmother of 1976 Olympic Gold and Silver medallist, Fred Newhouse---Graduate of Prairie View A&M and aunt of former Dallas Cowboy, Robert Newhouse--University of Houston. Ms. Bennie is a spry and delightful lady who I am sure will have many fascinating stories to tell.  

College news ... If you notice, I said Mrs. Whittington is the wife of the new head football coach for Prairie View A&M.   On Friday, Jan. 10, Prairie View A&M Athletic Director Charles McClelland announced that Prairie View had selected a 1973 Prairie View graduate, C.L. Whittington, as its new head football coach. Mr. Whittington is a former player for the Houston Oilers and has spent the past 20 years coaching high school, college and pro football. The last nine spent in the pro ranks.  

In an interview after the press release, I asked Coach Whittington what he would like the high school coaches and players in Region II to know about him. He smiled and said, "I have 25 scholarships I need to fill will top athletes." Contact the editor for more information.

"Status Quo"

By R.K. Speights

The realignment changed the East Texas and Region II high school football "status quo". Depending on how you look at it, this season will be exciting or heart breaking. It's a season a team and fans will either look forward to or dread.

Let's look at the new 16-4A district. There's Ennis, ranked No. 1 in the Sharp/Collier pre-season poll, Corsicana, ranked No. 7, Terrell ranked No. 10, Mabank, moved from 3A to 4A this season, made the playoffs last year for the second time in 11 years, Red Oak, hasn't seen a playoff berth since 1984 and Lancaster, missed the playoffs for the first time last season since 1992. Lancaster previously shared a district with Wylie, Highland Park and Mesquite Poteet. Ennis and Red Oak came from the same district as did Corsicana and Terrell.  Mabank seems to have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, coming from a district with teams like Crandall, Kaufman and Wills Point and to top that off, into a district with the reigning Division II State 4A Champ two years in a row, Ennis. Which side of the field would you want to be on?

District 11-5A will be interesting this year. Four teams from the old 12-5A dynasty comprise the newly formed 11- 5A: Lufkin, John Tyler, Tyler Lee and Longview. This district race can be called the "Doublemint Classic". With only four teams in the district, they play each other twice in a round robin schedule like all the other sports. If it were any other district, a seventy-five percent chance of making the playoffs would seem to be a sure thing but that doesn't hold true here.  John Tyler is considered to be the underdog, after losing Coach Wilson but you can never count those Lions out. The Lufkin Panthers comes into the season as reigning Division II-5A Champions. The Lee Red Raiders are picked by the polls as the hot team in the district and the Longview Lobos come off their best season in a while. All four teams have a tradition of winning. This four team district will make for an exciting season and a nerve-racking season..

District 14-4A it comprised of Jacksonville, Athens, Palestine, Whitehouse, Henderson and Nacogdoches. Jacksonville, Athens and Palestine were previously in the same district as were Henderson and Whitehouse. Nacogdoches (former 12-5A school) dropped to 4A with the re-alignment. Jacksonville is favored to win district and rightly so having been to the playoffs for the past seven years and the only team with a returning head coach, Danny Long. The other five schools all have new head coaches with only one with previous experience as a head coach.  Buddy Ray, former head coach for DeKalb, is now the Whitehouse head coach. In the past 10 seasons only two teams have had a successful run in the playoffs, Jacksonville (8) and Henderson (7). It has been a long dry spell for the other four teams. With the top spot virtually locked in for Jacksonville, the battle for second and third are open. What some are classifying as a weak district by previous team records and performance is not really the case. Jacksonville, Palestine and Athens previously shared the district with Corsicana and Terrell. Henderson and Whitehouse shared the district with Kilgore, Pine Tree, Carthage and Hallsville. Nacogdoches shared the district with Lufkin, Tyler Lee, John Tyler, Longview and Marshall. None of the teams can be considered weak, neither can the teams that are now in 14-4A. Should make for a very interesting and exciting season for the 14-4A fans.

A comment about District 13-4A by one of the pre-season sports gurus was this: "Somebody had to be first and somebody had to be last. The numbers dictated that Texas High be first and either Hallsville or Marshall be last". The re-alignment may have created one of the toughest 4A districts (across the board) in the state. Texas High (ranked third in the state by one of the pre-season polls and picked as a state finalist), Mt. Pleasant ( 9 consecutive playoff appearances), Kilgore, Pine Tree, Marshall (former 12-5A team),  and Hallsville make up the new district. Coach McDaniels of Mt. Pleasant has the best win/loss record, Coach Vallery of Kilgore next, then Coach Adams of Hallsville. Coach Waldrep (Pine Tree) and Coach Norton (Texas High) start their third season as head coaches this year. Rodney Southern takes the field for the first time (as head coach) for the Marshall Mavs. The top three teams could well be determined in the district opener. Look for some great defensive games. All in all, anyone of these six teams could take the top three spots.

The new 12-3A (former 15-3A) goes from an eight team district to a six team district. That alone puts a new twist on the district race. Five of the teams (Atlanta, New Boston, Queen City, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, Texarkana Pleasant Grove)  have played together but with the addition of Daingerfield things change somewhat. Of the six, New Boston has to be low man on the totem pole, not having made the playoffs since 1984. Atlanta, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, Texarkana Pleasant Grove and Daingerfield have made the playoffs four out of the past five years and have been district champs and in the case of Liberty-Eylau, 1999 3A State Champs. Queen City made the playoffs in 2000 and 2001. Atlanta is the only reigning district champ and is the current 2001 3A State Track Champion. All of the teams (with the exception of New Boston) will make the race for the top three spots very interesting and there is a great possiblity one of these teams could bring home a state championship this year.

OTHER NEWS: Keyou Craver (former Harleton cornerback) is catching the eyes of the New Orleans Saints' coaches. It looks like the same success his work ethics had at Harleton and Nebraska are creating a little excitement in the Saint training camp.

A True Prospective

By R.K. Speights

Texans have a "thing" about high school sports especially football. Texas more so than any other state; lives, eats and breathes high school sports. But is it really "the sports" that the fans are so enthused about or is it 'the kids".  In some schools that might be hard to determine.

Why do schools provide extra-curricular activities like football, softball, band, theater, etc.? Is it so we can boast that we are champion of this or that? Again, that might be hard to determine in some schools. Why not just teach the three R’s, reading, writing and arithmetic and leave it at that? Kids are supposed to go to school to get an education. Let’s see, should I have said academic education. The No.1 focus of every school should be academics. But does academics alone prepare a student for the real world. No.  Extra-curricular activities were created for students to help give balance to their lives, helping to prepare them for life after high school.

One question I have about all this enthusiasm we the fans have is: Have we forgotten just who all of the extra-curricular activities were created for? Us or the students. Last season at one football game, one group of students were chastised for standing up and cheering for the football team. The reason this happened was because a select few of the fans couldn’t see because the kids were standing up in front of them. I personally believe these particular fans have lost their perspective on just why we have a football team and football games. It’s for the kids!

