Tickets are now available for the Aug. 31 Jacksonville-Cabot Arkansas High School Kickoff Classic game at War Memorial Stadium.
Tickets are $7 and can be purchased in advance at Jacksonville High School and Cabot High School. Call Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson at (501) 425-7370 or Cabot athletic director Johnny White at (501) 743-3530 for information.
Jacksonville is holding its “Football 101” clinic for girls and women 16 and older at the high school fieldhouse at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The Red Devils will hold their junior and senior high Red/White game at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the high school field.
A junior/senior high jamboree involving Jacksonville, Cabot and Mills is scheduled for Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Jacksonville Junior High, Cabot North, Cabot South and Mills ninth-graders will take the field first, followed by a scrimmage between Jacksonville High School and Mills. Admission to the Arkansas Activities Association function is $4.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
SPORTS>>New system pointing out football flaws
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
An old high-school football teammate of mine found our program’s records dating back to 1945 and shared them online.
Boy, did we play for a bad football team. I haven’t seen that many zeroes since the last time I watched “Tora, Tora, Tora.”
To give an example, my team’s record over my junior and senior years was 5-13, and that was the best two-year mark since 1975. To put that in perspective, it means I have to confess I graduated my little school in downstate Illinois in 1981.
Once our program records were posted, a bunch of aging, ex-gridiron greats like myself weighed in with mostly humorous commentary. Like survivors of a hurricane, we can laugh about it now.
I pointed out our opponents always had a knack for being bigger, faster and having more guys. And they excelled at running that “man-wide-open” play.
When opponents saw us on their schedule, I’m sure they lit up like my co-worker Jason King when he spies unattended loose change in the company break room.
The bottom line, of course, was that my team didn’t score enough points, which brings me to the latest Arkansas Activities Association initiative designed to improve high school football in Arkansas.
It’s all about points now.
“But it always has been,” you say.
Yes, it has always been about points on the field.
Now, however, our local large-school teams Cabot, Jacksonville and Searcy have to keep a second score on top of their Friday-night finals. To get to the postseason, it’s not enough to outscore your opponents and win more games than anyone else, the two statistics that have always mattered most.
This season, the 6A and 7A teams that are playing in the hybrid 7A/6A-Central and 7A/6A-East earn points for victories and quality of opponents in order to compile an end-of-season power rating that determines playoff seeding.
What happened to just beating guys?
True, there are geographic and student-population issues Arkansas has had to address in its high school athletics. The solution until now has been to keep adding classifications the way Cabot keeps adding strip malls.
We have seen high school football expand from a perfectly good four classifications to six, ranging from 2A to 7A. Grizzled sportswriters like myself have long decried this process on the basis that we’re giving away championships and playoff berths to teams that previously had to earn them.
Consider that Class 7A has only 16 teams, the smallest classification grouping in the nation.
Yet we still have similar-sized teams too far apart in our little state, making it hard for them to schedule a competitive and fair slate of games. And we won’t go into the AAA’s efforts to lessen disparities caused by the private- school powerhouses.
To make things geographically and competitively agreeable, the AAA created the two hybrid conferences, leaving the 7A-West full of only 7A schools and the 6A-South full of 6A schools. In those conferences it’s still about just winning games.
But for at least the next two seasons, a 7A/6A-Central team like Cabot collects 10 points for each conference victory and one point for each opponent’s conference victory. The total points are then divided by the seven conference games to determine a team’s power ranking.
A 6A team like Jacksonville or Searcy collects 10 points for any 7A/6A-East Conference victory, five for a tie and a one-point bonus for each 7A team played.
Some 6A schools are already manipulating the new system, adding non-conference, 7A opponents with an eye toward stockpiling points for the season’s end.
As it is with most compromises, the new system doesn’t please anyone, at least not around here.
Cabot coach Mike Malham objects because a 7A powerhouse like West Memphis, playing a slate of 6A teams in the 7A/6A-East, could fatten up and cruise to the No. 1 seed in the 7A while Cabot must play primarily 7A teams on its 7A/6A-Central schedule.
Searcy coach Tim Harper objects because the system hasn’t really alleviated travel concerns — schools are still scheduling whomever they want, wherever they are located, if it helps their power rankings at the end of the season.
I probably took too many blows to the head during my high school football playing days to think up a solution on my own, so I offer one I have heard discussed elsewhere — combine the largest two classifications into one, and take the top four seeds from each conference in the postseason.
It sounds simple, perhaps too simple, and the devil is always in the details.
But at least once the scoreboards are shut off on Friday nights, no one would have to do any additional math.
Leader sports editor
An old high-school football teammate of mine found our program’s records dating back to 1945 and shared them online.
Boy, did we play for a bad football team. I haven’t seen that many zeroes since the last time I watched “Tora, Tora, Tora.”
To give an example, my team’s record over my junior and senior years was 5-13, and that was the best two-year mark since 1975. To put that in perspective, it means I have to confess I graduated my little school in downstate Illinois in 1981.
Once our program records were posted, a bunch of aging, ex-gridiron greats like myself weighed in with mostly humorous commentary. Like survivors of a hurricane, we can laugh about it now.
I pointed out our opponents always had a knack for being bigger, faster and having more guys. And they excelled at running that “man-wide-open” play.
When opponents saw us on their schedule, I’m sure they lit up like my co-worker Jason King when he spies unattended loose change in the company break room.
The bottom line, of course, was that my team didn’t score enough points, which brings me to the latest Arkansas Activities Association initiative designed to improve high school football in Arkansas.
It’s all about points now.
“But it always has been,” you say.
Yes, it has always been about points on the field.
Now, however, our local large-school teams Cabot, Jacksonville and Searcy have to keep a second score on top of their Friday-night finals. To get to the postseason, it’s not enough to outscore your opponents and win more games than anyone else, the two statistics that have always mattered most.
This season, the 6A and 7A teams that are playing in the hybrid 7A/6A-Central and 7A/6A-East earn points for victories and quality of opponents in order to compile an end-of-season power rating that determines playoff seeding.
What happened to just beating guys?
True, there are geographic and student-population issues Arkansas has had to address in its high school athletics. The solution until now has been to keep adding classifications the way Cabot keeps adding strip malls.
We have seen high school football expand from a perfectly good four classifications to six, ranging from 2A to 7A. Grizzled sportswriters like myself have long decried this process on the basis that we’re giving away championships and playoff berths to teams that previously had to earn them.
Consider that Class 7A has only 16 teams, the smallest classification grouping in the nation.
Yet we still have similar-sized teams too far apart in our little state, making it hard for them to schedule a competitive and fair slate of games. And we won’t go into the AAA’s efforts to lessen disparities caused by the private- school powerhouses.
To make things geographically and competitively agreeable, the AAA created the two hybrid conferences, leaving the 7A-West full of only 7A schools and the 6A-South full of 6A schools. In those conferences it’s still about just winning games.
But for at least the next two seasons, a 7A/6A-Central team like Cabot collects 10 points for each conference victory and one point for each opponent’s conference victory. The total points are then divided by the seven conference games to determine a team’s power ranking.
A 6A team like Jacksonville or Searcy collects 10 points for any 7A/6A-East Conference victory, five for a tie and a one-point bonus for each 7A team played.
Some 6A schools are already manipulating the new system, adding non-conference, 7A opponents with an eye toward stockpiling points for the season’s end.
As it is with most compromises, the new system doesn’t please anyone, at least not around here.
Cabot coach Mike Malham objects because a 7A powerhouse like West Memphis, playing a slate of 6A teams in the 7A/6A-East, could fatten up and cruise to the No. 1 seed in the 7A while Cabot must play primarily 7A teams on its 7A/6A-Central schedule.
Searcy coach Tim Harper objects because the system hasn’t really alleviated travel concerns — schools are still scheduling whomever they want, wherever they are located, if it helps their power rankings at the end of the season.
I probably took too many blows to the head during my high school football playing days to think up a solution on my own, so I offer one I have heard discussed elsewhere — combine the largest two classifications into one, and take the top four seeds from each conference in the postseason.
It sounds simple, perhaps too simple, and the devil is always in the details.
But at least once the scoreboards are shut off on Friday nights, no one would have to do any additional math.
SPORTS>>Red Devils’ Russell says team is on track
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The Jacksonville Red Devils may be tired of hitting each other, but they’re finding out a lot about themselves in the process.
The Red Devils held their second full-contact scrimmage at the end of practice Friday to wrap up their second week. The results have helped new coach Rick Russell and his staff determine who can fill many of the positions in question on offense and defense.
“The first two weeks have been successful,” said Russell, the former Jacksonville defensive coordinator who returned to the program after one year as head coach at North Pulaski. “The concentration and effort have been good. We’ve scrimmaged twice now, and it’s allowed us to start making some decisions on our depth chart.”
While Russell deemed thescrimmage a success, it also helped him pick out some areas requiring improvement.
“Things are definitely getting better,” Russell said. “We want to correct and eliminate any mistakes we made from the scrimmage. We have to make sure our linemen are ready and get prepared to scrimmage against Mills on Monday.”
The numbers are holding strong for Jacksonville with 76 players still on the roster.
Defensively, Russell liked what he saw out of linebacker Pierre Lewis and cornerback D’Vone McClure, and also had praise for offensive lineman Dominique Wyatt.
Leader sportswriter
The Jacksonville Red Devils may be tired of hitting each other, but they’re finding out a lot about themselves in the process.
The Red Devils held their second full-contact scrimmage at the end of practice Friday to wrap up their second week. The results have helped new coach Rick Russell and his staff determine who can fill many of the positions in question on offense and defense.
“The first two weeks have been successful,” said Russell, the former Jacksonville defensive coordinator who returned to the program after one year as head coach at North Pulaski. “The concentration and effort have been good. We’ve scrimmaged twice now, and it’s allowed us to start making some decisions on our depth chart.”
While Russell deemed thescrimmage a success, it also helped him pick out some areas requiring improvement.
“Things are definitely getting better,” Russell said. “We want to correct and eliminate any mistakes we made from the scrimmage. We have to make sure our linemen are ready and get prepared to scrimmage against Mills on Monday.”
The numbers are holding strong for Jacksonville with 76 players still on the roster.
Defensively, Russell liked what he saw out of linebacker Pierre Lewis and cornerback D’Vone McClure, and also had praise for offensive lineman Dominique Wyatt.
SPORTS>>Listing honors North Hills
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
The revamped Greens at North Hills golf course in Sherwood has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Director Frances McSwain said.
The facility, once known as the Sylvan Hills Country Club, joins the Tyronza Commercial Historic District in Poinsett County on the register, which is the country’s official list of historically significant properties.
The golf course was constructed in 1927 and it reopened as the Greens at North Hills in the spring. The course is located at 7400 North Highway 107 in Sherwood.
“At the time when the Sylvan Hills Country Club was developing in the middle of the 1920s, the sport of golf was also beginning to develop and become popular with the public,” the National Register nomination said. “It was also during this time that golf course design was in its ‘golden era,’ which ended in 1931.
“The history of this golf course also represents a significant contribution to the growth of recreation and entertainment in Sherwood, Ark., dating from its construction in 1927.”
The Tyronza Commercial Historic District, located onSouth Main Street, features buildings dating to 1916, including structures associated with the founding of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union.
The Greens at North Hills officially opened May 29 after being idle for more than two years.
The former country club debuted as a public facility after a $7 million renovation.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency that identifies, evaluates and preserves the state’s cultural resources.
Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Historic Arkansas Museum.
Leader sports editor
The revamped Greens at North Hills golf course in Sherwood has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Director Frances McSwain said.
The facility, once known as the Sylvan Hills Country Club, joins the Tyronza Commercial Historic District in Poinsett County on the register, which is the country’s official list of historically significant properties.
The golf course was constructed in 1927 and it reopened as the Greens at North Hills in the spring. The course is located at 7400 North Highway 107 in Sherwood.
“At the time when the Sylvan Hills Country Club was developing in the middle of the 1920s, the sport of golf was also beginning to develop and become popular with the public,” the National Register nomination said. “It was also during this time that golf course design was in its ‘golden era,’ which ended in 1931.
“The history of this golf course also represents a significant contribution to the growth of recreation and entertainment in Sherwood, Ark., dating from its construction in 1927.”
The Tyronza Commercial Historic District, located onSouth Main Street, features buildings dating to 1916, including structures associated with the founding of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union.
The Greens at North Hills officially opened May 29 after being idle for more than two years.
The former country club debuted as a public facility after a $7 million renovation.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency that identifies, evaluates and preserves the state’s cultural resources.
Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Historic Arkansas Museum.
SPORTS>>Panthers’ personnel feel pain
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
Cabot coach Mike Malham would like to start hitting opponents before he runs out of players.
The banged-up Panthers will scrimmage at Lake Hamilton on Monday, and between now and then Malham is hoping to get some important players healthy as practice, among other things, has taken a toll.
“We’ve got some key personnel not being able to work right now,” Malham said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get them back.”
It isn’t enough Cabot needs to replace seven graduated defensive players, a quarterback and three offensive linemen while trying to find depth across the board. Now, Malham said, seven players are banged up or limited in some way.
Defensive lineman T.C. Carter isn’t expected back until the second week of the season because of a shoulder injury; it is hoped cornerback Mason Haley (knee) can return to practice this week and defensive end Zach Kerr (knee) is two weeks away.
On offense, running back Mason James is nursing a hip flexor; running back Jeremy Berry is easing back into action after being hospitalized with kidney problems in the spring and kicker/defensive back Logan Spry recently dropped a weight on his toe — not a good thing to have happen to a kicker.
