Sunday, November 8, 1998

Moody Madness at ACU and other tidbits

By Bill Hart

Sports smorgasbord, while wondering whatever happened to former Haskell and Angelo State football player Charles Franklin:

-- It's no longer Midnight Madness, it's Moody (Coliseum) Madness at Abilene Christian University. The action starts at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when both the men's and women's basketball team will be announced. Then they will compete against each other in a 3-point shooting contest.

Fans will also have a chance to take home some money. The craziest-dressed fan will receive $50. The paper airplane throw returns, but instead of putting it in the midcourt circle, a bucket will be the target in the circle. The prize for putting one inside the bucket is $100. But if that doesn't happen, the plane nearest the bucket rewards the thrower with $50.

ACU social clubs will dribble for dollars and a men's slam dunk contest rounds out the program. I understand coach Shanon Hays and assistant Stephen Hamrick won't compete in the dunking....

-- Breckenridge quarterback Cliff Watkins is among the five finalists for the Class 3A Fox Sports Southwest Player of the Year award. Quarterback Kenny Whittenburg of Winters has been nominated in Class 2A and running back Joe Kostiha of Gordon is the lone area Six-Man nominee.

Others up for the award are running back Ivan Williams of Cleveland, running back Curtis Jenkins of Lindale, quarterback Marcus Carter of Rusk and wide receiver Garvin Graves of La Vega in Class 3A; quarterback Kyle Herm of Stanton, tackle Derek Long of Celina, defensive back Bruce Galbert of Riesel and nose guard Melvin McGary of Omaha Paul Pewitt in Class 2A; lineman Jacob Hajer of Iola, quarterback Chavis McCollister of Tenaha, quarterback Brandon Everage of Granger, quarterback Will Harrell of Rocksprings and running back Nat Green of Runge in Class A; and running back Damien Jackson of Trinidad, running back Danny Santiago of Grandfalls-Royalty, quarterback Colt McCook of Borden County and quarterback Stan Ball of Cherokee in Six-Man.

Winners will be announced in mid-December....

-- Congratulations to Rodney Adams of Bronte and Jennifer Roemisch of Hermleigh for being two of the state finalists in the Wendy's Heisman award that honors athletes for citizenship, academics and athletic ability.

Omitted from last week's list of area nominees were Andy Rodgers and Bonnie McHan of Cooper. Somehow, Wendy's left their names off the list....

-- Former Cooper athlete Nathan Jones is the defensive line coach at Waco La Vega, which is ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 3A. He is also the school's head baseball coach.

He is a brother of Randy Jones, the head baseball coach at Coleman....

-- Now for the rest of the story. Other rule changes proposed by the University Interscholastic League, that were not mentioned in a newsletter, are listed in Texas Education News:

-- Allow equipment in football and volleyball the day prior to the start of practice.

-- Simplify the structure of invitational baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball tournaments by limiting the number of games per day and allowing non-consecutive play days.

If the State Board of Education gives approval, all changes will be in effect next August....

-- Clarification: Only Class 5A schools will be surveyed on keeping the present football playoff format except advancing four teams instead of the present three.

The may as well go ahead and let all classes vote because if 5A allows four playoffs teams from a district, the other classes will eventually follow....

-- According to the Texas Education News, UIL director Bill Farney is paid $108,385 annually, while athletic director Charles Breithaupt makes $75,937, Bonnie Northcutt (policy director) $73,228, Cynthia Doyle (associate athletic director) $61,275, Rex Spain (assistant athletic director) $53,533, Peter Contreras (assistant to the athletic director) $47,101 and Rachel Seewald (public information director) $42,394.

Bill Hart can be reached at 676-6773 or sports@abinews.com.