–Pigskin Report - Week 10 - by Michael Hughes
28 October 2007Glaring omissions from WNC, despite the naysayers
by Michael Hughes
It’s time for our annual gripe session on the obvious lack of representation from western North Carolina on the 2007 Shrine Bowl team. This year’s Tar Heel squad consists of 44 athletes from around the state. Four worthy honorees are from the mountain region—Murphy lineman Ryan Stiles, Hendersonville tight end Jamie Hatten, Roberson safety Josh Gossett and Polk County QB Derrick Overholt (listed at WR, a position he hasn’t played this season). The other 15 come from down east, and 25 are from the central part of the state.
We could go down a long list and name several players who, we hope, were studied on film and given careful consideration. But here’s the rub: the ’07 coaches, Burlington Williams skipper Sam Story and his seven assistants (none from this part of the state), nominated three more area players than last year, which some see as generous after the snub in ’06.
Representation in an all-star game should never be political, although newspapers have been known to go that route with postseason mention. Professional sports leagues insist that at least one player from each team be included in all-star games. That wasn’t, and shouldn’t be done here. Nevertheless, for decades the western part of the state has been overlooked to a large degree, as was documented in this space in ’05.
Half of the players chosen from North Carolina came from 4-A schools. This is understandable in a sense, as larger schools more often play better and bigger teams. Athletes are easier to evaluate when they compete against tougher competition—that’s why elite off-season basketball camps and AAU tournaments invite so many of the nation’s best to go head-to-head each summer. It’s harder in football.
The mountain region has two 4-A schools, McDowell and Reynolds. Coach Story, please explain to the people of western North Carolina why the state’s leading rusher, McDowell tailback Buggy Kincaid (2,451 yds., 25 TDs), was omitted. How about blazing speedster Darius Spencer (1,275 yds., 19 TDs), an East Carolina recruit from Reynolds? No 4-A players were chosen from WNC this year or last, when defensive end Adam Banks, a part-time starter at Duke this fall, was left off the team. At least the region’s 1-A reputation amounts to something, as three of NC’s six smaller school selections were local boys.
Among other notable omissions, Cherokee’s 6’-0”, 190-pound TB/QB Langston Wood (1,322 yds., 10.33 ypc, 16 TDs) has good speed, excellent vision, and has a bigger reputation at free safety. Brevard lineman Chad Harris (6-4, 315), a four-year starter with good footwork and great size, was not one of the 15 linemen selected. Mitchell QB Joe Hoilman (2,196 yds. passing, 975 yds. rushing) is probably the most valuable offensive performer among seniors in the mountains.
It was good to see Watauga running back Eric Breitenstein make the squad. The 4-A Pioneers are receiving more area mention of late and compete in the Northwestern Conference against Reynolds and McDowell, but are not really a western North Carolina school. As is Avery County, Watauga is in Region 7 and, like nearby Newland, is located in North Carolina’s High Country as opposed to the mountain region. The Vikings compete in the seven-team Western Highlands against six WNC schools. Semantics aside, Boone is mountainous, but as a reference point we refer to schools in the mountains—Avery accepted—as those within Region 8. That includes Polk and Rutherford counties, which are less hilly.
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