“Man, I tell you we’ve had a bunch of them,” Malham said of the injuries.
Malham has settled on a quarterback, junior Zach Craig, while his competitors at the position, Bryson Morris and Zach Brown, are slotted to play defense.
“Right now he’s got that nod,” Malham said of Craig.
Of course, things could change if Craig, or any other player, doesn’t bear up in Monday’s scrimmage.
“I think we’ve done all we can do right now, we just need to see what happens when we go to war,” Malham said.
Malham said most of the Panthers’ offensive and defensive schemes are in place. When it comes to the Dead T running attack, Malham likes to keep it simple.
“Offensively it’s not like we have a big playbook,” he said. “Kids are going to make mental mistakes. You’ve just got to keep going over it and over it.”
Cabot went 9-1 in the regular season to win the 7A-Central Conference last year and came a late-touchdown pass shy of edging Springdale Har-Ber in the state semifinals.
The Panthers will begin to find out what it will take to get back to the postseason at Lake Hamilton on Monday. The Wolves were 8-4 last year and reached the second round of the 6A playoffs, just missing a state-final berth with an eight-point loss to Pine Bluff.
Nonetheless, Malham isn’t treating the scrimmage like a regular-season game and said he would probably devote part of just one day to prepare.
“I’d rather get ready for teams like Har-Bar, Pulaski Academy and Jacksonville,” Malham said, naming Cabot’s non-conference opponents.
But the Monday scrimmage will be good for one thing, Malham said. At least the Panthers can finally hit someone new.
“When you’ve been beating on yourself for two weeks, that gets old,” Malham said.
Leader sports editor
Cabot coach Mike Malham would like to start hitting opponents before he runs out of players.
The banged-up Panthers will scrimmage at Lake Hamilton on Monday, and between now and then Malham is hoping to get some important players healthy as practice, among other things, has taken a toll.
“We’ve got some key personnel not being able to work right now,” Malham said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get them back.”
It isn’t enough Cabot needs to replace seven graduated defensive players, a quarterback and three offensive linemen while trying to find depth across the board. Now, Malham said, seven players are banged up or limited in some way.
Defensive lineman T.C. Carter isn’t expected back until the second week of the season because of a shoulder injury; it is hoped cornerback Mason Haley (knee) can return to practice this week and defensive end Zach Kerr (knee) is two weeks away.
On offense, running back Mason James is nursing a hip flexor; running back Jeremy Berry is easing back into action after being hospitalized with kidney problems in the spring and kicker/defensive back Logan Spry recently dropped a weight on his toe — not a good thing to have happen to a kicker.
“Man, I tell you we’ve had a bunch of them,” Malham said of the injuries.
Malham has settled on a quarterback, junior Zach Craig, while his competitors at the position, Bryson Morris and Zach Brown, are slotted to play defense.
“Right now he’s got that nod,” Malham said of Craig.
Of course, things could change if Craig, or any other player, doesn’t bear up in Monday’s scrimmage.
“I think we’ve done all we can do right now, we just need to see what happens when we go to war,” Malham said.
Malham said most of the Panthers’ offensive and defensive schemes are in place. When it comes to the Dead T running attack, Malham likes to keep it simple.
“Offensively it’s not like we have a big playbook,” he said. “Kids are going to make mental mistakes. You’ve just got to keep going over it and over it.”
Cabot went 9-1 in the regular season to win the 7A-Central Conference last year and came a late-touchdown pass shy of edging Springdale Har-Ber in the state semifinals.
The Panthers will begin to find out what it will take to get back to the postseason at Lake Hamilton on Monday. The Wolves were 8-4 last year and reached the second round of the 6A playoffs, just missing a state-final berth with an eight-point loss to Pine Bluff.
Nonetheless, Malham isn’t treating the scrimmage like a regular-season game and said he would probably devote part of just one day to prepare.
“I’d rather get ready for teams like Har-Bar, Pulaski Academy and Jacksonville,” Malham said, naming Cabot’s non-conference opponents.
But the Monday scrimmage will be good for one thing, Malham said. At least the Panthers can finally hit someone new.
“When you’ve been beating on yourself for two weeks, that gets old,” Malham said.
SPORTS>>Hatcher finds new equation
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
High-school football teams usually look forward to Fridays.
It marks game day during the season, and the end of a hard week’s work during two-a-days. But for Lonoke, Friday has marked critical setbacks in the first two weeks of August.
On Aug. 6, senior receiver Scott Smith broke his collarbone while making a diving catch and was projected to be out for five weeks.
It was Lonoke’s first significant injury of summer camp and Smith’s absence was a big setback for the Jackrabbits.
But a broken ankle for junior quarterback Tarale Watson one week later, on Friday the 13th, could have been monumental.
Watson is scheduled for a medical evaluation next month, and the result could determine when, or if, he returns to the field.
“He’s going back on Sept. 27 and if everything looks good, they’re not ruling out him coming back at some point if everything is healing on its own,” Jackrabbits coach Doug Bost said.
The initial word Friday was Watson would have to wear a boot cast for up to three months, which meant until the end of the season.
Watson’s injury could have been even more disastrous without senior Logan DeWhitt on hand. Watson and DeWhitt battled for the quarterback spot throughout the summer, and Watson had just begun to emerge as the top candidate when his ankle was rolled during a tackling drill late Friday morning.
“I sat down and had a good one-hour meeting with Logan,” Bost said. “We have all the confidence in the world in him. He took about 90 percent of the snaps in 7-on-7, so the receivers are used to him.”
DeWhitt was scheduled to fill in at one of the receiver slots, and his move to quarterback has made way for sophomore Reed McKenzie to earn a starting receiver spot.
“He’s about 6-2 or 6-3, so he’s the same size kid as Logan,” Bost said of McKenzie. “He played receiver last year for the junior high, so he slides right in place there.”
Watson’s injury marked a bad end to an otherwise good week of practice for the Jackrabbits.
“The rest of the week, I was very pleased,” Bost said. “Even with the temperatures up like they were, everyone has been healthy, so the conditioning has to be there. We were pushing them and pushing them, and they kept responding.”
DeWhitt’s presence makes quarterback much less of a question mark, especially compared to Lonoke’s tailback situation.
Bost has gone with a rotation of three players at the spot, including defensive players T.J. Scott and Dre Offord, as well as Keli Bryant.
None of the three has made a push to lay claim to the position vacated by graduated all-state standout Brandon Smith, and now sophomore Eric Williams has emerged as a candidate.
“He’s about a 4.5 kid,” Bost said of Williams’ speed in the 40-yard dash and compared his speed to that of receiver Darius Scott.
“He’s a half-step slower than Darius, our fastest kid. He’s not a huge guy, about 5-6 or so, but he can duck behind those big linemen.”
Lonoke went with 4 p.m. starting times for its Monday and Tuesday practices before switching to 3 p.m. on Wednesday as the
Jackrabbits settle into their normal after-school routine.
It is the final week of practice Lonoke has to prepare for a home scrimmage against Oak Grove on Aug. 23.
Lonoke will begin the regular season against 8-4A Conference favorite Star City on Aug. 30 at the UAPB campus as part of the Hooten’s Kickoff Classic.
Leader sportswriter
High-school football teams usually look forward to Fridays.
It marks game day during the season, and the end of a hard week’s work during two-a-days. But for Lonoke, Friday has marked critical setbacks in the first two weeks of August.
On Aug. 6, senior receiver Scott Smith broke his collarbone while making a diving catch and was projected to be out for five weeks.
It was Lonoke’s first significant injury of summer camp and Smith’s absence was a big setback for the Jackrabbits.
But a broken ankle for junior quarterback Tarale Watson one week later, on Friday the 13th, could have been monumental.
Watson is scheduled for a medical evaluation next month, and the result could determine when, or if, he returns to the field.
“He’s going back on Sept. 27 and if everything looks good, they’re not ruling out him coming back at some point if everything is healing on its own,” Jackrabbits coach Doug Bost said.
The initial word Friday was Watson would have to wear a boot cast for up to three months, which meant until the end of the season.
Watson’s injury could have been even more disastrous without senior Logan DeWhitt on hand. Watson and DeWhitt battled for the quarterback spot throughout the summer, and Watson had just begun to emerge as the top candidate when his ankle was rolled during a tackling drill late Friday morning.
“I sat down and had a good one-hour meeting with Logan,” Bost said. “We have all the confidence in the world in him. He took about 90 percent of the snaps in 7-on-7, so the receivers are used to him.”
DeWhitt was scheduled to fill in at one of the receiver slots, and his move to quarterback has made way for sophomore Reed McKenzie to earn a starting receiver spot.
“He’s about 6-2 or 6-3, so he’s the same size kid as Logan,” Bost said of McKenzie. “He played receiver last year for the junior high, so he slides right in place there.”
Watson’s injury marked a bad end to an otherwise good week of practice for the Jackrabbits.
“The rest of the week, I was very pleased,” Bost said. “Even with the temperatures up like they were, everyone has been healthy, so the conditioning has to be there. We were pushing them and pushing them, and they kept responding.”
DeWhitt’s presence makes quarterback much less of a question mark, especially compared to Lonoke’s tailback situation.
Bost has gone with a rotation of three players at the spot, including defensive players T.J. Scott and Dre Offord, as well as Keli Bryant.
None of the three has made a push to lay claim to the position vacated by graduated all-state standout Brandon Smith, and now sophomore Eric Williams has emerged as a candidate.
“He’s about a 4.5 kid,” Bost said of Williams’ speed in the 40-yard dash and compared his speed to that of receiver Darius Scott.
“He’s a half-step slower than Darius, our fastest kid. He’s not a huge guy, about 5-6 or so, but he can duck behind those big linemen.”
Lonoke went with 4 p.m. starting times for its Monday and Tuesday practices before switching to 3 p.m. on Wednesday as the
Jackrabbits settle into their normal after-school routine.
It is the final week of practice Lonoke has to prepare for a home scrimmage against Oak Grove on Aug. 23.
Lonoke will begin the regular season against 8-4A Conference favorite Star City on Aug. 30 at the UAPB campus as part of the Hooten’s Kickoff Classic.
SPORTS>>Hatcher finds new equation
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
Terrod Hatcher knew math was in his future.
He just didn’t expect things to add up like this.
Hatcher, 23, became the youngest high school football coach in the state late last month when he took over the North Pulaski program, moving up after one year as offensive coordinator under former coach Rick Russell.
“It worked out that way,” Hatcher said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do at first. I knew I wanted to major in math. That was the only thing I liked. And then coaching just kind of worked out for me. I always wanted to but I didn’t know how far-fetched that was.”
Hatcher graduated across town at Jacksonville High School and started college at Arkansas State. But he transferred to Arkansas
Tech, where he earned a degree in mathematics.
“There’s always math openings,” Hatcher said. “It’s almost a job security in a way. And it’s just something I love. I teach pre-calculus and that upper-level math is always fun to me.”
But there was always the little matter of football.
Hatcher was a running back at Jacksonville and he was in the same class as linebacker Clinton McDonald, who was drafted by the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals and now plays on the defensive line.
“We had some pretty good guys in that class,” Hatcher said.
At Arkansas State, Hatcher redshirted behind standout running backs Antonio Warren and Shermar Bracey, who both briefly spent timein the NFL, which influenced Hatcher’s decision to transfer.
“Basically my tuition went up and my scholarships didn’t,” Hatcher said. “So I transferred to Arkansas Tech where I was getting paid some money to go there. That always makes a difference.”
Hatcher went through two-a-days at Tech, a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, but decided to focus on his degree and graduated with honors a year early. Yet Hatcher couldn’t quite get football out of his system.
So, while he followed the math track to employment at Jacksonville’s Fuller Middle School, Hatcher also accepted the football-coaching job there.
“I graduated in December and got a job in January at Fuller,” Hatcher said. “That’s the good thing about math.”
Last year North Pulaski coach Rick Russell tapped Hatcher to be his offensive coordinator.
“Of course I took the high school job,” Hatcher said. “And then it just so happens this head job rolled up so I was excited about that.”
Russell was a former defensive assistant at Jacksonville and knew Hatcher from his playing days with the Red Devils. When Russell returned to Jacksonville to become head coach last spring, the North Pulaski players clamored for Hatcher to apply for the Falcons’ head coaching job.
The Falcons had begun implementing the Spread offense, and the players wanted the continuity as well as Hatcher’s youthful enthusiasm.
“Everybody liked coach Hatcher,” starting junior quarterback Shyheim Barron said. “He knew what we were doing. We didn’t want anybody else to come in here and change it up so we needed coach Hatcher.”
Hatcher was named head coach just before August practices began.
“I think they responded well; they actually asked me to apply for the job,” Hatcher said of the “draft Hatcher” movement. “And so that helped a lot. I think the young coaching staff is going to help these guys. They feel like they can relate to us and they see us hopping around and bopping around so they’re hopping around.”
Some coaches are younger than others, but defensive coach J.B. Pendergraft, 62, said Hatcher’s youth isn’t a problem with the rest of the staff.
“I think he’s doing a great job,” Pendergraft said. “He listens. He asks questions and is really knowledgeable for his age. But the thing about it, whether he can coach or not, it doesn’t make any difference, he’s first class.”
Hatcher welcomes the veteran experience on the staff but made it clear he’s in charge.
“We can’t have youth without wisdom,” Hatcher said. “Nobody takes it as ‘He’s a young guy so I’m not going to listen to him.’
