Posted on
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
A.D. The Modern ET Hero
Who will grace the cover of Madden '09 next year?
A. Adrian Peterson
B. Adrian Peterson or ...
C. Adrian Peterson
Need a hint?
No player in NFL history has transitioned this fast into an instant superstar like this "kid from Palestine, Texas" who graduated from high school about 3 1/2 years ago.
Not Earl Campbell.
Not Eric Dickerson.
Not Barry Sanders.
Not Peyton Manning.
Not LaDainian Tomlinson.
Not Vince Young.
Jinx or no jinx, here's to betting that A.D. will be EA Sports' first choice come next summer. He's already got a Fathead you can put on your wall.
Peterson finished four yards short of reaching 300 in a game for the second time in his career. Almost four years exactly from Sunday, the Vikings running back torched Athens for 305 yards and six touchdowns on 17 carries in the first half.
No disrespect to the 2003 Athens team, but the Hornets did not quite measure up to this year's San Diego Chargers.
We don't have to compare Peterson to anyone any longer. He might run like Dickerson or share similar styles with other players, but it's time to recognize that there is one Adrian Peterson.
He is East Texas' new favorite football son, the player that high school kids want to be like now.
It used to be Billy Sims and Campbell, but Peterson is the contemporary hero.
A. Adrian Peterson
B. Adrian Peterson or ...
C. Adrian Peterson
Need a hint?
No player in NFL history has transitioned this fast into an instant superstar like this "kid from Palestine, Texas" who graduated from high school about 3 1/2 years ago.
Not Earl Campbell.
Not Eric Dickerson.
Not Barry Sanders.
Not Peyton Manning.
Not LaDainian Tomlinson.
Not Vince Young.
Jinx or no jinx, here's to betting that A.D. will be EA Sports' first choice come next summer. He's already got a Fathead you can put on your wall.
Peterson finished four yards short of reaching 300 in a game for the second time in his career. Almost four years exactly from Sunday, the Vikings running back torched Athens for 305 yards and six touchdowns on 17 carries in the first half.
No disrespect to the 2003 Athens team, but the Hornets did not quite measure up to this year's San Diego Chargers.
We don't have to compare Peterson to anyone any longer. He might run like Dickerson or share similar styles with other players, but it's time to recognize that there is one Adrian Peterson.
He is East Texas' new favorite football son, the player that high school kids want to be like now.
It used to be Billy Sims and Campbell, but Peterson is the contemporary hero.
ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for an NFL-record 296 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday.
Since 2003, any time a running back comes through East Texas who's about 6-foot-2, 210-215 pounds with 4.5-second speed, he's compared to Peterson.
Just ask Jermie Calhoun over in Van or Justin Johnson in Gilmer, who are both following in Peterson's footsteps at Oklahoma.
We'll see it more often next year with Cayuga's Traylon Shead, Chapel Hill's Matthew Tucker or Madisonville's Chris Whaley, who plays against Palestine.
ONE BIG MESS
District 14-3A has had its share of shakeups and playoff scenarios the past few seasons, but nothing like this year.
Going into Friday's final games, eight different playoff possibilities are possible depending on how things go down between these six teams.
Chapel Hill is the only 3-1 team in the district, but the Bulldogs, who are certainly in the best position, could still miss the playoffs.
Brownsboro is the only 1-3 team, but yes, it can make the playoffs.
The remaining four teams - Athens, Bullard, Canton and Van - are all 2-2.
There could be as many as four teams tie for the district title (with one being left at home). It has been at least a decade since Athens (1996) and Bullard (1993) last reached the postseason.
On Friday, Van plays at Chapel Hill, Canton plays at Bullard and Athens entertains Brownsboro.
"It's exciting in one way or it can certainly be nerve-wracking at times, too," said first-year Bullard coach Jim Taylor on Tuesday. "There are an unbelievable amount of options that can happen."
So let's break things down, and don't forget to take a water break after every other scenario.
? If Chapel Hill, Canton and Athens win, all three will make the playoffs. Chapel Hill wins the district title.
