Prior to this weekend I had never been to a Men's Conference. To be honest, I never had much interest. I figured if I wanted a bunch of strange men that I have no relationship with to hug me in an awkward way and make painfully dry small talk, I would just show up at the next family reunion. But for some reason the Lord was telling me that I needed to attend Alpha Summit. Alpha Summit is the Men's Conference at Gateway Church in Southlake. I love Gateway. My wife, my kids, we all love Gateway and have been members there for about six years. But during that time I have never really connected with the men of Gateway. I have been to a few men's groups but for one reason or another I never stuck with it. Alpha Summit was a chance to change that.
It would not be easy. The conference had been marketed toward "guy's guys", I do not consider myself a "guy's guy." I don't hunt or fish. I hate to work on cars, I hate to mow the yard. I don't get excited about motorcycles or bows and arrows or even golf clubs for that matter. Maybe living in a house with three women has made me soft, I don't know. The point is I was not sure how or where I was going to fit in.
Thursday night I made absolutely no new friends. In fact I did not even talk to anybody. I did however discover at least one thing that I have in common with manly men...we like meat. Thursday night was a tailgate party in the parking lot. I have never seen such a wondrous display of carnivorous delights. Brisket, ribs, fajitas, and my favorite, the jalapeno bratwurst. All washed down with a choice of soda. I had a warm feeling in my chest, either it was the hint of kinship with my fellow men, or heartburn, I could not tell.
Friday was the day that changed everything. I started the day by volunteering as a greeter at one of the entrances. During the course of shaking about 175 hands I made a new friend, a guy named Ian who was greeting alongside me. As it would turn out my wife knows his wife and they are actually friends. This does not come as a shock since my wife knows everyone at church and seems to be friends with all of them. A tremendous lineup of speakers taught throughout the day. Bill Hybels on the importance of male friendships, a "band of brothers" if you will. Tim Ross on the life of David, how he shaped generations to come and how we have the power to do the same. Perry Noble on being passionate for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our savior Jesus Christ. Awesome stuff. Now I was starting to rethink my previous objections. Perhaps I had misjudged this whole Men's Conference thing. God was doing some amazing things in the room that night and I was glad to be a part of it.
Even the male bonding exercise of building a catapault was enjoyable. Although our catapault self-destructed after two practice launches and my only contribution was coming up with sportsy nicknames for my teamates ( like our captian Michael "Coupe" Deville) I still had a great time.
Saturday ended the conference on a high. Perry Noble spoke again. If you have not heard him you owe it to yourself to check him out. He pastors a church in South Carolina and speaks the Truth in a way only a southern born, southern bred believer can. When it was all said and done, I came away grateful that I went. Grateful for the friends I have, and the friends to come. I may not like some of the same things that "manly men" like, but I am a warrior for Christ. I am also the leader of my house, the protector of my family, and the one who is responsible for how my children grow up. Bring it on...
"I can do all things through him that gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Question of Trust
Trusting God sounds simple enough. After all, what do we know about God? We know He created the universe. That He created us to love Him and love each other. That He is all knowing, all seeing and that above all He is good! He loves us, cares for us, and does not desire to harm us. This is all in the book.
If anyone has earned our trust, it is God. So why do I find it so hard sometimes to fully put my trust in Him? Two weeks ago I was having major trust issues. My finances were not lining up the way I wanted them to. My job was not going the way I wanted it to. My marriage was not flowing the way I wanted it to. All of these things that were not going my way were causing me to turn my frustration toward God. I was angry because I felt like I had been a good boy, done and said the right things, I had been faithful in giving and going to church and not cussing (at least not much) and so I had held up my end of the bargain. Why then was God not holding up his?
Then I started noticing a pattern, every lesson I studied in quiet time, every sermon I heard on the radio, even the subject of study at my men's group were all hitting on the same theme, courage. The men's group was studying Ephesians Ch. 6 where Paul tells the church at Ephesus to "put on the full armor of God". The breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, most importantly the shield of faith. You don't put on armor unless you are going into battle and if you are going into battle you better have courage and courage covered by faith. Two different radio ministries were discussing the story of Paul's shipwreck on his way to Rome which is told in Acts Ch. 27. It is Paul, the prisoner, who stands up bravely and tells his shipmates that not a one shall perish even though the ship is to be run aground. Courage covered by Faith. Our family night movie was "Courageous." Police officers who overcome tragedy and challenge themselves to be the best fathers they can be, to do what is right no matter the cost. Courage covered by Faith.
Finally through prayer and listening, I started to catch on. My God, who meets every need, who guards me like a lioness, who loves me with boundless love I cannot comprehend, had not abandoned me. He had not even left my side for a second. He just wanted me to trust Him. Did you see a pattern to the problems I mentioned earlier? I was upset because things were not going MY way. My circumstances were not working out the way I wanted them to. Guess what? Things don't have to go my way, they only need to go God's way because God is enough! So it was up to me to trust God and let him work out the details. Now what does this have to do with courage? That, my friend, is where I had my revelation. See, it takes a courageous man to fully and utterly surrender to God. If there is one thing guys hate, it is giving up control. We want to be behind the wheel, we want to choose the restaurant, and we want our hands on the remote! But God wants, and deserves, our trust. Once I began to relate courage to surrender and bravery to trust, my mind was put right. My heart softened. I was back in my Fathers arms, such an awesome place to be.
Needless to say, things started getting better. I had peace, my relationships improved, my finances were blessed. Most importantly I grew closer to God, hearing Him in a stronger way. Connecting with Him with a freshness in my spirit. I can't wait to see what happens next.
My bottom line: Until you surrender to God, you are not ready for the fight. Put on his armor, and hold on tight.
"I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but take heart, I have overcome the world." -John 16:33
If anyone has earned our trust, it is God. So why do I find it so hard sometimes to fully put my trust in Him? Two weeks ago I was having major trust issues. My finances were not lining up the way I wanted them to. My job was not going the way I wanted it to. My marriage was not flowing the way I wanted it to. All of these things that were not going my way were causing me to turn my frustration toward God. I was angry because I felt like I had been a good boy, done and said the right things, I had been faithful in giving and going to church and not cussing (at least not much) and so I had held up my end of the bargain. Why then was God not holding up his?