Were all these extra-curricular activities created for your pleasure and enjoyment? I think not.....

While I’m at it, I have another question that puzzles me: How can fans come to the games--ootball, soccer, volleyball, softball, etc.--if you’re not going to holler and support the kids? Winning or Losing. That’s what it’s all about. The kids.

I would hope the reason, Texans are enthused about high school sports is because of the kids not the game. I know I am. yet I sometimes  wonder about the other parents, adults and fans. This sports season remember the "Reason for the Season" is the KIDS.

TILL THE LAST BUZZER SOUNDS

A Smorgasbord Of Offense

By R.K. Speights

REGION II---On any given Friday night and some Saturdays for the next 16 weeks you will see a smorgasbord of offensive formations. With over 300 plus teams in Region II, pick an offense in it will be used sometime during the night. Depending on talent and opposing defenses you might even see a variety of offenses in a single game or a mutation.  

Some of the offenses to watch for are:  

The Wing "T' a favorite of many high school coaches. The Wing T formation is a well balanced offensive play system. You can perform a powerful ground attack in this formation as well as a powerful passing attack out of this one formation. With a lead blockers on sweeps and a option threat this offense can keep many defenses guessing, but at the same time it is a very simple but powerful system to run.It has three major pass threats, two wideouts and a tight end, not to mention the running backs coming out of the backfield.  

Like the Wing "T", the "I" formation is a well balanced offensive system. You can perform a ground attack as well as a powerful passing attack. With a lead blocker on sweeps and a option threat this offense, too,  can keep many defenses guessing, but again is a very simple but powerful system to run. It also has three major pass threats, two wide-outs and a tight end and the running backs coming out of the backfield.

The Pro Formation is similar to the "I" formation, but can hit the opposing team faster with the split backfield
You can perform a ground attack as well as the powerful passing attack. With a lead blocker on sweeps and a option threat this gives the defenses fits. Like the above two formations it has three major pass threats, two wide-outs and a tight end plus the running backs coming out of the backfield.

  The Wing Formation is similar to the "I" formation, but can hit the opposing team faster with the extra running back.With a lead blocker on sweeps and a option this formation has a big play potential when you look at the number of reverses and trick plays you can use to get the wingback into the game. Like the others it has three major pass threats, two wide-outs and a tight end.  

The Multiple Formation is an offense designed to attack the many weaknesses of a given defense opponents use. It is the most common offense used in high school football but the most complex to learn.  

The Run & Shoot Offense was created by Tiger Ellison some 35 years ago. It originally was referred to by Mr. Ellison as the Lonesome Polecat. The basic philosophy is one that allows your players to make decisions on the field and is built into every play, whether you.

Hey it's been eight months since you tasted high school football so you deserve a smorgasbord. Don't eat too much cause it's 16 more weeks of your favorite delight.

Promote The Product  

By R.K. Speights

TEXARKANA--In an interview with the owner of TexarkanaSports.com--Mr. Christopher Lyke--I learned he has started a new project called simply "Athlete Pages."  

Mr. Lyke, graduated high school in Florida. While there he played high school football against Autry Denson of the Miami Dolphins, so he knows how hard it is for a high school athlete to get noticed. For some time now he has entertained the idea of creating a means for local, area and regional high school athletes from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma to promote their talent without it costing an arm and leg, Giving them the exposure they need. In the competitive world of sports exposure has become neccessary for an athlete to receive offers from colleges to play ball.  

As Sports Information Director for Texarkana College Baseball and Softball, he knows the time spent looking at talent and recruiting. Creating a central location for East Texas athletes to quote/unquote Promote the Product is the main objective and also create a place for scouts and coaches from surrounding colleges to look at potential athletes.  

Every athlete is not a Division I recuit but in a four state area (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma) there are over 100, Division II, Division III and Junior colleges that need and want athletes. Nation wide there are 592 Division I colleges, 333 Division II colleges, 542 Division III colleges and 184 junior colleges that seek athletes in every sport.  

At the present time Mr. Lyke is working on about 60 college athlete pages for the Texarkana College's baseball and softball programs.  The project is mainly geared to help promote athletes to the public, to scouts from colleges and from the pro ranks in different sports.  Plus the project gives the athletes a chance to present themselves more openly.  Its a win-win situation for many of the local and regional athletes who want the same exposure that some national recruits may get.

There are several different packages that the athletes can purchase.  The price ranges anywhere from $10-100.  Clearly a very inexpensive and affordable price range for the exposure they can get. 

Till The Last Buzzer Sounds.

Tell Them You Are Proud Of Them!

By R.K. Speights

Early Friday morning we lost two more of our family. Two high school cheerleaders from Texarkana Texas High were killed in a car accident on their way to school.

When I say family, I mean the Texas ISD. We may be rivals during competitions but it still is a big extended family. The old saying:" When you cut one of us, all of us bleed" applies. When we lose one we all mourn.

On Labor Day a former Hallsville graduate was killed in an automobile accident, the same week, a football player from Chapel Hill collapsed on the field and died. Two weeks before a 2002 graduate of Hallsville was killed in a auto accident.

Last year a cheerleader from Elysian Fields was killed in an accident. The year before, three students were killed in car accidnets from Henderson and Hallsville had two Bobcat Belles killed the first week of school in an airplane crash. I can go on but that's not the point of this article.

I spent Saturday with my daughter on the Texas A&M campus. She’s a freshman. On the drive down, I thought a lot about the two young ladies we lost Friday and on the drive back, too. I thought a lot about my own daughter.

I thought about all the times I told her I was proud of her but I thought of the many times I didn’t. I thought about the many times I told her what she did wrong. Maybe to many.

I thought about why I am proud of her and have I told her all the reasons why. No.

I thought about how many times I have told our football players, softball players, track, band, one act group, cheerleaders, drill team and so on, that I was proud of them. But then I thought of the times I failed to tell them.

I thought about the times I have crossed the football field or gone to the opposing dugout or other teams bench and told the players they made me proud because they never gave up or they played a good game. But then I thought about the times I didn’t.

I thought about when Hallsville plays Texas High later in district, that I now will never be able to tell these two young ladies that I am proud of them. They were part of my extended family.

We need to tell (not criticize our youth) how proud we are of them. Not just your own children but all of them. Don’t let an opportunity go by when you have a chance to praise.

For those of you at Texas High, my heart and prayers belongs to you.

Take time to say: I’m Proud Of You.

Till The Last Buzzer Sounds.

Do You Feel Left Out!

By R.K. Speights

It seems to me, when you hear high schools sports talk, East Texas is left out. It always the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Midland or Austin schools the sports writers and media rant and rave about.

East Texas seems to be the Rodney Daingerfield of Texas high school sports. No teams to brag about. No star athletes, no State Champions or teams worth mentioning in the news or should I say big city news.

All the sports gurus and their polls seem to have eyes that see no further than most metro city limits.

Take Brother Dave Campbell and the Texas Football Classic. It’s an invitational only kickoff to the high school football season. Have there been any East Texas teams invited. NO. Ever wonder why! Hello Rodney!

