Who says real men don't cry?
Nobody would have dared to say it at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Awards banquet, held Jan. 11 in the ballroom of the Embassy Suites. The event honored 13 Arkansas college and six high school football Players of the Year from each division, as well as high school Coaches of the Year.
Former NFL offensive tackle and Hall of Fame inductee Willie Roaf, there to present one of two awards named after him, became tearful in a couple of spots as he recalled his father, the late Dr. Clifton Roaf, who spoke at the 2017 banquet. The elder Roaf died Sept. 12.
Moving acceptance speeches were also made by Michael Joseph, winner of the Cliff Harris Award (presented by Harris) and Kevin Richardson, winner of the Paul Eells Award named for the late television sportscaster.
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State University, and B.J. Ferrell, Fordyce High School, were recipients of the Dan Hampton Award. Luke Jones of Pulaski Academy accepted his Willie Roaf Award in person; Arkansas Razorback Frank Ragnow, who's recovering from a season-ending injury in October, accepted via video. Scholar-athlete Isaiah Woods of Pulaski Academy was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Also given were two Sully Awards for outstanding announcers -- Billy Morgan (Ouachita Baptist University) in the college division and Mark Oliver and Tracy Simpson of KVRE-FM, 92.9 in the high school division (Fountain Lake High).
Special guest Marcus Allen -- also a pro football Hall of Famer and running back who, the audience was reminded, is the only player to have won the Heisman Trophy, an NCAA national championship, the Super Bowl, and be named NFL and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player -- implored parents and coaches to ensure the success of the young players, whatever careers await them.
-- Story and photos by Helaine R. Williams
High Profile on 01/21/2018