[Football24_7]

To those of you that have dads or coaches that, in thinking they know what's best for you, have encouraged you to "concentrate on one sport" as your best chance for that "basketball scholarship," I would ask you to read this (it came from the coach of UT's Chris Lofton's at Mason Co., Dave Buchanan)...

"We have great thing going with HS football in our state. Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Rupp Arena, Chris Lofton, a former KY HS football all stater, scored 31 to lead the Vols to a win. Chris is physically bigger and stronger than ever and continues to be committed to the WEIGHTROOM!

His coach, Bruce Pearl, HAS THE BASKETBALL TEAM LIFT WITH THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT UT!!! He is one of the best basketball players in the country, maybe the best shooter, AND HE PLAYED FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN ADDITION TO BASKETBALL !!!!!!!!!

Another KY HS product AND HS BASKETBALL-FOOTBALL PLAYER was introduced at the game, Jared Lorenzen, who is currently in the NFL. Then, another Ky. HS BASKETBALL-FOOTBALL PLAYER, Tim Couch (who was the #1 pick in the NFL draft), was also in attendance at Rupp last night.

Not to mention, the NFL MVP played in the Super Bowl on Sunday - another product of KY HS football- Shaun Alexander.

We are dominating the High School Football All-Star game with football power Tennessee (something that CAN'T be said for our basketball series with Indiana), our coaches are being recruited to coach in college and at high schools in tradition-rich football states, and our kids are being recruited by the best programs in the country like never before."

I would go further and add the following:
* if you are an above average athlete, you should play what gives you the BEST CHANCE at a scholarship at the next level.
* there are MILLIONS of "good athletes" playing HS basketball hoping for that full-ride...

* BUT...in basketball there are only FIFTEEN scholarships per team
* in Football, there are EIGHTY-FIVE scholaraships per team!!!

* In basketball, if you are under 6'5, you either have to be a PROLIFIC OUTSIDE SHOOTER (better average in the high 20s -- like a Chris Lofton) or be one of the QUICKEST HUMANS YOUR AGE IN THE COUNTRY (like Rondo) to get that full-ride.
* In football, if you are just 6'1 or 6'2 AND are athletic, the COLLEGE FOOTBALL programs WANT YOU BADLY!!! They look at you as someone that can be a TALL RECEIVER over those short, quick corners or someone that could put on some weight and be a STUD RUNNING BACK or DEFENSIVE BACK!
And if you are 6'3 or 6'4...WHOA!!!! They will REALLLLY want you!!!

* Many that are over 6'5 think, "I'll be wanted because I'm a 'big man' and everybody needs those." Well, look at the college basketball game today...the POINT GUARDS are getting to be 6'4 or 6'5 (and they're ATHLETIC!). The 3 and 4 men are 6'6 - 6'9 (and they're as athletic as GUARDS!!!). You pretty much need to be 6'10 or better to be considered a full-scholarship "big-man" anymore. You 6'9 guys that dominate down low in high school, I've got two words for you: Lukash Orzbut!!! They won't want you...there are too many "Randolph Morris's" they let play EVEN THOUGH THEY MAKE STUPID DECISIONS.
* HOWEVER, if you are 6'5 - 6'9, college FOOTBALL programs won't even care if you're NO GOOD or haven't played much football -- THEY LOVE SIZE!!! They need offensive linemen with BIG, LONG ARMS (they don't even care how STRONG you are in High School -- they know they can put strength on you in college!). You are almost GUARANTEED a full-ride (remember, they give EIGHTY-FIVE FULL-SCHOLARSHIPS per division 1 team...and they give SIXTY-FIVE FULL-RIDES per Div. 1AA team!!!!) if you are 6'5 or better and willing to play offensive lineman -- EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD AT FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW -- THEY DON'T CARE!!!!
* Then, if you're 6'5 or better, actually are fairly quick and fast for your size, and have HANDS TO CATCH (as most basketball players would), they will want you as a TIGHT END!!! Now, you get to CATCH THE BALL and score TOUCHDOWNS!!
* If you're 6'6 and above-average high school basketball player -- you're looking at 4 years of NAIA basketball in gyms with 2,000 people MAYBE.
* If you're 6'6 and just an "okay" football player in hs -- you're looking at playing at in the BIG TEN or SEC in FOOTBALL!!!!

So why not TRY football this year after basketball is over?

GOOD football coaches will allow their players to shoot and work on their basketball game DURING football season as long as it's not during football practice. GOOD football coaches will work around your summer basketball leagues and games to let you do those for your bball team.

What have you got to lose?

If you choose NOT to try football, what you may be losing is your BEST chance at a FULL-RIDE to college...and you never know, maybe even like Jared, Tim, or Shaun, a chance to play in the NFL!!! (How many tremendous HS BASKETBALL players from Ky. are making it to the NBA????????)