Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Area football teams enjoy media day
FORT SMITH — The first of August always signals the start of football season, and part of that tradition includes the preseason interviews, photo shoots and videos.
A select group of River Valley athletes participated in the River Valley Democrat-Gazette’s Football Media Day on Tuesday at the River Valley Fellowship of Christian Athletes building.
It was the fourth annual media day held in the River Valley, but the first under the River Valley Democrat-Gazette publication.
Players and coaches alike were excited to participate.
“I think it’s awesome to be able to do that,” said Van Buren Coach Moe Henry. “[The players] see other sports at other levels have their media days and it’s cool to see that. To be a part of that, I know that’s pretty special to them, and I enjoy to be able to have them out here, and I appreciate it as well.”
More than 100 players from 22 schools in the Fort Smith surrounding area in Arkansas and Oklahoma participated.
Among the first to arrive were the Van Buren Pointers, who showed up following a 6 a.m. practice — the team’s first practice of fall camp.
“Always excited about the start of football season,” said Van Buren center Chasen Thibideaux. “Today was the first day of fall camp, fall practice. It’s always exciting, gets your blood going, just ready to play football.”
The Pointers open the season at home against Crawford County rival Alma on Aug. 24 in the annual “Battle of the Bone.”
Thibideaux was one of five Pointers in attendance along with Bryce Perkins, Ethan Hurst, Alex Welborn and Jacob Gavelis. Henry said it wasn’t hard to select the players who would represent the Pointers at media day.
“I’ve got three seniors and two juniors [here],” Henry said. “They’ve played a lot of football for us at Van Buren. You just want to be able to show them that I appreciate them being here, sticking through the program and putting in the work that they have.”
Greenwood, which has played in the last three Class 6A state title games, also brought five players in defensive players Eli Whitaker, Riley White and Josh Allen along with offensive guys LJ Robins and Brayedan Davis.
“I told these five kids I was going to bring them up here, there was just a little extra smile on their face,” said Greenwood Coach Chris Young.
“These guys work so hard and they’re not selfish at all, but at the same time they like to go out there and get their picture taken and have a reporter talk to them. They like to talk to their teammates and their coaches. It’s the start of the season. It kind of gets you fired up and gets your goosebumps going a little bit and gets you ready to play.”
Greenwood hosts Stillwater, Okla., to open the season on Aug. 25.
Fort Smith Southside Coach Kim Dameron admitted that he brought more players than he was asked to, but he wanted several of his players to get the media day experience. Southside hosts crosstown rival Northside in the Battle of Rogers Avenue on Aug. 25.
“For these seniors to be able to come and see what it’s like to come get in front of a camera and talk to reporters and things like that, I think it’s great for their futures,” Dameron said. “It’s something that is big for them. I feel the kids that we’ve brought here today, they’ve earned the right to be here by the way they’ve played over the last three years.
“And so it’s always an exciting time and it’s a time that you know it’s here because we’ve started practicing and now we’ve got media day. Before you know it we’ll be teeing it up and kicking it off on Friday night.”
Lavaca Coach Mark Headley said the media day experience is all about promoting the kids. The Golden Arrows host Magazine to open the season Sept. 1.
“I’m in this because I love kids,” Headley said. “I like to see kids come and get their picture taken, but also people love football. It’s exciting because it’s like we’re getting started. I think that kind of builds the excitement of everything. It’s fun for them. They practiced this morning and I told them alright guys we’re going to load up and go up there. I think they’re excited about it.”