We work together.
“Everybody has input. We implement each other’s input. Whichever one works the best that’s probably what we go with, and of course I have the final say.”
Besides, the coaching staff has enough challenges as it is. North Pulaski is coming off a one-victory season and has won just four games the past six years.
If the new coach and math whiz can engineer just a few victories this season, it could be the formula for success the Falcons have been seeking.
“The biggest challenge is letting these guys believe they can win,” Hatcher said. “I think once we win then they’ll see how that feels, then they’ll believe that they can do it.”
Leader sports editor
Terrod Hatcher knew math was in his future.
He just didn’t expect things to add up like this.
Hatcher, 23, became the youngest high school football coach in the state late last month when he took over the North Pulaski program, moving up after one year as offensive coordinator under former coach Rick Russell.
“It worked out that way,” Hatcher said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do at first. I knew I wanted to major in math. That was the only thing I liked. And then coaching just kind of worked out for me. I always wanted to but I didn’t know how far-fetched that was.”
Hatcher graduated across town at Jacksonville High School and started college at Arkansas State. But he transferred to Arkansas
Tech, where he earned a degree in mathematics.
“There’s always math openings,” Hatcher said. “It’s almost a job security in a way. And it’s just something I love. I teach pre-calculus and that upper-level math is always fun to me.”
But there was always the little matter of football.
Hatcher was a running back at Jacksonville and he was in the same class as linebacker Clinton McDonald, who was drafted by the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals and now plays on the defensive line.
“We had some pretty good guys in that class,” Hatcher said.
At Arkansas State, Hatcher redshirted behind standout running backs Antonio Warren and Shermar Bracey, who both briefly spent timein the NFL, which influenced Hatcher’s decision to transfer.
“Basically my tuition went up and my scholarships didn’t,” Hatcher said. “So I transferred to Arkansas Tech where I was getting paid some money to go there. That always makes a difference.”
Hatcher went through two-a-days at Tech, a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, but decided to focus on his degree and graduated with honors a year early. Yet Hatcher couldn’t quite get football out of his system.
So, while he followed the math track to employment at Jacksonville’s Fuller Middle School, Hatcher also accepted the football-coaching job there.
“I graduated in December and got a job in January at Fuller,” Hatcher said. “That’s the good thing about math.”
Last year North Pulaski coach Rick Russell tapped Hatcher to be his offensive coordinator.
“Of course I took the high school job,” Hatcher said. “And then it just so happens this head job rolled up so I was excited about that.”
Russell was a former defensive assistant at Jacksonville and knew Hatcher from his playing days with the Red Devils. When Russell returned to Jacksonville to become head coach last spring, the North Pulaski players clamored for Hatcher to apply for the Falcons’ head coaching job.
The Falcons had begun implementing the Spread offense, and the players wanted the continuity as well as Hatcher’s youthful enthusiasm.
“Everybody liked coach Hatcher,” starting junior quarterback Shyheim Barron said. “He knew what we were doing. We didn’t want anybody else to come in here and change it up so we needed coach Hatcher.”
Hatcher was named head coach just before August practices began.
“I think they responded well; they actually asked me to apply for the job,” Hatcher said of the “draft Hatcher” movement. “And so that helped a lot. I think the young coaching staff is going to help these guys. They feel like they can relate to us and they see us hopping around and bopping around so they’re hopping around.”
Some coaches are younger than others, but defensive coach J.B. Pendergraft, 62, said Hatcher’s youth isn’t a problem with the rest of the staff.
“I think he’s doing a great job,” Pendergraft said. “He listens. He asks questions and is really knowledgeable for his age. But the thing about it, whether he can coach or not, it doesn’t make any difference, he’s first class.”
Hatcher welcomes the veteran experience on the staff but made it clear he’s in charge.
“We can’t have youth without wisdom,” Hatcher said. “Nobody takes it as ‘He’s a young guy so I’m not going to listen to him.’
We work together.
“Everybody has input. We implement each other’s input. Whichever one works the best that’s probably what we go with, and of course I have the final say.”
Besides, the coaching staff has enough challenges as it is. North Pulaski is coming off a one-victory season and has won just four games the past six years.
If the new coach and math whiz can engineer just a few victories this season, it could be the formula for success the Falcons have been seeking.
“The biggest challenge is letting these guys believe they can win,” Hatcher said. “I think once we win then they’ll see how that feels, then they’ll believe that they can do it.”
Friday, August 13, 2010
SPORTS>>Teams face new opponents as conferences change
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
It remains to be seen which area football teams are still standing by the time the state playoffs roll around, but it’s clear those in the 7A/6A classifications are going to have to brush up on their math to find out where they rank.
In a wrinkle designed to improve the geography of the large-school conferences while maintaining competitive balance, the Arkansas Activities Association implemented a playoff points system to go with its latest round of realignment.
The 32 largest teams in the state have been grouped geographically with an end-of-season ranking system to determine playoff seeding.
That means 6A and 7A schools like Cabot, Jacksonville and Searcy have been thrown together under the same conference banners for the regular season but will split up for separate playoffs at the season’s end.
Jacksonville and Searcy, of the 6A, will have to play a 7A power like West Memphis in the 7A/6A-East regular season, while 6A schools Russellville and Van Buren must play 7A Cabot in the 7A/6A-Central. The West will include only 7A teams and the South will be all 6A.
“We’re playing the same conference, the playoffs is where it’s affected,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said.
The playoff points system for 7A teams in the Central and East awards 10 points for a conference victory and one additional point for each opponent’s conference victory. The total points are divided by the number of conference games (7) to determine a team’s power ranking.
The 7A teams from the Central and East will be grouped together with the top six, based on their power rating, making the playoffs, and the top two earning first-round byes.
“Until they get all that squared away, I don’t know how else to do it; it’s not really fair,” Malham said.
Malham’s beef is that a team like West Memphis, which has moved up to 7A and mercy-ruled most of its 6A-East opponents on the way to last year’s playoffs, will play primarily 6A opponents during the regular season and cruise to a No. 1 seed.
“With West Memphis, a 7A school playing in a 6A conference and the points system, probably, we’re fighting each other in this conference week after week battling it out for a second seed,” Malham said.
Cabot, Malham pointed out, will be playing mostly 7A schools returning from what was a highly competitive 7A-Central Conference last year. The Panthers went 9-1 to win the 7A-Central in 2009.
“West Memphis doesn’t have anybody to challenge them over there,” Malham said. “In fact, if they’d put that points system in last year, we wouldn’t have been a No. 1 seed, we would have been a two seed and West Memphis would have had the one seed.”
The 7A-West will simply rank teams based on their conference play and send the top six to the postseason, as will the 6A-South.
The points system for the 6A teams playing in the hybrid conferences differs from those used by the 7A teams.
Points will be awarded for all games and not just conference matchups. A 6A team earns 10 points for a victory and five for a tie, regardless of an opponent’s classification, and a one-point bonus is awarded for each 7A team played, conference or non-conference, as well as for an out-of-state opponent that plays in that state’s largest classification.
“To be honest with you, you kind of like to know where you stand and what to expect,” Searcy coach Tim Harper said. “But we have a situation with these power ratings that even your non-conference games figures into it. So basically there are no off weeks.”
Some 6A schools are jumping at the chance to collect points by tougher scheduling. Jonesboro, Jacksonville’s and Searcy’s opponent in the 7A/6A-East, played five 5A schools last year but picked up non-conference games this year against 7A Conway and Fayetteville.
While the current 7A/6A system is based on geography, Harper said it hasn’t really solved all travel issues and it’s a system that can still be manipulated.
“I’d like to see it based more on enrollment like it’s supposed to be and not travel,” Harper said. “I think that is being used as an excuse; you still have teams pretty much traveling the length of the state to play ball games. I think it’s another way to get what you want.”
The realignment and points system, though designed to maintain balance, have also fueled the argument the state simply has too many football classifications (six) for one of its size. Arkansas only has 16 teams in 7A for example, and that’s the smallest classification group of any state in the union.
Comparably sized states like Mississippi and Kansas have 32 in their large-school classes.
“I’d like to see some things fixed. But at the same time, I don’t necessarily want to go back to a 32-team class 5A either,” Harper said. “I don’t want to play the Cabots and North Little Rocks every week, because they should win every time. It’s like putting up a 12-year-old to fight a 6-year-old, the odds are going to be in his favor.”
Don’t count on the current alignment and points system to last, however. School populations will change, balances of power will shift, and the high school football landscape will likely change again by 2012.
“Maybe they’ll have it figured out by the next two-year cycle,” Malham said.
Leader sports editor
It remains to be seen which area football teams are still standing by the time the state playoffs roll around, but it’s clear those in the 7A/6A classifications are going to have to brush up on their math to find out where they rank.
In a wrinkle designed to improve the geography of the large-school conferences while maintaining competitive balance, the Arkansas Activities Association implemented a playoff points system to go with its latest round of realignment.
The 32 largest teams in the state have been grouped geographically with an end-of-season ranking system to determine playoff seeding.
That means 6A and 7A schools like Cabot, Jacksonville and Searcy have been thrown together under the same conference banners for the regular season but will split up for separate playoffs at the season’s end.
Jacksonville and Searcy, of the 6A, will have to play a 7A power like West Memphis in the 7A/6A-East regular season, while 6A schools Russellville and Van Buren must play 7A Cabot in the 7A/6A-Central. The West will include only 7A teams and the South will be all 6A.
“We’re playing the same conference, the playoffs is where it’s affected,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said.
The playoff points system for 7A teams in the Central and East awards 10 points for a conference victory and one additional point for each opponent’s conference victory. The total points are divided by the number of conference games (7) to determine a team’s power ranking.
The 7A teams from the Central and East will be grouped together with the top six, based on their power rating, making the playoffs, and the top two earning first-round byes.
“Until they get all that squared away, I don’t know how else to do it; it’s not really fair,” Malham said.
Malham’s beef is that a team like West Memphis, which has moved up to 7A and mercy-ruled most of its 6A-East opponents on the way to last year’s playoffs, will play primarily 6A opponents during the regular season and cruise to a No. 1 seed.
“With West Memphis, a 7A school playing in a 6A conference and the points system, probably, we’re fighting each other in this conference week after week battling it out for a second seed,” Malham said.
Cabot, Malham pointed out, will be playing mostly 7A schools returning from what was a highly competitive 7A-Central Conference last year. The Panthers went 9-1 to win the 7A-Central in 2009.
“West Memphis doesn’t have anybody to challenge them over there,” Malham said. “In fact, if they’d put that points system in last year, we wouldn’t have been a No. 1 seed, we would have been a two seed and West Memphis would have had the one seed.”
The 7A-West will simply rank teams based on their conference play and send the top six to the postseason, as will the 6A-South.
The points system for the 6A teams playing in the hybrid conferences differs from those used by the 7A teams.
Points will be awarded for all games and not just conference matchups. A 6A team earns 10 points for a victory and five for a tie, regardless of an opponent’s classification, and a one-point bonus is awarded for each 7A team played, conference or non-conference, as well as for an out-of-state opponent that plays in that state’s largest classification.
“To be honest with you, you kind of like to know where you stand and what to expect,” Searcy coach Tim Harper said. “But we have a situation with these power ratings that even your non-conference games figures into it. So basically there are no off weeks.”
Some 6A schools are jumping at the chance to collect points by tougher scheduling. Jonesboro, Jacksonville’s and Searcy’s opponent in the 7A/6A-East, played five 5A schools last year but picked up non-conference games this year against 7A Conway and Fayetteville.
While the current 7A/6A system is based on geography, Harper said it hasn’t really solved all travel issues and it’s a system that can still be manipulated.
“I’d like to see it based more on enrollment like it’s supposed to be and not travel,” Harper said. “I think that is being used as an excuse; you still have teams pretty much traveling the length of the state to play ball games. I think it’s another way to get what you want.”
The realignment and points system, though designed to maintain balance, have also fueled the argument the state simply has too many football classifications (six) for one of its size. Arkansas only has 16 teams in 7A for example, and that’s the smallest classification group of any state in the union.
Comparably sized states like Mississippi and Kansas have 32 in their large-school classes.
“I’d like to see some things fixed. But at the same time, I don’t necessarily want to go back to a 32-team class 5A either,” Harper said. “I don’t want to play the Cabots and North Little Rocks every week, because they should win every time. It’s like putting up a 12-year-old to fight a 6-year-old, the odds are going to be in his favor.”
Don’t count on the current alignment and points system to last, however. School populations will change, balances of power will shift, and the high school football landscape will likely change again by 2012.
“Maybe they’ll have it figured out by the next two-year cycle,” Malham said.
SPORTS>>Teams face new opponents as conferences change
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
It remains to be seen which area football teams are still standing by the time the state playoffs roll around, but it’s clear those in the 7A/6A classifications are going to have to brush up on their math to find out where they rank.
In a wrinkle designed to improve the geography of the large-school conferences while maintaining competitive balance, the Arkansas Activities Association implemented a playoff points system to go with its latest round of realignment.
The 32 largest teams in the state have been grouped geographically with an end-of-season ranking system to determine playoff seeding.
That means 6A and 7A schools like Cabot, Jacksonville and Searcy have been thrown together under the same conference banners for the regular season but will split up for separate playoffs at the season’s end.
Jacksonville and Searcy, of the 6A, will have to play a 7A power like West Memphis in the 7A/6A-East regular season, while 6A schools Russellville and Van Buren must play 7A Cabot in the 7A/6A-Central. The West will include only 7A teams and the South will be all 6A.
