By Tom Waddill
Sports Editor
HUNTSVILLE —
Shane Martin smiled real big soon after opening the premiere edition of Friday Night Football Texas, or FNF, a slick, new magazine published by the good folks at theoldcoach.com.
Right there in black and white, and a splash of color, were the words and numbers that spelled respect. Martin’s 2010 Huntsville team is picked to win its third consecutive district championship this fall. Additionally, the Hornets are ranked 44th in the state in Class 4A.
Martin wants more than that, and soon he’s going to start pushing his players and coaches to shoot much higher than that in the upcoming season.
Preseason predictions feel good for a second, but those warm fuzzies don’t last, Martin says.
Still, on a steamy July morning, seeing Huntsville’s name on a list that includes powerhouse programs like Lake Travis, Brenham, Angleton and Stephenville meant a lot to the coach who takes over a Huntsville program that has made giant strides in the past few seasons.
“This is nice,” Martin said as he looked over the new FNF magazine. “They’ve got us picked first, huh? I hope we can do that. I hope we can live up to that.”
With all of his heart, Martin believes the Hornets can do that and more in 2010. It’s true that a lot of talent walked the graduation stage in June, but Huntsville still has a strong core of players, veterans who have worked hard this summer to prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Writers around the state have faith in the Hornets. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine picks Huntsville to finish second behind Humble in the newly aligned District 18-4A, and FNF has the Hornets taking the title from Kingwood Park, Humble, Willis and New Caney.
“Huntsville nearly advanced to the regional semifinals in 2009, losing an area-round heartbreaker to Beaumont Central,” Friday Night Football writes. “The Hornets have some key parts to replace but the cupboard is not bare.
“Expect the Hornets to once again be right in the mix for a district championship.”
The writers at FNF believe junior quarterback Daniel Hazlewood, junior running back Henry Ford, senior utility man Cameron Simmons and senior receiver Trevion Byrd give Huntsville plenty of offensive weapons.
Plus the Hornets have a veteran offensive line with guys like James Vanette, Jamaal Lenoir and Torry Rabb up front protecting Hazlewood and opening holes for Ford, Simmons and others to run through.
“Hazlewood, who was the backup quarterback as a sophomore, will step in and lead the offense,” FNF says. “He’s still inexperienced but he’s got a world of talent. Ford, who also saw time as a sophomore averaging over seven yards per carry, will take over in the backfield.
“Speedy Simmons, who also doubles in the secondary, will be the primary backup. Leading receiver Byrd is back, and if Hazlewood can develop at quarterback, then expect a big season from the senior wideout. Rabb and Vanette are the top players on a massive offensive line.”
Defensively, the Hornets have a number of vacant positions a week (and a day) before summer camp kicks off. But Martin and David Cooper, the guy who takes over the coordinator position, think they have the leadership necessary to navigate the Hornets through what might be some tough early times.
Senior Mark Wheeler and junior Bridge Blount made solid contributions all over the field last fall. Martin believes both of those guys can be impact players this season.
“On defense, Wheeler is back after an all-district campaign,” says Friday Night Football, “while Blount is a talented young linebacker.”
Martin likes Wheeler’s versatility, while Blount’s energy and nose for the football really fires his head coach up.
Still smiling, Martin said it’s nice to see Huntsville back on top of a couple of preseason predictions. As a young coach on Joe Clements’ staff back in the 1990s, Martin remembers the Class 5A days when the Hornets finished in the fall what writers started in the summer.
That’s what he wants in the upcoming campaign. Nothing is won on a slick piece of paper in July. Championships — district, region and state — are won in the dirt, on the turf, in the rain, and most importantly, every afternoon on the practice field.
“Win every day,” Martin stresses. “That’s what we’ve got to do to get where we want to go.”