Then I started noticing a pattern, every lesson I studied in quiet time, every sermon I heard on the radio, even the subject of study at my men's group were all hitting on the same theme, courage. The men's group was studying Ephesians Ch. 6 where Paul tells the church at Ephesus to "put on the full armor of God". The breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, most importantly the shield of faith. You don't put on armor unless you are going into battle and if you are going into battle you better have courage and courage covered by faith. Two different radio ministries were discussing the story of Paul's shipwreck on his way to Rome which is told in Acts Ch. 27. It is Paul, the prisoner, who stands up bravely and tells his shipmates that not a one shall perish even though the ship is to be run aground. Courage covered by Faith. Our family night movie was "Courageous." Police officers who overcome tragedy and challenge themselves to be the best fathers they can be, to do what is right no matter the cost. Courage covered by Faith.
Finally through prayer and listening, I started to catch on. My God, who meets every need, who guards me like a lioness, who loves me with boundless love I cannot comprehend, had not abandoned me. He had not even left my side for a second. He just wanted me to trust Him. Did you see a pattern to the problems I mentioned earlier? I was upset because things were not going MY way. My circumstances were not working out the way I wanted them to. Guess what? Things don't have to go my way, they only need to go God's way because God is enough! So it was up to me to trust God and let him work out the details. Now what does this have to do with courage? That, my friend, is where I had my revelation. See, it takes a courageous man to fully and utterly surrender to God. If there is one thing guys hate, it is giving up control. We want to be behind the wheel, we want to choose the restaurant, and we want our hands on the remote! But God wants, and deserves, our trust. Once I began to relate courage to surrender and bravery to trust, my mind was put right. My heart softened. I was back in my Fathers arms, such an awesome place to be.
Needless to say, things started getting better. I had peace, my relationships improved, my finances were blessed. Most importantly I grew closer to God, hearing Him in a stronger way. Connecting with Him with a freshness in my spirit. I can't wait to see what happens next.
My bottom line: Until you surrender to God, you are not ready for the fight. Put on his armor, and hold on tight.
"I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but take heart, I have overcome the world." -John 16:33
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
High School Football 10-17-11
This weekend in the Metroplex was truly one for the record books. State records fell in Fort Worth as Southwest defeated Arlington Heights 66-21 and QB Wesley Harris broke the state record by throwing for nine touchdowns in the game. Nine TD's, that is one better than Denton Ryan's Scotty Young, Birdville's Josh Dorman, and several other players going back to Turkey Valley's Kirk Saul were ever able to do. Harris' favorite target, Robbie Rhodes, wrote his name in the record book with 390 yards receiving and eight touchdown receptions, besting the state record in both categories. This all comes just a couple of weeks after Wichita Falls QB Dylan Sheffield set the state record for passing yards in a game with 683 and seven touchdowns against Denton High. Throw in the history being made by Aledo's Jonathan Gray and they guys at Texas Football magazine are going to be very busy updating their records section during the off-season.
300 for the Fedora
Another milestone was reached on Friday night as Highland Park Coach Randy Allen notched his 300th coaching victory. The Scots defeated Richardson Pearce 41-27 to improve to 7-0 on the year. Coach Allen has been on the Highland Park sideline for 148 of his 300 wins including the 4A D1 State Championship in 2005. I was at Rose Stadium in Tyler that day. Calling the game for the Texas State Network as a quarterback named Matthew Stafford led the Scots to a 59-0 win over Marshall. I first met Coach Allen years earlier, however, when he was coaching at Abilene Cooper. I have always respected Coach Allen and I am very appreciative of the time and attention he gives to me whenever we do a Highland Park game on TXA 21. He is a true gentleman and I congratulate him on becoming the 11th coach in Texas high school football to earn 300 wins. Good Job Coach!
11-5A Action
This week our game of the week was in Mesquite as the Horn Jaguars hosted state ranked Longview in 11-5A. The Lobos outlasted the Jags 38-30 but I came away impressed with both teams. Longview looks like a team that can make a long playoff run with offensive weapons like QB Bivins Caraway, WR Eric Hawkins and RB Tory White. Hawkins in particular was sensational with 4 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns. If the Lobos can learn to shut down the opponents passing game, watch out. Horn put up a great fight and has weapons of their own including Sophomore QB Destri White and TE/WR Vincent Hobbs, but their best playmaker is Oklahoma commit Devante Harris. Harris is a defensive back but hardly ever leave the field, playing wide receiver and returning kicks as well. Harris is blessed with blazing speed and the ability to make players miss in the open field. He also shut down Hawkins when he was covering him. All of Hawkins' big plays came when Harris was not covering the Arkansas bound receiver. Horn may be 2-5, but considering their losses have been close games against Coppell, Hebron, Denton Guyer, Stephenville and Longview, I would not count them out as being a threat to make some noise in the post-season.
The Big Three
Another team out of 11-5A is among my top three teams in the area. The DeSoto Eagles. The Eagles demolished Tyler Lee this week 66 to 13 and posted 623 yards of offense in the process. I have Allen, DeSoto, and Skyline clearly above the pack in the Metroplex right now. In fact, I would take take those three teams and give you every other team in the state of Texas and say that I have just as good a shot as you at predicting a state champion. I am that confident one of those three teams will be hoisting a trophy at Cowboys Stadium at the end of the year.
Undefeated Showdown
Speaking of Allen, the #1 ranked team in the state will be on TXA 21 this week facing unbeaten Flower Mound Marcus. The winner of this game will be the last undefeated team standing in District 8-5A, one of the toughest districts in the state. Allen has a load of D1 talent including QB Alec Morris who has thrown for almost 2,000 yards with 25 TD's and only one INT. Marcus counters with a running game that includes tailback Harvey Giddens who is approaching 1,200 yards rushing and has 18 touchdowns on the ground.