? If Chapel Hill, Bullard and Athens win, all three are in, with Chapel Hill winning the title.
? If Van, Canton and Athens win, Chapel Hill, Canton and Athens are in.
? If Van, Bullard and Athens win, that leaves Chapel Hill out since the Bulldogs would lose to Van and Bullard. These three would all be 3-2, but Athens has wins over both Van and Bullard.
Halfway there. Deep breath.
? If Chapel Hill, Canton and Brownsboro win, Chapel Hill, Canton and Athens are in.
? If Chapel Hill, Bullard and Brownsboro win, the Bears will make the playoffs with Chapel Hill and Bullard.
? If Van, Canton and Brownsboro win, Chapel Hill, Van and Canton are in.
? If Van, Bullard and Brownsboro win, Van, Chapel Hill and Bullard are in.
Whew.
So while each team will be its own biggest fan this week, Chapel Hill will need Bullard to lose, while Brownsboro and Van needs Bullard to win.
This district deserves to be in this type of situation, though. 14-3A is statistically the toughest 3A district in the Tyler Morning Telegraph's coverage area and the fourth toughest regardless of classification.
Districts 15-5A, 12-2A, 20-A and 11-Six Man are the only groups with a better overall winning percentage. 14-3A's is .574 (31-23).
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Phone: 903-596-6325
E-mail: ccolston@tylerpaper.net
Just ask Jermie Calhoun over in Van or Justin Johnson in Gilmer, who are both following in Peterson's footsteps at Oklahoma.
We'll see it more often next year with Cayuga's Traylon Shead, Chapel Hill's Matthew Tucker or Madisonville's Chris Whaley, who plays against Palestine.
ONE BIG MESS
District 14-3A has had its share of shakeups and playoff scenarios the past few seasons, but nothing like this year.
Going into Friday's final games, eight different playoff possibilities are possible depending on how things go down between these six teams.
Chapel Hill is the only 3-1 team in the district, but the Bulldogs, who are certainly in the best position, could still miss the playoffs.
Brownsboro is the only 1-3 team, but yes, it can make the playoffs.
The remaining four teams - Athens, Bullard, Canton and Van - are all 2-2.
There could be as many as four teams tie for the district title (with one being left at home). It has been at least a decade since Athens (1996) and Bullard (1993) last reached the postseason.
On Friday, Van plays at Chapel Hill, Canton plays at Bullard and Athens entertains Brownsboro.
"It's exciting in one way or it can certainly be nerve-wracking at times, too," said first-year Bullard coach Jim Taylor on Tuesday. "There are an unbelievable amount of options that can happen."
So let's break things down, and don't forget to take a water break after every other scenario.
? If Chapel Hill, Canton and Athens win, all three will make the playoffs. Chapel Hill wins the district title.
? If Chapel Hill, Bullard and Athens win, all three are in, with Chapel Hill winning the title.
? If Van, Canton and Athens win, Chapel Hill, Canton and Athens are in.
? If Van, Bullard and Athens win, that leaves Chapel Hill out since the Bulldogs would lose to Van and Bullard. These three would all be 3-2, but Athens has wins over both Van and Bullard.
Halfway there. Deep breath.
? If Chapel Hill, Canton and Brownsboro win, Chapel Hill, Canton and Athens are in.
? If Chapel Hill, Bullard and Brownsboro win, the Bears will make the playoffs with Chapel Hill and Bullard.
? If Van, Canton and Brownsboro win, Chapel Hill, Van and Canton are in.
? If Van, Bullard and Brownsboro win, Van, Chapel Hill and Bullard are in.
Whew.
So while each team will be its own biggest fan this week, Chapel Hill will need Bullard to lose, while Brownsboro and Van needs Bullard to win.
This district deserves to be in this type of situation, though. 14-3A is statistically the toughest 3A district in the Tyler Morning Telegraph's coverage area and the fourth toughest regardless of classification.
Districts 15-5A, 12-2A, 20-A and 11-Six Man are the only groups with a better overall winning percentage. 14-3A's is .574 (31-23).
---
Phone: 903-596-6325
E-mail: ccolston@tylerpaper.net
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