Friendship Key At Springdale Har-Ber

Looking beyond the X’s and O’s

By Matt L. Stephens

Posted: September 1, 2011 at 6 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — I recently got a crash course in what high school football is about beyond the X’s and O’s.

It’s about relationships and being there for your gridiron brethren.

After Springdale Har-Ber practice on Aug. 24, I got with seniors John Vaughn and Austin Mayfield and just threw the ball around for about

15 minutes. We started by talking about football and how they’re competing for the starting quarterback job, but the conversation quickly transitioned to a display of what these guys really are — friends.

While playing catch, Mayfield cracked up when telling a story about a recent weekend practice with the team mothers where Vaughn took a break from his quarterback duties to ask his mom if she’d put gas in his truck.

“What? I needed gas, and it seemed like a good time to ask,” Vaughn responded.

That truck is a Ford F-150 with a giant dent in the side from when Vaughn was hit by a deer — not the other way around.

Vaughn would fire back at Mayfield by making fun of his throwing motion, calling him “shortstop” thanks to how fast he gets rid of the football after taking the snap.

But beyond the playful verbal jabs, there is a mutual respect between the two athletes competing for the same position.

Mayfield told me Vaughn is a book worm, taking a handful of Advanced Placement classes, as he hopes to earn an academic scholarship to college. Vaughn said he wants good grades because he doesn’t know if playing quarterback at the next level is an option.

“Oh, shut up,” Mayfield said to Vaughn’s modesty, “You know you could play in college if you wanted.”

Vaughn would then shed light on the fact Mayfield is one of the top young motocross riders in the country, qualifying in the Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Championships.

Back and forth they went, a burn followed by compliment.

Finally I asked what happens to the guy who does lose the starting job, because it will happen. Neither of them knew but were OK with it.

Bottom line, they just want the Har-Ber Wildcats to win a state championship, no matter who’s under center.

And there can’t be a better mindset for a team than two leaders focused on a mutual, selfless goal.

Matt Stephens is a sports reporter for NWA Media. Email mstephens@nwaonline.com.

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