You would think an East Texas team that was state champion or played in the state finals might be considered but I guess being state champion or playing in the finals is not a good enough pre-requisite to be invited. Since the first Texas Classic not one East Texas team has been invited. But teams like Smithson Valley, Port Arthur Memorial, Fort Worth Dunbar, Brownwood,  Odessa Permian, Copperas Cove, Baytown Lee and San Antonio Roosevelt got their invites this year. The 2003 teams will include Abilene, Bryan, Corpus Christi Calallen, Donna, Lubbock Monterey, San Marcos, The Woodlands and Waco. 

Sorry Lufkin, Daingerfield, Liberty-Eylau, Elysian Fields, Tyler, Tenaha, Omaha Pewitt, Lonview, Ennis , Garrison, Corsicana, Terrell, Ennnis, ya'll just don't rank. Kinda’ makes you feel like ole "Charlie the Tuna".  Not good enough for a brand name. 

Well, I have the solution to this "No Respect" thing the rest of the state has for our East Texas football programs.

Start our own East Texas Classic.

Get us a sponsor like Dr. Pepper or the American Football Monthly or maybe "Old Smoaky" himself and have our own classic each year.

Pick two teams from each class and have a kickoff on zero week maybe at Rose Stadium or Homer Brice at SFA.

Start on Friday night and play all day Saturday.

Let’s see whom we will include. Who gets to be on our invitation list.

In 5A, the district champ in district 11 5-A and maybe invite one of them Dallas schools or how about Evangel to play them. In 4A, let’s include districts 13, 14, 15, and 16. Put the district champion's names in a hat, draw two and let them go at it In 3A, let’s include districts 11, 12, 15 and 16. Do the same as in 4A. In 2A, let’s include districts 18, 19, 20 and 23 do the same with them In 1A, how about districts 18 and 20 and invite the district champions.

Game times: 4A Friday night at 7:30.  1A start Saturday morning at 9 am, 2A start at 12:30 pm, 3A start 4 pmand 5A at 7:30 pm. As my old friend Terry Bradshaw would say, "Get Outta Here".

Pick a former East Texas player to honor, roll out the Bar-B-Que pits and get ready for some football, East Texas style

Till The Last Buzzer Sounds.

Ouch, That Hurts.

By R.K. Speights

Ever year in late August, the coaches, players and fans of high school football begin to get that feeling inside. They begin to visualize that district crown, a playoff berth, even maybe a state championship.

Then the games begin. They watch their team struggle and lose the season opener. Everybody knows they need improvement. They begin to access the team players. A fairly good quarterback, one maybe two backs with speed and one even has a little size. Hey, we even have a line averaging 220 pounds. Not real fast though. Our defense looks stout.

Game two: It’s a win--ugly win-- with lots of turn overs and penalties. But it’s a win.

Game three: The most formidable foe of non-district games yet. The boys play with heart and only lose by two touchdowns. The goose egg on the scoreboard doesn’t matter.

Game four: The defense is clicking but the offense can’t seem to get it together. Another loss. Maybe it’s the coaches play calls. Yep, that’s it. Hey, you can’t ask the boys to play any harder so it's got to be the coaches.

Game five: It’s homecoming and you win big against a team that’s been struggling like your team. The boys looked real good.

District begins: You go into district 2-3. The boys play with all their talent and heart but get spanked XX to zero. The next three games are against the top three ranked teams in the district.

Reality sets in. Our exceptions have exceeded the talent of our players and there will be no district title or playoff berth. Maybe the coaches are doing the best they can with the talent they have to work with.

Ouch, that hurts.

Home Cookin.....

By R.K. Speights

Over this past weekend I listened to many high school and college games. Friday night I switched back and forth from various radio broadcasts while listening to the Hallsville game. Since the games don't start at the same time and run differently, you can catch the last few minutes of the half, with many games. The same applies to the end of the game.  

What amazed me the most was all the radio announcers and their public comments on what they considered blown calls by the officials. Now the men officiating the games are suppose to be professionals but what about the announcers.   How can an announcer blast an official for making a bad call when he is so far away from the play. Moreover, if they would stop and think. A high school official could if he wanted to, throw a yellow flag almost every play.  

While listening to the SFA-Sam Houston game on the trip back from Texas A&M, I noticed the announcers mention that the ref almost threw a flag but didn't. The announcer even made a comment, "He's reaching for the flag. Well, he must have decided it wasn't a penalty." Now, it seems to me the the announcer was more intent on what the official was doing than the teams playing.  

At half-time Friday night I switched and listened to the Pine Tree -- Marshall game. The very first thing I heard was how the ref. had just blown a call. He had just called quarterback Austin Christmas for intentional grounding. The very next play Christmas threw a pass in the same location while under pressure and they called intention grounding again. These two supposedly unbiased professional announcers got on the refs case again. The half ended with the announcers blaming the refs for the Pirates leading going into half.  

Well, I tuned in to listened to the end of the Pine Tree -- Marshall game. Lo and Behold, the announcers were still doggin on the refs. What topped off this was during the last two minutes of the game, they began to make excuses for the Marshall loss, siting: Home Cooking by the refs. You might expect the fans to say something like that but not professional, quote unquote, unbiased radio announcers.  

In my humble opinion, the Home Cooking is in the broadcast booth.      

The Triple Crown Winners

By R.K. Speights

No , I am not talking about Secretariat the winner of the last triple crown in horse racing, nor about Tiger Woods the winner of golf triple crown.

The column is about three high school football teams that have swept the 2002 playoffs for the third week in a row, Longview, Lufkin and Tyler Lee.

In February, the University Interscholastic League re-arranged the districts, pitting DeSoto, Rockwall, Tyler Lee, John Tyler, Lufkin and Longview in a new 11-5A district. DeSoto and Rockwall begged out of being in the district, slating travel hardships, resulting in a four team district. After looking at the existing district maybe the coaches of DeSoto and Rockwall begged out for other reasons.

During the post season games, one of the teams left in the district, started off by beating the #2 ranked team in the nation, Shreveport's Evangel. The Longview Lobos handed Evangel their only loss so far this season.

None of the three teams were ranked in the top ten pre-season polls, not even the reigning state champion, the Lufkin Panthers but a spanking of 12-0 Houston Klein Forest should rank the Panthers.

Tyler Lee's victory over Houston A&M Consolidated made school history, advancing them to the semi-finals for the first time ever.

No respect was given to the new district across the state but when you look for the top ten, all have fallen. Just who's top ten were they.

Winning three weeks in a row in the playoffs is an accomplishment in it's own right for one team but three schools from the same district sweeping three rounds of playoffs is an awesome feat.

Sadly, this want happen next week. Lufkin and district partner Longview, must eliminate one or the other to advance to the semi-final round.

Congratulations to Longview, Lufkin and Tyler Lee on the "Triple Crown Win".

Till the last buzzer sounds.

