I.C. Murrell, I must admit something to you sir. It just feels weird. It is a very uncommon feeling to think the Port Arthur News has a new sports boss. Bob West took the job in 1971, long before Murrell and myself were even born. While it is still weird, I want to publically welcome Murrell to this staff and let you know personally how happy this staff is to have you on board. Southeast Texas has great people who are ready to assist you in any way. For many years West had Tom Halliburton. As I told someone the other day, if Murrell is West, there is no shame in me taking the Halliburton role for many years to come. I accept the challenge of living up to the standards that man set here at the News…Ok on to the football talk because well, it is officially football season. The only exceptions to this fact are both college and NFL football. As this writer stated on Facebook last Sunday, preseason does not football make…Last week in this space I made the prediction Adam Morse would break Dustin Long’s single season passing record at Port Neches-Groves High School. This week let the bold predictions roll as I say Nederland’s Austin Krautz goes for 30 total touchdowns. No. 22 in the black and gold is a difference maker. Coach Larry Neumann and his staff do a great job utilizing the talent on the Nederland roster so Krautz can expect huge numbers in 2015…The Nederland Bulldogs had picture day this past Thursday and one thing I noticed was the size of offensive linemen Justin Carr and Corbin Smith. Carr is listed at 6-feet, 5-inches and weighing 210 pounds while Smith is in at 6-feet, 4-inches and scales out at 305 pounds. Those are just two of the Bulldogs starters on the line so get ready opposing defenses for a fight to get into the Nederland backfield… Former Thomas Jefferson High School football coach Mike Owens, after four years in retirement, is going to be back on the sidelines this fall as head coach at 3A Frankston. Owens, 63, a star linebacker at TJ in the late 1960s, the defensive coordinator under Ronnie Thompson when the team played Odessa Permian for the state championship in 1980 and the school’s head coach for 14 years from the early ‘80s through the mid ‘90s, had retired in 2010 after 15 years as head coach at Tyler Lee. In 29 years as a head coach, his teams were 190-133-2, with a 5A state title in 2004 on his resume… Starting watching the NBA free agent wire for former Lamar University standout Mike James. James, who makes about $1.5M playing in Spain, was only one of two players in the Las Vegas summer league to average 12 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He was the MVP of the Lega Due league in Italy in 2013-14 and was also an All-Star that season. There is no reason the Portland, Ore. native should be out of the NBA much longer…It was a great thing to see NFL free agent Danny Gorrer hanging out at Port Arthur Memorial’s first practice this past Monday. Gorrer missed a majority of the season last year after being picked up by the Baltimore Ravens. He was let go by the Lions and the Ravens scooped him up. Gorrer’s bad luck did not stop there. Flash forward to the Port Arthur News Homecoming Roast of Jamaal Charles, and when Seattle Seahawks safety and West Orange-Stark product Earl Thomas came down sick and could not roast Charles. Gorrer, who was just a fan in the crowd there to watch his buddy Jamaal get roasted, was asked to step in for Thomas and speak to the crowd. Gorrer from scratch threw together his words and I was impressed because not too many people would even agree to the task he was given that night. Here’s to hoping Gorrer’s rehab continues to go well and he finds a job where he belongs…Can anyone else believe we are about to start the 2015 NFL season and Tom Brady deflating footballs is still a story???
I.C. Murrell, I must admit something to you sir. It just feels weird. It is a very uncommon feeling to think the Port Arthur News has a new sports boss. Bob West took the job in 1971, long before Murrell and myself were even born. While it is still weird, I want to publically welcome Murrell to this staff and let you know personally how happy this staff is to have you on board. Southeast Texas has great people who are ready to assist you in any way. For many years West had Tom Halliburton. As I told someone the other day, if Murrell is West, there is no shame in me taking the Halliburton role for many years to come. I accept the challenge of living up to the standards that man set here at the News…Ok on to the football talk because well, it is officially football season. The only exceptions to this fact are both college and NFL football. As this writer stated on Facebook last Sunday, preseason does not football make…Last week in this space I made the prediction Adam Morse would break Dustin Long’s single season passing record at Port Neches-Groves High School. This week let the bold predictions roll as I say Nederland’s Austin Krautz goes for 30 total touchdowns. No. 22 in the black and gold is a difference maker. Coach Larry Neumann and his staff do a great job utilizing the talent on the Nederland roster so Krautz can expect huge numbers in 2015…The Nederland Bulldogs had picture day this past Thursday and one thing I noticed was the size of offensive linemen Justin Carr and Corbin Smith. Carr is listed at 6-feet, 5-inches and weighing 210 pounds while Smith is in at 6-feet, 4-inches and scales out at 305 pounds. Those are just two of the Bulldogs starters on the line so get ready opposing defenses for a fight to get into the Nederland backfield… Former Thomas Jefferson High School football coach Mike Owens, after four years in retirement, is going to be back on the sidelines this fall as head coach at 3A Frankston. Owens, 63, a star linebacker at TJ in the late 1960s, the defensive coordinator under Ronnie Thompson when the team played Odessa Permian for the state championship in 1980 and the school’s head coach for 14 years from the early ‘80s through the mid ‘90s, had retired in 2010 after 15 years as head coach at Tyler Lee. In 29 years as a head coach, his teams were 190-133-2, with a 5A state title in 2004 on his resume… Starting watching the NBA free agent wire for former Lamar University standout Mike James. James, who makes about $1.5M playing in Spain, was only one of two players in the Las Vegas summer league to average 12 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He was the MVP of the Lega Due league in Italy in 2013-14 and was also an All-Star that season. There is no reason the Portland, Ore. native should be out of the NBA much longer…It was a great thing to see NFL free agent Danny Gorrer hanging out at Port Arthur Memorial’s first practice this past Monday. Gorrer missed a majority of the season last year after being picked up by the Baltimore Ravens. He was let go by the Lions and the Ravens scooped him up. Gorrer’s bad luck did not stop there. Flash forward to the Port Arthur News Homecoming Roast of Jamaal Charles, and when Seattle Seahawks safety and West Orange-Stark product Earl Thomas came down sick and could not roast Charles. Gorrer, who was just a fan in the crowd there to watch his buddy Jamaal get roasted, was asked to step in for Thomas and speak to the crowd. Gorrer from scratch threw together his words and I was impressed because not too many people would even agree to the task he was given that night. Here’s to hoping Gorrer’s rehab continues to go well and he finds a job where he belongs…Can anyone else believe we are about to start the 2015 NFL season and Tom Brady deflating footballs is still a story???
Gabriel Pruett is a sports writer at the Port Arthur News. He can be reached at gabe.pruett@panews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PANewsGabe