www.theaustinvillager.com THE VILLAGER Page 5 ~ February 24, 2012 SPORTS Toros Roundup Star game for the Toros. are the parent club of the Toros. VILLAGER SPOTLIGHT Dentmon has spent the entire Dawson is the first player that the season, except when he played Spurs have called up from the Earl Campbell a Legend for the Hornets per season train- Toros this season. The Spurs have ing camp, with the Toros. used to Toros to develop players By: Terry Davis tana. The Longhorns would Dentmon is averaging 22.5 at various times this season. Earl Christian Campbell finish the season ranked No. 4 points per game and is in the top Dawson has spent five sea- was a Texas Legend on all in the final Associated Press five in scoring in the D-League. sons with the Toros dating back platforms. In high school, poll. Lance Thomas, not cur- to 2007-08. In 67 career games, Campbell did not start off as a Campbell was selected rently with the Toros, was re- he has averaged 11.0 points, 7.1 running back, he was a line- the No. 1 overall pick by the signed by the New Orleans rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.18 backer and he idolized the Houston Oilers in the 1978 Hornets of the NBA to a sec- blocks. He has also played inter- By: Terry Davis famed Dick Butkus of the ond ten day contract. While with nationally in Slovenia, Japan, South the Toros, Thomas averaged Korea and the Dominican Repub- . Campbell . As a rookie, Campbell was unhappy at first with the claimed virtually every award @terryd515 15.5 points per game and 7.7 re- lic. bounds per game. The Austin Born and raised in San An- switch to running back. How- possible including Rookie of the The benefits of winning Toros coaching staff, because tonio, Dawson attended Sam ever Campbell embraced his Year, MVP and Offensive keep coming to the Austin Toros. they had the best record at the Houston High School and at- new position and led his team Earl Campbell. Photo Player of the Year. He went courtesy of the Pro Football Justin Dentmon and Lance Tho- time to team appoint will coach tended Midwestern State Univer- to an undefeated season and on to rush for 1,450 yards that Hall of Fame. mas were selected by the league the Western Conference team sity. Dawson was named a Divi- a state championship in 1973. season in claiming the NFL to play in the NBA Developmen- for the D-League. This will be sion II Second Team All-Ameri- Born March 29, 1955 in As a sophomore, Campbell ran rushing crown with 1,450 tal League All-Star game on Sat- Head Coach Brad Jones first can in 2007 and earned Lone Star Tyler, Texas, Campbell was for 1,118 yards and 13 touch- yards. urday February 25 in Orlando. All-Star Coaching assignment. Conference First Team honors in the sixth of eleven children downs, earning his first of two Campbell led the NFL in Justin Dentmon the reign- The 2006 and 2007. He is the Mus- born to Bert and Ann consensus All-America rushing again in 1979 with ing player of the month for the signed Eric Dawson of the Toros tangs all-time leader in blocked Campbell. His father picked awards. He helped lead Texas 1,697 yards and garnered his D-League was named to the All to a ten day contract. The Spurs shots with 170. roses, worked in a conve- to a 10-2 record and was second consecutive league nience store and died when tabbed the Offensive Player of MVP and Offensive Player of Longhorns Bowls for the charity Earl was eleven years old. the Game in the win over Colo- the Year award. In 1980, Raised by his mother, Earl was rado 38-21 in the Bluebonnet Campbell posted his first 200- counted on, along with his sib- Bowl. yard game as a professional, lings, to carry a greater re- As a junior Campbell rolling up 203 yards against the sponsibility within the family. would suffer injuries and the . He discovered a love of foot- team would suffer. The team He bounced back the ball in the fifth grade. would only finish with a 5-5 following week to do it again Campbell played for the record on the year and it would with 202 yards in a meeting University of Texas from 1974 be Royal’s last season as head with the Cincinnati Bengals. He through 1977. In his freshman coach for the Longhorns. wrapped up the year with his year, Campbell was the start- What a difference a year third NFL rushing title (1,934 ing full back in the wishbone makes, he flourished in the new yards), a third consecutive Pro formation under head coach Akers’ system. He rushed for Bowl appearance and the Of- Darrell Royal. Campbell 1,744 years and 19 touchdowns fensive Player of the Year played for three seasons un- and led the nation in rushing and award. der Royal and in his senior scoring. Campbell won the He was selected to the season under new coach Fred 1977 Heisman Trophy. Pro Football Hall of Fame on Akers, Campbell switched to The Longhorns finished Jan. 26, 1991. Campbell was the I-formation. the season undefeated and inducted along with kicker Jan Campbell rushed for 928 faced the Notre Dame Fight- Stenerud, offensive lineman yards and six touchdowns as ing Irish in the Cotton Bowl. John Hannah, lineman Stan Group photo of former and current NFL players and volunteers. Photo by Terry Davis a freshman in 1974. He In an epic game the Longhorns Jones and former Dallas Cow- By: Terry Davis fun to get back and help our com- William Graham and Roosevelt claimed the first of his three would lose the game to Hall of boy President Tex Schramm on The National Football munity with projects and do it Leaks, guy that have paved the consensus All-SWC honors. Famer quarterback Joe Mon- July 27, 1991. League Austin Alumni Chapter with friends and guys that you way for us. It is a family thing and the University of Texas like.” Redding has a foundation and we have a responsibility to Texas Will be Well Represented in Neighborhood Longhorns Pro- of his own for more information give back.” gram (NLP) held its second an- please visit After the players bowled The NBA All Star Game nual bowling at the Highland www.coryreddingfoundation.org. their games with their guest they By: Terry Davis Bowling Lanes. Quan Crosby of the Colts would forms teams of three to The bowling event features stated, “It is a great feeling we face one another in a round robin current and