Sometimes We Forget

By R.K. Speights

As sports fans, journalists and enthusiatics of Texas high school football we thrive on our weekends of such.

We have access to games via cars, televisions, newspapers and now the interent. If we want our weekly fix it's relatively easy for us in the Heart of Texas.

But what about those who don't live in Texas anymore for whatever reason. Let's say our native sons and daughter that are serving in the military. Before they left the state they were just as addicted to Texas high school sports as we are but unfornuately they can't jump in the car on Friday or Saturday to catch the local game or go out and pick up a local paper Sunday morning to find out how their team did.

Sometimes we forget the local conviences we have and we forget to share them with those abroad. (Those people not living in Texas.)

I was reminded of this just this weekend when I posted an updated list of the Texas football playoff scores on a high school football forum.

LPMOM, thanked me for the post and told me she was sending the scores to her son who was in the military and sometimes only got emails because the internet came and went on his ship.

Well, sometimes we do forget but not anymore. For those Texans in the military who are high school sports fans and need their weekly fix I will begin sending out a special weekly newspaper just for our, excuse me, kids in the military.

All you need to do to receive an issue every Sunday is send me an email to TheNetGazetee@yahoo.com with the subject "Texas Military Sports Fan". In the text section put the name of your high school or college. I will make a special subscriber list for yall. I might also toss in some college sports news and maybe an article or two about the Cowboys and the Texans.

Thanks for serving and protecting our country.

Till the last buzzer sounds.

Robin Hood Steals From The Rich

By R.K. Speights

Chapter 41 of the Texas Education Code or better known as the Robinhood plan has already effected the Hallsville ISD sports. The plan, which in essence, takes money from the rich districts and gives it to the poor districts may have robbed it’s first victim at Hallsville I.S.D..

Hallsville’s Athletic director, Roger Adams found that the money chest for the athletic program may have been robbed. After Coach Mulkey resigned as offensive coordinator, Coach Adams began a search for the right person to replace him. His search ended when he found a qualified offensive coordinator outside of the Hallsville system.

When asked why the OC had not been hired, Coach Adam’s reply was: "That he was waiting for the job to be posted".

When superintendent Jim Dunlap was asked the date that the job was to be posted, his rely was this: "Due to the situation with the current taxes, school budget and impending payment to the state becuase of chapter 41, all hiring has been put on hold". He further explained, that Hallsville hired teachers first, coaches second. Due to the loss in revenue because of the Robinhood plan, budget cuts will take place at Hallsville ISD. There are no planned teaching staff layoffs but those who retire or resign may or may not be replaced.

Robin and his merry men in Austin will continue stealing from Hallsville. Sports is just their first highway robbery.

The Hallsville Ladycats softball team--under new Head Coach Jami Simmons--are preparing for another run for state. Six of the starting Ladycats played on the state finalist team this past season. Allison Strickland, Stephanie Beason, Kimberly Blackwell, Sara Suggs, Kassie Wehring, Whitney Brannon, and Christie Gibbons bring veteran experience to the team. The Ladycats had a 38-8-1 season record and were district champions with 10 & O record, The Ladycats were 5 & 1 in the playoffs, losing to Smithson Valley in 2001 the state championship game.

In their run for state champion, the Ladycats beat arch rival Pine Tree four time during the season. The scores were: 3-2, 4-3, 3-2, 7-6. The icing on the cake for the Ladycats came with the 7-0 defeat they gave the Lady Pirates to eliminate them from the playoffs and advance to the state finals.

Simmons played college softball for Stephen F. Austin, and was an assistant coach at Texas Women’s University before coming to Hallsville. When asked about the upcoming season, Simmons replied, "We’re going to take it one game at a time".

The Ladycats play in there first tournament February 22 and 23 in Longview.

Robin, you may steal their money but you can’t take their talent nor diminish Bobcat Pride and Spirit.

Tomorrow Never Comes

By R.K. Speights

A new Bobcat stadium and the new Ladycat soccer team..

Thirty years ago Hallsville built a new stadium that would seat twenty-five hundred fans on the home side and a thousand on the visitor side, something unimaginable for a 2A school system to do. They were building for tomorrow. We all know "Tomorrow never comes" yet it did for this grand old stadium. Hallsville is now a class 4A and the seating capacity was maxed a few years ago. Now the average home side attendance is thirty-five hundred plus. Tomorrow ended for the old Bobcat stadium in late December. With the demolition completed on the exisitng structures, construction began on a new seventy-two hundred seat stadium. the first week in January. Five thousand seats for the home side fans and twenty-two hundred seats for the visitors. New everything; lights, restrooms, concessions stands, press box, scoreboard and a new eight lane track. In addition, a four thousand square foot weight room is being added to the fieldhouse and a new varsity locker room. Future plans include increasing the visitors side seating and maybe even artificial turf. But those are plans for "Tomorrow" and we all know "Tomorrow never comes".

Five years ago a Ladycat softball team was started, last season they played in the state finals. In January a new Ladycat junior varsity soccer team took the field. The team consists of twelve freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors, one senior: and a first year head coach. None of these young ladies have participated in a UIL governed soccer competion, thirteen have never played soccer before, their coach has never coached soccer before yet they won their opening game against Mt. Pleasant 1-0.

What better way to start a new program than win your very first season  game. From the opening buzzer the Ladycats gave the Lady Tigers--returning district 14 4A champs--all they could handle. The Ladycats took 12 shots and had four penalty kicks. The only score of the game resulted from a penalty kick by forward Elisa Muntz five minutes into the game. Another score was negated a couple of minutes later because of a penalty. The Ladycat's attacking offense and defense kept the Lady Tigers defending their goal most of the game.

For seventy minutes the Ladycat defense allowed only three goal shots by the Lady Tigers and no penalty shots. Their second game of the season found them pitted against the varsity squad from Paris playing without the help of seven of their starting players, out for various reasons.

The Lady Wildcats took 22 shots and scored only three times in the first half. The second half a tired Ladycat defense toughened up and only allowed one goal. Yes, they lost but for an inexperienced junior varsity team to hold a veteran varsity team to just four points that’s as good as a win.

Who knows, state in fours years but that’s "Tomorrow" and we all know that "Tomorrow never comes".

They ain’t fat and they ain’t fluffy

By R.K. Speights

The realignment changed a few things for next season for the Bobcats. Instead of 16 4A we will be 13 4a .We will still play seven of the 10 teams that we played this season. Marshall, Texas High and Mt. Pleasant swapped from non-district games to district games; Henderson and Whitehouse swapped to non-district. We will still play Kilgore and arch rival Pine Tree in district competition plus add Atlanta, Lindale and Terrell to the non-district games. Should be interesting. I like what head coach RogerAdams said, "Bring them on, we’ll play them".

A few years ago I read a bumper sticker that read, "I’m not fat just fluffy". If you have had a chance to visit the new weight room at the Bobcat fieldhouse and watch the Cats work out, there’s two things you’ll realize real quick. They ain’t fat and they ain’t fluffy. Those Cat’s look like ArnoldSwazaCats.