“We’re playing the same conference, the playoffs is where it’s affected,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said.
The playoff points system for 7A teams in the Central and East awards 10 points for a conference victory and one additional point for each opponent’s conference victory. The total points are divided by the number of conference games (7) to determine a team’s power ranking.
The 7A teams from the Central and East will be grouped together with the top six, based on their power rating, making the playoffs, and the top two earning first-round byes.
“Until they get all that squared away, I don’t know how else to do it; it’s not really fair,” Malham said.
Malham’s beef is that a team like West Memphis, which has moved up to 7A and mercy-ruled most of its 6A-East opponents on the way to last year’s playoffs, will play primarily 6A opponents during the regular season and cruise to a No. 1 seed.
“With West Memphis, a 7A school playing in a 6A conference and the points system, probably, we’re fighting each other in this conference week after week battling it out for a second seed,” Malham said.
Cabot, Malham pointed out, will be playing mostly 7A schools returning from what was a highly competitive 7A-Central Conference last year. The Panthers went 9-1 to win the 7A-Central in 2009.
“West Memphis doesn’t have anybody to challenge them over there,” Malham said. “In fact, if they’d put that points system in last year, we wouldn’t have been a No. 1 seed, we would have been a two seed and West Memphis would have had the one seed.”
The 7A-West will simply rank teams based on their conference play and send the top six to the postseason, as will the 6A-South.
The points system for the 6A teams playing in the hybrid conferences differs from those used by the 7A teams.
Points will be awarded for all games and not just conference matchups. A 6A team earns 10 points for a victory and five for a tie, regardless of an opponent’s classification, and a one-point bonus is awarded for each 7A team played, conference or non-conference, as well as for an out-of-state opponent that plays in that state’s largest classification.
“To be honest with you, you kind of like to know where you stand and what to expect,” Searcy coach Tim Harper said. “But we have a situation with these power ratings that even your non-conference games figures into it. So basically there are no off weeks.”
Some 6A schools are jumping at the chance to collect points by tougher scheduling. Jonesboro, Jacksonville’s and Searcy’s opponent in the 7A/6A-East, played five 5A schools last year but picked up non-conference games this year against 7A Conway and Fayetteville.
While the current 7A/6A system is based on geography, Harper said it hasn’t really solved all travel issues and it’s a system that can still be manipulated.
“I’d like to see it based more on enrollment like it’s supposed to be and not travel,” Harper said. “I think that is being used as an excuse; you still have teams pretty much traveling the length of the state to play ball games. I think it’s another way to get what you want.”
The realignment and points system, though designed to maintain balance, have also fueled the argument the state simply has too many football classifications (six) for one of its size. Arkansas only has 16 teams in 7A for example, and that’s the smallest classification group of any state in the union.
Comparably sized states like Mississippi and Kansas have 32 in their large-school classes.
“I’d like to see some things fixed. But at the same time, I don’t necessarily want to go back to a 32-team class 5A either,” Harper said. “I don’t want to play the Cabots and North Little Rocks every week, because they should win every time. It’s like putting up a 12-year-old to fight a 6-year-old, the odds are going to be in his favor.”
Don’t count on the current alignment and points system to last, however. School populations will change, balances of power will shift, and the high school football landscape will likely change again by 2012.
“Maybe they’ll have it figured out by the next two-year cycle,” Malham said.
Leader sports editor
It remains to be seen which area football teams are still standing by the time the state playoffs roll around, but it’s clear those in the 7A/6A classifications are going to have to brush up on their math to find out where they rank.
In a wrinkle designed to improve the geography of the large-school conferences while maintaining competitive balance, the Arkansas Activities Association implemented a playoff points system to go with its latest round of realignment.
The 32 largest teams in the state have been grouped geographically with an end-of-season ranking system to determine playoff seeding.
That means 6A and 7A schools like Cabot, Jacksonville and Searcy have been thrown together under the same conference banners for the regular season but will split up for separate playoffs at the season’s end.
Jacksonville and Searcy, of the 6A, will have to play a 7A power like West Memphis in the 7A/6A-East regular season, while 6A schools Russellville and Van Buren must play 7A Cabot in the 7A/6A-Central. The West will include only 7A teams and the South will be all 6A.
“We’re playing the same conference, the playoffs is where it’s affected,” Cabot coach Mike Malham said.
The playoff points system for 7A teams in the Central and East awards 10 points for a conference victory and one additional point for each opponent’s conference victory. The total points are divided by the number of conference games (7) to determine a team’s power ranking.
The 7A teams from the Central and East will be grouped together with the top six, based on their power rating, making the playoffs, and the top two earning first-round byes.
“Until they get all that squared away, I don’t know how else to do it; it’s not really fair,” Malham said.
Malham’s beef is that a team like West Memphis, which has moved up to 7A and mercy-ruled most of its 6A-East opponents on the way to last year’s playoffs, will play primarily 6A opponents during the regular season and cruise to a No. 1 seed.
“With West Memphis, a 7A school playing in a 6A conference and the points system, probably, we’re fighting each other in this conference week after week battling it out for a second seed,” Malham said.
Cabot, Malham pointed out, will be playing mostly 7A schools returning from what was a highly competitive 7A-Central Conference last year. The Panthers went 9-1 to win the 7A-Central in 2009.
“West Memphis doesn’t have anybody to challenge them over there,” Malham said. “In fact, if they’d put that points system in last year, we wouldn’t have been a No. 1 seed, we would have been a two seed and West Memphis would have had the one seed.”
The 7A-West will simply rank teams based on their conference play and send the top six to the postseason, as will the 6A-South.
The points system for the 6A teams playing in the hybrid conferences differs from those used by the 7A teams.
Points will be awarded for all games and not just conference matchups. A 6A team earns 10 points for a victory and five for a tie, regardless of an opponent’s classification, and a one-point bonus is awarded for each 7A team played, conference or non-conference, as well as for an out-of-state opponent that plays in that state’s largest classification.
“To be honest with you, you kind of like to know where you stand and what to expect,” Searcy coach Tim Harper said. “But we have a situation with these power ratings that even your non-conference games figures into it. So basically there are no off weeks.”
Some 6A schools are jumping at the chance to collect points by tougher scheduling. Jonesboro, Jacksonville’s and Searcy’s opponent in the 7A/6A-East, played five 5A schools last year but picked up non-conference games this year against 7A Conway and Fayetteville.
While the current 7A/6A system is based on geography, Harper said it hasn’t really solved all travel issues and it’s a system that can still be manipulated.
“I’d like to see it based more on enrollment like it’s supposed to be and not travel,” Harper said. “I think that is being used as an excuse; you still have teams pretty much traveling the length of the state to play ball games. I think it’s another way to get what you want.”
The realignment and points system, though designed to maintain balance, have also fueled the argument the state simply has too many football classifications (six) for one of its size. Arkansas only has 16 teams in 7A for example, and that’s the smallest classification group of any state in the union.
Comparably sized states like Mississippi and Kansas have 32 in their large-school classes.
“I’d like to see some things fixed. But at the same time, I don’t necessarily want to go back to a 32-team class 5A either,” Harper said. “I don’t want to play the Cabots and North Little Rocks every week, because they should win every time. It’s like putting up a 12-year-old to fight a 6-year-old, the odds are going to be in his favor.”
Don’t count on the current alignment and points system to last, however. School populations will change, balances of power will shift, and the high school football landscape will likely change again by 2012.
“Maybe they’ll have it figured out by the next two-year cycle,” Malham said.
SPORTS>>Raiders add some fun to daily routine
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Riverview coach Stuart Hill is not too concerned about his players falling into a routine, as long as improvement is part of that routine.
The Raiders coaching staff has done its part in breaking up the monotony of August practices with a free “fun day” on Friday, but Hill believes his players understand the importance of the daily grind.
“The kids know there’s still a lot of hard work ahead of us,” Hill said. “We have to keep that sense of urgency to get better.
That’s our plan right now.”
Week 2 started a little shaky for the Raiders with a lackluster session Monday. But business picked up enough beginning Tuesday that Hill felt comfortable deeming the week an overall success.
“Monday, we struggled with the heat,” Hill said. “But we’re starting toput it all together. The running game has not come along as fast as I wanted it to, but we’re also starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel there.”
The running game is only part of the rebuilding process for the offense. Replacing five empty slots on the line has also been a priority for Hill and the staff.
“There’s not much experience there, but they’re picking up on things,” Hill said. “Their biggest problem is that they’re trying to think too much. When you can’t rely on instinct, you lose some of your aggressiveness.”
With question marks surrounding the running game, Riverview’s receiving corps may play more of a role than it has the first two seasons since the Raiders started the varsity program.
Hill said Jordan Daniels has showed potential, and McKenzie Jones is a running back that will also be used at receiver. Clay
Decker has also shown improvement at receiver.
“We’re still young out there,” Hill said. “There’s not a lot of speed there, but 7-on-7 helped us out.”
As for junior quarterback Josh Roach, who beat out sophomore candidate Cole Butler for the starting job, Hill is looking for him to improve in some of his fundamentals, but said a good arm is already in place.
“Josh is doing good,” Hill said. “He’s coming along well. He needs to improve some on his footwork, but he’s an extremely accurate passer.”
Injuries have not been a problem for Riverview. With the exception of the typical bumps and bruises that any coach can expect this time of year, Hill said the squad was okay.
The new has begun to wear off now that the Raiders are preparing for their third season of varsity football. And with all of the worries of having a start-up program out of the way, Hill and his staff can focus more on those day-to-day worries, namely finding the remaining pieces of the starting-lineup puzzle.
“Like I said, Monday was kind of a down day, but aside from that, things have been going well,” Hill said. “We’re improving every day. There are still question marks out there — we know who’s going to be where for the most part, and we’re learning new things every session.”
Leader sportswriter
Riverview coach Stuart Hill is not too concerned about his players falling into a routine, as long as improvement is part of that routine.
The Raiders coaching staff has done its part in breaking up the monotony of August practices with a free “fun day” on Friday, but Hill believes his players understand the importance of the daily grind.
“The kids know there’s still a lot of hard work ahead of us,” Hill said. “We have to keep that sense of urgency to get better.
That’s our plan right now.”
Week 2 started a little shaky for the Raiders with a lackluster session Monday. But business picked up enough beginning Tuesday that Hill felt comfortable deeming the week an overall success.
“Monday, we struggled with the heat,” Hill said. “But we’re starting toput it all together. The running game has not come along as fast as I wanted it to, but we’re also starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel there.”
The running game is only part of the rebuilding process for the offense. Replacing five empty slots on the line has also been a priority for Hill and the staff.
“There’s not much experience there, but they’re picking up on things,” Hill said. “Their biggest problem is that they’re trying to think too much. When you can’t rely on instinct, you lose some of your aggressiveness.”
With question marks surrounding the running game, Riverview’s receiving corps may play more of a role than it has the first two seasons since the Raiders started the varsity program.
Hill said Jordan Daniels has showed potential, and McKenzie Jones is a running back that will also be used at receiver. Clay
Decker has also shown improvement at receiver.
“We’re still young out there,” Hill said. “There’s not a lot of speed there, but 7-on-7 helped us out.”
As for junior quarterback Josh Roach, who beat out sophomore candidate Cole Butler for the starting job, Hill is looking for him to improve in some of his fundamentals, but said a good arm is already in place.
“Josh is doing good,” Hill said. “He’s coming along well. He needs to improve some on his footwork, but he’s an extremely accurate passer.”
Injuries have not been a problem for Riverview. With the exception of the typical bumps and bruises that any coach can expect this time of year, Hill said the squad was okay.
The new has begun to wear off now that the Raiders are preparing for their third season of varsity football. And with all of the worries of having a start-up program out of the way, Hill and his staff can focus more on those day-to-day worries, namely finding the remaining pieces of the starting-lineup puzzle.
“Like I said, Monday was kind of a down day, but aside from that, things have been going well,” Hill said. “We’re improving every day. There are still question marks out there — we know who’s going to be where for the most part, and we’re learning new things every session.”
SPORTS>>Raiders add some fun to daily routine
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Riverview coach Stuart Hill is not too concerned about his players falling into a routine, as long as improvement is part of that routine.
The Raiders coaching staff has done its part in breaking up the monotony of August practices with a free “fun day” on Friday, but Hill believes his players understand the importance of the daily grind.
“The kids know there’s still a lot of hard work ahead of us,” Hill said. “We have to keep that sense of urgency to get better.
That’s our plan right now.”
Week 2 started a little shaky for the Raiders with a lackluster session Monday. But business picked up enough beginning Tuesday that Hill felt comfortable deeming the week an overall success.
“Monday, we struggled with the heat,” Hill said. “But we’re starting toput it all together. The running game has not come along as fast as I wanted it to, but we’re also starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel there.”
The running game is only part of the rebuilding process for the offense. Replacing five empty slots on the line has also been a priority for Hill and the staff.
“There’s not much experience there, but they’re picking up on things,” Hill said. “Their biggest problem is that they’re trying to think too much. When you can’t rely on instinct, you lose some of your aggressiveness.”
With question marks surrounding the running game, Riverview’s receiving corps may play more of a role than it has the first two seasons since the Raiders started the varsity program.
Hill said Jordan Daniels has showed potential, and McKenzie Jones is a running back that will also be used at receiver. Clay
Decker has also shown improvement at receiver.
“We’re still young out there,” Hill said. “There’s not a lot of speed there, but 7-on-7 helped us out.”
