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Girls 4th Region Basketball Preview

sporting — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:03:00 +0500

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Boys 4th Region Tournament Preview

sporting — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:29:00 +0500

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Trent Steelman Army Strong

sporting — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:27:00 +0500

a six week boot camp followed by a thirteen mile hike into the campus of the United States Military Academy, West Point, where they will be formally accepted into the Corp of Cadets. While other football teams march with waving arms for a few hundred feet, these Cadets will march 30,000 steps in a little over eight hours, carrying rifles and a forty-pound backpack. Thus begins the bonding of brotherhood that starts on a dark mountaintop, with only an occasional road flare to mark the way. Somewhere on that dark mountaintop, between the cheering crowd on the streets, or passing the review stand with saluting Generals and dignitaries, begins a rivalry unsurpassed in college football. The shout of Go Army, Beat Navy will forever become a part of these cadets, extending well beyond their four grueling years at West Point.

On December 11^th, the Army Navy Football rivalry will renew “America’s Game” for the 111^th time. The original game played in1890 followed the rising popularity of football and was held on the Plains of West Point. Navy, an 11-year veteran of football experience would win the opening game. From there the gauntlet was thrown. Only a couple of interruptions would disrupt the annual meeting. One of those interruptions came following the fourth contest, when a Rear Admiral and a Brigadier General became argumentative and challenged each other to a duel following the game. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the duel was cancelled. The Secretary of Defense became aware of the intensity of the rivalry, and to prevent escalation, limited Army and Navy to only home games. Thus they were not able to meet. A few years later a neutral field was agreed upon, and thus the renewal of the series, typically been held in Philadelphia. Once again this year the rivalry carries a significant interest locally.

Cadet Trent Steelman, formally of Bowling Green High School, will lead the Black Knights of Army, starting at quarterback for the renewed Army team. Cadet Steelman made history last year, becoming the first Army Plebe (freshman) to be named opening day quarterback. Since that time, Steelman has amassed 23 consecutive starts, the longest consecutive stretch for Army quarterbacks over the past 35 years. Including prep school and Bowling Green High School, Steelman now has 61 consecutive starts, and also started three Kentucky High School Championships.

Last year’s leading rusher, Steelman has led the Army squad to their first bowl eligible season since 1996. Entering into the Army Navy game, Steelman is second on the team in rushing, with 620 yards, following Jared Hassin, at fullback, who leads the team at 884. Being quarterback in the triple option, results in a physical pounding each game. Steelman went to work in the off-season with an aggressive weight lifting program. He broke the previous record for squats by an Army quarterback, lifting just under five hundred pounds Primarily a run oriented squad, Army has amassed 2,863 yards in rushing. (12^th NCAA). The emergence of Army’s passing capability should come as no surprise to those in Bowling Green, where during his senior year under Coach Kevin Wallace, Steelman passed for 2,915 yards. Not surprising, Steelman was the beneficiary of extraordinary receivers and teammates who also continue to enjoy Saturday afternoons playing college football. D. L Moore, South Carolina, Jared Carpenter, Northwestern, Ryan Wallace, Sam Howard, and Stuart Hines, University of Kentucky are some of the 13 former teammates who continued their careers. Against Kent State, Steelman connected on 9-10 passes and also scored twice to win and become bowl eligible. Army was the last team in the nation to throw an interception. Prior to the Notre Dame game Steelman had one interception in ninety-nine attempts.

The season for Steelman and the Army Black Knights has been a year of excitement. Attendance increased 13%. The return of the offensive line, and increased athleticism of both offense and defense, improved the Army team to its highest win total since 1996. Trailing with less than three minutes to go against Eastern Michigan, Steelman led an 80 yard drive to secure a come from behind win, only the second consecutive opening day win for Army in the past thirteen years. Steelman would score four rushing touchdowns and pass for another in a loss to Temple. Included in the Army schedule were/are stops in the Superdome, (Tulane), the Meadowlands (Rutgers), Duke, Navy (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia), and Steelman’s favorite away game setting, the new Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium hosted its first college football game, and the largest crowd for a sporting event in its new venue, renewing Army against Notre Dame.

