Sunday, November 19, 2000

Freeman on Aggies’ special teams, and other notes
By Bill Hart

Sports smorgasbord, while wondering whatever happened to former Abilene High and Abilene Christian University trackman H.D. Terry….

When Texas A&M used Colby Freeman on special teams against Iowa State and Kansas State, it was the first time ever that the former Brownwood High School quarterback had ever played on a kickoff squad, his father, Lions head coach Steve Freeman said.

However, Colby, who was the only other quarterback taken on the trip to Iowa, had played about 12 snaps as free safety. Some think defense may be the redshirt freshman’s future in Aggieland since starting quarterback Mark Farris is a sophomore....

Wondering whatever happened to found former Wylie High and ACU lady trackster Jaime Hallmark on the coaching staff at South Garland High School and also teaching physics and chemistry.

She is the freshman team head coach and assistant varsity coach in basketball. She was the assistant varsity girls’ track coach until a couple of weeks ago when she was elevated to the head coach. She has a young varsity track team, so it may take a little time to build the program. But look for her to have some good high jumpers and hurdlers. Those were her main events. Next year, she will also be the head boys’ and girls’ cross country coach, but she still plans to continue coaching basketball.

Not bad for someone just out of college…

It’s not too unusual to see a 3-7 high school football teams make the playoffs since three teams advance, but Aubrey and Kermit made it this time with 2-8 records. Both would have to win state championships to post a .500 record. But that is not going to happen, both Kermit and Aubrey lost in bi-district.

Former Brownwood Lion and ex-Ballinger coach Glen Jones is the coach at Kermit....

Former Ranger College baseball player Ellis Burks was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame Thursday night in Fort Worth. The “Hall” is one of former Abilenian Howard Green’s pet projects.

Burks, who hit .344 last year for the San Francisco Giants and slugged 24 home runs, is a free agent. It wouldn’t surprise some if he winds up with the Texas Rangers, whose home field is not too far from Everman, where he went to high school....

Australia reports that 145 persons who entered on visas for the Sydney Games have overstayed and that 35 members of the Olympic family, including competitors, officials and press, have requested political asylum in that country....

Here’s hoping that everything goes well Tuesday for Abilene Reporter-News assistant sports editor Mark Wilson when he undergoes open heart surgery to replace a defective mechanical valve that was put in two years ago. He says otherwise his heart is fine and there is no blockage....

Wondering whatever happened to found former Wylie football coach Joe Longley as an assistant coach in Del Rio. Joe coached at several schools, including Merkel, Hawley, Midland Greenwood and Andrews. Then he retired from public schools and went to a couple of private schools, Beaumont Christian and Houston Christian. One of his former players at Greenwood was Steve Heryford, who was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach at Del Rio this past summer. Then he got Longley to join his staff.

The Longleys still have a house in Abilene and visit occasionally. Their son Chad is on Glen Jones’ staff at Kermit.....

Lockney, located near Plainview, made it to the Class 2A football playoffs this year, and its coach is Chad Terry, who was one of those Roby millionaires from lottery success a few years back....

End of quote: “When he said sit down, I didn’t even bother to look for a chair,’’ — former Green Bay Packer Max McGee, on his late coach Vince Lombardi.

Bill Hart is a retired senior staff writer at the Abilene Reporter-News. To have copy considered for this column, email to hartbf@msn.com or fax it to (915) 854-2812.