As for junior quarterback Josh Roach, who beat out sophomore candidate Cole Butler for the starting job, Hill is looking for him to improve in some of his fundamentals, but said a good arm is already in place.
“Josh is doing good,” Hill said. “He’s coming along well. He needs to improve some on his footwork, but he’s an extremely accurate passer.”
Injuries have not been a problem for Riverview. With the exception of the typical bumps and bruises that any coach can expect this time of year, Hill said the squad was okay.
The new has begun to wear off now that the Raiders are preparing for their third season of varsity football. And with all of the worries of having a start-up program out of the way, Hill and his staff can focus more on those day-to-day worries, namely finding the remaining pieces of the starting-lineup puzzle.
“Like I said, Monday was kind of a down day, but aside from that, things have been going well,” Hill said. “We’re improving every day. There are still question marks out there — we know who’s going to be where for the most part, and we’re learning new things every session.”
Leader sportswriter
Riverview coach Stuart Hill is not too concerned about his players falling into a routine, as long as improvement is part of that routine.
The Raiders coaching staff has done its part in breaking up the monotony of August practices with a free “fun day” on Friday, but Hill believes his players understand the importance of the daily grind.
“The kids know there’s still a lot of hard work ahead of us,” Hill said. “We have to keep that sense of urgency to get better.
That’s our plan right now.”
Week 2 started a little shaky for the Raiders with a lackluster session Monday. But business picked up enough beginning Tuesday that Hill felt comfortable deeming the week an overall success.
“Monday, we struggled with the heat,” Hill said. “But we’re starting toput it all together. The running game has not come along as fast as I wanted it to, but we’re also starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel there.”
The running game is only part of the rebuilding process for the offense. Replacing five empty slots on the line has also been a priority for Hill and the staff.
“There’s not much experience there, but they’re picking up on things,” Hill said. “Their biggest problem is that they’re trying to think too much. When you can’t rely on instinct, you lose some of your aggressiveness.”
With question marks surrounding the running game, Riverview’s receiving corps may play more of a role than it has the first two seasons since the Raiders started the varsity program.
Hill said Jordan Daniels has showed potential, and McKenzie Jones is a running back that will also be used at receiver. Clay
Decker has also shown improvement at receiver.
“We’re still young out there,” Hill said. “There’s not a lot of speed there, but 7-on-7 helped us out.”
As for junior quarterback Josh Roach, who beat out sophomore candidate Cole Butler for the starting job, Hill is looking for him to improve in some of his fundamentals, but said a good arm is already in place.
“Josh is doing good,” Hill said. “He’s coming along well. He needs to improve some on his footwork, but he’s an extremely accurate passer.”
Injuries have not been a problem for Riverview. With the exception of the typical bumps and bruises that any coach can expect this time of year, Hill said the squad was okay.
The new has begun to wear off now that the Raiders are preparing for their third season of varsity football. And with all of the worries of having a start-up program out of the way, Hill and his staff can focus more on those day-to-day worries, namely finding the remaining pieces of the starting-lineup puzzle.
“Like I said, Monday was kind of a down day, but aside from that, things have been going well,” Hill said. “We’re improving every day. There are still question marks out there — we know who’s going to be where for the most part, and we’re learning new things every session.”
SPORTS>>Lions take their time to prepare for season
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Searcy coach Tim Harper is anxious for the season to start, but by no means in a hurry.
The Lions have taken slow but steady strides in the first two weeks of August football practice. Most of the offensive and defensive schemes have been installed, and the methodical approach has the Lions game ready with plenty of time for fine-tuning.
“We probably have about 90 percent installed on both sides,” Harper said. “We’re working on a few stunt packages for our defense, but we’re pretty much ready to go. We have all of our special teams in. We feel like we could play today if we needed to, so we’re feeling good where that’s concerned.”
Harper was pleased with the improvements made by his offensive skill players, and said the defensive line was the only trouble spot during the week. The second-year coach would like to see more effort made towards conditioning by the defensive interior.
Otherwise, things are on schedule.
“Our practices have been going great,” Harper said. “There hasn’t been any problems, just what I feel like have been good August practices. To be honest with you, we’re about to the point where we’re going to get tired of hitting on each other soon.”
The Lions are hoping to make their second straight trip to the Class 6A playoffs after ending a five-year postseason drought in 2009. Searcy, 4-7, won more games last season than the previous four combined.
Harper credited much of last year’s improvement to his players’ work ethic during spring practice, summer 7-on-7 games and weightlifting, as well as the two-a-days practices.
He said the effort this August has been just as good, even with the much hotter temperatures compared to a year ago.
Heat precautions have been a major focus, although the Lions experienced their second heat-related illness when sophomore linebacker Bradley Root became sick following a practice early in the week.
It was not serious and Root recovered, but was held out for the rest of the week as a precaution. Senior linebacker Charlie Birmingham passed out from heat exhaustion during the first week of practice and was taken to a local hospital for intravenous fluids, but he returned to practice Monday and has had no further complications.
“The kids have been super,” Harper said. “They’ve been hydrating themselves better. I think after the one scare, everyone started taking it a little more serious. We did have one more heat illness, but practicing more in the evenings this week has helped us.”
With one more full week of practice remaining before intramural and scrimmage games, Harper wants to take the time to further critique his team.
“We’re trying to get things to the point of perfection rather than just installing things.” Harper said. “And we try to manage in a way to where no one gets injured.”
Leader sportswriter
Searcy coach Tim Harper is anxious for the season to start, but by no means in a hurry.
The Lions have taken slow but steady strides in the first two weeks of August football practice. Most of the offensive and defensive schemes have been installed, and the methodical approach has the Lions game ready with plenty of time for fine-tuning.
“We probably have about 90 percent installed on both sides,” Harper said. “We’re working on a few stunt packages for our defense, but we’re pretty much ready to go. We have all of our special teams in. We feel like we could play today if we needed to, so we’re feeling good where that’s concerned.”
Harper was pleased with the improvements made by his offensive skill players, and said the defensive line was the only trouble spot during the week. The second-year coach would like to see more effort made towards conditioning by the defensive interior.
Otherwise, things are on schedule.
“Our practices have been going great,” Harper said. “There hasn’t been any problems, just what I feel like have been good August practices. To be honest with you, we’re about to the point where we’re going to get tired of hitting on each other soon.”
The Lions are hoping to make their second straight trip to the Class 6A playoffs after ending a five-year postseason drought in 2009. Searcy, 4-7, won more games last season than the previous four combined.
Harper credited much of last year’s improvement to his players’ work ethic during spring practice, summer 7-on-7 games and weightlifting, as well as the two-a-days practices.
He said the effort this August has been just as good, even with the much hotter temperatures compared to a year ago.
Heat precautions have been a major focus, although the Lions experienced their second heat-related illness when sophomore linebacker Bradley Root became sick following a practice early in the week.
It was not serious and Root recovered, but was held out for the rest of the week as a precaution. Senior linebacker Charlie Birmingham passed out from heat exhaustion during the first week of practice and was taken to a local hospital for intravenous fluids, but he returned to practice Monday and has had no further complications.
“The kids have been super,” Harper said. “They’ve been hydrating themselves better. I think after the one scare, everyone started taking it a little more serious. We did have one more heat illness, but practicing more in the evenings this week has helped us.”
With one more full week of practice remaining before intramural and scrimmage games, Harper wants to take the time to further critique his team.
“We’re trying to get things to the point of perfection rather than just installing things.” Harper said. “And we try to manage in a way to where no one gets injured.”
SPORTS>>Lions take their time to prepare for season
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Searcy coach Tim Harper is anxious for the season to start, but by no means in a hurry.
The Lions have taken slow but steady strides in the first two weeks of August football practice. Most of the offensive and defensive schemes have been installed, and the methodical approach has the Lions game ready with plenty of time for fine-tuning.
“We probably have about 90 percent installed on both sides,” Harper said. “We’re working on a few stunt packages for our defense, but we’re pretty much ready to go. We have all of our special teams in. We feel like we could play today if we needed to, so we’re feeling good where that’s concerned.”
Harper was pleased with the improvements made by his offensive skill players, and said the defensive line was the only trouble spot during the week. The second-year coach would like to see more effort made towards conditioning by the defensive interior.
Otherwise, things are on schedule.
“Our practices have been going great,” Harper said. “There hasn’t been any problems, just what I feel like have been good August practices. To be honest with you, we’re about to the point where we’re going to get tired of hitting on each other soon.”
The Lions are hoping to make their second straight trip to the Class 6A playoffs after ending a five-year postseason drought in 2009. Searcy, 4-7, won more games last season than the previous four combined.
Harper credited much of last year’s improvement to his players’ work ethic during spring practice, summer 7-on-7 games and weightlifting, as well as the two-a-days practices.
He said the effort this August has been just as good, even with the much hotter temperatures compared to a year ago.
Heat precautions have been a major focus, although the Lions experienced their second heat-related illness when sophomore linebacker Bradley Root became sick following a practice early in the week.
It was not serious and Root recovered, but was held out for the rest of the week as a precaution. Senior linebacker Charlie Birmingham passed out from heat exhaustion during the first week of practice and was taken to a local hospital for intravenous fluids, but he returned to practice Monday and has had no further complications.
“The kids have been super,” Harper said. “They’ve been hydrating themselves better. I think after the one scare, everyone started taking it a little more serious. We did have one more heat illness, but practicing more in the evenings this week has helped us.”
With one more full week of practice remaining before intramural and scrimmage games, Harper wants to take the time to further critique his team.
“We’re trying to get things to the point of perfection rather than just installing things.” Harper said. “And we try to manage in a way to where no one gets injured.”
Leader sportswriter
Searcy coach Tim Harper is anxious for the season to start, but by no means in a hurry.
The Lions have taken slow but steady strides in the first two weeks of August football practice. Most of the offensive and defensive schemes have been installed, and the methodical approach has the Lions game ready with plenty of time for fine-tuning.
“We probably have about 90 percent installed on both sides,” Harper said. “We’re working on a few stunt packages for our defense, but we’re pretty much ready to go. We have all of our special teams in. We feel like we could play today if we needed to, so we’re feeling good where that’s concerned.”
Harper was pleased with the improvements made by his offensive skill players, and said the defensive line was the only trouble spot during the week. The second-year coach would like to see more effort made towards conditioning by the defensive interior.
Otherwise, things are on schedule.
“Our practices have been going great,” Harper said. “There hasn’t been any problems, just what I feel like have been good August practices. To be honest with you, we’re about to the point where we’re going to get tired of hitting on each other soon.”
The Lions are hoping to make their second straight trip to the Class 6A playoffs after ending a five-year postseason drought in 2009. Searcy, 4-7, won more games last season than the previous four combined.
Harper credited much of last year’s improvement to his players’ work ethic during spring practice, summer 7-on-7 games and weightlifting, as well as the two-a-days practices.
He said the effort this August has been just as good, even with the much hotter temperatures compared to a year ago.
Heat precautions have been a major focus, although the Lions experienced their second heat-related illness when sophomore linebacker Bradley Root became sick following a practice early in the week.
It was not serious and Root recovered, but was held out for the rest of the week as a precaution. Senior linebacker Charlie Birmingham passed out from heat exhaustion during the first week of practice and was taken to a local hospital for intravenous fluids, but he returned to practice Monday and has had no further complications.
“The kids have been super,” Harper said. “They’ve been hydrating themselves better. I think after the one scare, everyone started taking it a little more serious. We did have one more heat illness, but practicing more in the evenings this week has helped us.”
With one more full week of practice remaining before intramural and scrimmage games, Harper wants to take the time to further critique his team.
“We’re trying to get things to the point of perfection rather than just installing things.” Harper said. “And we try to manage in a way to where no one gets injured.”
SPORTS>>Wildcats looking for more success
By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
There isn’t much reason to change things at Harding Academy.
The only thing the Wildcats would like to do differently this year is play one more game — and finish with a healthy Seth Keese at quarterback.
Keese was injured on the third play of Harding Academy’s state semifinal loss to eventual 3A champion Fountain Lake last year.
He is fully rehabilitated and the Wildcats are favored to repeat as the 2-3A Conference champions this season.
“We’re pretty much sticking with what we did last year,” coach Roddy Mote said. “We always have a little wrinkle here or there but as far as offense and defense and a broad scheme, it’s all the same. Get in the Spread and run the ball and get in the Spread and throw it and hopefully play fast defense and tackle well and create turnovers.”
Mote said 33 players reported for the start of practice, a group that includes Keese, the all-state selection who passed for 2,480 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 909 yards and 14 scores.
Keese was injured on a late hit out of bounds during last year’s playoff against Fountain Lake, Harding Academy’s season-opening opponent this year.
“He’s done a good jobrehabilitating that,” Mote said. “You don’t even know that he’s missed a step and he’s a lot more seasoned than he was a year ago.”
In the playoffs, Fountain Lake handed Harding Academy its worst and only loss of the season, 42-10. Subtract that game and the offensively prolific Wildcats outscored their opponents 455-180 in 2009.
Those numbers, a winning tradition and the return of Keese go a long way toward explaining Harding’s status as the 2-3A favorite. Harding Academy has won seven conference and four state championships, the last in 2002.
The team lost 12 seniors, including all-state receiver Tyler Gentry, who had 47 receptions for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Wildcats lost an additional 762 receiving yards when James Dillard, Jon Ford and Will Hardin also graduated, but there are still plenty of targets for Keese.
