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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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Ricky Mathis may only be one man, but he represented
the McKenzie Rebels very well at the Tennessee Athletic
Coaches Association Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game at
Lexington, Ky.The game was played last Friday night at University of
Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium.
Mathis, a 6-3, 290 lb. offensive lineman, started the
all-star game and played all but two series in the annual
glitter fest. The former Rebel signed with
Tennessee-Chattanooga and was a Mr. Football lineman
finalist last season, McKenzie's first.
But he was with peers at the game, which meant he had to
step up.
"Oh it was a big challenge and a great experience," said
Mathis. "It was a fun game and a challenge going against
the best from Kentucky."
Though Tennessee lost 28-14, the third loss in four years
the Volunteer State team has suffered, Mathis says he won
his individual battles in the trenches.
"I didn't give up a sack and the whole time didn't give up
but one sack," he said. "And we threw the ball like 25 to
30 times."
The Tennessee team reported to the University of Tennessee
campus for practice and Mathis picked a particular locker
in the dressing room.
"I dressed in Peyton Manning's old locker," he said. "It
had his name and number on it and like a list of things he
had done. That was pretty cool."
Former Milan and UT-Martin standout and current Crockett
County coach P.A. Pratt coached the offensive line. He
placed Mathis at right guard and tackle.
"And I think the whole backfield we had was Mr. Football
winners," said Mathis.
Rafael Hill of Martin, Abe Felix of Germantown-Houston,
Carl Stewart of Maryville and finalist Artis Pitts of
Crockett County made up the mail toters.
Mathis said he got along well with his teammates and vice
versa and was amazed by the size of some of the players,
including 6-8 Brentwood Academy product King Dunlap, who
is headed to Auburn.
"June is a weird time of year to be practicing football,"
Mathis said. "But it was good to get back out and get my
feet wet again, get the mechanics down and get that week
under my belt."
The Tennessee team practiced a full week before the game,
including full-pad, two-a-day sessions.
"After you've been off for seven or eight months," Mathis
said, "it's sort of hard to get out there, especially in
June."
The future Moc star says he was most impressed with
Kentucky quarterback Michael Bush, a Louisville signee.
"He was so good. I think he was the best player on the
field," Mathis said. "He was a big guy, like 6-3 and 240,
but he could run and break tackles."
After early technique evaluations, Mathis earned the
start.
"I guess they looked for whoever did the best at
practice," he said. "And they wanted to see who came off
the ball the best."
Mathis, who was team captain for the Rebels a year ago,
helped lead the team to a 9-5 mark and an appearance in
the Class 2A state football semifinals, the team's second
in as many years. He will report to UTC on July 31. |
