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January 2010
On this date in area sports history …
Seventeen years ago on this date, Jan. 30, 1993, the News-Sun published a story about football recruiting experiences of South’s Chris Wallace. Complete story on the jump.
SOUTH’S WALLACE SEES DARK SIDE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS
By Dave Shedloski, Sports Editor
We have all heard or read, at one time or another, about the dark side of college athletics.
It is out there somewhere, lurking just below the glitzy surface of big-time football and basketball, as well as some lesser sports. And while we never know who next will stumble into the morass of one scandal or another, we know someone will.
Someone always does.
The fall likely will come in the high-stakes poker game of athlete recruiting, a never-ending pressure point in the arena of big business masquerading as amateur athletics. We’re used to the fact that rules will be broken here, the same rules intended to promote an atmosphere of fair play and a level field.
But fair play hardly seems a consideration anymore when it comes to schools chasing athletic talent. And even in instances where the rules aren’t trampled, integrity still too often takes a great fall.
The recruiting business is one cavernous wasteland.
Chris Wallace has walked in and out of the shadows of this valley, and has discovered the painful truth: that his best interests, stacked up against those of schools and their programs, are mighty far down on the depth charts.
The South quarterback with the rocket arm is headed to the University of Toledo, where he hopes his vast but underdeveloped passing abilities can overcome the second-tier status associated with the Mid-American Conference and propel him to his dream of an NFL career.
That the dream still exists at all is something of a wonderment, seeing how it will be sustained in spite of the system, not because of it.
Last resort is best
“It was one of my last resorts, but Toledo is like the best-kept secret in Ohio,” said Wallace, who last fall passed for 2,889 yards and 38 touchdowns, both state records. “It feels good to be wanted.”
He means truly wanted.
Of false affections he’s had his fill. But such is the nature of the college football recruiting game. Opportunity knocks, then knocks a kid down.
Tennessee, for instance, put the early blitz on Wallace, reportedly talking about a scholarship in mid-October. Further discussions with Vol recruiters, however, uncovered this enlightening bit of information: they really coveted Dee Miller, South’s preseason All-American wide receiver, who eventually committed to Ohio State.
If the Vols could land Miller as prime choice, they reportedly conceded, they’d gladly accept Wallace as gravy.
Tennessee officials could not be reached for comment.
“Tennessee answered all our questions honestly. They were up front with us the whole time,” said South Coach Tom Adams, generously overlooking the school’s initial expressions of earnest interest. “I told Chris he needed to go to a place where he could establish his own identity.”
Similar, though not duplicate, scenarios of bait and switch played themselves out with Michigan State, Louisville and Cincinnati, according to Adams. Each showed more than a passing interest in the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Wallace, only to back off without warning.
Schools short on foresight
Explanations weren’t abundantly forthcoming either. Louisville and Michigan State simply stopped calling, Wallace said. Cincinnati, after a change in head coaches, suddenly noticed that Wallace is, gasp, only 6-1, supposedly too short for major college football.
“A lot of schools said Chris was too short to be effective as a quarterback because he can’t see downfield,” Adams said. “Well, the greatest quarterback probably who ever lived - I’m talking about Joe Montana - isn’t but 6-1 or 6-2. (Heisman winner) Charlie Ward (of Florida State) is 6-1 and he seemed to be pretty darn effective.
“One of the things people in college football look for is can the kid make plays. Chris can make plays. He’s a player. What kid around here in the last 20 years has made more plays than Chris Wallace?”
Indeed, while the talented Miller was one of the nation’s preseason celebrities at receiver - and rightfully so - Wallace began his senior year as a relative unknown. But after twice throwing seven touchdowns in a game and enjoying nine Friday nights of 300-plus yards passing (including a couple of 500-yard explosions), Wallace ended up sharing the Division I All-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year award with his better known teammate.
Still, Wallace’s big-time college opportunities dried up once Miller announced he would become a Buckeye.
Only Hawaii, which he was to visit last week, and Toledo, which Wallace had turned down earlier, remained interested. That the Rockets finally landed him was due more to their good fortune than any benevolence they extended on his behalf.
“Yeah, I was a little disappointed,” Wallace said. “When you first start out you get caught up in all the hoopla and you’re not really thinking straight. But after awhile you realize that an education is an education. I’ve still got the opportunity to fulfill my dream, my longtime goal.