former Texas Long- are so blessed to have a plat- elimination competition. The win- This is the first year that horns that has playing or are cur- form to and to show guys how ners of the tournament will re- the Texas Longhorns basket- mind each of the other partici- rently active in the NFL. Chil- to be and where to be and that ball team will have two repre- pants on how their team lost and dren and sponsors of the event they are important. It is a great sentatives in the game at one feeling to come out and be a part brag until the next one. are paired with various celebri- time in history. ties to play a couple of bowling of this with current and ex-play- The NLP helps children in of the Oklahoma City Thun- games. ers it is a lot of fun I am excited grades 2-8 overcome economic der was voted in as a starter Some the former NFL play- to be here.” barriers and put their lives on an by the fans in game and online ers to appear for the event were: Former NFL player educational track towards higher voting. Durant is among the Raul Allegre, Rod Babers, Roosevelt Leaks said, “This is education. The program was league leading in scoring av- Ahmand Brooks, Kwane Cavil part of the of the business, it does launched in 1991 and since its in- eraging is 27.0 points per William Graham, John Haines, not brother me anytime I can help ception, has provided more than Dawson (34) looks forward to playing for the Spurs. Photo game. Durant is in his fifth Lee Jackson, Roosevelt Leaks a young person to do better for $588,000 in scholarships and re- by Terry Davis year in the NBA. This is and Al Matthews. themselves that is what it is all warded the academic perfor- Durant’s third All-Star game Barnes continued. “We peers selected him as an All- Current players that ap- about. They are building pris- mance of more than 71,000 stu- appearance, but he also played all felt he ( LaMarcus should Star. peared: Curtis Brown (Steelers), ons every day and if we can give dents in 30 economically disad- in the rookie and second year have made that team a year San Antonio Spurs Quan Crosby (Colts), Cedric an opportunity to help them stay vantaged (Title 1) schools in the Griffen (Vikings) Roberto Graza out of them that is what it is all Austin Independent School Dis- game his first two years. ago, but it did not work out. He The Spurs will have three (Bears), Cory Redding (Ravens), about. “ trict. Durant only played one year was excited when he first players playing All-Star week- Aaron Ross (Giants), Roy Will- said, The academic achieve- at Texas. found out. He had worked end in Orlando. iams (Bears) and others. ‘’We are family we love each ments of children in this program LaMarcus Aldridge is in hard. The one thing he said is having one of his seasons in Redding said, “It is fun to other it is something Coach are monitored and rewarded in his sixth year in the NBA, but was just like Kevin had always his career. Parker has picked get out and have a good time with (Mack) Brown instilled in us and multiple ways including exposure this will be his first appearance said, the better they become as up the slack due to the limited the fellows, guys who we com- it goes back a little deeper than to the UT campus during special as an All-Star. Aldridge was an individual player the better play of an aging peted with on the field and won a that, we have some NFL alumni events and athletic events. The selected as a reserve by the it will help the team. They get and the injured Manu Ginobili. lot of games with. It is always here Doug English, Raul Allegre, NLP is currently housed in UT’s coaches any player. Aldridge the big picture. We are ecstatic Parker is averaging 18.6 points Division of Diversity and Com- played two seasons at Texas, for both of them.” per game, but has done a great munity Engagement with more was selected as the second Tristan Thompson will job keeping the Spurs in most than 85 percent of the program’s allover pick in the 2006 NBA play in the Rising Stars Chal- games this season. Parker is funding coming from fund-raising draft by the Chicago Bulls, but lenge Game on Friday Febru- playing his eleventh year with of which 93% of each dollar di- his rights were traded to the ary 24. Thompson is in his first Spurs and this is his fourth All- rectly benefits the students. Portland Trailblazers. Aldridge year with the Cleveland Cava- Star selection. Parker was The NFL Alumni is a non- is considered one of the best liers. Thompson is averaging selected by his peers to appear profit organization comprised pri- all-around players in the league 7.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per in the game. marily of former professional foot- today. Aldridge is averaging game. Thompson is playing an in his ball players guided in their volun- 23.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and vital role in returning the Cava- rookie season with the Spurs teer efforts by the motto: Caring 2.8 assists per game. liers back to prominence. and Tiago Splitter will play in for Kids. For the past 10 years, Rick Barnes coached Dallas Mavericks the Raising Stars Challenge. the NFL Alumni Austin Chapter both Durant and Aldridge at Dirk Nowitzki is in his Splitter in his second season has worked to advance its mis- Texas. Barnes on both play- fourteenth season in the NBA with the Spurs has had some sion of Caring for Kids by engag- ers making the All-Star team, all with the Mavericks and is great games this season. Split- ing in hands-on community ser- “I am really excited for both averaging 18.3 points per ter has given the Spurs added vice and raising over $700,000 for of them. I told him if you didn’t game. Nowitzki is coming off energy off of the bench. youth-oriented charitable causes. make the All-Star team this of the first World Champion- Leonard has been a consistent For more information about the year, I ‘m never going to an- ship season by the Mavericks. starter since the injury to (L - R) Ahmad Brooks and Aaron Ross of the NY Giants. NFL Alumni Chapter of Austin, other NBA game unless you Nowitzki in his opinion is not Ginobili. Splitter is averaging Photo by Terry Davis visit www.nflaaustin.org. give me permission to.” have an All-Star season but his 9.4 points per game.