Ever since I took over this notepad from the retired Bob West, there is a column note I have wanted to put down each week and failed to do so until know.
Let’s get straight to the point and no fooling around. Beaumont ISD officials need to rename the Carrol A. “Butch” Thomas Educational Support Center and put the name Jerry LeVias on display. To refresh memories, LeVias played quarterback at Hebert High School in Beaumont and became the first black scholarship athlete in the Southwest Conference.
LeVias went on to have a very successful career at SMU under coach Hayden Fry, who only took the head Mustangs job on the promise by school officials he would recruit a black player. LeVias was an All-American in 1968 and still holds the SMU record with 15 passes caught in one game, the same year he placed fifth in the Heisman voting.
Change the name to the Jerry LeVias Educational Support Center. The time is now. …
Wade Phillips was not able to attend last week’s Bum Phillips Bowl since his Denver Broncos were preparing to take on the Cleveland Browns.
He was in town this weekend. Phillips and his wife, Laurie Phillips, came home to attend the couple’s 50th class reunion from Port Neches-Groves High School since Denver is on its bye week. Phillips and the Broncos defense he coordinates ranks second in total team defense behind the New York Jets. The Broncos allow 281.3 yards per game.
It was unclear if Phillips stopped by his father Bum Phillips’ old stomping grounds at Nederland High School to congratulate coach Larry Neumann on winning the Bum Phillips Bowl trophy for a second straight season. …
The news out of Louisville basketball this past week was almost comical. Recruits and basketball players were reportedly entertained by strippers who danced and had sex with the college students in the dorms at the campus. All this and head basketball coach Rick Pitino said he knew nothing of the matter.
Come on Rick, nobody in their right mind can believe such a statement. This supposedly went on for over four years and happened over 20 times. Head coaches like Pitino know everything that goes on with their teams. …
Nice rebound for the Port Neches-Groves Indians Friday night against the Beaumont Ozen Panthers. Ozen was entirely overmatched and had no answer for PN-G quarterback Adam Morse and his group of receivers. Morse threw four touchdowns in the first half, three going to fellow Lamar commit Caisen Sullivan. These two have such a great connection, and it should excite Cardinals fans for the future when these two get on the Lamar campus together. …
Finally, we can talk about a revenge game in District 22-5A for the Nederland Bulldogs. It was last season when Goose Creek Memorial snapped the Bulldogs’ 29-game district-winning streak with a 57-56 win in double overtime. Neumann will have his team focused, just like he does every week, but it is hard to imagine he will not use this bit of knowledge for some motivation heading to Baytown. …
Port Arthur Memorial comes off its bye week and heads to Beaumont this week to face the West Brook Bruins. Certainly, this has not been the season coach Kenny Harrison had in mind when it started, but I want to publically champion Harrison sticking around long with the Titans.
His teams do not have the depth those in District 21-6A have with the likes of La Porte and North Shore. If the Titans drop to 5A, which the rumors all point to they will, then it will be interesting to see what Harrison and his Titans do on a more even playing field, …
Have a great week folk.
Gabriel Pruett can be reached at 721-2436 or gabe.pruett@panews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PaNewsGabe.