From the
Upper Deck
Thoughts Of Football Burgeoning
By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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Even though the season opener for high school
football teams is a month or more away, talk is reaching
a fever's pitch in these parts.
I had a healthy chat with the Milan Mirror-Exchange's
Victor Parkins last week and he was telling me at length
that Milan could be poised to regain its tradition as a
force in West Tennessee football. He also informed me
Trenton could be solid again this year.
I told him that Huntingdon returns much of its crew
and that the coaches are excited about the Mustangs'
prospects. I also cautioned him to overlook McKenzie at
his peril.
Just a quick pre-season snapshot of the prep football
tapestry suggests that Milan, McKenzie and Huntingdon,
not necessarily in that order, could be the beasts of
the 2A area this year. Some have suggested that Union
City and Martin-Westview won't be as potent as they have
been.
Some say Camden could be on the fast track to a
turnaround. I do know that Milan has a killer schedule,
including the likes of JCM and Covington. McKenzie
didn't necessarily lighten its load when it decided to
take on the Chargers of Martin. Huntingdon, of course,
will have the likes of Bruceton and Milan with which to
contend.
Right now it looks like three pretty salty football
teams will be swinging at the piñata this year. A couple
of excellent teams stand a good chance of missing out on
the candy and prizes.
It's a long way to November, folks.
* * *
Last Tuesday's Major League All-Star game was perhaps
one of the most compelling in recent memory, perhaps the
most compelling since the 1970 affair when Pete Rose
collided with Ray Fosse in extra innings to secure the
NL victory.
There was drama, big hits, management decisions and
even a rare disagreement with an umpire on a call.
That's a rarity in the mid-summer classic.
One could have easily, and correctly, surmised that
once the NL took the lead, it had the guns to close down
the AL sluggers. With John Smoltz, Billy Wagner and Eric
Gagne in Dusty Baker's clip, a win seemed like a done
deal. But Wagner gave up a two-out blast and Gagne, who
had been untouchable for 31 games this season, delivered
a two-run blast to Hank Blalock and, in so doing, handed
the AL the victory.
What do you expect from the Dodgers? What do you
expect from the Cubs, managed by Baker?
Could that have been the Reds' fan emerging?
It was good to see hustle, big plays, big hits and
enthusiasm. It was even better seeing starters on the
bench at the end of the game. I remember seeing players,
once removed from the game, already in street clothes
and ready to get out of Dodge like they owed the MLB
commissioner money.
It was good to see Colorado first baseman and NL
starter Todd Helton go yard. For those of you in hiding
with Bin Laden, Helton was quarterback for Tennessee,
replacing Jerry Colquitt in the 1994 opener after
Colquitt had a season-ending knee injury seven plays
into that game. I remember this skinny, crew cut kid
sort of awed by the Neyland surroundings fresh out of
Knox-Central. Now he's one of the best hitters in the
game today.
* * *
A couple of items to note with sadness: First, I didn't
know Howard Nolen at all. I saw him play a few times
during the 2001 McKenzie football campaign, that magical
season where the Rebs were 13-1. Nolen recently died as
a result of a motorcycle mishap.
I asked around about what kind of teammate he was.
Many players on this and recent McKenzie football teams
spoke highly and enthusiastically of the decorated
football star and they miss him.
Also, condolences go out to David Duncan, McKenzie
High School assistant football coach, and his family
over the recent passing of his mother. Coach and I have
become good pals over the past year. He is a great coach
and a better man. MHS is lucky to have him. My thoughts
and prayers go with him and his family and friends as
well as the family and friends of Howard.
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