Being chosen as the subject for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Toast and Roast banquet may be one of the biggest honors in central Arkansas, and David Bazzel was a great choice.
Bazzel is one of those former Arkansas Razorbacks like Joe Kleine, Darrell Walker and Pat Bradley who have woven themselves into the fabric of Arkansas so much that they are considered native sons.
Bazzel came to Arkansas from Panama City, Fla., to play football for Lou Holtz and later Ken Hatfield -- turning down offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina to name a few -- and distinguished himself as a hard-hitting linebacker. He was named defensive MVP of the 1984 Liberty Bowl when he had 15 tackles against Auburn, whose star player was Bo Jackson.
But it was after his playing days that Bazzel established himself as a viable part of the community.
In 1996, he burst on the national scene by creating the Broyles Award. When he approached Frank Broyles about creating an award that would recognize the top assistant coach in college football each year, the former Arkansas athletic director wanted to wait a year. Bazzel put the first banquet together in a few months, and it has grown into a major college football award presented by the Rotary Club of Little Rock.
With the energy of someone much younger and the wisdom of someone much older, Bazzel has created almost a dozen other awards or programs that promote the state and football.
His big year was 2004, when he not only founded the Little Rock Touchdown Club -- which has grown from 17 members at the first lunch to more than 500 -- but also started a full-time morning radio show with Tommy Smith, the Show With No Name, which airs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz. Roger Scott and RJ Hawk also are part of that winning team, and more times than not it is the No. 1 show in its time slot.
He also works as an analyst and reporter for KATV, Channel 7, during Razorbacks football games.
Last year, Bazzel was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He also is spokesman for Fletcher Dodge Jeep, president of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Football Foundation and an all-around good guy.
The question most asked of Bazzel: When does he find time to sleep?
Bazzel was No. 53 in your football program, but he will be the No. 1 target for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Toast and Roast on Aug. 13 at Embassy Suites in Little Rock.
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Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats were served notice Monday night that there is a new kid on the block.
Duke also will welcome one-and-done recruits.
The Blue Devils got 60 of their 68 points and 19 of their 33 rebounds from four freshmen in their 68-63 national championship victory over Wisconsin, which was held to more than nine points below its season average.
More than likely, Duke and Kentucky will have to reload for next season because between them there are a lot of 19-year-olds headed to the NBA.
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When UALR announced its five finalists for the head coaching job, four had some history within the state.
Joe Kleine and Darrell Walker are both NBA veterans who live in The Rock. Walker played and coached in the NBA. Kleine also played in the NBA and has spent eight years as an assistant coach at UALR.
Mark Downey was a successful coach at Arkansas Tech for four years, and Philip Pearson was an assistant at UALR for one season under Wimp Sanderson.
New Athletic Director Chasse Conque decided on Chris Beard, who turned Division II Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas, into a very good program.
No doubt, there will be more to come on this subject.
Sports on 04/08/2015