Thirty plus years ago we thought a wooden bench, 350 pounds of weights, a straight bar and a curling bar under the oak back of the gym was state of the art. Coarse us Louisiana boys were naturally strong. Not to bright just strong.

Now the new state of the art Bobcat weight room covers about 4000 square feet and allows a year round weight program. . The new weight room will allow the entire varsity football team to work out simultaneously, year round now that they air conditioning. Coach Adams said, the old weight substituted for a sauna during the dog days of summer. Other added features include: More equipment that should have been installed the past week.

According to the powerliting head coach, David Plunk , heavy weight powerlifting team member Jason Cole has already increased his lifts because of the new facility. Torrin Bush, regional finalist last season, who won’t compete this year because of a broke ankle which happened during football season, has used to new weight room to rehab his ankle and regain strength that was lost while on crutches. The overall team should have fair well in the Elgin Poole Invitational Powerlifting Meet held this Saturdy at Hallsville.

Head track coach Tommy Miller can already see an improvement in the track team. Increasing leg and arm strength is essential is track. With having the ability to train year round, he believes we will see faster speeds and greater distances in the discus and shot putt.

If the UIL approves the proposed new rule change that would allow coaches to supervise a summer weight program. The new weight room should see lots of use during the summer months. At the present time, coaches are not allowed to have supervised training programs of any kind during the summer months for the athletes, but UIL officials realize less off season injuries will occur if weight training programs that are supervised by experienced personal such as high school coaches. Look for them to approve this proposal.

Another new addition to the Bobcat fieldhouse is a new lockeroom. The old weight room was converted into a new varsity locker room. 70 new hardwood lockers plus all the trimmings are now being used by the varsity players.

With the new space comes a little extra room in what was a large storage room, which has been converted to a laundry room.

All in all over the next few years we should see an improvement in players conditioning and should experience less injuries due to out of shape athletics.

Yep, they ain’t fat and they ain’t fluffy. ArnoldSwazaKitty eat your heart

It's called Bobcat Pride.

By R.K. Speights

Bobcat pride....

Is Bobcat Pride new to Hallsville? Not really. Bobcat Pride has been around a long time. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out, look at all the old Bobcats (and Ladycats) roaming around the town.

Now so we are all on the same page, Bobcat Pride and Bobcat Spirit are to different things. You can have Bobcat Spirit and never have spent a day as a teacher or student at HHS. On the other hand, Bobcat Pride is created by being able to say", Been there, done that". Bobcat Pride covers all aspects of the school but seeing how this is a sports column it would seem appropriate to look at the regeneration of Bobcat Pride in the athletic program.

It started in 98, when offensive coordinator Roger Adams, was selected to fill the Athletic Director/Head Coach vacancy. In 99 Coach Adams, his staff and a group of young men (Deke, Anthony, Sedanio, Shawn, Kendrick, Clinton and Clayton, Micah, Brad, Ronnie, Jeff, Bodie, to name a few) did something that hadn’t happened in 13 years. That was make the playoffs in football. Not only did they make the playoffs, but they went all the way to the regional finals.

Can you really define Bobcat Pride? No but if you watched that team play, you could say you saw it. That never give up attitude. The team play. The unselfishness of the players. That look that said, "I’m a Bobcat and proud of it". After the bi-district game, (even though they lost to Corsicana) when the team turned to the crowd and raised their helmets in a salute, you knew there was a new Bobcat Pride on the field.

When the Ladycats took the field in the state softball championship game last season everybody in the stands could tell they were proud to be Ladycats. When Jenilee Skender set the state record for most home runs in a season and career home runs for both boys and girls, you could see that Bobcat Pride (excuse me) Ladycat Pride.

This past football season when Micah Huckabee struck the Kilgore player that was twice his size to spring Kendrick Muckelroy for the go ahead touchdown or when Muckelroy raced 97 yards down the sideline for the TD against Carthage, you could look at the team and see that Bobcat Pride.

When Muckelroy came up 13 yards shy of a 1000 yards for the season, it was Bobcat Pride that kept him from getting those yards. You see, Muckelroy refused the offer for a chance to break the 1000 yard mark to allow a fellow senior play in the last game. Now that’s Bobcat Pride.

I created an acronym that explains the regeneration of the new Bobcat Pride. BOBCATS-Best Of the Best Coaching And Training Staff. So when you holler Go Bobcats at the next game remember who's teaching these young players Bobcat Pride. Actually the acronym should say: BOBCATS-Best Of the Best Coaching And Teaching Staff.

Bobcat Soccer The Next Generation

By R.K. Speights

It seems like a generation ago since Jim Manning was hired by Athletic Director Roger Adams to be head soccer coach.

The task of starting a new athletic program from scratch is not an easy project. No experienced players, no regulation soccer field, competing in a district of established soccer programs. Coach Bryan Greer gave birth to the new program, Coach Manning took over the task of nurturing the infant in 1999.

Is the soccer program a winning program. That depends on how you judge winning. If you determine a winning program by the scoreboard then this infant program is not yet a winning program. But if you look where they were when the started and what they accomplished since it’s inception, especially this year, then yes it is a winning program. If you judge the program by the character of the athletes on and off the field, then it’s is a winning program.

This year the varsity Bobcat soccer team: Luke Terry, forward; Justin Glowcheski, midfielder/keeper; Keith Long, midfielder; Chris Heflin, forward; Aaron McWilliams, midfielder; Cody Milford, midfielder; Carlos Pedroza, back; Cooter McElwee, back; Steve Guillote back; Geoffrey Davis, back; Tucker Reagan, midfielder, Josh Campbell, forward; Brian Dawson, back; Chase Weeks, back; Cullen Parks, forward; Jacob Campbell, forward; James Taylor, keeper and Jonathan Lawrence, midfielder, under the direction of Coach Manning made history.

They had 11 wins, 11 losses, and four ties on the season. The most wins to date for a season. The most district wins in a season "five". A district record of 5-7-2. They won their first tournament ever, the "Paris Tournament". They beat arch rival, Pine Tree, for the first time in the school’s soccer history. They also beat Whitehouse for the first time. They will be returning twelve lettermen and nine starters to the field this next season.

The infant that had to learn to crawl, then walk is now running. The infant is now an adolescent. This happened for two reasons. 1) Willing and determined athletes and, 2) the character of the man at the helm, Jim Manning.

Manning will be turning the leadership of the program over to another coach this next season to start the next generation of Bobcat soccer. Whoever takes over the helm will reap the benefits of the hard work his predecessors.

Manning is leaving to start a new team program in Lake Travis, Texas. He and his wife will be teaching and he possibly will be coaching but his main efforts will be to nurture and grow a work for his God like he did the soccer program at Hallsville. He will be starting from scratch this time but it’s a new church instead of an athletic team.

I asked Coach Manning to share his thoughts. Here’s what he had to say

"It has been an awesome five years here and I am thankful to Roger Adams for me being here. He was a great man to work for. I am thankful to God for bringing me here and allowing me to be an influence for him in the lives of these students. I am also thankful for the rest of the coaching staff and teachers and administration and all the friends I have made here. Hallsville is an awesome place."