Tyler Curtis is the leading returning receiver after catching 20 passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Ben Lecrone caught 17 passes for 195 yards and rushed 119 times for 784 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Harding Academy also returns eight defensive starters from a unit that allowed 17 points a game to lead the conference last year.
At safety, Keese led the team with 96 tackles and had two interceptions and three forced fumbles last year. Inside linebacker Jace Davis was second with 73 tackles and nose guard Jake Wells had 30 tackles, six for losses.
“Every senior class that comes through, they have high expectations,” Mote said. “It’s not any different this year. I don’t know about any unfinished business but they’re excited.”
With that kind of talent on the roster, Mote understands why certain publications would pick the Wildcats first. If they were voting, the Wildcats would probably choose themselves, he said.
“Those are our expectations,” Mote said. “That’s why you play. I don’t think it’s going to happen if you don’t expect it to happen. I know our kids will play hard and we’ll compete and obviously as a coach you hope it works out and you hope you can meet those expectations.
“But it’s not any pressure or anything like that.”
Leader sports editor
There isn’t much reason to change things at Harding Academy.
The only thing the Wildcats would like to do differently this year is play one more game — and finish with a healthy Seth Keese at quarterback.
Keese was injured on the third play of Harding Academy’s state semifinal loss to eventual 3A champion Fountain Lake last year.
He is fully rehabilitated and the Wildcats are favored to repeat as the 2-3A Conference champions this season.
“We’re pretty much sticking with what we did last year,” coach Roddy Mote said. “We always have a little wrinkle here or there but as far as offense and defense and a broad scheme, it’s all the same. Get in the Spread and run the ball and get in the Spread and throw it and hopefully play fast defense and tackle well and create turnovers.”
Mote said 33 players reported for the start of practice, a group that includes Keese, the all-state selection who passed for 2,480 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 909 yards and 14 scores.
Keese was injured on a late hit out of bounds during last year’s playoff against Fountain Lake, Harding Academy’s season-opening opponent this year.
“He’s done a good jobrehabilitating that,” Mote said. “You don’t even know that he’s missed a step and he’s a lot more seasoned than he was a year ago.”
In the playoffs, Fountain Lake handed Harding Academy its worst and only loss of the season, 42-10. Subtract that game and the offensively prolific Wildcats outscored their opponents 455-180 in 2009.
Those numbers, a winning tradition and the return of Keese go a long way toward explaining Harding’s status as the 2-3A favorite. Harding Academy has won seven conference and four state championships, the last in 2002.
The team lost 12 seniors, including all-state receiver Tyler Gentry, who had 47 receptions for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Wildcats lost an additional 762 receiving yards when James Dillard, Jon Ford and Will Hardin also graduated, but there are still plenty of targets for Keese.
Tyler Curtis is the leading returning receiver after catching 20 passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Ben Lecrone caught 17 passes for 195 yards and rushed 119 times for 784 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Harding Academy also returns eight defensive starters from a unit that allowed 17 points a game to lead the conference last year.
At safety, Keese led the team with 96 tackles and had two interceptions and three forced fumbles last year. Inside linebacker Jace Davis was second with 73 tackles and nose guard Jake Wells had 30 tackles, six for losses.
“Every senior class that comes through, they have high expectations,” Mote said. “It’s not any different this year. I don’t know about any unfinished business but they’re excited.”
With that kind of talent on the roster, Mote understands why certain publications would pick the Wildcats first. If they were voting, the Wildcats would probably choose themselves, he said.
“Those are our expectations,” Mote said. “That’s why you play. I don’t think it’s going to happen if you don’t expect it to happen. I know our kids will play hard and we’ll compete and obviously as a coach you hope it works out and you hope you can meet those expectations.
“But it’s not any pressure or anything like that.”
SPORTS>>Beebe off to strong start for most part
By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
The good news for Beebe players heading into the second week of August football camp was the Badgers’ daily schedule being cut from two sessions a day to one.
The bad news was the one daily session fell in the sweltering afternoon heat.
“The kids are working real hard, and we know it’s hot, but for the most part, we’ve handled the heat real well,” coach John Shannon said. “We’ve had to move all of our practices back to 3:30 because of all the teacher’s meetings, and that’s made it a little tough on us, because that’s the hottest part of the day.”
To compensate, Shannon shifted practice time to 7-11 a.m. Friday, and he deemed the second week a success despite Monday’s sluggish start and an irksome performance that led a disgusted Shannon to send the whole team home early Thursday.
The afternoon storm that rolled through southern White County on Tuesday provided some relief from the heat, and Shannon said the team didn’t have a fall-off when the sun returned Wednesday afternoon.
The Badgers ended the first week with a morning special-teams practice today before dismissing until Monday.
“Giving them that much time off and then coming back, they’re a little sluggish, and they were on Monday for sure,” Shannon said. “The rest of the week has been good. The kids are working hard, and we feel like we’re on pace if not a little ahead of schedule from where we want to be this year.”
One advantage Shannon has found in dealing with the triple-digit temperatures has been the chance to see which players tend to fight through adversity. With much of the groundwork for this season done in spring practice and early summer, improving on the small things is top chore for the Badgers.
“We’re just looking for consistency, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” Shannon said. “The offensive linemen getting off at the same time, ourhandoffs are smooth, our throwing and catching are smooth, just consistency. On defense, we’re working on things like hitting the right gap, being in the right place at the right time and making sure we have our reads down.”
Beebe also started working on special teams during the second week and will use today’s practice to make sure everyone understands the assignments.
Last year’s 3-7 season was the worst of Shannon’s three, and it was the first time the Badgers did not reach the postseason under his leadership. But a larger pool of experienced upperclassmen provides the numbers and knowledge Shannon is hoping to see.
“This time last year, we were so young with not a whole lot of seniors,” Shannon said.
“It was hard to get kids to a point where it was reaction and not having to stop and think about it. One thing we really stressed starting in the offseason was our work ethic — not dreading it but coming prepared, and the kids have bought into it.”
The only significant injury in the first two weeks was a separated shoulder for junior cornerback Brandon Fuller. But Fuller should be able to return before the start of the season and could potentially be back in time for the scrimmage game jamboree at Harding Academy Aug. 24 against Harding Academy and Trumann.
Leader sportswriter
The good news for Beebe players heading into the second week of August football camp was the Badgers’ daily schedule being cut from two sessions a day to one.
The bad news was the one daily session fell in the sweltering afternoon heat.
“The kids are working real hard, and we know it’s hot, but for the most part, we’ve handled the heat real well,” coach John Shannon said. “We’ve had to move all of our practices back to 3:30 because of all the teacher’s meetings, and that’s made it a little tough on us, because that’s the hottest part of the day.”
To compensate, Shannon shifted practice time to 7-11 a.m. Friday, and he deemed the second week a success despite Monday’s sluggish start and an irksome performance that led a disgusted Shannon to send the whole team home early Thursday.
The afternoon storm that rolled through southern White County on Tuesday provided some relief from the heat, and Shannon said the team didn’t have a fall-off when the sun returned Wednesday afternoon.
The Badgers ended the first week with a morning special-teams practice today before dismissing until Monday.
“Giving them that much time off and then coming back, they’re a little sluggish, and they were on Monday for sure,” Shannon said. “The rest of the week has been good. The kids are working hard, and we feel like we’re on pace if not a little ahead of schedule from where we want to be this year.”
One advantage Shannon has found in dealing with the triple-digit temperatures has been the chance to see which players tend to fight through adversity. With much of the groundwork for this season done in spring practice and early summer, improving on the small things is top chore for the Badgers.
“We’re just looking for consistency, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” Shannon said. “The offensive linemen getting off at the same time, ourhandoffs are smooth, our throwing and catching are smooth, just consistency. On defense, we’re working on things like hitting the right gap, being in the right place at the right time and making sure we have our reads down.”
Beebe also started working on special teams during the second week and will use today’s practice to make sure everyone understands the assignments.
Last year’s 3-7 season was the worst of Shannon’s three, and it was the first time the Badgers did not reach the postseason under his leadership. But a larger pool of experienced upperclassmen provides the numbers and knowledge Shannon is hoping to see.
“This time last year, we were so young with not a whole lot of seniors,” Shannon said.
“It was hard to get kids to a point where it was reaction and not having to stop and think about it. One thing we really stressed starting in the offseason was our work ethic — not dreading it but coming prepared, and the kids have bought into it.”
The only significant injury in the first two weeks was a separated shoulder for junior cornerback Brandon Fuller. But Fuller should be able to return before the start of the season and could potentially be back in time for the scrimmage game jamboree at Harding Academy Aug. 24 against Harding Academy and Trumann.
EDITORIAL >>Candidates against pork
Utter the words “earmarks,” “federal spending” or “pork barrel” and everyone’s blood pressure rises, which accounts for some irrational political behavior in 2010. Sensing the great public concern about the mushrooming national debt and the anger over absurd earmarks like the Alaskan “Bridge to Nowhere,” the Republican leadership in Congress recommends that the party’s candidates this year vow not to do earmarks for their districts or states. Polls show that it is a big winner.
All the Arkansas candidates have obliged. Rep. John Boozman of Rogers, the party’s nominee for the U. S. Senate, promises to forego any earmarks for Arkansas, although he is vague about whether that is forever or only until the public mood changes.
Tim Griffin, the GOP candidate for Congress from the Second District, says he won’t ask for federal dollars for any project in his district.
There is nothing irrational about the public alarm over budget deficits that are running at $1.3 trillion a year and will stay in that territory until the economy strengthens and Congress faces up to the need for more revenues and restraint. It will take both. But that is different from declaring unilateral disarmament for your district or state, which is what Boozman and Griffin are doing. Earmarks are not going to end, and shouldn’t, and any congressman who says he won’t seek help for his district is doing his people a great disservice. Or lying.
Until this year, Boozman was the busiest earmark champion in the Arkansas delegation. For nearly 10 years he has flooded the media with news releases announcing federal dollars for projects in northwest Arkansas. His predecessor, John Paul Hammerschmidt, was one of Congress’ greediest members, bringing home tens of millions of dollars of assistance every year, for the construction of superhighways (Interstate 540 from Alma to Bella Vista, the John Paul Hammerschmidt Highway), bridges, parks, river and sanitation projects and medical facilities. Together, Hammerschmidt, Boozman and Arkansas’ senators, principally Dale Bumpers and Blanche Lincoln, turned northwest Arkansas into one of the most economically vibrant regions in the country.
Rep. Vic Snyder has not done badly in the Second District. In 13 years, he has earmarked $120 million for projects at and around Little Rock Air Force Base and other military facilities in Pulaski County, which have had a huge economic impact on the community. Two years ago, he obtained $10.6 million to match Jacksonville city funds to build a college education facility outside the base to serve military personnel and civilians.
Owing partly to federal funds secured by Snyder and the state’s senators going back 20 years, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has become a world-class hospital and research center.
Tim Griffin says there will be no more help for the air base or the Second District if he is elected. Let them spend that money in Iowa, Connecticut or California.
You would be hard pressed to find a single piece of “pork barrel” in Arkansas that would not stand strict scrutiny for its social and economic value.
If your party was responsible for the two most famous boondoggles of the era, the Alaskan Bridge to Nowhere and the domed tropical rainforest in Iowa, perhaps you would be distancing yourself from earmarks, too. Congress had earmarked $398 million for the bridge from little Ketchikan, Alaska, to Gravina Island, where 50 people lived and commuted by ferry. Public outrage over Sen. Ted Stevens’ and Rep. Don Young’s project caused Congress to halt funding in 2006, although Gov. Sarah Palin took the money already sent to the state for the bridge and built a superhighway to nowhere instead of returning it to the treasury.
The author of the giant domed tropical rainforest on the Iowa plains was Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the top Republican on Senate Finance.
Those projects turned public opinion around on earmarks. Formerly, what you brought home from Washington was the biggest factor in re-election.
It should never have been so, and the back- scratching system made the federal capital-improvement system easy to abuse.
Congress last year swore off and under pressure from President Obama has introduced both restraint and logic. A senior congressman from Alaska does not automatically get federal dollars for anything he proposes. There is a standard of national scrutiny.
Sen. Lincoln says she will not stop seeking money for Arkansas projects because the state does not compete with states like California, Georgia and many others for defense contracts and other public works. Earmarks — a tiny part of the federal budget — are the only way for Arkansas to get a small share.
Rep. Boozman, we suspect, does not have his heart in it. His office tells local governments beseeching his help that he can’t do it this year because of his pledge to the Republican leadership to campaign on the no-earmarks pledge and that they should go to Sen. Lincoln to get it done.
All the Arkansas candidates have obliged. Rep. John Boozman of Rogers, the party’s nominee for the U. S. Senate, promises to forego any earmarks for Arkansas, although he is vague about whether that is forever or only until the public mood changes.
Tim Griffin, the GOP candidate for Congress from the Second District, says he won’t ask for federal dollars for any project in his district.
There is nothing irrational about the public alarm over budget deficits that are running at $1.3 trillion a year and will stay in that territory until the economy strengthens and Congress faces up to the need for more revenues and restraint. It will take both. But that is different from declaring unilateral disarmament for your district or state, which is what Boozman and Griffin are doing. Earmarks are not going to end, and shouldn’t, and any congressman who says he won’t seek help for his district is doing his people a great disservice. Or lying.
