Fox Sports Southwest has announced the air times for the showing of “Mid-County Madness: The Bum Phillips Bowl.” The thirty-minute special’s first air date is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 and shows again at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 and at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. The show tackles the importance of the rivalry between Port Neches-Groves and Nederland and also gives a special look into Bum Phillips himself. There have been about 30 individuals from both schools interviewed with more to go. FSSW also took the time to visit with Debbie Phillips, Bum’s second wife, at the family’s ranch near Goliad and also talked with Wade Phillips. If that is not enough, the show will also talk about the talent from Southeast Texas that has touched the NFL stage with looks in at the Museum of the Gulf Coast and the Port Arthur News Homecoming Roasts prepared by former sports editor Bob West. Set the DVRs at your home today to catch this special look into one of the state’s best football rivalries…
Former Port Arthur Lincoln standout Jonathan Babineaux and the Atlanta Falcons got the season off to a great start in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Babineaux, a starter for the past seven years, came off the bench in the Falcons 26-24 Monday night win against the Eagles and had a team-high two hits on Philadelphia quarterback Sam Bradford. Babineaux is now 33 and said he expects the same type of defense out of the Falcons for the entire season. Atlanta’s new coach, Dan Quinn, came over after serving as defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks so Babineaux might be right on his predicition…
Thursday night was a painful night for Jamaal Charles. Charles, with Kansas City trying to kill the clock and get to overtime, fumbled the ball to the Denver Broncos who returned it for the winning touchdown. “I caused us the loss today,” Charles said after the game. “I tried to put the team on my back, and I ended up losing the game. It’s all on me tonight.” Fumbles are a part of the game and unfortunately Charles had two of them Thursday. “I just know better as a vet, playing this game a long time. I have to know those situations. I have to know not to fumble the ball at the end of a game, know to try to make it to overtime to give us a chance to compete for a win.” Chin up Jamaal, you have done plenty over your career to bring wins to the Chiefs…
There is good news for Charles after it was recently announced the Port Arthur News Homecoming Roast of Jamaal Charles raised over $42,000. The Port Arthur Public Education Foundation and Museum of the Gulf Coast will each receive $21,000. A check presentation will be held at 3:30 Tuesday at the Port Arthur EDC building on Procter Street. Congratulations to both organizations and kudos once again to everyone who made the even possible…
History is against the Houston Texans reaching the playoffs after this week’s switch to Ryan Mallett at quarterback. There have been 21 instances in the last 10 years where a team has turned to a new quarterback between weeks 1 and 2 and only seven times has the team gone on to reach the postseason. It is important to point out all but four of those cases were due to injury. The most recent success stories happened in 2014. Derek Anderson started the season for Carolina until a healthy Cam Newton was ready the next week. The Panthers went a miserable 7-8-1 to win the pitiful NFC South. Carson Palmer started Week 1 for Arizona and it was Drew Stanton who replaced the injured Palmer twice in 2014. Arizona finished 11-5 on the season and reached the playoffs. The best second week replacement in the last 10 years was Kerry Collins who in 2008 replaced Vince Young and guided the Tennessee Titans to a 13-3 mark. If Mallett can repeat the Collins magic, maybe the Texans have finally found their franchise quarterback but don’t bet on those long odds.
Keep the Gohlke family in your prayers. Chris Gohlke, the starting safety for the 1999 PN-G state finalists squad, died this past week. I graduated with his older, brother, Bryan Gohlke, and his father, Rick Gohlke, was my coach in middle school. Chris Gohlke, in my opinion, is the best free safety in school history.
Gabriel Pruett is a sports writer at The News. He can be reached at gabe.pruett@gmail.com.