Other big games this week include:
Cedar Hill (5-2, 4-0) at Mansfield (7-0, 4-0) in 5-5A
Sachse (6-1, 3-1) at McKinney Boyd (5-2, 3-1) in 10-5A
Frisco (6-1, 4-0) vs. Frisco Centennial (7-0, 4-0) in 9-4A (Pizza Hut Park)
300 for the Fedora
Another milestone was reached on Friday night as Highland Park Coach Randy Allen notched his 300th coaching victory. The Scots defeated Richardson Pearce 41-27 to improve to 7-0 on the year. Coach Allen has been on the Highland Park sideline for 148 of his 300 wins including the 4A D1 State Championship in 2005. I was at Rose Stadium in Tyler that day. Calling the game for the Texas State Network as a quarterback named Matthew Stafford led the Scots to a 59-0 win over Marshall. I first met Coach Allen years earlier, however, when he was coaching at Abilene Cooper. I have always respected Coach Allen and I am very appreciative of the time and attention he gives to me whenever we do a Highland Park game on TXA 21. He is a true gentleman and I congratulate him on becoming the 11th coach in Texas high school football to earn 300 wins. Good Job Coach!
11-5A Action
This week our game of the week was in Mesquite as the Horn Jaguars hosted state ranked Longview in 11-5A. The Lobos outlasted the Jags 38-30 but I came away impressed with both teams. Longview looks like a team that can make a long playoff run with offensive weapons like QB Bivins Caraway, WR Eric Hawkins and RB Tory White. Hawkins in particular was sensational with 4 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns. If the Lobos can learn to shut down the opponents passing game, watch out. Horn put up a great fight and has weapons of their own including Sophomore QB Destri White and TE/WR Vincent Hobbs, but their best playmaker is Oklahoma commit Devante Harris. Harris is a defensive back but hardly ever leave the field, playing wide receiver and returning kicks as well. Harris is blessed with blazing speed and the ability to make players miss in the open field. He also shut down Hawkins when he was covering him. All of Hawkins' big plays came when Harris was not covering the Arkansas bound receiver. Horn may be 2-5, but considering their losses have been close games against Coppell, Hebron, Denton Guyer, Stephenville and Longview, I would not count them out as being a threat to make some noise in the post-season.
The Big Three
Another team out of 11-5A is among my top three teams in the area. The DeSoto Eagles. The Eagles demolished Tyler Lee this week 66 to 13 and posted 623 yards of offense in the process. I have Allen, DeSoto, and Skyline clearly above the pack in the Metroplex right now. In fact, I would take take those three teams and give you every other team in the state of Texas and say that I have just as good a shot as you at predicting a state champion. I am that confident one of those three teams will be hoisting a trophy at Cowboys Stadium at the end of the year.
Undefeated Showdown
Speaking of Allen, the #1 ranked team in the state will be on TXA 21 this week facing unbeaten Flower Mound Marcus. The winner of this game will be the last undefeated team standing in District 8-5A, one of the toughest districts in the state. Allen has a load of D1 talent including QB Alec Morris who has thrown for almost 2,000 yards with 25 TD's and only one INT. Marcus counters with a running game that includes tailback Harvey Giddens who is approaching 1,200 yards rushing and has 18 touchdowns on the ground.
Other big games this week include:
Cedar Hill (5-2, 4-0) at Mansfield (7-0, 4-0) in 5-5A
Sachse (6-1, 3-1) at McKinney Boyd (5-2, 3-1) in 10-5A
Frisco (6-1, 4-0) vs. Frisco Centennial (7-0, 4-0) in 9-4A (Pizza Hut Park)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Making Sense of the Metroplex
This is my blog that appears at http://www.texasfootball.com/
Thursday night I called the battle for the "Mayor's Cup" in the HEBISD. L.D. Bell was trying to snap a 13 game losing streak to the Trinity Trojans and for a half it looked like they were actually going to pull it off. Bell's Blue Raiders led 11-6 at the break courtesy of some outstanding first half defense including two interceptions. But the half-time break - all 2 hours and 30 minutes of it thanks to a lightning delay - was just what the Trojans needed to wake up. Running back Joel Kimpela and the Trojans offensive line demolished the Bell defense in the second half as Trinity scored 35 points in the second half on their way to a 41-11 victory. Kimpela finished with 25 carries for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. Trinity Coach Steve Lineweaver is now 12-0 against the Blue Raiders but first year Bell Coach Mark Smith has Bell improving and I don't think it will be too long before the skid comes to an end.
During the delay I had the chance to watch some of the Denton Guyer vs. Coppell game from the Collins Athletic Complex in Denton. It was the first time I had seen Guyer sophomore quarterback Jerrod Heard and I was not disappointed. Heard displayed a strong arm and good running skills in leading the Wildcats to a 31-7 rout of a state ranked team.
With the Coppell loss, there are two undefeated teams in the very tough 7-5A. Southlake Carroll and Keller Central. Carroll's Dragons had to hold on for the second straight week, however, as they narrowly escaped being the Keller Indians biggest homecoming win ever. Carroll got by the game Indians by a 26-21 margin after leading 26-0 in the first half. In the names to remember category, this game featured two of the best junior qb's in the state in Carroll's Kenny Hill and Keller's Davis Webb. Both will be among the more highly recruited signal callers in the state next year.
So Who's the Best?
We have turned the corner on the halfway point in the regular season and while we know that North Texas is stocked with some of the best 5A football teams in the state, do we really know which one stands above the rest? Many would argue that it's the Allen Eagles and so far they have done everything to back up those claims. The Eagles have beaten all foes convincingly this year including Lewisville on Friday night 45-13. If not Allen, then maybe DeSoto. The Eagles have also killed the competition by lopsided scores all year. Maybe Skyline deserves consideration having dominated opponents with a roster filled with D-1 talent. Carroll and Trinity are perfect on the year, but have struggled to win at times. I think I would have to give the nod to Allen at this point, but the fun thing is the season is a long way from being over and in the end, the best will be decided on the field.