During the Army-Navy post-game interview last year, Steelman was asked the issue of a plebe directing the offense. He could have easily used the summary by Coach Bill Curry. The huddle is the great equalizer, for regardless of backgrounds, the success of each individual, and of the team is reliant upon each person to fulfill his task. In the huddle, Steelman, though a plebe was an equal, outside of the huddle, a senior cadet summed it up for CBS sports. “Cadet Steelman today is doing an excellent job leading this fine Army team to victory. When the game is over he is somewhere below whale blubber”.

For the first time all service academy teams are bowl eligible and only the fifth time Army has attended a bowl. Cadet Steelman, who is taking 21 hours this semester, has one immediate future goal, to visit the White House. The Commander in Chief Trophy is awarded by the President to the top service academy in victories among themselves. The road to the White House can be accomplished only with wins against Air Force and Navy. To prepare, to focus, before departure the Army team will gather at Trophy Point. Trophy Point is a monument dedicated to the Civil War, overlooking the bend of the Hudson River, where cannon placements guarded against the British Navy. It is here that the team is addressed, issues cleared, and focus of the biggest game of the season will begin.

So what is it that makes the Army Navy game superior to traditional rivalries. Steelman when asked, stated the game has a global influence. Soldiers and sailors around the world are keenly aware of the game. When he started the opening game last year, he was somewhat taken by the texts and calls he received from overseas. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan create videos shouting, Go Army Beat Navy. Spirit videos are shown on the scoreboard during the game, with spoofs of the other academy. These range from amateur productions, to imitations of leading commercials, to outright assembled cheering military personnel. It is a game where not only is there participation with a pregame march onto the field by 100% of the student population in uniform, but Administrators, openly lead boisterous cheers. One Midshipman who may have mixed feelings at his first Army Navy game, is Tanner England, a first year student who was a reserve lineman on the Bowling Green High team when Steelman was a senior. It is a game with passion, but is tempered with respect. Prior to opening day, Steelman received a message from Navy quarterback, Ricky Dobbs, ‘Believe in God, do the work, the rest will take care of itself’. When most games end, the officials are escorted from the field with protection. These officials calmly walk to the opposite forty-yard line, remove their caps, place them over their hearts, and stand solemnly while both teams face their student body and sing their alma mater. First the losing team, then the winning team, while the other team stands reverently behind them. Silence permeates the 70,000 plus in attendance. Perhaps it is the team paying honor to fellow soldiers by wearing different Army division patches on their sleeves. Perhaps it is symbolized in a troop train organized five years ago in which a couple organized a way for wounded soldiers and sailors to attend the game with only the request of no publicity. Perhaps it is reflected in the quality of the young men on both teams, who have become leaders at institutions, who reflect our country’s values. The keys to Thayer Gate (entrance to West Point) were handed to Coach Rich Ellerson when he stated, “we are not going to lose games because of the requirements of West Point, we are going to win games because of the requirements of West Point.

Other schools have pep rallies, Army has ‘Burn the Boat’. Other schools release balloons, Army has flyovers, parachute drops. Army had a raid a few years ago kidnapping the Navy goat mascots. Leaflets were dropped over the campus of Annapolis with ‘Go Army Trash Navy”.

Most colleges do an excellent job presenting the flag and play the National Anthem. The honor guard from West Point and the Naval Academy will not only present the Flag of the United States, the Armed Forces Flags, but also the battle ribbons from conflicts throughout our history. If you are not moved by the voices of the Cadet and Midshipmen Choir, please check your pulse.

