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Show sCat Cook Em Earned n . TTTT 0 By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports OGDEN - If you give this guy a foot, hell surely take three or four. -- FREDDIE COOK isnt the kind of college runningback you merely take for granted. If injuries or seniority are to keep him from being a regular, which they did in the beginning, hes still got something to give you some place else. How about as a f specialist? Why not? The explosive talent he used while in high school for Brent Hancock at Clearfield could surely be put to best use here. kick-of- AND IT has. In just two full years of action, the former Falcon star is on the verge of becoming the greatest kickoff return specialist in the history of the school. He already holds the record for the most kickoff return yards in a game, some 138 which he piled up against Montana State in a 1982 in game. In addition, hes No. career number of kickoff returns, amassing some 35 in just two seasons. Sometime early in the year, barring a nasty injury, Cook will surpass Henry Owens career mark of 783 yards and thus become the undisputed No. 1 kickoff returner in Wildcat football history. He needs just 77 yards to break Owens re1 cord. By KEITH DUNCAN Lancer Sneak Preview Journal Sports LAYTON - Most high school kids know how to turn up the volume on their stereo system with no problem, but that isnt going to be the only system that has its volume exploding this fall. -- will have back three starters in Robert Ferneau, James Batchelor and Mike Roberts. Roberts could end up being one of the best football players in the region before its all over with. Roberts is scheduled to do some duty this year at the fullback position on offense as well as see plenty of time at a middle linebacker position. Ferneau, too, will be counted on heavily. Hawkins has plans for Ferneau at tailback on offense and will also see some time on defense. SOME OF the top defensive back names that have surfaced so far are Tom Montano, Steve Esto-quand Dan Bankhead. Linebacker names have been Randy Cowder, Bart Vernon and, Terry Kealamakia. The defensive end position will see Dave Tetero, Ron Barker and Dave Lyndsey getting a head start. Two defensive tackles sticking LAYTONS new head football coach. Brad Hawkins, is one'of the football youngest coaches in and certainly Region One and he has plans to turn up the level of football at Layton High ranks this 4-- A fall. Hawkins, who is no stranger to Layton athletics having assisted in football through the past three years and having established one of most respected baseball programs, wants to let the kids have some fun and do something to get them coming back everyday. 4-- e, " IM YOUNG and so is our staff. Theres some enthusiasm there that will hopefully carry over with the kids. Our big objective these next couple of weeks is to teach the kids how to play football with all the fundamentals involved and help them too to not beat themselves. , 1 theyre doing. Hawkins himself was a standout football player at nearby Bonneville High. Though he wasnt blessed with size and a lot of natural speed, his coaches then claimed his biggest asset was believing in him- MIKE ROBERTS self. question but close followers of Hawkins know that he will get everything possible out of his players. The head coaches sincere en- thusiasm alone will do that. LAYTONS first game comes up on Aug. 31 at home against the Bountiful Braves who are coached ON OFFENSE it will once again be Brian Bailey leading and calling the shots at quarterback. This guy has the clear-cu- t calling here because of Bobby Fresques move to California during the summer. As mentioned the ballcarriers appear to be Ferneau, Roberts and Batchelor. AT TIGHT end will be the towering Rex Brimhall. Layton could end up turning out some of the finest wide receivers in the area. First year player Darrell Martin is looking impressive as is John Wagstaff. Two flankers, Jeff Nabors and Bert Vernon look good too. UPFRONT, its much of a question mark but it appears that James Kortright has the inside track at the center position. Layton To Open Their Season Aug. 31st Against The Improved Bountiful Braves I GUESS if could do one thing, just one thing, it would be to bring back the excitement into football, to help the kids believe in what LAYTON FANS would be beside themselves if Hawkins is able to build the football program like he has his baseball setup. In every year but one, Hawkins has been able to lead his baseball troops to an outright region title or one that was shared. Whether the talent is there is one their heads above the rest include both Tim Frazier and David Steele. by one of Hawkins' good buddies, Kim Peterson. Then the Layton team will travel to both Viewmont and Woods Cross in successive weeks before turning their attention to a well balanced Region One group. THIS REPORT serves only as a sneak preview, especially since its writing took place before the final countdown to the seasons first game. But several names have emerged in the Layton camp, players that Hawkins will be counting on heavily to get the job done. two-wee- k ON DEFENSE the Layton team By DAVE WIGHAM VIEWMONT Viewmont golf coach Gary Bumingham has come up with a unique way to keep up with the rising cost of fielding a team. FOR THE second year the Viking golf program will sponsor a Alumni and Friends golf tournament. The tourney this year will be held at the Davis Park golf course on Thursday, Aug. 30 with tee times available from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. The