A Historic Night
For once I write about a state record and it does not involve Aledo running back Jonathan Gray. Wichita Falls quarterback Dylan Sheffield set a state record with 683 passing yards against Denton in Wichita Falls on Friday night. Sheffield needed all the yards and his 7 touchdown passes to engineer a 53-49 win over the Broncos. Sheffield's mark eclipses that of Mac Morse who passed for 634 yards for Richardson Pearce in 2009. A huge night and a big win for the Coyotes so a hearty congratulations going out to Sheffield even though his record will put my alma mater, good ol' Denton High, in the record books in a dubious way.
Now about Jonathan Gray...of course no blog on North Texas would be complete without mention of Gray and his 347 yard 7 touchdown performance against Springtown. Gray once again made the most of minimal work as he only had 16 carries in the game but scored on runs on 42, 31, 8, 14, 69, and 8 yards. Gray now has over 1300 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on the year. As Nicole Richie's dad used to say, "OUTRAGEOUS!"
Game Balls
Some of the other tremendous performances this week:
Skyline QB Devante Kincade: 15-17 332 4TD in only one half of play as the Raiders beat Richardson 62-7.
Russell Hansbrough ran for 194 yards and scored 5 td's as Arlington Bowie routed Sam Houston 49-0.
Highland Park gunslinger Brady Burgin tossed 5 td passes and racked up 353 passing yards as the Scots defeated Wylie East 58-30. Guess it was a good weekend for current and former HP QB's, right Matthew Stafford?
Our TXA 21 crew will see Highland Park this week as they travel to Wylie to face the Pirates in District 10-4A play. Other huge district matchups include:
Denton Ryan at WF Rider (4-4A) Thursday
Duncanville at Mansfield (5-5A)
LD Bell at Irving MacArthur (6-5A)
Denton Guyer at Keller Central (7-5A)
North Mesquite at DeSoto (11-5A)
Lot's more good ones out there..tis the season.
Thursday night I called the battle for the "Mayor's Cup" in the HEBISD. L.D. Bell was trying to snap a 13 game losing streak to the Trinity Trojans and for a half it looked like they were actually going to pull it off. Bell's Blue Raiders led 11-6 at the break courtesy of some outstanding first half defense including two interceptions. But the half-time break - all 2 hours and 30 minutes of it thanks to a lightning delay - was just what the Trojans needed to wake up. Running back Joel Kimpela and the Trojans offensive line demolished the Bell defense in the second half as Trinity scored 35 points in the second half on their way to a 41-11 victory. Kimpela finished with 25 carries for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. Trinity Coach Steve Lineweaver is now 12-0 against the Blue Raiders but first year Bell Coach Mark Smith has Bell improving and I don't think it will be too long before the skid comes to an end.
During the delay I had the chance to watch some of the Denton Guyer vs. Coppell game from the Collins Athletic Complex in Denton. It was the first time I had seen Guyer sophomore quarterback Jerrod Heard and I was not disappointed. Heard displayed a strong arm and good running skills in leading the Wildcats to a 31-7 rout of a state ranked team.
With the Coppell loss, there are two undefeated teams in the very tough 7-5A. Southlake Carroll and Keller Central. Carroll's Dragons had to hold on for the second straight week, however, as they narrowly escaped being the Keller Indians biggest homecoming win ever. Carroll got by the game Indians by a 26-21 margin after leading 26-0 in the first half. In the names to remember category, this game featured two of the best junior qb's in the state in Carroll's Kenny Hill and Keller's Davis Webb. Both will be among the more highly recruited signal callers in the state next year.
So Who's the Best?
We have turned the corner on the halfway point in the regular season and while we know that North Texas is stocked with some of the best 5A football teams in the state, do we really know which one stands above the rest? Many would argue that it's the Allen Eagles and so far they have done everything to back up those claims. The Eagles have beaten all foes convincingly this year including Lewisville on Friday night 45-13. If not Allen, then maybe DeSoto. The Eagles have also killed the competition by lopsided scores all year. Maybe Skyline deserves consideration having dominated opponents with a roster filled with D-1 talent. Carroll and Trinity are perfect on the year, but have struggled to win at times. I think I would have to give the nod to Allen at this point, but the fun thing is the season is a long way from being over and in the end, the best will be decided on the field.
A Historic Night
For once I write about a state record and it does not involve Aledo running back Jonathan Gray. Wichita Falls quarterback Dylan Sheffield set a state record with 683 passing yards against Denton in Wichita Falls on Friday night. Sheffield needed all the yards and his 7 touchdown passes to engineer a 53-49 win over the Broncos. Sheffield's mark eclipses that of Mac Morse who passed for 634 yards for Richardson Pearce in 2009. A huge night and a big win for the Coyotes so a hearty congratulations going out to Sheffield even though his record will put my alma mater, good ol' Denton High, in the record books in a dubious way.
Now about Jonathan Gray...of course no blog on North Texas would be complete without mention of Gray and his 347 yard 7 touchdown performance against Springtown. Gray once again made the most of minimal work as he only had 16 carries in the game but scored on runs on 42, 31, 8, 14, 69, and 8 yards. Gray now has over 1300 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on the year. As Nicole Richie's dad used to say, "OUTRAGEOUS!"
Game Balls
Some of the other tremendous performances this week:
Skyline QB Devante Kincade: 15-17 332 4TD in only one half of play as the Raiders beat Richardson 62-7.
Russell Hansbrough ran for 194 yards and scored 5 td's as Arlington Bowie routed Sam Houston 49-0.
Highland Park gunslinger Brady Burgin tossed 5 td passes and racked up 353 passing yards as the Scots defeated Wylie East 58-30. Guess it was a good weekend for current and former HP QB's, right Matthew Stafford?
Our TXA 21 crew will see Highland Park this week as they travel to Wylie to face the Pirates in District 10-4A play. Other huge district matchups include:
Denton Ryan at WF Rider (4-4A) Thursday
Duncanville at Mansfield (5-5A)
LD Bell at Irving MacArthur (6-5A)
Denton Guyer at Keller Central (7-5A)
North Mesquite at DeSoto (11-5A)
Lot's more good ones out there..tis the season.
