The superstar trio Lady Antebellum joins the ranks of previous performers Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift.
Raycom Sports, which owns the right to broadcast ACC college games, has tapped Jason Aldean as their poster boy this year. His smash hit, “My Kinda Party” will be played during the montage that opens each weekly ACC Network matchup.
Rodney Atkins will lend his expertise to Southernpigskin.com, a website devoted to SEC football. Each week, he’ll offer his prognostications, “I have to say, I have fared quite well in my predictions.”
Remember my four nephews? CJ is a sophomore at Clark State; Andy is in eighth grade at Madison Plains Middle School. And the middle two? Derrick and Matt are in their senior and sophomore years at MPHS, and both of them are on the varsity football team.
Derrick’s a linebacker, Matt’s a safety and backup quarterback, and I’ll admit, I get all teary eyed when I hear the PA announcer say, “Tackle by No. 42 Derrick Wilson” or by “No. 11 Matt Wilson” (which is a lot!). My sister rings her ridiculous cowbell; my Dad tells us what the refs will call before they do; I take pictures, and other family members and friends cheer wildly, as the boys never act like they hear us. I used to think it’s because they are too cool, but their coach says it’s a focus buster.
I understand that, but when Derrick intercepted a pass during a game last week, we all went crazy. He discreetly pointed at us, then up to the sky, acknowledging his late Grandma.
No big deal right? On that same night, in a different part of the state, two young men pointed to the heavens in memory of a teammate killed in a car crash after one caught a touchdown pass in the end zone. The refs threw a penalty flag, inciting “excessive celebration” against the Louisville players. The opposing team, Cleveland’s Walsh Jesuit, drove for a winning field goal as time expired.
Ohio High School Athletic Association rules say, “any excessive or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself” is a violation. I know rules are rules, but if simply pointing to the skies is “excessive celebration” it’s a good thing the refs can’t fine the fans, cause that cowbell has to be a crime.
Readers can contact Nancy Wilson, a morning-radio personality at WHKO-FM (K99.1), by email through k99online.com.
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