LITTLE ROCK — No team at Rector this year
Class 2A Rector has scrapped its 2010 season because of low player numbers, Coach B obby Alberson said.
Alberson said the school decided Monday to cancel the season because less than 10 players are expected for fall practice.
Rector, which is 41 miles northeast of Jonesboro, also didn’t field a team in 2004 because of insuff icient numbers.
Alberson said Rector had 17 varsity players last season, but lost six seniors to graduation.
There were 16 players in spring practice, Alberson said, but “two or three” moved away and “four or five” others were declared academically ineligible.
“There were only nine, really, that I could count on,” Alberson said.
Alberson said Rector will have no trouble playing a junior high schedule this fall since there are 33 players (grades 7-9) in the program.
Alberson said the hope is Rector can field a high school team next fall, but more than likely the program won’t return until 2012.
“We’ve had low junior high numbers the last two years, and it finally caught up to us,” Alberson said. “Thought I could do it, but I just don’t have [enoughplayers]. Can’t do it.”
Rector finished 1-9 last fall. The Cougars were 3-7 in Alberson’s first season in 2008.
CLARKSVILLE
Banning honored
Clarksville Coach Michael Banning was selected as Arkansas’ representative for the 11th annual NFL-USA Football Summit last week in Canton, Ohio.
According to a news release, high school coaches registered for anopportunity to attend the Summit by entering an essay contest conducted by the NFL and USA Football.
Coaches submitted online essaysin which they wrote about their coaching careers, commitment to youth and coaching philosophies.
A panel, consisting of local and state representatives, reviewed the essays and coaches were chosen to serve as their state’s delegate at the Summit, which is funded by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
Among the topics covered at the Summit were an NCAA session on eligibility and recruiting, interactive demonstrations by Riddell on proper equipment fitting, an overview of the NFL’s High School Player Development program, the importance of a feeder system, helping youth players achieve theirpotential and handling coach-player-parent relationships.
Guest speakers included several former NFL players.
Banning has coached the Panthers since 1999.
FAYETTEVILLE
Adds wide receiver
Senior wide receiver Chris Smith has transferred to Fayetteville after playing the past two seasons in Las Vegas, Bulldogs Coach Daryl Patton said.
Smith, who attended Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino Football Camp in June, had moved to Las Vegas from Jacksonville.
Smith, 6-1, 180 pounds, is a college prospect.
FOUNTAIN LAKE
Top gun
Fountain Lake Coach Tommy Gilleran said he was pleased with the progress of senior quarterback Coleman Crawford during the summer 7-on-7 passing tournament schedule.
Crawford will replace the graduated David Gray, who helped the Cobras reach the Class 3A championship game in 2008 and win the state title last fall.
Gray threw for 908 yards and rushed for 671 yards last season.
“He’s a better thrower than David,” Gilleran said of Crawford. “He won’t be the running threat David is, but he still runs pretty good. He’s elusive, but he’s not fast. He makes people miss. Hopefully, everything is going to work out.”
Gilleran said junior wingback Dale Smith, whoaveraged 9.3 yards per carry last season, will also play quarterback in certain situations.
Gray turned down a scholarship to play football at Henderson State and a chance to play football at Brown, Gilleran said, and will attend Arkansas State this fall as a student.
Gilleran said Tyler Snyder, a standout linebacker on the state championship team, is walking on at Arkansas Tech.
NORTH PULASKI
Coaching search
North Pulaski could name its new coach early this week, said Tony Bohannon, the school’s athletic director.
Bohannon said interviews were to be conducted Friday in the search to replace Rick Russell, who left earlier this month to become head coach at Jacksonville.
PULASKI ROBINSON
Fills open date
Pulaski Robinson has filled a Sept. 17 open date with a game at Lake Village.
The Senators had been open in Week 3 after dropping from Class 5A to Class 4A for the 2010-2012 cycle.
Robinson had been playing longtime rival Pulaski Oak Grove in Week 3, but the schools are now in the same conference (7-4A).
Robinson, which could be a statewide factor this fall, will now play its first four games on the road.
Lake Village, a member of the 8-4A, had previously had an open date in Week 3.
Sports, Pages 37 on 07/25/2010