Monday, September 26, 2011
High School Football 9-26-11
This is my blog for Dave Campbell's Texas Football website http://www.texasfootball.com/ it posts every Monday.
Another week, another record for Aledo's Jonathan Gray. The all-time touchdowns leader in Texas high school football history now is the all-time leading scorer as well. Gray's five touchdown performance against Keller Timber Creek on Thursday night put him on a pedestal that has been occupied by the "Sugarland Express" Kenneth Hall for almost sixty years...
Texas High School Career Scoring Records*
920 - Johnathan Gray (Aledo; 2008-11)
899 - Ken Hall (Sugar Land; 1950-53)
890 - Traylon Shead (Cayuga; 2006-09)
862 - Jarrod Martin (Celina; 1993-96)
841 - Robert Strait (Cuero; 1985-87)
It is becoming hard for any of us to put into words the greatness that we are bearing witness to in the form of Jonathan Gray. Whether he goes on to stardom at The University of Texas or even the NFL remains to be seen, and really does not matter. All that matters now is that we are watching the young man that we will one day tell our grand kids about in much the same way that the guys we call old-timers like to talk about Hall, Warren McVea, David Overstreet, Billy Sims, Earl Campbell and others. He is the stuff of legend. It's not fair to put that label on a young man barely driving a car and still trying to earn a high school diploma, but the truth is you have to recognize greatness when you see it in order to appreciate it. Let's enjoy it while we can. Gray is still a long way from the national scoring title as you can see...
National High School Career Scoring Records**
1,246 - Michael Hart (Nedrow Onondaga, NY; 2000-03)
1,076 - T.A. McLendon (Albemarle, NC; 1999-2001)
952 - Brett Law (Sheridan, Ind.; 1986-89)
924 - Kevin Grady, Jr. (East Grand Rapids, Mich.; 2001-04)
920 - Johnathan Gray (Aledo; 2008-11)
899 - Ken Hall (Sugar Land; 1950-53)
...but we know to expect the impossible from him. Anyone who doubts Gray is putting his money on the wrong horse.
* from Texas Football
** from National Federation of State High School Associations
Close Calls
A couple of the best teams in the state had brushes with defeat this week. Southlake Carroll's Dragons survived a test from Keller Fossil Ridge in the District 7-5A opener. The Dragons stopped a two point conversion attempt with 5:14 left in the game that proved to be the difference in a 28-26 win.
Euless Trinity had to go to overtime to defeat Colleyville Heritage 38-35. The Trojans held a 14 point lead at one point but Heritage QB Cody Thomas rallied the Panthers with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to force the overtime. Austin Lopez hit a 37 yard field goal in OT for the Trojans to seal the victory. Joel Kempala continued to be a dominant runner for the Trojans with 208 yards and a touchdown. The TXA 21 High School Game of the Week will be at Pennington Field in Bedford this Thursday night to see the Trojans live as they take on rival L.D. Bell. Game time is 7:00 PM.
Game Balls
Jonathan Gray, mentioned earlier in this blog, has already rushed for over 1000 yards this season. Did you know there is another 4A runner in the Metroplex that has eclipsed the 1000 yard milestone? Cameron Washington of Coriscana now has 1003 yards after rushing for 216 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers 39-7 win over Ennis. Washington is among the leading scorers in the area as well with 13 rushing touchdowns on the year.
The best quarterback in North Texas might be the one playing about 15 miles North of the University of North Texas. Sanger's Dane Evans continues to put up amazing numbers week in and week out. This week Evans led the Indians to a 45-37 win over Princeton going 22-34 for 353 yards and 3 touchdowns. Evans on the year has passed for 1524 yards and 19 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions.
Also deserving of a game ball this week is Prestonwood Christian QB Parker Ash. Ash passed for a whopping 510 yards and 7 (YES 7!!) touchdowns in a 62-34 victory over John Paul II. That is what I call some holy rollin'.
Fantastic Finish
Endings to ball games don't get any better than the one between Mansfield and Mansfield Timberview on Friday night. With Mansfield trailing by four with 10 seconds left in the game, the Evans brothers pulled off a miracle. Quarterback Jerod Evans heaved a 52 yard hail mary to his brother Lance who strolled into the end zone with one second left to give the Tigers a 29-27 win over crosstown and 5-5A rival Timberview. That pass preserved what has been a perfect season for Mansfield who improved to 4-0 on the year, 1-0 in district play.
Finally congrats go out to Prosper and Celina. The two 3A powerhouses knocked off tough opponents this week. Prosper got the better of Argyle, snapping the Eagle 24-game regular-season home winning streak with a 25-14 victory. Meanwhile Celina dispatched old coaching nemesis Barry Bowman (formerly of Daingerfield) and handed his Paris team their first loss of the season with a 41-22 victory.
Another week, another record for Aledo's Jonathan Gray. The all-time touchdowns leader in Texas high school football history now is the all-time leading scorer as well. Gray's five touchdown performance against Keller Timber Creek on Thursday night put him on a pedestal that has been occupied by the "Sugarland Express" Kenneth Hall for almost sixty years...
Texas High School Career Scoring Records*
920 - Johnathan Gray (Aledo; 2008-11)
899 - Ken Hall (Sugar Land; 1950-53)
890 - Traylon Shead (Cayuga; 2006-09)
862 - Jarrod Martin (Celina; 1993-96)
841 - Robert Strait (Cuero; 1985-87)
It is becoming hard for any of us to put into words the greatness that we are bearing witness to in the form of Jonathan Gray. Whether he goes on to stardom at The University of Texas or even the NFL remains to be seen, and really does not matter. All that matters now is that we are watching the young man that we will one day tell our grand kids about in much the same way that the guys we call old-timers like to talk about Hall, Warren McVea, David Overstreet, Billy Sims, Earl Campbell and others. He is the stuff of legend. It's not fair to put that label on a young man barely driving a car and still trying to earn a high school diploma, but the truth is you have to recognize greatness when you see it in order to appreciate it. Let's enjoy it while we can. Gray is still a long way from the national scoring title as you can see...