Until this year, Boozman was the busiest earmark champion in the Arkansas delegation. For nearly 10 years he has flooded the media with news releases announcing federal dollars for projects in northwest Arkansas. His predecessor, John Paul Hammerschmidt, was one of Congress’ greediest members, bringing home tens of millions of dollars of assistance every year, for the construction of superhighways (Interstate 540 from Alma to Bella Vista, the John Paul Hammerschmidt Highway), bridges, parks, river and sanitation projects and medical facilities. Together, Hammerschmidt, Boozman and Arkansas’ senators, principally Dale Bumpers and Blanche Lincoln, turned northwest Arkansas into one of the most economically vibrant regions in the country.
Rep. Vic Snyder has not done badly in the Second District. In 13 years, he has earmarked $120 million for projects at and around Little Rock Air Force Base and other military facilities in Pulaski County, which have had a huge economic impact on the community. Two years ago, he obtained $10.6 million to match Jacksonville city funds to build a college education facility outside the base to serve military personnel and civilians.
Owing partly to federal funds secured by Snyder and the state’s senators going back 20 years, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has become a world-class hospital and research center.
Tim Griffin says there will be no more help for the air base or the Second District if he is elected. Let them spend that money in Iowa, Connecticut or California.
You would be hard pressed to find a single piece of “pork barrel” in Arkansas that would not stand strict scrutiny for its social and economic value.
If your party was responsible for the two most famous boondoggles of the era, the Alaskan Bridge to Nowhere and the domed tropical rainforest in Iowa, perhaps you would be distancing yourself from earmarks, too. Congress had earmarked $398 million for the bridge from little Ketchikan, Alaska, to Gravina Island, where 50 people lived and commuted by ferry. Public outrage over Sen. Ted Stevens’ and Rep. Don Young’s project caused Congress to halt funding in 2006, although Gov. Sarah Palin took the money already sent to the state for the bridge and built a superhighway to nowhere instead of returning it to the treasury.
The author of the giant domed tropical rainforest on the Iowa plains was Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the top Republican on Senate Finance.
Those projects turned public opinion around on earmarks. Formerly, what you brought home from Washington was the biggest factor in re-election.
It should never have been so, and the back- scratching system made the federal capital-improvement system easy to abuse.
Congress last year swore off and under pressure from President Obama has introduced both restraint and logic. A senior congressman from Alaska does not automatically get federal dollars for anything he proposes. There is a standard of national scrutiny.
Sen. Lincoln says she will not stop seeking money for Arkansas projects because the state does not compete with states like California, Georgia and many others for defense contracts and other public works. Earmarks — a tiny part of the federal budget — are the only way for Arkansas to get a small share.
Rep. Boozman, we suspect, does not have his heart in it. His office tells local governments beseeching his help that he can’t do it this year because of his pledge to the Republican leadership to campaign on the no-earmarks pledge and that they should go to Sen. Lincoln to get it done.
TOP STORY > >City officials visit Ft. Smith for ideas
By PEGGY KENYON
Special to The Leader
On a bus heading for Fort Smith on Thursday, Jacksonville leaders looked for ways to rebuild their city’s blighted areas from the ground up.
“The trip reaffirmed to me that what I wanted to do by replacing old homes with new ones is a doable project,” said Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
At the same time, Fletcher’s trip made him thankful for being a mayor from a smaller city with smaller housing challenges. He said Fort Smith is three to four times bigger than Jacksonville.
The tour took Jacksonville officials to Fort Smith’s Ragon housing development, which included razing between 40 and 50 houses at a time.
Fletcher wants to raze three dilapidated houses in the Sunnyside Addition and construct two houses on the three lots.
The Jacksonville Housing Authority is also seeking federal grant money to build new houses in the Meadows Subdivision in the Cloverdale Road area off Hwy. 161 South.
Jim Durham, head of city administration, said about 55 brick houses could be built in the Meadows Subdivision for around $10 million.
Durham said $750,000 of a $1 million grant will be earmarked for the Sunnyside Addition’s revitalization project, and the remaining $250,000 is set aside for a sewer project to meet the needs of the JHA’s Meadows housing project.
“The Arkansas Finance Devel-opment Authority must approve our application,” said Phil Nix, Jacksonville Housing Authority executive director. “We’re still in the infant stages and this could be a stir that may not come to pass.”
Competition appears to be stiff for such grants. So far, 38 applications are seeking approval from that agency, according to Nix.
Nix said if the funding is approved, he plans to announce the project’s specifications and guidelines to qualify for those new homes.
While in Fort Smith, Fletcher saw a new home with all appliances listed for $98,000, which an individual making $28,000 a year could purchase. One detail could deter such a purchase.
“You’d have to have an almost perfect credit rating,” Fletcher said.
Despite that hurdle, Fletcher mused about the differences between renting and home ownership.
He believes an individual who is purchasing a home develops more “self-pride” in maintaining the house as well as its property.
Ideas will be definitely flowing from this Fort Smith bus trip, he said.
Another type of neighborhood, which is not a usual sight for Jacksonville residents, caught Fletcher’s eye during the tour. It was a mixture of two-story duplexes and single-family houses in the same area. He thought it could work well in Jacksonville.
Durham found new ways to apply for grants, including joining with Cabot and Sherwood when applying for a grant. Fort Smith’s Vice Mayor Gary Campbell told the visitors, “Rising tides raise all ships.”
Special to The Leader
On a bus heading for Fort Smith on Thursday, Jacksonville leaders looked for ways to rebuild their city’s blighted areas from the ground up.
“The trip reaffirmed to me that what I wanted to do by replacing old homes with new ones is a doable project,” said Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
At the same time, Fletcher’s trip made him thankful for being a mayor from a smaller city with smaller housing challenges. He said Fort Smith is three to four times bigger than Jacksonville.
The tour took Jacksonville officials to Fort Smith’s Ragon housing development, which included razing between 40 and 50 houses at a time.
Fletcher wants to raze three dilapidated houses in the Sunnyside Addition and construct two houses on the three lots.
The Jacksonville Housing Authority is also seeking federal grant money to build new houses in the Meadows Subdivision in the Cloverdale Road area off Hwy. 161 South.
Jim Durham, head of city administration, said about 55 brick houses could be built in the Meadows Subdivision for around $10 million.
Durham said $750,000 of a $1 million grant will be earmarked for the Sunnyside Addition’s revitalization project, and the remaining $250,000 is set aside for a sewer project to meet the needs of the JHA’s Meadows housing project.
“The Arkansas Finance Devel-opment Authority must approve our application,” said Phil Nix, Jacksonville Housing Authority executive director. “We’re still in the infant stages and this could be a stir that may not come to pass.”
Competition appears to be stiff for such grants. So far, 38 applications are seeking approval from that agency, according to Nix.
Nix said if the funding is approved, he plans to announce the project’s specifications and guidelines to qualify for those new homes.
While in Fort Smith, Fletcher saw a new home with all appliances listed for $98,000, which an individual making $28,000 a year could purchase. One detail could deter such a purchase.
“You’d have to have an almost perfect credit rating,” Fletcher said.
Despite that hurdle, Fletcher mused about the differences between renting and home ownership.
He believes an individual who is purchasing a home develops more “self-pride” in maintaining the house as well as its property.
Ideas will be definitely flowing from this Fort Smith bus trip, he said.
Another type of neighborhood, which is not a usual sight for Jacksonville residents, caught Fletcher’s eye during the tour. It was a mixture of two-story duplexes and single-family houses in the same area. He thought it could work well in Jacksonville.
Durham found new ways to apply for grants, including joining with Cabot and Sherwood when applying for a grant. Fort Smith’s Vice Mayor Gary Campbell told the visitors, “Rising tides raise all ships.”
TOP STORY > >School bell rings earlier and later
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Pulaski County Special School Dis-trict elementary students will now start their school day later than they did last year, while middle school and high school students will start earlier.
According to Tim Clark, president of the PCSSD Board of Education, elementary students will now have a later start time, while middle- and high-school students’ start times will be earlier.
The new schedule will lengthen the school day by 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.
Some students will be getting on a bus as early as 6 a.m. with the new schedule.
When schools open for students on Thursday, classes will start at 8:30 a.m. for elementary students and end around 4 p.m. — making their school day 30 minutes longer.
Older students will start 7:30 a.m. and get out an hour earlier, around 3 p.m. — provided an injunction filed by the teachers union isn’t acted on before school starts.
This is opposite from what the board decided at its meeting last week.
Deb Roush, spokeswoman for the district, said parents were upset with the idea of an early start time for elementary students, and the district listened and reversed the times.
“We have been reviewing our options related to our bell schedules for months, and there was much to consider including bus routes, costs and the fact that we had our youngest students having to get up so early,” said Tim Clark, president of the PCSSD school board.
“One of the biggest changes is that elementary students, who will now start at approximately 8:30 a.m., will be able to be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. for breakfast,” he said. “This will accommodate our parents who have to be at work by 8 a.m.”
Depending on the particular elementary school, the day will end between 3:50 and 4:05 p.m.
Clark said after-school programs for elementary students will be offered until 4:30 p.m. to allow parents extra time to pick up their students.
Charles Hopson, the district’s superintendent, said the extra time in the morning and afternoon will be used for enrichment and intervention opportunities.
“Yes, there will be a cost associated with putting staff in place to provide supervision and additional educational opportunities.
But if we’re going to put students first, this is what we need to do,” Hopson said.
The district’s middle and high schools will now begin classes at 7:30 a.m., with doors opening at 7 a.m. for breakfast, Hopson said. Depending on the school, the day will end between 2:55 and 3:05 p.m.
“This will help our older students who have to work in the afternoons or have after-school activities,” he added.
The change in the bell schedule will not lengthen the school day for teachers, Marty Nix, president of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers, pointed out.
“This is a parent issue that will affect students and teachers’ ability to teach effectively,” she said.
Hopson said he understands these changes are being made close to the start of school.
“We have been exploring every possibility related to scheduling options. These are complicated, logistical issues that involve many aspects of the district. The bottom line is, at the end of the day, we have done what is in the best interest of our kids.”
Bus schedules will be available early next week on the district’s website, www.pcssd.org.
Leader staff writer
Pulaski County Special School Dis-trict elementary students will now start their school day later than they did last year, while middle school and high school students will start earlier.
According to Tim Clark, president of the PCSSD Board of Education, elementary students will now have a later start time, while middle- and high-school students’ start times will be earlier.
The new schedule will lengthen the school day by 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.
Some students will be getting on a bus as early as 6 a.m. with the new schedule.
When schools open for students on Thursday, classes will start at 8:30 a.m. for elementary students and end around 4 p.m. — making their school day 30 minutes longer.
Older students will start 7:30 a.m. and get out an hour earlier, around 3 p.m. — provided an injunction filed by the teachers union isn’t acted on before school starts.
This is opposite from what the board decided at its meeting last week.
Deb Roush, spokeswoman for the district, said parents were upset with the idea of an early start time for elementary students, and the district listened and reversed the times.
“We have been reviewing our options related to our bell schedules for months, and there was much to consider including bus routes, costs and the fact that we had our youngest students having to get up so early,” said Tim Clark, president of the PCSSD school board.
“One of the biggest changes is that elementary students, who will now start at approximately 8:30 a.m., will be able to be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. for breakfast,” he said. “This will accommodate our parents who have to be at work by 8 a.m.”
Depending on the particular elementary school, the day will end between 3:50 and 4:05 p.m.
Clark said after-school programs for elementary students will be offered until 4:30 p.m. to allow parents extra time to pick up their students.
Charles Hopson, the district’s superintendent, said the extra time in the morning and afternoon will be used for enrichment and intervention opportunities.
“Yes, there will be a cost associated with putting staff in place to provide supervision and additional educational opportunities.
But if we’re going to put students first, this is what we need to do,” Hopson said.
The district’s middle and high schools will now begin classes at 7:30 a.m., with doors opening at 7 a.m. for breakfast, Hopson said. Depending on the school, the day will end between 2:55 and 3:05 p.m.
“This will help our older students who have to work in the afternoons or have after-school activities,” he added.
The change in the bell schedule will not lengthen the school day for teachers, Marty Nix, president of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers, pointed out.
“This is a parent issue that will affect students and teachers’ ability to teach effectively,” she said.
Hopson said he understands these changes are being made close to the start of school.
“We have been exploring every possibility related to scheduling options. These are complicated, logistical issues that involve many aspects of the district. The bottom line is, at the end of the day, we have done what is in the best interest of our kids.”
Bus schedules will be available early next week on the district’s website, www.pcssd.org.
TOP STORY > >Wing boss given new challenge Wing boss given new challenge
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
When Col. C.K. Hyde relinquishes command of the 314th Air Education Wing to Col. Mark Czelusta on Aug. 20, he’s headed to Randolph Air Force Base at San Antonio, where he will serve as deputy director of intelligence, operations and nuclear integration for flying training.
Czelusta, who was previously posted at Little Rock Air Force Base, most recently was the commander of the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group. He leads a team of approximately 190 airmen providing combat airlift, airborne electronic attack and operations support capabilities for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
“Czelusta will make a great member of Team Little Rock Family,” Hyde predicted.
He said his successor will face great challenges, but “I couldn’t be more confident, and I’m glad to hand off to a great combat warrior like Mark Czelusta.
“The center of tactical airlift is Little Rock Air Force Base,” Hyde said Thursday. “This is corporate headquarters for tactical combat delivery.
“The 314th has a great legacy of combat,” said Hyde, and the wing teaches C-130 airmen to “fly, fight and win.”
Every combat delivery mission traces back to the 314th Air Education and Training Wing, which trains the crews and maintainers of virtually all U.S. military C-130s and those of most allies, including 38 countries.
