Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 43) STEVE SULLIVAN I’M A TERRIBLE GOLFER. I WAS never a good basketball player. I have turned into an all-glove and very-little-bat softball player. I’m a poor public speaker (too random). I am terrible at music trivia (just ask Tommy Smith). I do excel in one somewhat useless Steve Sullivan area: Arkansas high school football trivia. I grew up in Massachusetts, but I can name every football playing school’s mascot in Arkansas. I remember the biggest upset in Arkansas high school football history like it was yesterday: A Fort Smith Southside team that barely got into the playoffs went on a magical run under head coach Bob Gatling. Southside went on the road and knocked off Texarkana, Little Rock Mills and Pine Bluff (led by Eric Mitchel) to earn a shot at the mighty Little Rock Parkview Patriots. The Pats were led by their All-everything offensive performers Keith Jackson and James Rouse. The key to the Rebels’ wing-T offense was quarterback Bobby Martin. I don’t know if Martin ever played any more ball after the title game. But for four weeks, Martin was spectacular. And on championship night, the underdog Rebels stunned the most talented team in the state 9-6. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of watching and touting the state’s top players: Basil “The Great” Shabazz, Madre “The Magnificent” Hill, Mickey Dean “The Touchdown Machine” and Darren “The Beast” McFadden. How do you earn a nickname? You have to be a Friday night regular – a guy I can count on for great highlights every week. Great Players Don’t Guarantee a Championship Like it or not, two players enter the 2008 season with special “Friday Night Touchdown” tags: Lake Hamilton’s Phillip “Bread and” Butterfield and Little Rock Christian’s Michael “Do or” Dyer. My favorite nickname story: A player for Pine Bluff High, Dedetron Parks, returned two kicks for touchdowns during one game. We got the video at 9:50 p.m. I wasn’t sure how to pronounce his first name. So I didn’t. At 10:20 p.m., he was the “D-Train.” A new season will bring new stars and possibly new nicknames. Just remember, one man can’t win a title by himself. If one man could, McFadden’s Pulaski Oak Grove Hornets would have won a title and Matt Jones would have led Fort Smith Northside to a state championship. I’ve also learned over the years that the best college prospects aren’t always the best high school players. Remember, when you nominate a player for the Landers Award, we are looking for 13 of the best players – not the 13 top prospects. One major plus heading into the 2008 season: Media coverage for high school football has never been better. I look forward to our new relationship with ArkansasSports360.com, and I can’t wait to dress out (I still wear game jerseys) on the first Friday night of the season. If you want me to wear your school’s jersey, I prefer the number 7, for obvious reasons. Players, cheerleaders, pom squad and band members I hope you create memories and develop friendships that will last a lifetime. m Steve Sullivan is sports director of KATV, Channel 7, and the host of the weekly “Friday Night Touchdowns” show. He is also the playby-play announcer for Central Arkansas Bears football, heard on KABZ-FM, 103.7 “The Buzz.” EXPER EXPERT ADVICE INJUR INJURY RECOVERY SPORTS CONDITIONING PERSONALIZED FITNESS TRAINING Dr. Kathleen L. Rea | Regeneration Fitness, Inc. 117 E. Broadway in Argenta | (501) 324-1414 | www.regenerationfitnessar.com DADS! THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTS “Dads” to be involved in their child’s education, at home and at school! WANT TO SEE YOUR CHILD LEARN MORE IN SCHOOL HAVE BETTER ATTENDANCE EXHIBIT HEALTHIER BEHAVIOR Landers Award Winners KATV has announced its all-state team and player of the year in the state of Arkansas each year since 2000. Fan voting is part of the nomination process. Below is a recap of the Landers Award winners for the past eight seasons and what college each chose to continue their career: Year Player Pos. High School College 2007 Tyler Wilson QB Greenwood Arkansas 2006 A.J. Whitmore QB Nashville Tulsa 2005 Damian Williams WR Springdale Arkansas/USC 2004 Darren McFadden RB Oak Grove Arkansas 2003 Peyton Hillis RB Conway Arkansas 2002 Landon Leach QB Russellville Arkansas* 2001 Reed McKinney QB Warren Arkansas State* 2000 De’Arrius Howard RB West Memphis Arkansas *Injuries ended the careers of Leach and McKinney early. Contact your local school or Debbie Rozzell, Parent Involvement and Volunteer Coordinator phone: 771.8165 email: rozzelld@nlrsd.k12.ar.us July 2008 ArkansasSports360.com 43 http://www.regenerationfitnessar.com http://www.regenerationfitnessar.com http://ArkansasSports360.com
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