National High School Career Scoring Records**
1,246 - Michael Hart (Nedrow Onondaga, NY; 2000-03)
1,076 - T.A. McLendon (Albemarle, NC; 1999-2001)
952 - Brett Law (Sheridan, Ind.; 1986-89)
924 - Kevin Grady, Jr. (East Grand Rapids, Mich.; 2001-04)
920 - Johnathan Gray (Aledo; 2008-11)
899 - Ken Hall (Sugar Land; 1950-53)
...but we know to expect the impossible from him. Anyone who doubts Gray is putting his money on the wrong horse.
* from Texas Football
** from National Federation of State High School Associations
Close Calls
A couple of the best teams in the state had brushes with defeat this week. Southlake Carroll's Dragons survived a test from Keller Fossil Ridge in the District 7-5A opener. The Dragons stopped a two point conversion attempt with 5:14 left in the game that proved to be the difference in a 28-26 win.
Euless Trinity had to go to overtime to defeat Colleyville Heritage 38-35. The Trojans held a 14 point lead at one point but Heritage QB Cody Thomas rallied the Panthers with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to force the overtime. Austin Lopez hit a 37 yard field goal in OT for the Trojans to seal the victory. Joel Kempala continued to be a dominant runner for the Trojans with 208 yards and a touchdown. The TXA 21 High School Game of the Week will be at Pennington Field in Bedford this Thursday night to see the Trojans live as they take on rival L.D. Bell. Game time is 7:00 PM.
Game Balls
Jonathan Gray, mentioned earlier in this blog, has already rushed for over 1000 yards this season. Did you know there is another 4A runner in the Metroplex that has eclipsed the 1000 yard milestone? Cameron Washington of Coriscana now has 1003 yards after rushing for 216 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers 39-7 win over Ennis. Washington is among the leading scorers in the area as well with 13 rushing touchdowns on the year.
The best quarterback in North Texas might be the one playing about 15 miles North of the University of North Texas. Sanger's Dane Evans continues to put up amazing numbers week in and week out. This week Evans led the Indians to a 45-37 win over Princeton going 22-34 for 353 yards and 3 touchdowns. Evans on the year has passed for 1524 yards and 19 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions.
Also deserving of a game ball this week is Prestonwood Christian QB Parker Ash. Ash passed for a whopping 510 yards and 7 (YES 7!!) touchdowns in a 62-34 victory over John Paul II. That is what I call some holy rollin'.
Fantastic Finish
Endings to ball games don't get any better than the one between Mansfield and Mansfield Timberview on Friday night. With Mansfield trailing by four with 10 seconds left in the game, the Evans brothers pulled off a miracle. Quarterback Jerod Evans heaved a 52 yard hail mary to his brother Lance who strolled into the end zone with one second left to give the Tigers a 29-27 win over crosstown and 5-5A rival Timberview. That pass preserved what has been a perfect season for Mansfield who improved to 4-0 on the year, 1-0 in district play.
Finally congrats go out to Prosper and Celina. The two 3A powerhouses knocked off tough opponents this week. Prosper got the better of Argyle, snapping the Eagle 24-game regular-season home winning streak with a 25-14 victory. Meanwhile Celina dispatched old coaching nemesis Barry Bowman (formerly of Daingerfield) and handed his Paris team their first loss of the season with a 41-22 victory.
Friday, September 16, 2011
HS Football 9-12-11
Now we are really starting to learn about some teams in the Metroplex. Three games in and the cream is rising to the top while the sludge is sinking to the bottom. There are, however, some teams that still remain a mystery and the Aledo Bearcats are one of those teams. Two things happened in Aledo's showdown with Lake Travis on Friday night. One of them I expected, one of them I certainly did not expect. I did imagine that Jonathan Gray would set the all-time touchdown record for Texas high school football players and he did. Gray rushed for 244 yards and scored 4 td's in passing Traylon Shead for the honor. Gray now has nearly 150 td's in his legendary career and the season is a long, long way from being over. The thing I did not expect is that Gray would set the record in what would be a lopsided loss to the Cavaliers. Lake Travis rolled over the Bearcats 62-35 in one of the most unpredictable final scores we have ever seen, especially considering last years 14-10 win by Aledo. Lake Travis has more weapons than some small countries and it showed on Friday night. Kudos to the Cavaliers, but where does this put the Bearcats? They will probably fall out of the top ten in the AP state rankings, but are they really less than a top ten team? I kind of doubt it. They remain an enigma and probably will until the playoffs with very few teams in their district able to give them a challenge.
What we know
On the other hand, there are certain teams we know are very good and no team looks better at this moment than the DeSoto Eagles. The Eagles are 3-0 after dominating Cedar Hill 45-13 on Saturday. Through three games the Eagles have outscored their competition by a combined score of 151-16. QB Raheem Wilson has thrown for 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions while completing 55% of his passes. That compliments the running game which has three scoring threats in Dontre Wilson, Desmon White, and Devin Rushing. The Eagles may have been embarrassed by a 72-48 loss to Stony Point in the state quarterfinals last year, but right now I would not bet on any team standing between them and a trip to the state finals.
Skyline is another team that has looked dominant in starting 3-0. The Raiders have defeated three teams from Tennessee (Memphis Ridgeway), Florida (Cocoa), and Arlington (Bowie) and are set to roll into district play next week with pretty good shot a 10-0 regular season.
Mind Numbing Numbers
Friday night on TXA 21 we had the pleasure of being in McKinney for the matchup between the Lions and the Broncos of McKinney Boyd. Boyd won the crosstown rivalry game 38-28 behind a fantastic night for running back Bryan Driskell. Driskell, a junior, carried the ball 39 times for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Driskell has speed, elusiveness and toughness and I think college recruiters are about to start really taking notice of him. As I was driving home I thought perhaps I had seen the rushing performance of the week in the Metroplex, but then on the radio I hear Greg Tepper telling me about the night by Carlos Harris of Frisco...
