FAYETTEVILLE -- Daryl Patton guided Fayetteville to a fourth Class 7A state championship appearance in the last four years this season. But even before the Bulldogs finished up with a runner-up finish, Patton earned recognition for his achievements in coaching.
Patton, who earned his 100th win as Fayetteville coach this season, has been named to the U.S. staff in the U.S.-Canada International Bowl, to be played on the weekends of Jan. 30-31 and Feb. 7-8.
"I got a call back at the end of October and they asked if I would have interest in coaching in the International Bowl," Patton said. "They told me they were going to select coaches pretty soon and they would let me know.
"Then about the middle of November they called me back and said I had been selected to coach the (Under) 17 All-Star team. It starts the last week of January and everything is first class. Gary Swenson out of Iowa is the head coach and he's a legendary coach. So it's truly and honor and very humbling to be selected and to be a member of coach Swenson's staff."
Patton will coach wide receivers for the U-17 team at the International Bowl, which is made up mostly of players who just completed their sophomore seasons of eligibility. The International Bowl, held in Arlington, Texas, has been attended by current college players including Hesiman Trophy winner Jameis Winston of Florida State, Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty and Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
Patton received a second surprise when his own player, Fayetteville senior Dre Greenlaw, was added to the International Bowl U.S. under-19 team last week.
"I won't be coaching Dre down there, but we'll be there together," Patton said. "That's a great honor for Dre."
Greenlaw, an Arkansas commit who was named as the Farm Bureau Awards Class 7A/6A Defensive Player of the Year, looks forward to the opportunity to test his skills against some of the top competition in the country before he moves onto collegiate ball.
"It's a great honor," Greenlaw said. "It's a great way to finish for me and I'm excited to go down there and see what I can do."
Greenlaw is expected to make his signing day announcement during the week of the International Bowl. Patton, who's U-17 game in Arlington is scheduled one week before Greenlaw's U-19 game, plans to return to Arlington to be with his player for the announcement.
Sports on 12/18/2014