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Show Star With A rain By DAVE WIGHAM BOUNTIFUL - The days of the big dunb football jock are long gone. For proof just take a look at the best football player in the state 3A ranks this past season and one can see that these athletes want more out of college then basket weaving or advanced pottery. THE EXPERTS picked Clark Mabey of the state champion Bountiful team as the best athlete in helmets this past season and Clark is anything any-thing but a big dumb athlete. In fact one is almost more impressed im-pressed with his classroom fetes than those of his football days. Clark graduated from Bountiful Boun-tiful with high honors finishing his three year career with a 3.85 gpa, and this was one of those big guys playing on the line. Always thought you had to have one oar missing to even play on the line but this guy puts that theory to rest. FOR CLARK to even play football in high school was somewhat of a surprise. "In junior high I had bad knees and my doctor told me I would never nev-er play high school sports. "In the ninth grade it was up to me and my mom to decide. We went ahead and they got stronger instead of weaker," noted Clark. "The choice was knitting or sports, no way I was going to sit around." YOU WOULD think that being the MVP in the state would bring the college people knocking at his door, not so with Clark. Some players like to talk about the amount of scouts that talk to them but this likeable guy seemed content to talk about the truth. "BYU and Utah State re- I ' N" - I ', - 7 : I J" 7 y f fi If I r I CLARK MABEY cruited at first but then stopped. stop-ped. Weber talked for awhile but then stopped also. I go one letter from Utah but that was it. They seem to want to keep friends in case after junior college col-lege they still want me." FOR A WHILE Clark has selected Ricks College to play his football, at least for a year. "I'll play a year then go on a mission and will just have to see after that." He went on to add he was impressed with the facilities and coaches at his choice. "They have put over $1 million into the place and Coach Schmidt seems nice." The coach is new this season also stepping up from Skyline High to try his hand in college ball. Clark was impressed with his fairness and frankness. "No promises just a host at turning the program around." THIS 6'4" and 225 pounder played both ways for the Braves but the Ricks people want him for a defensive tackle although given the opportunity, opportun-ity, Clark would just as soon knock some heads around as an offensive guard. Clark was All-State in both Salt Lake papers, MVP in the one and was also named to the Prep Ail-American Coaches' team, the National High School Athletic Coaches Association tean and then the Centenary High School All-American All-American club. TALK TO him and he's just as proud about being in the National Na-tional Honor Society. He was also active in tennis, basketball, basket-ball, track and field, and the madrigals singing group. Yes sir, the big dumb jock look is long gone and with youth like Clark Mabey on our side the future of things look bright. |