Here’s a couple of quotes from Coach Manning: " Today, God's gift to you is giving you the ability to play, Your gift to God is how you play today's game " and "Only when life shall soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last".

I will end this with a comment to Coach Manning. A quote from the bible. It comes from the book of Matthew, the 25th chapter, the 23rd verse: His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The ACU-Hallsville Connection

By R.K. Speights

The quest speaker for the Hallsville H Association’s annual banquet this past weekend was head football coach for Abilene Christian University, Gary Gaines.

It was obvious from the introduction Coach Gaines received from Hallsville offensive coordinator, David Plunk and the talk that Gaines gave, that there is an ACU-Hallsville connection.

Coach Gaines has a reputation in Texas high school football for taking struggling programs and rebuilding them. One such school is Odessa Permian, which under his direction won state in 1988 and spawned the controversial book "Friday Night Lights". Gaines being one of the main subjects in the book.

It was this ability and reputation ACU was looking for when they hired Gaines as their head coach two years ago. ACU had been struggling over the past seasons but with the hiring of Gaines, is now on the come back trail.

Gaines began to seek talent throughout Texas to rebuild the program. It seems a hot spot for talent is coming off the Bobcat field. Last season, he recruited Clint and Clayton Farrell, 16 4A All District Players, and All District MVP, Shawn Taylor. This season he has recruited Fred Jackson, 16 4A Top Lineman and All District MVP, Kendrick Muckelroy.

Gaines remarked that, "Coach Roger Adams and his staff are producing quality athletes and that many colleges are looking to fill key positions from these athletes, ACU included". Texas A&M and Oklahoma were recruiting Jackson and Muckelroy yet ACU won out.

Another connection comes through two of Hallsville coaches, Charles Farrell and David Plunk.

Besides having two sons playing for ACU, Coach Farrell’s eldest son Cody works in the athletic program as an assistant coach. Tim Plunk, David’s younger brother is defensive backer coach for Gaines.

Gaines first priority is to build a team the will make ACU the number one contender for the Lonestar State Conference football championship and a D-1 school to be reckoned with each year. The way he is going, it might be that they change the mascot from the Wildcats to the Bobcats.

Another connection is Ladycat volleyball player, Amanda Slate, who has signed to play volleyball next season for ACU. Outside of sports ACU a large number of students attending college there that are from Hallsville.

Stadium on the rise

By R.K. Speights

In Feb. 2001, the voters in precinct three voted to pass a 7 million dollar bond for improvements on the Hallsville I.S.D. campus. One of those improvements was renovation of the stadium.

In Dec. 2001, demolition of the old stadium began. By mid-January nothing was left except the playing field. all that was left was the two goal posts and the visitor concession stand. Now that's what Icall renovating.

What had been the old Bobcat stadium was now bare and desolate looking. Work on the new stadium began. Over the weeks nothing seems to be happening, lots of work was going on but there was no visible sign a new stadium was being built.

Then as if over night, structures began to rise. It’s almost like the new growth of spring. The walls for the new rest rooms and concession area are complete, the elevator shaft that leads to the press box now extends 65 feet into the air. All the concrete pillars for the new bleachers rise out of the ground like fingers.

A new era can now be visualized when you drive up Bobcat Lane. With all the new on the horizon will any of the old remain. Will the stadium still be called "Bobcat Stadium" or does the new stadium deserve a new name.

What would be a good name for the new stadium? How about a tribute to the retiring superintendent? Call it the "Jim Dunlap Stadium". Maybe, maybe not. How about the "Roger Adams Stadium"? How about naming it after this years athlete of the year, the "Kendrick Muckelroy Stadium". While deserving, those names just don’t ring a bell.

What about the "Ben Pannell Stadium. For those who know the history of Hallsville football, the "Ben Pannell Stadium" seems appropriate. Pannell was the first high school football coach at Hallsville. He started a tradition in 1933 with the forming of the H Association. You might say he was the father of the football program at Hallsville. The ground work he implimented then, lives today, in Bobcat spirit.

A new look, a new name. Who knows, traditionalists may keep the old name, time will tell.

Thoughts on Re-alignment

By R.K. Speights

With all the speculation about the massive overhaul of the classifications of the Texas schools February 4th by the University Interscholastic League, one can liken this to the anticipation of a small child seeing all the packages under the Christmas Tree and having to wait till December 25th to open them. Only the people who wrapped the presents know the contents.

The speculation (which has reached a point of being humorous) was caused by a proposal submitted to the UIL to create a 6A classification. That will not happen. A study by the UIL legislative Committee determined increased travel created by a 6A alignment would not be cost effective. Travel would be limited for schools in metropolitan areas which would generally be assigned to 5A and 6A. However, schools below 5A would have significant travel problems.

When you look at the overall process of determining who goes where, in what district (no matter the classification) two factors determine the outcome: logistics of travel and economics of travel. In the logistics, moving students from point A to point B, the time traveling is the key factor. The greater the distance the higher the cost of moving students from point A to point B, i.e.; economics.

The next factor (which probably has more weight on whole process than any) is looking at how the realignment effects the entire format of UIL competition, not just varsity football. Some UIL competitions are held on Fridays and Saturdays like varsity football but the mass majority are held throughout the week, everyday but Sunday. They incorporate students from the seventh grade to the twelfth grade. Competitions range from sports to academics. Having to travel long distances during the week would create a hardship on students, teaches, coaches and fans.

As an example, a school traveling 100 miles to another school takes approximately two hours in travel time, add another hour for loading, unloading and warm-up time, an hour to feed the students and you have six hours minimum travel time. Let’s say the competition ends at 9 p.m.. You would have the participants getting home after midnight. That’s fine for Fridays or Saturdays but during the week that’s not feasible.

Now to put this in proper prospective, will the 2002 realignment effect the majority of schools, No. The process they used in determining whether a 6A classification was prudent or not applies here, too. Only a select few at the bottom of the 5A classification will be effected and maybe a few in 4A.

Here’s why. Each realignment the UIL takes the enrollments number from every school submitted on October 29th the year before each new alignment and divides them into 5 classifications. They start at the top and come down 210 to 225 schools. and then divide the schools into 32 districts. Since there will be no 6A classifications and very few schools with numbers lower than the last realignment it makes sense to think that there will be very little change in the existing alignment with the exception of seeing lower cutoff number in the 4A and 5A classifications. If you count down 225 schools, very few have changed their classification status.

Another thing to consider is that the UIL can grant a special dispensation to any school or district that their ruling would create a hardship for. Case in point is district 12 5A. The breakup of 12 5A (because of a higher enrollment cutoff number) would cause an extreme hardship on the entire district plus the districts they merged with because of logistics and economics. Marshall and Nacogdoches have turned in numbers well below the last realignment and it may be that their numbers are below the numbers submitted in the upcoming realignment by the UIl. But because of the logistics and economics it is hard to believe that they will be forced into a lower classification. For the past several realignments, six schools have played a major role in the UIL’s realignment process for the 5A classification. They are: Marshall, Longview, John Tyler, Tyler Lee, Lufkin and Nacogdoches. The basic reason again is logistics. They are located farther from the majority of the rest of the schools in 5A so they have to be considered in the realignment.