“I’m going to get to play college football. Maybe the odds are a little longer, but like Coach said, if you’re good, they (the NFL) will find you.”
They will find you on the college level, too. Whether they keep you - or keep themselves in the bounds of forthright behavior - is another matter.
Fortunately, Wallace landed on his feet. His dream goes on, with nary a psychological nick. Toledo, which finished 4-7 last year, uses a four-wideout attack that presumably will take advantage of his skills.
But consider this: Wallace had turned down Toledo once, lured by the sweet nothings of bigger, more prominent programs.
He could very well have ended up with no scholarship. Perhaps not, but who’s to say for certain.
If Wallace was not used by the system, he most certainly was mistreated by those who wallow in its trenches.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last few months,” said Adams, who admitted to being worn out by two having big-time prospects in his care. “You can’t imagine how much pressure is on these kids. I’ve seen how the game is played.”
“I feel pretty lucky,” Wallace said.
He ought to.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, On this date, South High School, University of Toledo
TweetBreaking down the CBC Kenton Trail boys hoops race
The boys basketball race in the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division is going to come down to the wire.
But from this point forward, every game is meaningful.
On Friday, Jan. 29, Tecumseh took over sole possession of first place with a 56-41 win at Stebbins. The Arrows are 9-2 and 8-4 in the league.
Tippecanoe (10-3, 7-3) and Shawnee (7-4, 7-3) are tied for second place, one game back of the Arrows. Both teams, however, lost to Kenton Trail Division rivals Bellefontaine (9-5, 7-4) and Kenton Ridge (9-4, 6-4), respectively, on Friday.
Kenton Ridge travels to Tippecanoe tonight, Saturday, Jan. 27.
“It doesn’t get any better,” said Cougars coach Kris Spriggs. “We’ve had a tough stretch in January. Hopefully we can start peaking down the stretch to make a run at the league title and tournament time.”
Here’s a look at each team’s remaining schedule:
Tecumseh has two crossover division games, Northwestern and Graham. They also face Bellefontaine, Kenton Ridge and two games with Shawnee inside the division.
Bellefontaine travels to both Graham and Tecumseh next week. They also face a crossover division game with Urbana, as well as games against Stebbins and Shawnee.
Kenton Ridge is at Tipp tonight, and also faces Stebbins, Tippecanoe and Tecumseh inside the Division. They also have two crossover division games with Indian Lake and Greenon.
Tippecanoe faces Kenton Ridge twice, and has to play Shawnee and Stebbins in the Kenton Trail. They also face Urbana and Indian Lake in crossover games.
Shawnee is at the halfway point having played just 11 games. They got off to a late start thanks to a long run in the Division II football playoffs. They have four straight road games (at Greenon, at Tippecanoe, at Butler, at Southeastern) and still face Tecumseh twice, Bellefontaine and Ben Logan in CBC games.
One thing is certain. If you want to win a league title, you better show up every night.
“In our division, you have to go out and play a complete game,” Spriggs said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Central Buckeye Conference, Kenton Ridge High School, Shawnee High School, Tecumseh
TweetEight local college fooball players to play in Ohio Senior Bowl
Four Wittenberg University and four Urbana University football players will play for the South Team in the first OhioCollegeFootball.com Senior Bowl at 1 p.m. April 17.
The game will take place at Upper Arlington High School’s Marv Moorehead Stadium.
Quarterback Aaron Huffman, wide receiver Patrick Williams, linebacker Kyle Lohrman and cornerback Brandyn Brown will represent Wittenberg.
The Urbana players are wide receiver Ian Iler, defensive lineman Shawn Lewis, tight end Tariq Kalimullah and cornerback Troy Brookins.
The game features players from all divisions of college football in Ohio. Ohio State cornerback Andre Amos and kicker Aaon Pettrey will also play for the South Team.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, Urbana University, Wittenberg
TweetWittenberg to host blood marrow drive for assistant track coach
From Wittenberg University:
In January 2009, Dennis Robinson learned that he was suffering from Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a blood disease that requires a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. One year later, members of the Wittenberg University community, who benefit from Robinson’s tireless work as an assistant track and field coach, are rallying in support.
Wittenberg will host a bone marrow and stem cell transplant registry drive from 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Benham-Pence Student Center. The drive will support efforts to identify possible donors with a simple swab on the cheek by a trained professional. A similar event took place on Dec. 6, 2009, at Robinson’s church, Wayman AME Chapel in Dayton.