Frisco's Raccoons played Lovejoy in one of wildest games we have seen in the D/FW area maybe ever. Lovejoy won 64-62. The two teams combined for 1186 yards of offense. Carlos Harris ran the ball 36 times for 446 yards and 7 (YES 7!!) touchdowns. Harris had runs of 45, 17, 43, 49, 40, 80, and 64 yards. The last touchdown brought the Raccoons to within two points with :27 seconds left in the game. It seems the only time Lovejoy stopped Harris was the one time it counted most as he was denied the end zone on the two point conversion attempt that almost surely would have sent the game to overtime. WOW!
Trouble for TJ
Thomas Jefferson is the name of one of our greatest presidents. Sadly, the high school that bears his name is far less accomplished, at least in terms of football. The Patriots are 0-3, but beyond not winning, they have not managed to score in a game this year. TJ has been outscored in fact 181-0. I don't bring this up to make fun of the Patriots. I bring it up because it saddens me. I know that like any other team in Texas, these young men are putting a lot of hard work, a lot of blood and sweat, into being the best they can be and I hate to think of how frustrating it must be for them right now. I wish that Denzel Washington, or Billy Bob Thornton, even Kyle Chandler could come sweeping in and inspire this team to victory but this is not Hollywood. The only thing I can say is hang in there guys, keep working hard, keep putting out the effort. Remember that you don't take football with you for the rest of your life, but the lessons you learn on that football field you do. Things like perseverance, character, and overcoming adversity. I really wish you the best the rest of the way.
ETC...
Time for some random notes...he may not have thrown for the most yardage but Highland Park QB Brady Burgin has the best overall numbers of any gunslinger in the Metroplex right now. Burgin is completing over 75% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 0 interceptions....keep a good thought for Jesuit QB Jack Brezette who suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury in Friday nights game against Coppell. Brezette, one of the areas leading passers, was injured near the end of the 35-28 Coppell win after a 33-63 421 yard night that included 4 td passes...top to bottom 8-5a is still probably the toughest district in the Metroplex but don't count out 7-5a where Coppell, Carroll, and Keller Central are all 3-0 followed by Keller Fossil Ridge and Denton Guyer...We have a Thursday night live game for you this week on TXA 21. Join us at 7pm as 3-0 Sachse takes on North Garland....Sachse could be a darkhorse in the playoffs this year led by QB Trent White who has thrown for 818 yards and 10 td's through three games.
What we know
On the other hand, there are certain teams we know are very good and no team looks better at this moment than the DeSoto Eagles. The Eagles are 3-0 after dominating Cedar Hill 45-13 on Saturday. Through three games the Eagles have outscored their competition by a combined score of 151-16. QB Raheem Wilson has thrown for 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions while completing 55% of his passes. That compliments the running game which has three scoring threats in Dontre Wilson, Desmon White, and Devin Rushing. The Eagles may have been embarrassed by a 72-48 loss to Stony Point in the state quarterfinals last year, but right now I would not bet on any team standing between them and a trip to the state finals.
Skyline is another team that has looked dominant in starting 3-0. The Raiders have defeated three teams from Tennessee (Memphis Ridgeway), Florida (Cocoa), and Arlington (Bowie) and are set to roll into district play next week with pretty good shot a 10-0 regular season.
Mind Numbing Numbers
Friday night on TXA 21 we had the pleasure of being in McKinney for the matchup between the Lions and the Broncos of McKinney Boyd. Boyd won the crosstown rivalry game 38-28 behind a fantastic night for running back Bryan Driskell. Driskell, a junior, carried the ball 39 times for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Driskell has speed, elusiveness and toughness and I think college recruiters are about to start really taking notice of him. As I was driving home I thought perhaps I had seen the rushing performance of the week in the Metroplex, but then on the radio I hear Greg Tepper telling me about the night by Carlos Harris of Frisco...
Frisco's Raccoons played Lovejoy in one of wildest games we have seen in the D/FW area maybe ever. Lovejoy won 64-62. The two teams combined for 1186 yards of offense. Carlos Harris ran the ball 36 times for 446 yards and 7 (YES 7!!) touchdowns. Harris had runs of 45, 17, 43, 49, 40, 80, and 64 yards. The last touchdown brought the Raccoons to within two points with :27 seconds left in the game. It seems the only time Lovejoy stopped Harris was the one time it counted most as he was denied the end zone on the two point conversion attempt that almost surely would have sent the game to overtime. WOW!
Trouble for TJ
Thomas Jefferson is the name of one of our greatest presidents. Sadly, the high school that bears his name is far less accomplished, at least in terms of football. The Patriots are 0-3, but beyond not winning, they have not managed to score in a game this year. TJ has been outscored in fact 181-0. I don't bring this up to make fun of the Patriots. I bring it up because it saddens me. I know that like any other team in Texas, these young men are putting a lot of hard work, a lot of blood and sweat, into being the best they can be and I hate to think of how frustrating it must be for them right now. I wish that Denzel Washington, or Billy Bob Thornton, even Kyle Chandler could come sweeping in and inspire this team to victory but this is not Hollywood. The only thing I can say is hang in there guys, keep working hard, keep putting out the effort. Remember that you don't take football with you for the rest of your life, but the lessons you learn on that football field you do. Things like perseverance, character, and overcoming adversity. I really wish you the best the rest of the way.
ETC...
Time for some random notes...he may not have thrown for the most yardage but Highland Park QB Brady Burgin has the best overall numbers of any gunslinger in the Metroplex right now. Burgin is completing over 75% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 0 interceptions....keep a good thought for Jesuit QB Jack Brezette who suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury in Friday nights game against Coppell. Brezette, one of the areas leading passers, was injured near the end of the 35-28 Coppell win after a 33-63 421 yard night that included 4 td passes...top to bottom 8-5a is still probably the toughest district in the Metroplex but don't count out 7-5a where Coppell, Carroll, and Keller Central are all 3-0 followed by Keller Fossil Ridge and Denton Guyer...We have a Thursday night live game for you this week on TXA 21. Join us at 7pm as 3-0 Sachse takes on North Garland....Sachse could be a darkhorse in the playoffs this year led by QB Trent White who has thrown for 818 yards and 10 td's through three games.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Practical Passion
We talk a lot about passion these days. No matter who you are or what you do, you're not doing it right if you are not passionate about it. Athletes are passionate about winning. Musicians are passionate about melody. I suppose when you are an athlete or a musician it's easy to be passionate, not so much if you are an insurance agent. I don't think I have ever heard my agent tell me "Doug, I am passionate about providing you with the best liability coverage on your 2001 Chevy Pickup!"
