Posted 2:32 am Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Gorman Hosting Fifth Tyler Football Classic
By TRAVIS YOESTING
Staff Writer
The Tyler Football Classic, set for its fifth edition Aug. 26-28, will once again showcase Tyler's TAPPS schools with three opening-weekend games.
Staff Writer
The Tyler Football Classic, set for its fifth edition Aug. 26-28, will once again showcase Tyler's TAPPS schools with three opening-weekend games.
After two years of playing the classic on the new turf at Mewbourne Field, the games move to T.K. Gorman's McCallum Stadium, where a new grass field was put in with the same type of lawn Texas played on against Alabama in the national championship game.
The classic kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 26 with Grace Community against Winnsboro. Gorman plays Winona at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, and All Saints takes on Carrollton Christian Academy at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28.
"We're very excited about being able to play in this classic," Winona coach Darold Turner said. "It's well put on and we're excited about coming over here to T.K. Gorman and playing in their new facilities as far as the grass."
Crusaders athletic director and football coach Rick Palmer said he is proud to be able to host the classic with the upgraded field.
"I know that we have done a lot of preparation for our kids, for our facilities to be the hosts," Palmer said. "The field was in a bad state and we fixed that."
With the three Tyler TAPPS schools playing on consecutive nights, teams get a chance to watch their local rivals from a new perspective.
"The atmosphere is awesome," said T.K. Gorman senior receiver Kyle Buzbee. "You play for a bunch of people, then you get to watch other teams play that you'll play later on in the season, which is always fun."
While watching is fun, the coaches and players will no doubt use it as a prime opportunity to scout opponents.
"I'm sure we'll scout each other real good," Grace coach Mike Maddox said. "Players start to get into it, they learn to scout a little bit and they'll pick up some things that even coaches won't pick up.
"You bet we'll be watching Gorman and they'll be watching us and then we'll get together in about three more weeks out there on the same field and get after each other."
The Crusaders host the Cougars on Sept. 10 in a non-district game since Gorman dropped from TAPPS Division II to TAPPS Division III.
"We'll watch as many games of the classic as we can," said Grace senior linebacker Micah Clark. "We'll definitely be there, seeing what things we can pick up in person and study everything we can on them."
First-year All Saints coach Bret Atkins also recognized the event as an opportunity for scouting, but saw another advantage in playing in the Saturday evening game.
"To be in a situation where we have such great exposure for our kids, that we have an opportunity to be at the forefront of the sporting East Texas world for a week is pretty nice as a TAPPS school," Atkins said.
Trojans senior linebacker Luke Nelson added: "Getting exposure the first game, it's kind of a boost for us to make sure that we start off the season well."
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Fifth Annual Tyler Football Classic Schedule
At McCallum Stadium, T.K. Gorman
Aug. 26 Grace Community vs. Winnsboro 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 Grace Community vs. Winnsboro 7 p.m.
Aug. 27 T.K. Gorman vs. Winona 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 All Saints vs. Carrollton Christian Academy 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 All Saints vs. Carrollton Christian Academy 7 p.m.