While 7 million potential donors are currently in a national registry list maintained by Be The Match Registry, the complication for Robinson is that just 8 percent of them are black. Other minority groups have even lower numbers. Donors and recipients must be of the same race or ethnicity.
A graduate of Central State University, Robinson joined Wittenberg’s coaching staff in 2004 after teaching and coaching in the Dayton Public School District for 17 years. During his coaching career at Meadowdale High School, Robinson led dozens of athletes to outstanding individual finishes in the state track meet, with a best team finish of third in 2001.
Robinson earned Coach of the Year honors from the Southwestern Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches in 1977 for his work leading the Jefferson Township High School boys’ team to the AA state championship. He went on to serve as head coach of the All-Ohio Boys’ Track and Field team in 2001, earn recognition in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2000 and earn the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award in 2002.
The bone marrow and stem cell transplant surgery registry drive is open to anyone. For more information, contact Director of Multicultural Programs Forest Wortham at (937) 327-7800 or via e-mail at fwortham@wittenberg.edu.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Track and Field, Wittenberg
TweetWitt’s leading scorer Hill declared ineligible
SPRINGFIELD — Gregg Hill’s career with the Wittenberg men’s basketball team ended Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Coach Bill Brown told Hill the news at 4 p.m. outside the locker room. Then Brown entered the locker room to tell the team it would play the rest of the season without its leading scorer, a fifth-year senior who was the last remaining player to have appeared in the 2006 national championship game.
Wittenberg athletic director Garnett Purnell said Hill was declared academically ineligible.
Hill, a 6-foot guard from Redford Union High School in Farmington Hill, Mich., averaged 14.6 points in 13 games. He finished his career with 1,126 points. That places him 21st in Wittenberg history.
With Hill, the Tigers were 11-2 with a 3-1 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference. They will play their first game of the season without Hill at Denison at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Jan 13.
“We always breed depth in our program,” Brown said. “We feel like we have excellent depth. That’s what we play on. Now it’s just up to everybody. We have to coach a little harder. People will have to be coachable. Everyone has to pick it up.”
Wittenberg played all of last season without Hill as he recovered from a shoulder injury. It should be better equipped to handle his absence this year in part because of the improvement of junior guard Chris Sullivan, the team’s second-leading scorer. Sullivan will take Hill’s spot in the starting lineup.
“I don’t think anybody can deny we’ve always made a commitment to depth,” Brown said. “We do feel we have some quality depth. We move our second-leading scorer into the lineup, and that’s a lot better than moving your sixth-leading scorer into the lineup.”
Brown said for now Kyle Bigler will come off the bench to back up point guard David Nowicki, and freshman Steven Heatherly and junior Seth Hill will also compete for time in the rotation.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Men's Basketball, Wittenberg
TweetWeather wreaks havoc on schedule again
The inclement weather has forced a slew of postponements for today, Friday, Jan. 8.
Three boys basketball games, Springfield at Northmont, Graham at Urbana and Triad at Mechanicsburg, will still be played as scheduled. The Clark County Swimming Meet at Wittenberg will also hold preliminaries tonight beginning at 6 p.m.
The following boys basketball games have all been postponed with reschedule dates:
Greenon at Northwestern, rescheduled for Feb. 9.
Lockland at Yellow Springs, rescheduled for Feb. 3.
Greeneview at Cedarville, rescheduled for Feb. 9.
West Liberty-Salem at Catholic Central, rescheduled for Feb. 9.
Kenton Ridge at Tippecanoe, no makeup date announced.
Shawnee at Tecumseh, rescheduled for Feb. 23.
Southeastern at Northeastern, rescheduled for Jan. 30.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, High School Swimming
TweetWeather cause postponements across the area
The harsh weather outside has forced several postponements for today, Thursday, Jan. 7, across the area.
The Catholic Central at Triad girls basketball game has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
The Sidney Christian at Emmanuel Christian girls basketball game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m.
The Southeastern at Mechanicsburg girls basketball game has been rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The Greeneview at Cedarville girls basketball game has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
The West Liberty-Salem at Northeastern girls basketball game has been postponed. No reschedule date has been announced.
