In April, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi was sleeping outside and had to talk his way into a workout with the
@Browns
...
Tonight, he scored a TD in his first
#NFLPreseason
game and his teammates were hyped 🧡 (via
@thecheckdown
)
Hot Take... if you try to get a high school coach fired solely based on your child’s playing time, you are part of the problem with the current high school sports landscape.
BREAKING NEWS: Man with a gun shows up at Thatcher High School dance and is tackled by the DJ before he can get any shots off. This is a developing story. Suspect is in custody.
Today I'm hearing that Az Western, Central Az, Cochise College and Eastern Arizona have all committed to sports this year. Pima College has a meeting today. I've not heard when Yavapai is meeting. I'm glad Plan A was to figure something out! Kudos to these schools.
Classy move by Sahuarita High today. Safford High requested tomorrow's game be moved to tonight so that the players could attend a funeral of a classmate tomorrow. This is what they walked into today at Sahuarita.
@AndyMorales8
@sahuaritasun
@AZPreps365
I’m very disappointed today but I am grateful for 18 years as the Voice of EAC football. 206 games, the only 5 bowl games in the school’s history and the first and last ever WSFL championship. To anyone who ever turned on the radio and let me into your home..I say thank you.
Now that it looks like football will happen in most of Arizona I have a request. Since everyone's claim was to get football back for the kids.. can we make sure all rosters and stats are updated weekly so we can promote those kids... that'd be great
Safford High School has hired a football coach.
Former Eastern Arizona College coach John O'Mera will lead the Bulldogs when football resumes. He lead Eastern Arizona College for 15 years. He was in the top 10 of all time winningest coaches when the program at EAC was dissolved
Last night Safford senior Cole Moore got to live a dream. Cole has Cerebral Palsey and is wheelchair bound. Kudos to Palo Verde for helping to make Cole's night
#AZHSFB
It was a great 19 year run as the voice of Eastern Arizona College football. 15 years with John O'Mera as head coach. He gifted me this last night to commemorate the schools first WSFL Champion in their final season as a program.
#Grateful
#wsfl
#juco
I think it's important to note that all 10 Maricopa county college presidents recommended the cancelation of sports but interim chancellor Dr. Steven Gonzales sat down and gathered info and made a decision to keep sports. That doesn't happen in today's culture very often.
#props
Last night former EAC football coach John O'Mera presented me with this ring. It represents the team's back to back Salt City Bowl wins. Has to be one of the coolest gifts I've received as a broadcaster.
Here is a list of local wrestlers that will be wrestling for a state championship...
Safford
McKade Finch
Dawon Andrews
Robert White
Thatcher
Treven Clark
Morenci
Marcus Morales
Tito Casillas
Mark Roybal
Nathan Willey
Willcox
Ote Allsup
Caiden Hall
I was sent this video several times tonight. It appears that the Phoenix Christian coach hip checks the Fort Thomas player after she inbounds the ball..
21 years ago.... I started in this crazy business on February 20th, 2000. Thank you to everyone who continues to support my sports broadcasts and follows along on social media.. and even thank you to those that don't.
Thatcher Jr Seth Lunt took a line drive off the eye today while pitching vs Morenci in the 2A playoffs. Lunt was taken to a local ER for some stitches. Luckily x-rays and concussion we're negative. Oh he got the win too.
Its on the calendar now. There will be a special Executive Board Meeting on Tuesday at 10:30am. Some have speculated a revote on winter sports. I don't have any info on that but it does look like it will be discussed.
Don't let people tell you that you can't get a great atmosphere in JUCO. This is the student section last night at
@eacmonsters
volleyball.
@NJCAA
#JucoProduct
I dont want to beat a dead horse but Damien Williams played in the WSFL for Arizona Western. Now he is going to be a Super Bowl Champion.. That story won't get a chance to happen again..
Deep Dig -- This year will be the first time in the history of recorded football archives that Thatcher, Pima and Morenci will all play for a football championship in the same year. It's been a hell of a run for Southeastern Az this year.
#azhsfb
Meetings are ongoing this week with AIA committees. Be on the lookout for some adjusted benchmark numbers by Thursday I would say. I'm confident October 2nd we will have kickoff.
Here are the final seconds of Pima's 2A State Championship today. It's their first title since 1984, and they are the first public school since 1998 to win the 2A title.
The Chancellor that lead the demise of JUCO football in Maricopa County is out.. They write steps down but in all essence she was fired. Maybe there is a chance football comes back in Arizona?
This is what I love about small towns. Joe Napier had a vision for a new locker room at Pima High. So he rallied donations from local businesses and he built it himself. Well done sir..
Got my official back to work papers today from the health department. I've been home for the better part of 14 days after testing positive for COVID-19. I'm not interested in political banter about the virus but I'd be willing to answer questions about my experience.
Big hire for Morenci Football.
Per Morenci Athletic Director Tiffany Powers:
Morenci High School has hired Rishard Davis as their new football coach. Davis previously coached at Eloy Santa Cruz High School and led them to a state championship.
I'm hearing of some media members at high school games on Friday that either didn't read the new guidelines or think they don't apply to them.. C'mon folks.. Don't be the reason a player or team misses games. Do your part so these athletes get a full season.
#dontbethatguy
Morenci’s Marcus Morales signed his LOI with Arizona Christian today. This makes the 9th Morenci Wrestler to go to the next level since 2016.
