Friday, August 24, 2007 - Coach Jimmy Fishel peviews '07 UCHS Season

Coach Jimmy Fishel with UCHS Pigskin Preview

    Today, Rotarians welcome Union City High School head football coach Jimmy Fishel for a preview of the upcoming season, which begins a week from tonight at Hardy M. Graham Stadium in Martin as the Golden Tornadoes take on the Westview Chargers.
     After going 6-5 last year, before losing to eventual State Champion Jackson Christian School in the playoffs, the Tornadoes have been picked by the pundits to finish anywhere from first to third this year in Region 7A, with Bruceton McKenzie and Lake County expected to contend. Other league members include Gleason, Greenfield, South Fulton, and West Carroll.
     Joining coach Fishel today are his senior players, senior cheerleaders and watergirls and a senior flaggirl.
     UC will operate from the Multiple Spread-I set on offense and employ a 4-3 defensive posture.  Assistant coaches include David Barker, Mack Moore, Derrick Pritchard, Tracy Bruff and Tony Butler.  Go UCHS!

Bill Lawrence on Archeology of Reelfoot Lake

  Next week, UCHS alumnus Bill Lawrence will talk to Rotarians about the pre-history and archeology of Reelfoot Lake—our hunting and fishing paradise that attracts visitors year-round.  Bill conducts numerous workshops on the lake and its basin throughout the year.  He is employed by the Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation is also an Adjunct Professor at UT Martin.
     Somewhere between myth and history lies the answer of the creation of Reelfoot Lake.  Area folklore says the lake came to be as a result of an irate Indian medicine man.  History credits an earthquake along the New Madrid Fault in 1811 for creating the historic cite as the Mississippi River “flowed backwards.” 
     The lake features more than fifty species of fish, including the “big three” of Crappie, Bass and Bluegill.  Sportsmen from around the world annually sample Reelfoot’s natural bounty.   

 Skyhawks Expect Another Great Football Season in ‘07

     Last  week, Rotarians heard from UTM football coach Jason Simpson, who begins his second season at the helm of the Skyhawk program after winning the OVC regular season championship last year and making it to the national playoffs.
     “Needless to say, the past eighteen months have been great,” Coach Simpson said.  “I just love coming to Union City because the attitude here is “we’re the best” and That’s what I want to instill in my football program at Martin.”
     Simpson told how 2006 started off like most any other season at UTM, until the Skyhawks suddenly reeled off eight straight wins and  all of the sudden were nationally ranked.  The Skyhawks made it to the Sweet 16 in college football last year, before falling to SIU, 36-30 in the Division 1-AA playoffs in Carbondale.
      “We were forty-five seconds from the Elite 8,” Simpson lamented.
     Ever the salesman, Simpson said UTM represents a safe environment for kids in college as well as an opportunity for them to grow spiritually, a place to study with fewer distractions and a place for serious athletes to compete for conference championships.  After last year’s success, UTM immediately signed 32 new players to fill the void created by graduation. The Skyhawks have been picked to finish as has as 15th in the naition this year and have three pre-season All-Americans on their roster.
     “Everything counts” is UTM’s team motto going into the 2007 season as UTM vies to repeat at OVC champions.  The Skyhawks open the season Sept 1 at Southern Mississippi.
     ‘Normally, we talk about winning a conference title, but this year, our goal is a national championship,” Simpson said.
     Pre-Season polls have UTM as high as 15th to 22nd in the nation.  The Skyhawks are returning nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters from last year’s 9-3 team.
     Good luck to Coach Simpson and his team in 2007!

Coming Attractions

8/31        Lynn Glover and Glenda Chrisp— Obion County Corn Festival
              & Rob Somerville—West Tennessee
              Outdoors Youth Jamboree
9/14       Congressman John Tanner
9/21       Dr. Shirley Raines—President of  
               the University of Memphis

 Happy Birthdays

8/25      Jimmy Jones
8/25       Travis Shumate

       Happy Anniversaries

8/25        Travis and Linda Shumate
8/26        Larry and Rita Buckles
8/28        Kirk and Sharon Stone
8/30        Leland and Tajuana Davis

2007 Union City Football Schedule

Aug 31 – at westview
Sept 7 – at lake county
Sept 14 – DRESDEN
Sept 21 – at mckenzie
Sept 28 – OBION COUNTY
Oct 5 – BRUCETON
Oct 12 – SOUTH FULTON
Oct 19 – at Greenfield
Oct 26 – WEST CARROLL
Nov 2 – at grleason
Nov 9, 16, 23,30 & Dec 7 – TSSAA Playoffs

Return to Weekly Bulletin News Index page.