Tomorrow all speculation will be over. No matter what the outcome remember this, Texas has one of the best high school scholastics governing boards in the nation and they take their job seriously.

East Texas High School Tradition

By R.K. Speights

The H Association, one of the oldest, if not the oldest Texas High School Letterman’s Club will celebrate it’s 71st anniversary this year.

The "H" Association was founded in 1933 at Hallsville high school by Ben Pannell. Pannell was the athletic coach and Hallsville High School principal. He initiated the Association with these three objectives: 1) All lettermen are to meet on the Saturday night before Easter of each year for a banquet and rundown on the past athletic season. The purpose is to renew old friendships and to meet present day athletes. 2) Strive to help the school athletic program. 3) Always try to remember athletes of the past.

In 1963 an H association board of trustees was formed. Hulon Blalock, Joel Dorsey, Winnifred Haggard, William Lawrence, Bill Dick Parker, Elgin Poole, Willie Steven, D.M Summers, Pres Young and Edd Young were elected to the board. Edd Young was elected as chairman and remained chairman till his death this past year. County

Commisioner, James Greer was elected to take his place as chairman.

Present board members are: Mike Buchanon, James Greer, Rob Key, Stanley Lawrence, Gary Lovelace, James Lovelace, Gregg McNeal, Tommy Pool, Thomas Richardson and David Trice.

Also in 1963, the board started the H Association Hall of Fame. After determining a crteria for inductees, Bill Dick Parker, Joel Dorsey, and Neal Henigan were chosen as the 1963 indutees, In the preceding years, the following former athletes from Hallsville have been inducted into the Hall of Fame: 1964. Ross "Larry" Parker, Perry "Peck" Bunt, Barney Oliver; 1965, Clayton "Shag" Coon, Hulon Blalock, Ed Young; 1966. Clyde Kinsy, Murray Know, Brad Horner; 1967, Dick Hays; 1968, James Greer;1969, Votto Gaddis, Ed Ferges, Corky Ford; 1970. Gene Palmer, Randle Walker; 1971, Mike Buchanon, Lindsey Roberts; 1972, Rueben Bussey, Bobby Price, Avery Downing; 1973, Maurice Jones; 1974, Coach Ben Pannel, Roy Green, Bobby Hunt, Stanley Lawrence; 1975, James Brack, Bobby Mowrey, Jerry Malone; 1976, Pres Young, Rex Scroggins, Dick Ford; 1977, Robert Knight; 1979, Jackie Walker, Gregg McNeal; 1980, Windy Haggard, Syd Keasler, Zell Roberts, Wilber Ingram; 1981, Kenny Rowe, Tommy Joe King, Danny Malone; 1982, Jimmy Killion, Gene Grammer; 1983, David Powell, Jerry Bunt; 1984, Doug Floyd, Ken Jones; 1985, Mike Trice, Scooter Taylor; 1986, Brian Koechel, Bryon Lawrence; 1987, Donald Taylor; 1988, Jimmie Tallant; 1989 Tommy Roberts; 1990, Chris Shafer, Larry Gideon; 1991, Randy Clark, Clifford Shaw; 1992, Jimmy Lynn Grimes, Ricky Lawrence; 1993, Linty Ingram; 1995, Jeff Brownlee, Ron Gideon; 1996, John Martin; 1997, Rob Floyd; 1998, Steve Green, Patrick Gill; 1999, J.B. Rodgers; 2000, Les Langley; 2001, Max Berry, Rodney Flake and Donnie Muckleroy 2002.

The annual H Association banquet is held the Saturday before Easter each year. It is scheduled for April 19th this year at 7 p.m. in the Hallsville high school cafeteria. H-Association members and Hallsville lettermen from all over the area attend this annual banquet. Each year at this banquet, the new inductee or inductees are announced. The 2002 inductee was Donniw Muckelroy.

Also, a tradition that was started in 1950 takes place at the banquet. The athlete of the year (who is chosen by the Hallsville coaches) is announced. Last year’s athlete of the year was Kendrick Muckleroy, son of Donnie Muckleroy.

Bobcat Freshmen Set Record

By R.K. Speights

In the past fifty years, no Bobcat basketball team has ever had a perfect district record. History was made at the Bobcat gymnasium Tuesday’s night.

The freshman Bobcat basketball team won the district championship title of the 16 4A freshman division with a perfect 10-0 record. A feat no other Bobcat team has accomplished.

First year head coach Barton Hundley and 11 freshman: Rodrick Muckelroy, Kord Thompson, Daniel Griffin, Bryan Survia, Ryan Hopkins, Josh Gibbins, Cody Blanchard, Eric Slack, C.C. Lomas and LaKeith Adams set a freshman record of 21 wins and 6 losses. recording a perfect 10 in district.

When asked, "How does this make you feel?", Bobcat C.C. Lomas said, "Proud to be a Bobcat.

The Cats ended their season with a win against the Carthage Bulldogs Freshman team. winning a close game 57-54.

Big Weekend For Bobcats Fans:

By R.K. Speights

This weekend brings a smorgasbord high school sports to the Hallsville fans. Starting off the weekend, the varsity Bobcat baseball team begins a tournament in Liberty-Eylau, Thursday, Feb. 21 through Saturday, Feb 23. Team playing schedules have changed, so check with the Hallsville Athletic department for correct Bobcat playing times.

The Ladycat JV soccer plays Whitehouse at 5:30 pm, Thursday, Feb. 21.

The Ladycat softball team plays at 6:45 and 9:15 pm on Thursday, 12:30 and 1:45 on Friday at Henley park in Longview, Saturday times to be announced.

Next the Bobcat and Ladycat track teams compete in the Pine Tree Winston-Knowles Relays, Friday February 22. Don’t be deceived by the title "Relays". a full gamette of track and field events will take place.

The Bobcat/Ladycat golf team plays in Tyler at Briarwood Country club. The tournament starts Friday the 22.

Saturday, the Bobcat Powerlifting team competes in the East Texas Powerlifting meet at White Oak. Starting time 9 am.

Some players to watch, Christie Gibbons-pitcher Ladycat softball, James Cole-heavy weight powerlifting, Chastidy Russell-100 & 200 meters, Fred Jackson-shot putt, Justin Carwile-Bobcat pitcher, Kendrick Muckelroy, 100 meters.

Big Fred

By R.K. Speights

HALLSVILLE--Fred Jackson, a senior at Hallsville I.S.D. won first in the shot put at the 16 4A district meet held in Carthage Thursday and Friday. A career best of 43.8' nailed the ditrict title and a place at the regional competition.