Morales is a 2X State Runner-up heading into this season.
2 years ago today Eastern Arizona College cut football. I never thought I'd miss those long bus trips but I kinda do.. Also miss the people involved in the league.. You have to be a different kind of dude to be in JUCO from the top to the bottom of an organization.
Sad to report that former Willcox head football coach and Thatcher assistant coach Jack Kortsen has passed away. His son, also named Jack, was the QB on Thatcher's last state championship team. RIP coach.
Hey guess what.... we've made it to game week for high school football in Arizona. This is the week you all fought for.. time to make the most of it. Don't phone it in now..
BREAKING -- The AIA, along with the admins of Morenci and Pima have voted to play the 2A State Championship at Safford High School at 6pm on November 26th.
The 3A game will still be played at 6pm at Desert Vista.
#azhsfb
Today while attending the
@gcs_gridiron
Ed Doherty awards I heard some very encouraging ideas about winter sports from coaches, admins and yes, AIA staff. I would say I'm pretty confident that teams that want to play this winter will have a chance. Stay tuned over the next week.
I just talked to the AIA and they are aware of the accusations that the Scottsdale Christian fan section was chanting racial phrases to the Morenci players at last night's 2A baseball championship. If you have any video evidence, the AIA asks that you get it to your school's AD.
Former Pima High and Eastern Arizona College athlete Lane Lunt has made the BYU football roster as a Tight End. He will play special teams Monday Night vs Navy on ESPN. He wears
#80
.
I'm not in this business for awards but I will gladly accept one anytime someone wants to give me one. Tomorrow I'll be accepting an award from the AIA for my high school sports coverage. That just means we have great athletes in the Gila Valley that are a blast to broadcast.
What a great ceremony the AIA put on today. I was awarded with the Skip Bryant Award, given to the top media contributor for high school athletics in the state of Arizona. It wouldn't be possible without the great student athletes in the Gila Valley. Thanks you all!
For 20 years I was the broadcaster for a college team that ran the triple option. So I feel a little qualified to say I've never seen an option on 3rd and 18 before today.
22 years ago today I started in this crazy business on February 20th, 2000. Just finished a run of 6 games in two days in Prescott Valley for the state tournament with at least 3 more games this week.Thank you to everyone who continues to support my sports broadcasts.
I have to brag on the Safford High School - Film & TV students. Tonight they jumped feet first into their first live football video feed. They kicked it out of the park! I had tons of compliments from people watching. It was directed by a sophomore... Kids learning great skills.
My proposal to Eastern Arizona college for football is to embrace being the only Arizona Junior College with football. You would flip your roster from 90% out of state to 90% in State players and cut down your out of state tuition scholarship spending.
Former Safford and New Mexico State volleyball standout Jordan Abalos is now the Head Beach Volleyball Coach at Estrella Foothills High School. She will also assist with indoor volleyball and teach Freshman English.
In 2016, the Fight of the Year happened in December.
In 2017, the Fight of the Year ALSO happened in December.
Congrats to
@EAlvarezFight
&
@Justin_Gaethje
on winning FOTY!!
ASU fans now know what those of us who cover Prep sports in Arizona already knew. Trenton Bourguet can flat out play and Shaun Aguano can at out coach.
As a guy who has covered this league for 17 years, I feel qualified to say this... This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard and you hear some strange things covering JUCO.
Multiple sources confirm MCCCD will eliminate football after the 2018 season. Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and Glendale Community Colleges will honor all scholarships through 2019, but this upcoming season will be the last that those schools have football programs.
If you played football in the WSFL in the last 30 years you know the name Bob O'Mera. He was the head coach at AZ Western and later the OC at EAC. His career spanned nearly 5 decades in all levels of football.
Bob passed away Monday night. The game of football lost a great one
Before we get into the thick of playoffs I just want to say congratulations to all HS winter sports that got to compete this year. Sure it wasn't ideal conditions but you were still out there. Cherish it and good luck in the playoffs.
Former Thatcher football and baseball coach Ramon Morales is retiring from teaching after 42 years. You just don't see that longevity anymore. Enjoy retirement coach!
I've confirmed that, pending board approval, Daniel Jones will be the next Thatcher football coach. Jones has spent the last few seasons at Desert Ridge High, with Jeremy Hathcock. He played for the legendary Paul Moro at Blue Ridge High.
Because of my buddy
@AndyMorales8
in Tucson and his efforts with his own non-profit. I'm announcing that I'm forming a local non-profit, yet to be named, that will donate brand new shoes to local school districts to pass out to children who need them.
Thatcher High will allow 300 people in the gym for home volleyball games. Families may sit together, masks are required for all in attendance, hand washing stations will be in place. Student sections to be every other row.
Good luck this season!
Safford's McKade Finch was named the AIA Male Student of the Year at yesterdays award ceremony. That honor comes with a $5,000 check towards college. Congratulations.
Yesterday, while setting up for a football game, a local wrestling coach came up to the booth and thanked me for the coverage I provide to local wrestlers. It's the little things like those interactions that let you know your efforts are appreciated. That's all.. carry on.
Friends.. There is a bill in the Arizona Senate right now that would allow all Arizona Community Colleges to offer a small amount of 4 year degrees.
Reach out to your State Senators and let them know this would be a great thing for rural Arizona..
I feel like there was a lot of unanswered questions regarding high school Winter sports so I reached out today and got some answers directly from the AIA.