QB Reid looks for new start Until he actually starts playing for Texas Southern, Bobby Reid will be linked to Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy.
Reid knows that, and he’s fine with it. Really. But at some point he’d also like to be known for something more than being the catalyst for Gundy’s now infamous blowup with a reporter last season.
Reid’s play at quarterback was the subject of a critical newspaper column, which in turn became fodder for Gundy’s rant that has become part of the sports pop culture landscape. It included a riled-up Gundy shouting at the reporter: “Come after me ! I’m a man !” Reid said he appreciated Gundy taking a stand. What he didn’t appreciate was Gundy’s quick hook, forcing the onetime blue-chip Houston product into competition with backup Zac Robinson.
Gundy’s quarterback shuffling led Reid back home to Texas Southern, where he has one season left to salvage his dimming NFL prospects and make people forget Gundy’s tirade. “I have mixed emotions about it, but I kind of put it all in the past,” Reid said. “That happened almost a year ago. I’m a Tiger now.” Good pupil Unless Arkansas-Pine Bluff finds a way to better an offensive line that gave up 47 sacks a year ago, the pressure will fall on the Golden Lions’ defense again. That works for senior linebacker Tim Turner, who thinks he can improve on 2007 ’s team-best 122 tackles. Turner (Little Rock Parkview ) said much of his success last season could be attributed to then-defensive coordinator Monte Coleman, now in his first year as head coach. Coleman, a former NFL linebacker, said Turner always had the physical gifts. The problem was he thought too much. “He told me to calm down, just have fun,” Turner said. Sharing the load Mickey Dean and Martell Mallett plan to go into every practice as if their jobs were on the line, but the fact of the matter remains that neither will be the featured back in UAPB’s offense, just like last season.
Dean and Mallett spelled each other throughout 2007, with Mallett (Pine Bluff ) gaining more yards but Dean (Little Rock Central ) getting more yards per carry.
Coach Monte Coleman said there isn’t much difference between the two and that the tandem will continue. “Coming off 2006, I was getting the ball back to back to back,” Mallett said. “Last year, it actually kept me fresh. We have no problem with that.” New digs UAPB Athletic Director Skip Perkins said the university’s new 27, 000-square-foot field house will be ready in time for football season. Situated behind the far end zone of Golden Lion Stadium, the field house will feature lockers, a training room, a weight room and a meeting room. Money for the facility was raised through private fund raising, state money and in-house financing.
The barren field just beyond the visitors grandstands also will be converted into a practice field.
In years past, the team practiced and dressed at Pumphrey Stadium, located on the opposite end of campus. On home game days, the team dressed at Pumphrey, then took a bus to Golden Lion Stadium.
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