Passion was a big motivator for me entering the workforce after college. I knew I had to do something other than what was expected. I was not going to wear a suit, I was not going to sit at a desk, and I was absolutely not going to sell. I wanted to be passionate about what I did and the thing I was passionate about was radio.
I chose sports broadcasting because in a fun profession, it seemed like the most fun you could have. My goal was to live to work, not work to live. I don't regret chasing the radio dream. I have been working in sports broadcasting either full-time or freelance for almost 20 years. I have had some unbelievable experiences like kissing the Stanley Cup, seeing New York, San Francisco, and even Philadelphia at the Vet on a Monday night when the Cowboys are in town. I have been approached by total strangers who knew more about me than my own family. Weird, but kinda cool. I have also dealt with the downside of the broadcasting biz. The budget cuts, the ratings that just weren't good enough, the politics. My "passion" for broadcasting took an early toll on my relationship with my wife because I was too proud to go find regular work after getting let go from my dream job. All in all I have been blessed. But when you are talking about choices, I could have made some better ones.
I often get the opportunity to talk to young sportscasters just starting out or thinking about a career in the business. So many times when these youngsters talk to a jaded veteran they get the "Run Kid Run" speech, the one that tells them how tough this business is, how unfair. They are told if they have a brain in their head they will forget about broadcasting and get a nice accounting job or spend some extra time in school and become a lawyer. I have never endorsed that line of thinking and I never will. If this is truly what you feel led to do, then by all means do it! Do what you are passionate about....but.
This is part I wish someone had told me, or maybe they did and what I really wish is that I would have listened. Passion is great, it builds rockets, it moves the world forward, but being practical is what keeps food on your table and insanity off your front porch. Who says you can't do something your passionate about, but treat it like what it is, a business? When you get into broadcasting, the people you work with may be dreamers, but the people you work FOR are not. They are about the business. You should be too. Keep improving yourself, marketing yourself, and connecting yourself so that God Forbid if the pink slip hits your desk, you are ready to move on and not sit shell shocked in your apartment for six months.
Another thing, if you play for a profession, you need to be professional in private. What I mean by that is even though you are young, making money, and living large, don't dismiss the importance of saving, budgeting, and being prepared. I know I probably sound like your dad but dude, seriously, if there is one thing I wish I had been passionate about in my twenties, its saving and budgeting. Money can grow, but it takes time...start now. Make a reasonable budget and stick to it. There are so many things we just assume we will always count among our monthly expenses like car payments and credit cards...it doesn't have to be that way. Some people get rich in broadcasting, but not many. The good news is, if you do these things, it won't matter, your small salary will serve you just fine.
Just some things to think about. We are talking about passions and one of mine is helping young broadcasters get better. Seeing you succeed in this business is exciting. Seeing you be successful in life is a calling. I hope you are encouraged. God Bless.
d
Passion was a big motivator for me entering the workforce after college. I knew I had to do something other than what was expected. I was not going to wear a suit, I was not going to sit at a desk, and I was absolutely not going to sell. I wanted to be passionate about what I did and the thing I was passionate about was radio.
I chose sports broadcasting because in a fun profession, it seemed like the most fun you could have. My goal was to live to work, not work to live. I don't regret chasing the radio dream. I have been working in sports broadcasting either full-time or freelance for almost 20 years. I have had some unbelievable experiences like kissing the Stanley Cup, seeing New York, San Francisco, and even Philadelphia at the Vet on a Monday night when the Cowboys are in town. I have been approached by total strangers who knew more about me than my own family. Weird, but kinda cool. I have also dealt with the downside of the broadcasting biz. The budget cuts, the ratings that just weren't good enough, the politics. My "passion" for broadcasting took an early toll on my relationship with my wife because I was too proud to go find regular work after getting let go from my dream job. All in all I have been blessed. But when you are talking about choices, I could have made some better ones.
I often get the opportunity to talk to young sportscasters just starting out or thinking about a career in the business. So many times when these youngsters talk to a jaded veteran they get the "Run Kid Run" speech, the one that tells them how tough this business is, how unfair. They are told if they have a brain in their head they will forget about broadcasting and get a nice accounting job or spend some extra time in school and become a lawyer. I have never endorsed that line of thinking and I never will. If this is truly what you feel led to do, then by all means do it! Do what you are passionate about....but.
This is part I wish someone had told me, or maybe they did and what I really wish is that I would have listened. Passion is great, it builds rockets, it moves the world forward, but being practical is what keeps food on your table and insanity off your front porch. Who says you can't do something your passionate about, but treat it like what it is, a business? When you get into broadcasting, the people you work with may be dreamers, but the people you work FOR are not. They are about the business. You should be too. Keep improving yourself, marketing yourself, and connecting yourself so that God Forbid if the pink slip hits your desk, you are ready to move on and not sit shell shocked in your apartment for six months.
Another thing, if you play for a profession, you need to be professional in private. What I mean by that is even though you are young, making money, and living large, don't dismiss the importance of saving, budgeting, and being prepared. I know I probably sound like your dad but dude, seriously, if there is one thing I wish I had been passionate about in my twenties, its saving and budgeting. Money can grow, but it takes time...start now. Make a reasonable budget and stick to it. There are so many things we just assume we will always count among our monthly expenses like car payments and credit cards...it doesn't have to be that way. Some people get rich in broadcasting, but not many. The good news is, if you do these things, it won't matter, your small salary will serve you just fine.
Just some things to think about. We are talking about passions and one of mine is helping young broadcasters get better. Seeing you succeed in this business is exciting. Seeing you be successful in life is a calling. I hope you are encouraged. God Bless.
d
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