Jackson’s first attempt at throwing the shot put came at a district track meet while in the eight grade. His throw was a mere feet. His freshman year he increased his distance at district to xxxx feet. His sophomore year he threw feet at district and won xxxx.. His junior year he threw xxx feet and won first in district. He needs a throw of 57 or better at the regionals to reach state competition.

Along with his accomplishments in track, Jackson is a varsity letterman in football and basketball.

In the 2001 season, Jackson (a defensive end) led the way in District 16-4A with 102 tackles (70 solos), 12 tackles for losses, seven sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a blocked kick. Jackson was named the top lineman in District 16-4A.. In 2000, Jackson made the All-District First Team Defense.

Jackson made the list of East Texas players selected to the Collin Street Bakery/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Football Team. He was selected for the 2001 Longview News-Journal All-East Texas Football Team’s defensive unit. He was on the list of Top 100 Texas Recruits.

In basketball, at 6’4" Jackson played post.

Jackson was recruited by numerous colleges throughout the country, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Iowa, Washington, Texas A&M, Arizona, Iowa State but chose to sign and play football for Abilene Christian University.

In a brief interview with ACU Head Coach Gary Gaines, here’s what he had to say about Jackson.: "Fred Jackson is an excellent athlete When you get a big man like Fred that weighs 270 lb.., runs well, and plays three sports, it doesn't take a real sharp eye to see he is an outstanding athlete. He was highly recommended by his coaches. They really think the world of him. Big lineman that can run are hard to find. I believe we have found an excellent player and person in Fred Jackson. We were impressed with him as well after meeting him and having an opportunity to spend some time with him and his family. We are anxious to get him to Abilene Christian University".

WUZUP in Hallsville Sports

By R.K. Speights

Actually it should be "WUZUP" in Harrison county high school sports.

In August of 2001, the Marshall News Messenger hired Arron S. Lee as sports editor. With that hiring a change took place in local high school sports coverage.

The status quo, that most of us who live in Harrison country had learned to live with changed. Instead of predominately articles on the Marshall Mavs, ETBU and Wiley College, we began to see coverage from across the county.

After surviving football season, Lee set out to extend the Marshall News Messenger’s coverage of local sports throughout the county and a little north and a little south. An enormous task for one man. Covering the Mavs, ETBU and Wiley is a full time job in itself but adding Jefferson, Waskom, Elysian Fields, Carthage, Tatum, Beckville, Hallsville and Harleton to the list of high schools to cover is what most would call a pipe dream.

But one man’s dream came to reality. Ask anyone from any of the schools who reads the sports section in the Marshall News Messenger, if they can read weekly if not daily an article about their local high school or college sports and the answer will be, yes.

Lee understood that he alone could not accomplish this so his established a network of stringers (part-time reporters, such as myself) throughout the county. He contacted coaches, assistant coaches and fans to glean sports information. He coached and taught those of us who were not sports journalist how to write fairly readable AP style sports articles.

Along with the word coverage, we began to see more and mores pictures of our kids. If you did not have their weekly schedule, all you had to do is look at the Sunday paper and you would find the entire schedule of the next week’s local sporting events. For those who lived outside of the coverage area and wanted to know what was happening, all you needed to do was access the sports section of the paper’s website.

Lees fell in love with sports at Minden high school, Minden, La. He continued this love playing football for "Southern Miss", Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His passion for writing and covering sports were kindled at "Southern Miss" so naturely his major became sports journalism.

While attending college, he and his wife, Joanna, started a personally owned weekly paper called the Attack Eagle covering exclusively "Southern Miss" sports. Another dream which may in the future become reality is to move back to Hattiesburg and re-establish the Attack Eagle.

After graduating college, he worked the sports beat for papers in Louisiana and in Wyoming before coming to the Marshall News Messenger.

As of next week, Lee will be covering a sports beat again but in south Florida for the Palm Beach Post, another Cox owned paper.

An assignment that might be any sports writers dream. Covering the Dolphins, Hurricanes, Gaters and Seminoles to list a few.

I visited with Arron, Saturday before he left. He was excited yet sad. Excited by the opportunity yet sad to be leaving many new friends and what he called a hot bed of local sporting talent and fans.

Guru, you will be missed.

 

ATTENTION: Sports Editors

High school and college sports are two of the most widely read newspaper topics across the country. It doesn’t matter whether you live in small town USA or the Big Apple, sports fans want their daily fix of sports news.

Sports columns are one of those widely read topics of interest. Ironically most sports columns deal with the Pro sports yet many readers in small town USA would rather read a column pertaining to high school or college sports. These are few and far between.

CATCH THE EYE OF YOUR READERS EACH WEEK.

Aaron S. Lee, managing editor of the American Football Monthly (a coaching trade magazine) and Bob Speights, editor of the North East Texas Sports Gazette (a publication covering Texas high school sports) have combined their talents to offer small town newspapers affordable weekly columns to catch the eye of high school and college sports readers.

Readership is the most important factor for a newspaper. Readerships sells advertising. Advertising pays the bills. Keeping something fresh for the readers of small town publication can be a laborious task. Keeping their attention week after week can be daunting. A fact both Lee and Speights understand.

A paper that's not read is dead.......

Lee and Speights offer fresh weekly columns to newspapers. Something your readers will grow to love.

Their tandem combination will allow you to rotate their columns every other week. Giving your readers a different prospective every week and keep them looking for more.

Their trademark columns (Lee-One Fan’s Opinion and Speights-Till The Last Buzzer Sounds) can give your paper that little extra boost it needs to help keep your readers coming back.

Both journalist understand the budget constraints of a publication so they decided to offer their  columns FREE for the first four weeks.  This allows you time for reader feedback and to determine the impact their columns have on your readers. And they will have an impact on your readers.

 If after you publish the first four columns and you elect to continue running their columns it's only $10 per week. Again they understand your budget limitations.

"Been there, done that"

Should your readers prefer one column over the other. No big deal. Lee and Speights understand that's just the newspaper business.

If you would like more information please contact Bob Speights. He can be reached at 903-576-3433. Email: TheNetGazette@yahoo.com . Aaron Lee  Email: ASLee@lcclark.com. 

If you would like to start the four weeks trial just send Bob an email with the paper name, address, phone number, full contact name and email address. Plus a short note asking for the trial package plus include dates for publication. Limit one trail package per publication. If possible the columnists would like a copy or tear sheet from each issue. The reply will include four columns (two each from Lee and Speights) plus mug shot jpegs. A mailing address will be included for the copy or tear sheet.

Please note: Columns sent out on Monday mornings. Columns vary in length from 300 to 500 words and will be sent attached, in a word format.

Previous columns can be found at:

Speights http://TheNetGazette.freeservers.com/column1.htm

Lee http://TheNetGazette.freeservers.com/column2.htm

Till The Last Buzzer Sounds.

Bob Speights

Editor/Publisher, The NET Sports Gazette

http://TheNetGazette.freeservers.com

The American Football Monthly

http://www.americanfootballmonthly.com/

All material on this website is copyrighted by R.K. Speights.