And be-cause of the training at Little Rock, the C-130s respond to humanitarian crises like nobody else.
For his new job, he’ll oversee air education and training “in pretty much every weapons system that we own. We do survival training. We do training for our missile crews. We do training for our special operations forces, for our fighter forces, for our mobility forces. My job will be looking over that vast enterprise of training that our Air Force needs to sustain the forces that we have and bring on line the training that we need for the future force structure that our nation is investing in,” Hyde said.
“We will be training to be successful against thinking and adaptive enemies — thinking and looking ahead, making sure our training meets the war-fighter needs.
“I’m excited about getting there and being a part of that enterprise. My job will be the flying-training portion, just what I’ve done here, but here I’ve had one small portion, the C-130 flying portion,” the colonel said.
At Randolph, he’ll be involved in all of the flying training, “making sure that it’s modern, that it’s relevant and that it delivers the capacity that we need to meet the demands of our current and future wars.”
The amount of training in recent years has doubled, Hyde said.
The nature of the training has changed because both the new and revamped aircraft and today’s recruits are different. “We excel at modern and relevant training,” he said. “Recruits are still patriotic, but they are part of the digital generation.”
Modern training takes advantage of that technology, Hyde said.
Technology has taken some of the training out of the planes and put it in flight simulators, saving the Air Force about $17 million a year.
As the number of state-of-the-art C-130Js assigned to the 314th doubles from seven to 14 by 2015, the Air Force Reserve and the National Guard will train airmen on legacy C-130Hs and the “new” C-130AMP, legacy planes remade with digital cockpits nearly identical to the C-130.
AMP stands for aviation- modernization program, and it changes legacy C-130 cockpits from analog to digital, with modern navigation and communication like that on the C-130Js.
The mission for training always changes as aircraft fleets change and as requirements change. The Air Force is increasing the J-model fleet significantly over the next five years.
Most of the active-duty operational forces will transition to J-models. That mission is rapidly growing, and the 314th will train exclusively for C-130Js.
Demand has increased for the capability for that airframe and its crews, according to the colonel.
“Our legacy fleet is gradually converting to the AMP configuration. The majority will be in reserve component,” he explained.
Legacy training—including the AMP planes—will transition to Reserve and National Guard, Hyde said.
The goal is to do this with no decrease in quality, or quantity, to support the operational forces and the air fighting commanders.
“The family all enjoyed the base and the community,” he said, noting that the community was very supportive of the base and airmen and “embraced and welcomed us and we made some life-long friends here.”
“The community here goes the extra mile,” Hyde said, “to build relationships that last beyond the assignments here.
“C-130 people love coming here,” he said. “It’s coming back to family.”
He said he had enjoyed getting out and seeing the parks and natural attractions in Arkansas. His older son, Robert, just graduated from North Pulaski High School as its salutatorian and is a cadet at West Point this fall.
His other son, George, has had a positive experience here as well, he said.
“The 314th’s missions and airmen have done great things for our Air Force,” Hyde said. The 314th and the 189th Air Wing of the Arkansas National Guard have provided the best C-130 training in the world and the partnership has been “one of the great things about the command,” he said.
He said those two wings had “a laser-like focus on the training mission. Warfare is always a team effort.”
Although here for only about two years, Hyde has served with three commanders of the Air Mobility Wing here—Brig. Gen.
Rowayne Schatz, Col. Greg Otey and the Col. Mike Minihan, who just took command of the 19th Airlift Wing on Aug. 2.
Hyde’s new job “is making sure we take advantage of the vast combat experience that our Air Force has. We’re the most combat-experienced force in the Air Force probably since World War II.
“I’ll be overseeing it all and working at the integration of it. It’s a big job,” he said, but “I’ll have a lot of help.”
Leader senior staff writer
When Col. C.K. Hyde relinquishes command of the 314th Air Education Wing to Col. Mark Czelusta on Aug. 20, he’s headed to Randolph Air Force Base at San Antonio, where he will serve as deputy director of intelligence, operations and nuclear integration for flying training.
Czelusta, who was previously posted at Little Rock Air Force Base, most recently was the commander of the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group. He leads a team of approximately 190 airmen providing combat airlift, airborne electronic attack and operations support capabilities for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
“Czelusta will make a great member of Team Little Rock Family,” Hyde predicted.
He said his successor will face great challenges, but “I couldn’t be more confident, and I’m glad to hand off to a great combat warrior like Mark Czelusta.
“The center of tactical airlift is Little Rock Air Force Base,” Hyde said Thursday. “This is corporate headquarters for tactical combat delivery.
“The 314th has a great legacy of combat,” said Hyde, and the wing teaches C-130 airmen to “fly, fight and win.”
Every combat delivery mission traces back to the 314th Air Education and Training Wing, which trains the crews and maintainers of virtually all U.S. military C-130s and those of most allies, including 38 countries.
And be-cause of the training at Little Rock, the C-130s respond to humanitarian crises like nobody else.
For his new job, he’ll oversee air education and training “in pretty much every weapons system that we own. We do survival training. We do training for our missile crews. We do training for our special operations forces, for our fighter forces, for our mobility forces. My job will be looking over that vast enterprise of training that our Air Force needs to sustain the forces that we have and bring on line the training that we need for the future force structure that our nation is investing in,” Hyde said.
“We will be training to be successful against thinking and adaptive enemies — thinking and looking ahead, making sure our training meets the war-fighter needs.
“I’m excited about getting there and being a part of that enterprise. My job will be the flying-training portion, just what I’ve done here, but here I’ve had one small portion, the C-130 flying portion,” the colonel said.
At Randolph, he’ll be involved in all of the flying training, “making sure that it’s modern, that it’s relevant and that it delivers the capacity that we need to meet the demands of our current and future wars.”
The amount of training in recent years has doubled, Hyde said.
The nature of the training has changed because both the new and revamped aircraft and today’s recruits are different. “We excel at modern and relevant training,” he said. “Recruits are still patriotic, but they are part of the digital generation.”
Modern training takes advantage of that technology, Hyde said.
Technology has taken some of the training out of the planes and put it in flight simulators, saving the Air Force about $17 million a year.
As the number of state-of-the-art C-130Js assigned to the 314th doubles from seven to 14 by 2015, the Air Force Reserve and the National Guard will train airmen on legacy C-130Hs and the “new” C-130AMP, legacy planes remade with digital cockpits nearly identical to the C-130.
AMP stands for aviation- modernization program, and it changes legacy C-130 cockpits from analog to digital, with modern navigation and communication like that on the C-130Js.
The mission for training always changes as aircraft fleets change and as requirements change. The Air Force is increasing the J-model fleet significantly over the next five years.
Most of the active-duty operational forces will transition to J-models. That mission is rapidly growing, and the 314th will train exclusively for C-130Js.
Demand has increased for the capability for that airframe and its crews, according to the colonel.
“Our legacy fleet is gradually converting to the AMP configuration. The majority will be in reserve component,” he explained.
Legacy training—including the AMP planes—will transition to Reserve and National Guard, Hyde said.
The goal is to do this with no decrease in quality, or quantity, to support the operational forces and the air fighting commanders.
“The family all enjoyed the base and the community,” he said, noting that the community was very supportive of the base and airmen and “embraced and welcomed us and we made some life-long friends here.”
“The community here goes the extra mile,” Hyde said, “to build relationships that last beyond the assignments here.
“C-130 people love coming here,” he said. “It’s coming back to family.”
He said he had enjoyed getting out and seeing the parks and natural attractions in Arkansas. His older son, Robert, just graduated from North Pulaski High School as its salutatorian and is a cadet at West Point this fall.
His other son, George, has had a positive experience here as well, he said.
“The 314th’s missions and airmen have done great things for our Air Force,” Hyde said. The 314th and the 189th Air Wing of the Arkansas National Guard have provided the best C-130 training in the world and the partnership has been “one of the great things about the command,” he said.
He said those two wings had “a laser-like focus on the training mission. Warfare is always a team effort.”
Although here for only about two years, Hyde has served with three commanders of the Air Mobility Wing here—Brig. Gen.
Rowayne Schatz, Col. Greg Otey and the Col. Mike Minihan, who just took command of the 19th Airlift Wing on Aug. 2.
Hyde’s new job “is making sure we take advantage of the vast combat experience that our Air Force has. We’re the most combat-experienced force in the Air Force probably since World War II.
“I’ll be overseeing it all and working at the integration of it. It’s a big job,” he said, but “I’ll have a lot of help.”
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
EDITORIAL >>Hire a good lawyer
Everyone stands equal before the law, as we all know, but if you can hire an expensive attorney you stand a little taller.
We never had a problem with the principle of Gideon v. Wainwright, the U. S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision establishing that poor people who face serious criminal charges have the right to a lawyer paid for by the state. It is the implementation that sometimes baffles us. Two recent and quite different cases in Arkansas were especially nettlesome. They will cost the taxpayers heavily and the cause of justice was not advanced.
Abdulhakim Mujahid Mu-hammad was accused of murdering a Conway man and wounding a Jacksonville man in an attack at an Army recruiting office last year. Muhammad’s family hired a crack criminal lawyer at Memphis to defend him, and early this year the lawyer wanted to be paid for his work by the state Public Defender Com-mission, which supplies lawyers for defendants who can’t afford a lawyer. But, of course, he wants to be paid much more than the state public defenders would.
The Supreme Court said in May that the law’s the law and the Public Defender Commission will have to do it, even though it may come close to bankrupting the agency. Muhammad wants to fire his lawyer.
Now comes the case of County Judge David Bisbee in the solidly Republican bailiwick of Benton County. Bisbee, a former Republican state senator (and quite a good one, in our judgment), was charged with three misdemeanors for trying to feather his own nest in the county office. He rejected a low bid for a county building and hired his own construction company to do the work. Bisbee hired Asa Hutchinson, the former congressman and unsuccessful Republican candidate for the U. S. Senate, attorney general and governor (2006), to represent him. It was a good move. Hutchinson came up with a novel and successful defense. He produced the revelation in court that Judge Bisbee was illiterate — he truly never learned to read or write — so that he could claim ignorance of the ethics law that he had flouted. Apparently, Bisbee never read a one of those thousands of bills on which he voted while he was in the state Senate and the leader of the Republican caucus. The Republican jury acquitted him.
Bisbee asked the court to order taxpayers to pay Hutchinson’s fees, which came to $73,044.85. The Public Defender Commission pays private lawyers $90 to $110 an hour to defend people who get the death penalty, but Bisbee’s lawyer wanted $400 an hour to defend misdemeanor charges. Normally, Hutchinson said, he charges $775 an hour, but he gave his friend Bisbee a special rate.
The special judge who heard the case ruled that since Judge Bisbee had been acquitted of the charges, he was entitled to have the taxpayers pay his legal bills. But the judge, John Cole, did whittle them down to $50,145. Bisbee said he was happy that the taxpayers will save him $50,000 and that he would negotiate with Asa on the rest.
Ignorance is not only bliss; with a good lawyer it can be remunerative.
Ernie Dumas writes editorials for The Leader.
We never had a problem with the principle of Gideon v. Wainwright, the U. S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision establishing that poor people who face serious criminal charges have the right to a lawyer paid for by the state. It is the implementation that sometimes baffles us. Two recent and quite different cases in Arkansas were especially nettlesome. They will cost the taxpayers heavily and the cause of justice was not advanced.
Abdulhakim Mujahid Mu-hammad was accused of murdering a Conway man and wounding a Jacksonville man in an attack at an Army recruiting office last year. Muhammad’s family hired a crack criminal lawyer at Memphis to defend him, and early this year the lawyer wanted to be paid for his work by the state Public Defender Com-mission, which supplies lawyers for defendants who can’t afford a lawyer. But, of course, he wants to be paid much more than the state public defenders would.
The Supreme Court said in May that the law’s the law and the Public Defender Commission will have to do it, even though it may come close to bankrupting the agency. Muhammad wants to fire his lawyer.
Now comes the case of County Judge David Bisbee in the solidly Republican bailiwick of Benton County. Bisbee, a former Republican state senator (and quite a good one, in our judgment), was charged with three misdemeanors for trying to feather his own nest in the county office. He rejected a low bid for a county building and hired his own construction company to do the work. Bisbee hired Asa Hutchinson, the former congressman and unsuccessful Republican candidate for the U. S. Senate, attorney general and governor (2006), to represent him. It was a good move. Hutchinson came up with a novel and successful defense. He produced the revelation in court that Judge Bisbee was illiterate — he truly never learned to read or write — so that he could claim ignorance of the ethics law that he had flouted. Apparently, Bisbee never read a one of those thousands of bills on which he voted while he was in the state Senate and the leader of the Republican caucus. The Republican jury acquitted him.
Bisbee asked the court to order taxpayers to pay Hutchinson’s fees, which came to $73,044.85. The Public Defender Commission pays private lawyers $90 to $110 an hour to defend people who get the death penalty, but Bisbee’s lawyer wanted $400 an hour to defend misdemeanor charges. Normally, Hutchinson said, he charges $775 an hour, but he gave his friend Bisbee a special rate.
The special judge who heard the case ruled that since Judge Bisbee had been acquitted of the charges, he was entitled to have the taxpayers pay his legal bills. But the judge, John Cole, did whittle them down to $50,145. Bisbee said he was happy that the taxpayers will save him $50,000 and that he would negotiate with Asa on the rest.
Ignorance is not only bliss; with a good lawyer it can be remunerative.
Ernie Dumas writes editorials for The Leader.
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