The Catholic Central at West Liberty-Salem and Springfield at Springboro bowling matches have also been postponed. No reschedule dates have been announced.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, High School Swimming, High School Wrestling
TweetTexas high school basketball team at center of controversy
From the Houston Chronicle:
The Yates High School boys basketball team set a state record and set itself up for controversy Tuesday night at Butler Fieldhouse.
The Lions beat Lee High School 170-35, setting the single-game state scoring record. Hardin-Jefferson had owned the record of 166 points since 1992.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys Basketball
TweetFormer Witt assistant on Kelly’s staff at Notre Dame
Chuck Martin, the linebackers coach at Wittenberg in 1994 and 1995, is the new defensive backs coach at Notre Dame. More recently, Martin was the head coach at Grand Valley State, where he won two Division II national championships.
Martin joins another former Grand Valley State head coach at Notre Dame, head coach Brian Kelly.
While at Wittenberg, Martin was also the head golf coach and an assistant baseball coach.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, Wittenberg
TweetWabash quarterback: Linthicum ‘gone far too soon’
Wabash senior quarterback Matt Hudson helped recruit Josh Linthicum, the Kenton Ridge grad and sophomore Wabash lineman who died Monday. This is an excerpt from his blog:
His loss is felt throughout the Wabash community, not only because of the contributions that he had already made, but because another bright young future has been taken from us. Nowhere will his loss be felt more dramatically than the Wabash football team. We (and I say “we”, even though I’m not a member of the team anymore) are such a tight knit group that I guarantee every person that has ever played football for us is saying prayers for the Linthicum Family. I know I am.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, Kenton Ridge High School, Wabash College
TweetWabash still in shock over Linthicum’s death
From the Paper of Montgomery County Online:
Wabash College senior quarterback Matt Hudson won’t forget Josh Linthicum.
After Wabash’s 41-35 double-overtime loss to Illinois Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, Linthicum caught up to Hudson before they boarded the bus in mid-November.
“After the Illinois Wesleyan game, Josh told me if it weren’t for me he wouldn’t have been at Wabash. That’s something I will always remember,” Hudson said. “I truly hope he had the best two years of his life while he was here.”
Linthicum died Monday morning after suffering heart failure during surgery on a torn labrum on his left hip at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati, the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun reported Monday. A native of Springfield, Ohio, Linthicum was 19 years old.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: College Football, Kenton Ridge High School, Wabash College
TweetOn Tap for Tuesday, Jan. 5
Last year, Reed Florence’s full-court shot helped Southeastern beat Mechanicsburg, en route to winning the Ohio Heritage Conference boys basketball title.
Today, Jan. 4, the 2-5 Indians will look to get redemption against the unbeaten Trojans in South Charleston.
Here’s a look at today’s schedule:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Benjamin Logan at Graham, 7:30
Cedarville at Catholic Central, 7:30
Greenon at Xenia Christian, 7:30
Mechanicsburg at Southeastern, 7:30
Triad at Northeastern, 7:30
West Liberty-Salem at Greeneview, 7:30
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Urbana at Jonathan Alder, 7:30
WRESTLING
West Liberty-Salem at Bellefontaine, 5
BOWLING
Graham at Northeastern, 3:30
Greenon at Northwestern, 4
Springfield at Piqua, 4
Tecumseh at Kenton Ridge, 4
West Liberty-Salem at Greeneview, 4
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Bowling, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball
TweetOn Tap for Monday, Jan. 4
The new year is here and several teams will look to get off to a great start in 2010.
After starting the season 0-5, the Springfield girls basketball team has won four straight. They’ll look to make it five in a row today against Shawnee. The Braves are coached by former South coach Lee Ann Ballard.
Here’s a look at today’s schedule:
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Mechanicsburg at Yellow Springs, 7
Shawnee at Springfield, 7:30
Triad at Fairbanks, 7:30
BOWLING
Catholic Central at Piqua, 4
Kenton Ridge at Urbana, 4
Northeastern at Mechanicsburg, 4
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Bowling, Girls Basketball
TweetCase Western responds to scoring error at Witt tourney
From Cleveland.com:
When Case Western Reserve University’s women began their basketball game on Wednesday night at Wittenberg, they would have never guessed they’d benefit from the “visiting court advantage.”
That, they did, as an official scoring mistake netted a four-point turn in the Spartans’ favor on their way to a 60-58 win over Wittenberg in the championship game of the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: College Women's Basketball, Wittenberg
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