C Y C Y C Y M K CYAN MEGENTA YELLOW BLACK M K M K

Ju n e 8-19, 2009 s p o r t s Limited Edition • Pa g e 11

Mattie russell/hopkins county central high school West wide receiver LaRod King (26) attempts to intercept a pass to East wide receiver Earl McCann (23) during the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star football game June 12. The West won the game with 20-3. Shining stars Prep football seniors play final high school game

b y Ka l i e Gi p s o n Yorel Shemwell, running back for the High School. His college of choice has yet due to the schedules of coaches and play- West, quickly added a on a to be announced. ers. Fr a n k l i n -Si m p s o n Hi g h Sch o o l •Fr a n k l i n , Ky. 19-yard scamper. Oldham added the extra Players from all over Kentucky are The game was then made into an intrastate Jimmy Feix Field was alive with a lot of point to make it 10-0. Kentucky’s Mr. selected to participate by high school coach- game between the two sides of Kentucky, fist pumping and cheering from players and Football Rolandan Finch then added a TD es from around the state. The coaches nomi- with the inaugural game held last year. coaches as many incoming college players on a 1-yard carry, with Oldham adding nate players they feel worthy of competing Putting on the game is a costly venture. finished their last game of their high school another extra point for a commanding 17-0 and then players are selected. According to East-West All Star director careers. score. Coaches themselves are chosen in a Jimmie Reed, it costs about $20,000. The Family, friends and coaches streamed The East finally got on the scoreboard similar fashion. The head coaches for each costs cover stadium expenses, equipment onto the field at Houchens Industries-L.T. toward the end of the first half with a 26-yard squad then choose their assistants, but can and crew among other items. The play- Smith Stadium at Western on June 12 to field goal by kicker Lane Pumphrey. only select two from their own school. ers also receive pictures and videos of the congratulate the West All-Stars, as they In the third quarter, Oldham drilled a The All-Star game was originally a match- game. Meals and housing also had to be cruised to a 20-3 win over the East. 25-yard field goal that sealed the deal. up between Kentucky and Tennessee’s best covered for the players, who stayed in a In the annual Kentucky East-West All- Courtland Dillard, defensive back of players, called the Kentucky-Tennessee residence hall at WKU. Star game, the West held the East to only the East team earned Most Valuable Player All-Star Football series. The inaugural “It all adds up,” said Reed. 166 total yards, with 64 passing and 102 honor for the West, while Tyler Harbin, game was held in 1984, and the last game The athletes arrived at WKU on June 9 yards rushing. tight end and defensive lineman took home took place in 2007. The series collapsed and practiced three times a day until kick- The first quarter was scoreless for both MVP for the East. due to conflicting schedules between the off. teams. Max Oldham, kicker for the West, Harbin attended Bell County High states. Tennessee wanted to move the game “They were working out for college,” nailed a 25-yard field goal to take a 3-0 School and was signed by Union University to December instead of during the summer, said Reed. “We were getting them back in lead. in Jackson, Tenn. Dillard attended Apollo which Kentucky couldn’t accommodate shape before college did.”

Titans fullback stresses education, being prepared b y Ma t t i e Ru s s e l l • By r o n Tu r n e r just after training camp last year. He was picked up by Ho p k i n s Co u n t y Hi g h •Bo w l i n g Gr e e n Hi g h the where he Hair damp from a workout played until Christmas when and shorts covered in stains he was cut again and picked up from practice on the turf, for a second time by the Titans Casey Cramer entered the just before the playoffs. auditorium of the Tennessee After hearing about Titans training facility to talk Cramer’s up-and-down fullback with 2009 Xposure Workshop career, some Xposure stu- Casey Cramer participants on the importance dents wondered how he could of achieving goals and follow- continue such an unsteady academics was tough because ing dreams. career, and the Wisconsin teachers graded harder on ath- letes,” Cramer confided. “I have confidence in native joked that “the NFL Cramer earned a degree in myself, study as hard as I can actually stands for Not for Chante bean/jeffersonville high school psychology in college and said and work harder than the guy Long.” But he also said the Titans rookie Dudley Guice plays a video game with workshopper Adrian Tate in the Titans locker his academic training helps next to me,” he said about his experiences have taught him him understand the mindset of room at the team’s practice facility in Nashville, Tenn. much about perseverance on life in the NFL. “That’s all coaches when they yell at their and off the field. that really mattered.” players. “Football isn’t my life. It For Cramer, following his “You want people to yell Students check out Titans facility dreams has not been as easy doesn’t define me,” he said. because when they do it means as that of some of his Titans Cramer said his experiences they care,” he said. “When teammates. After being a have provided many rewards, they stop yelling is when you b y Ma t t i e Ru s s e ll 2009 Xposure Workshop participants how media seventh-round draft pick of including the connections he have a problem.” Ho p k i n s Co u n t y Hi g h Sch o o l •Madisonville , Ky. attention affects the players, the tour group found the in has made with many players. He stressed the importance rookie wide receiver Dudley Guise preparing to 2004, Cramer didn’t last long “The NFL is kind of like this of possessing a college degree. While touring the training facility of the start a game of “UFC” on a PlayStation 3 video with the team before he was big brotherhood,” he said. A And he told the students that Tennessee Titans, some Xposure students experi- game console. The game belonged to members of cut. graduate of Dartmouth College even though he loved having enced some things most people never will. the Titans’ offensive line. Cramer was later picked up where he was a top tight end, the opportunity to “lift weights First, the workshop participants got a preview When workshop participant Adrian Tate men- by the , but for Cramer said he wouldn’t trade for a living,” he is aware of of the Titans’ 2008 highlight film that hasn’t been tioned to a fellow workshopper how much he a stay of only three days. He any part of the college experi- the need to have a plan after officially released yet. enjoyed playing the game in his free time, Guise eventually caught on with the ence and never saw himself football. The tour also included the weight room, the overheard and challenged Tate to a quick round. where he being drafted to play profes- “I’m prepared for whatever area where players are treated for injuries, the Tate won the round, and Guise confessed to played in parts of the 2004 and sional football. happens next,” he said. “Who three outdoor practice fields and the field inside the group he needed more practice. “I was not 2005 seasons. Cramer said his experience knows where I’ll be this sea- a huge plastic bubble where the team practices intimidated,” Tate said. “I just held the controller In 2006 he was claimed juggling football and academ- son, who knows? I love play- when the weather is bad. and played the game.” off waivers by the Titans, and ics at an Ivy League school was ing for the Titans, but I’m not While Titans Media Relations Assistant Being challenged by a member of the NFL is played with the team for two not easy, but it was worth it. worried about it because I’ll be Director Jared Puffer was guiding the team not an everyday experience, and one Tate said he years before he was cut again “Balancing football and prepared.” through the locker room and explaining to the will never forget.

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