Upon entering the locker room of Michie Stadium at West Point, the first plaque on the wall is not about player accomplishments, individual stats, but rather a list of the head managers over the years, beginning in 1890. The first name is Denis Mahan Michie who organized and captained the first team and for whom the stadium is named. The 1903 manager would be credited with the three words that epitomize the West Point experience. Duty, Honor, Country. That 1903 football manager, was a gentleman named, Douglas MacArthur. General Douglas MacArthur.

Cat Seymour, Academic Coordinator, for Army football perhaps summed it best. “This game is more than just a rivalry between two schools for bragging rights, it’s a game that brings attention to the men and women of the Armed Forces and gains support for them on a national stage. No two other teams on earth, get the privilege to represent what makes our country great in an arena in which all America can relate. It is the passion and tradition of college football at its best.

Local songwriter Phillip Douglas, recently co-authored a song sang by Mark Wills, called ‘Looking for America’. Tune in early Saturday, December 11^th, on CBS. You just might find her.

BEAT NAVY

The Army Navy game has been rated the 5^th best sporting event to be seen live.

Suggested Reading/Sites:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html

How Football Explains America, Sal Paolantonio

Youtube.com, search : Go Army Beat Navy Spirit Videos

‘Looking for America’ Mark Wills

Movie-The Long Gray Line

Trent Steelman Army Strong

sporting — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:13:00 +0500

Crowds line the street, kids ride on the shoulders of parents, anxious to applaud and show support for their heroes as they walk through the cheering mass. No, it is not the Grove at Ole Miss, it is not the Tiger walk or any of the traditional collegiate pre-game strolls to the stadium. For this select group of West Point Plebe Cadets, this is the culmination of Beast, a six week boot camp followed by a thirteen mile hike into the campus of the United States Military Academy, West Point, where they will be formally accepted into the Corp of Cadets. While other football teams march with waving arms for a few hundred feet, these Cadets will march 30,000 steps in a little over eight hours, carrying rifles and a forty-pound backpack. Thus begins the bonding of brotherhood that starts on a dark mountaintop, with only an occasional road flare to mark the way. Somewhere on that dark mountaintop, between the cheering crowd on the streets, or passing the review stand with saluting Generals and dignitaries, begins a rivalry unsurpassed in college football. The shout of Go Army, Beat Navy will forever become a part of these cadets, extending well beyond their four grueling years at West Point.

Local songwriter Phillip Douglas, recently co-authored a song sang by Mark Wills, called ‘Looking for America’. Tune in early Saturday, December 11^th, on CBS. You just might find her.

BEAT NAVY

The Army Navy game has been rated the 5^th best sporting event to be seen live.

Suggested Reading/Sites:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurthayeraward.html

How Football Explains America, Sal Paolantonio

Youtube.com, search :

Go Army Beat Navy Spirit Videos

‘Looking for America’ Mark Wills

Movie-The Long Gray Line

Patriot Pride Producers

sporting — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:10:00 +0500

The Sporting Would like to thank and congratulate Wesley Bacon and Emily Twardowski on the outstanding video project produce for their WKU photojournalism class. We also appreciate them sharing their work, so we may bring it to the thousands of ACS Fans via the Sporting Times website. Below is some information on Emily and Wesley.

As autumn fades to winter in South Central, Ky, most high school football teams have hung up their jerseys and put away their cleats, but the Allen County Scottsville Patriots continue to practice into the darkness of daylight savings, preparing for their play-off season. ACS seniors Matt Wade, Cy Williams, and Jacob Drummond along with legendary head coach, Bradley Hood, tell the inspiring story of making history in the town of Scottsville, Ky.

The project was shot, edited and produced by WKU Photojournalism students, Wesley Elizabeth Bacon and Emily Twardowski, as part of a school project called Friday Night Lights. Teams of talented, young photojournalists documented the magic of Friday night football at various high schools in the Bowling Green, Ky area over the course of the 2010 season, and produced a website containing intimate stories within the wins and losses.

If you are interested in contacting the producers of Patriot Pride or just interested in seeing more work, please feel free to visit their websites or contact them by email.