cost of this event is $10, which includes the entry fee, with all the proceeds going to the Viewmont goif team which placed fifth in the state tournament a year ago. Security, Franks Clothing, BountiBowl, DeBoers Shoes, Village Sports, Marie Calendars, Video America, Robintinos and Inkleys have donated the prizes for this event. ful ANYONE IS invited and encouraged to participate in this event, this is not just for students. To sign up simpls call' (295-9486- ). (298-011- 8) SPECIFICALLY Coach Arslanian has helped Freddie in techniques of keeping his balance more and more sharper cuts. Says Cook. I can sure make those cuts now . I wont consider myself a starter until the night of the first game when I go down in my stance behind the quarterback. I believe my chances are pretty good and a lot of hard work between now and then surely couldn't hurt. I JUST hope and pray I don't get injured. The foot injury at the beginning of last year got me off to a slow start and I really dont want to go through that again. Cook earned Honorable Men- tion Big Sky Conference honors as a runningback last year and was an Honorable Mention Big Sky Conference candidate the year before as a kicker return specialist. Even through 1983 he led the team in scoring w ith 10 touchdow ns, seven by rushing and three by receiving. Behind Dennis Rogan, he was the clubs second leading rusher last year w'ith 423 yards on 86 carries. He also caught 30 passes for another 326 yards. COOK IS explosive. He proved 70 yard scoring pass that with a play against Boise State and another 43 yard TD run against Montana State. Every back dreams of having 1000 yards seasons and Ill tell you its my dream to do that this year and next. If 1 get the ball a little more this year, perhaps I can do that, he said. .hes tops in my book. Coach Dave A rslanian THE WEBER State junior is as healthy as a rock right now and appears to have the itches to see the season get underway. After Webers first full week of practice he was one of the ringleaders in practice, one of the hardest working and hardest hitters and one of the first to the morning breakfast. really feel good about things, he said, Not a lot of people are picking us to do much in the Big Sky, but were going to be competitive. We lost a bunch of guys to graduation, but I believe weve got a lot of guys back that want to be winners. NOT ONLY is this a great opportunity to support this worthy program but also Coach Bumingham and the players have come up with some prizes to award the top four winners in a gross, net and Chicago format type competition. Local merchants like Utah State Bank, Zions First National, First either Coach Bumingham or Paul Waite .. I Alumni Tourney Set Clipper Sports BUT HOLD on folks. Cook isnt just limited to returning kickoffs these days. It was something to keep him busy in the beginning, but now Coach Mike Price and Dave Arslanian believe hes going to be tough to beat out as one of Weber's starting runningbacks for the upcoming season. Its like Arslanian said last Sunday night, I count on Freddie being one of our mainstringers this season. Hes been around long enough to know whats expected of him and nobody questions his breath with him. Coach Arslanian hasn't been afraid to get close to the backs, inviting us to his home at times and feeding us and going over films at the same time. During my time here. I've had a few rough roads to travel but Coach Arslanian has always been there to help me out. I guess if it hadnt been for him and Coach Price, I wouldnt be playing football at Weber today. I FEEL good about how were building the offensive line. A lot of guys have stuck their heads up. The line right now is healthy and appears to have a lot of depth. Of course Cook likes to keep tabs on such things because its those guys who will be protecting him and plowing open the holes come September 1st when the Wildcats hit the road to face the University of Utah in their season opener. Maybe the greatest friend that Cook has made as a Weber State player is his own backfield coach, Dave Arslanian. Arslanian is start- ing his second year as Coach Prices number one right hand man after serving six very successful seasons at Snow Junior College where he helped produce 15 JC HES THE one Im really close too, two-a-da- During our you learn to live and said Freddie, PLAYING with Cook at Weber State will be another former Falcon in Karl Wilson. The Wildcat coaching staff, along with Freddie, have been quite impressed with Wilson's improvement over last year. Karl is tough. said Cook, I don't know what happened from last year to this year, but he has made a leap into stardom. Ive got hit by him in practice and you remember it. Wilson is competing for one of Webers linebacker spots. COACH Arslanian had just as high praise for Cook as Cook had for the coach. I think a bunch of Freddie, hes tops in my book. Last year in the Big Sky there were a number of coaches who complimented Freddie and told us there were a few guys in the conference who were receiving all the press, but that they thought Fred- back die was the most under-Tate- d in the conference. Of course that speaks quite highly for what Freddie has done, especially when it comes from the opponents. ITS EASY to work with someone who has the ability like Freddie has and also the coachable traits he has. Put those two things together and its a combination that is hard to beat. Freddie will be hard to beat out this year. Hell be one of the offensive people well be going to, whether it be through the air or on the ground. |