Wednesday, February 14, 2001
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Wednesday, February 14, 2001 |
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Magnificent Seven Sandy Creek sends seven players off to college By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Sandy Creek High School saw seven members of its football team sign national letters of intent to play college football last week on Signing Day. It was the most players from any team in the school's history to sign with colleges in one year and there is a chance that a few more may sign with colleges before the month is up. The seven players were Jonathan Callahan, Omar Espinosa, Andre Green, Bradley Huggins, Mark Lawson, J.R. Lemon and Brandon McCleod. Callahan and Green will attend Middle Tennessee State University, while Lawson and Huggins will attend Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. McCleod signed with Troy State University in Alabama, while Espinosa signed with Cumberland College and Lemon signed with Stanford University. Lemon, one of the most highly recruited players in the state, chose Stanford because of the opportunity it represents both academically and athletically. The running back plans to major in industrial engineering and knows that if he can't make it to the next level playing football he'll have a backup plan and many contacts from the prestigious school. "How else was I going to live in San Francisco for four four years for free,"Lemon said before recalling his fondest memory as a Sandy Creek Patriot. "The best memory I have is beating North Clayton in my junior year to make the playoffs for the first time ever." Green, the quarterback, and Callahan, a defensive end, will probably room together at Middle Tennessee State University. Green chose the school because it is an up-and-coming program that has recently joined the Sun Belt Conference and because he has a chance to make an impact early in his collegiate career. Callahan visited many schools that were similar but chose the school because he felt comfortable there. "It will be good to know that Andre is there and not have to break in a new roomate," he said. He plans on amjoring in engineering, while Green is going to go into accounting. Recalling their best memories as Patriots, Green said it was this year's playoff game against Thomson, in which his long run sealed the win for the Patriots and sent them into the next round, while Callahan said he will think fondly at how hard-nosed and serious the team was. Huggins and Lawson chose Presbyterian College because of the academic program that it offers as well as the opportunity to play for a good football team. Huggins, a linebacker, is undecided on what his major will be, while Lawson, a fullback for the Patriots who will move to defensive back, will major in business. Lawson's best memory was getting the opportnity to step in at fullback in his sophomore year and playing the position for the rest of his career at Sandy Creek, while Huggins will always recall being part of a team and something really special. Brandon McCleod chose Troy State University in Alabama because to him it was a "perfect fit." The offensive lineman's father is from Alabama and McCleod knew some players involved in the program who showed him around the campus. McCleod is planning on going pre-med and focusing on chemistry. He also plans on getting involved in the music program and singing. His best memory as a Patriot was the first game of his junior season. He broke his foot the day before but played in the first game anyway. The team won and he sat out for the rest of the season. Espinosa chose Cumberland College bacause he loved the campus and because a former coach is now coaching there and will be able to look out for him. The linebacker is planning on majoring in either accounting or broadcasting and will always remember the summer camps. "It was hard work but it paid off," said Espinosa. "It brought us together and unified us to a common goal." Those words speak well of the entire program, which boasted 27 scholar athletes this year, and is sending a number of their graduating players on to the next level. |