Wesley E Bacon

wesleyebacon@gmail.com
www.wesleybacon.com

Emily Twardowski
emily.sadler164@wku.edu

It's Getting Hotter & Busier!

sporting — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:09:00 +0500

Welcome to another exciting fall season! We're a long way from it actually being fall weather, but we're in full swing. Some schools are now getting back in session, but student athletes around the region have been working and preparing all summer for the upcoming seasons in their respective sports. We've been busy as well. I made my way to 12 of the region's schools, talking to players and coaches, taking photos and trying to get a grip on what to expect from each team. I've compiled all my journeys in the latest issue of The Sporting Times in our football previews. I hope you have as much fun checking it out as I did travelling and taking in all the camps. But we didn't stop there. We've got volleyball, girls soccer and boys soccer previews as well. And former Greenwood cross country and track and field coach Art Sciubba breaks down the upcoming cross country season. He'll be writing periodicaly all year, so be sure to check it out. We'll be taking in all the action from courtside and from the sideline all fall and into the winter, so be sure to stop and say hello! Here's to another exciting year of high school sports!

Jason Stamm

Editor

Its Official

sporting — Fri, 14 May 2010 01:46:00 +0500

Embry Heading to South Warren

Blaine Embry Greenwood Boys Basketball and Golf Coach submitted his resignation today to Greenwood High School's Athletic Director Todd Tolbert.

Embry accepted the Assistant Principal position at the new South Warren High School which will open this fall 2010

Embry Coached for eight seasons as the head Basketball coach and four seasons as the boys golf coach.

" I want to thank Blaine for all of his contributions to Greenwood high school athletics. Under his direction, the boys basketball program reached a pinnical in 2007 winning their first 4th region championship
and advancing to Rupp Arena" Said Todd Tolbert Greenwood Athletic Director.

Swack named Scholarship Winner

sporting — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:28:00 +0500

Perry Swack, a senior at Greenwood High School, has been selected to receive the Sporting Times Scholarship to Western Kentucky University.
Based on academics,extracurricular activities, and contributions to the Sporting Times publication, the scholarship is worth $2,000 over a four-year periord.
Swack, a member of the GHS golf team, has written a number of articles for the Sporting Times.

The Sporting Times/WKU Scholarship is in its 4th year, giving students across the 4th and 5th region an opportunity to submit articles starting in January and ending in May.

In 2010/11 school year, the Sporting Times will award two Scholarships.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!

sporting — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:39:00 +0500

Welcome to the new and improved website for The Sporting Times!. We've worked hard to get this up and going to bring you even more and bring you even closer to all the action. We hope you enjoy all of our new features. You can check out all of our articles that go into our monthly publications, for both region four and region five in our articles section, but check back here for any updates in between publications. We're in the middle of baseball, softball, tennis and track and field seasons and we'll have updates throughout. Anything you want us to mention? Let us know! Just to give you a preview of what to expect in our next issue, Barren County senior pitcher Bart Houchens (pictured) nearly pitched a no-hitter against Bowling Green, then had the game of his life against Monroe County. Not only did Houchens pitch a no-hitter, but he also hit three home runs. We'll have the full story on what's made him such a dominant force on the mound. There's been a youth travel basketball team tearing up the court in Barren County. We spoke to the players and coaches and got the inside scoop on how they accomplished so much this past season and what it was like playing together as a team. Warren East already had a new softball coach in Philip McKinney then before the first pitch, star senior pitcher Kate Holmes tore her left ACL in the basketball district tournament. Amazingly, Holmes has still pitched and pitched exceedingly well. How have the Lady Raider handled their new coach and how has Holmes been able to still play so well? There's been a youth movement at Bowling Green on the softball field for a while now, but now a year older and mature, Kathryn Downing and Brittany Vaughn are leading the charge for the Lady Purples. Glasgow has been on fire to start the season, getting out to the best start in the region. How have the Scotties done it? And much more! Sincerely, Jason Stamm, editor-Region Four