They say big things come from Texas. Big trucks, big guns, big hats, big burritos (OK, that's Texmex, but I think you get my point). Well, we've got a bit of big Texas right here in our program. He goes by Brad Sheets.
I've called him Texas mainly because back when he started as a freshman, the now-Junior seemed to wear a University of Texas shirt every day. Being the big 'SC fan that I am, and being that Texas had beaten SC for the football National Championship that previous New Year's (actually their quarterback Vince Young beat 'SC, but that's a different post), the burnt-orange long horns that were printed across his chest every morning got my attention.
There was another thing that got my attention as well ... Brad liked to walk. He walked a lot. He walked sooner, rather than later. He was a very timid runner that first summer. I thought, "we've got work to do!"
Well, the work has been done, and Brad Sheets has gone from walker to runner, and now in his third season, he's well on his way toward showing what can be done when one's mind is made up.
Back in '06, it would normally take Brad 20 or 21 minutes to cover three miles. His Mt.SAC PR, normally a standard for the season, was 20:05. This season, he's been consistently in the mid-17:00's, and racing somewhere from 10-13 on our depth chart.
What hasn't changed about Brad is his Texas-sized attitude, smile and good cheer. When he got literally clotheslined playing hat-tag in Mammoth, ripping some good skin off his face, he just smiled, got up and kept playing. The raspberry near his left eye was more the cardinal of USC than the orange of Texas, but it soon became an opportunity for some self-deprecating humor that had everyone in stitches. Fortunately for him, stitches weren't necessary. The guy is class, all the way, even if he is a fan of the Texas Longhorns.
I've heard some speeches described as "longhorn speeches." A point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between. That does NOT describe Brad, he's intelligent, athletic, funny, well-rounded and well respected. Not bad for a young man!
And he's also not alone. Brad's no "Lone Star" on the team, he's got a posse of runners around him, many of whom joined with him back in 2006 and make up a large part of what is today, King's best ever guys team.
For that improvement and good cheer, I have just one thing to say:
Yee hah!
I've called him Texas mainly because back when he started as a freshman, the now-Junior seemed to wear a University of Texas shirt every day. Being the big 'SC fan that I am, and being that Texas had beaten SC for the football National Championship that previous New Year's (actually their quarterback Vince Young beat 'SC, but that's a different post), the burnt-orange long horns that were printed across his chest every morning got my attention.
There was another thing that got my attention as well ... Brad liked to walk. He walked a lot. He walked sooner, rather than later. He was a very timid runner that first summer. I thought, "we've got work to do!"
Well, the work has been done, and Brad Sheets has gone from walker to runner, and now in his third season, he's well on his way toward showing what can be done when one's mind is made up.
Back in '06, it would normally take Brad 20 or 21 minutes to cover three miles. His Mt.SAC PR, normally a standard for the season, was 20:05. This season, he's been consistently in the mid-17:00's, and racing somewhere from 10-13 on our depth chart.
What hasn't changed about Brad is his Texas-sized attitude, smile and good cheer. When he got literally clotheslined playing hat-tag in Mammoth, ripping some good skin off his face, he just smiled, got up and kept playing. The raspberry near his left eye was more the cardinal of USC than the orange of Texas, but it soon became an opportunity for some self-deprecating humor that had everyone in stitches. Fortunately for him, stitches weren't necessary. The guy is class, all the way, even if he is a fan of the Texas Longhorns.
I've heard some speeches described as "longhorn speeches." A point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between. That does NOT describe Brad, he's intelligent, athletic, funny, well-rounded and well respected. Not bad for a young man!
And he's also not alone. Brad's no "Lone Star" on the team, he's got a posse of runners around him, many of whom joined with him back in 2006 and make up a large part of what is today, King's best ever guys team.
For that improvement and good cheer, I have just one thing to say:
Yee hah!
Not only does Coach notice how hard you work, Brad, and how much you have improved but the parents do too! Congratulations and keep up the hard work.
ReplyDeleteNice!
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