Ryland Widener, 2010, D-Tackle

[SMU 86]

This young man was not overlooked by anyone (he was at OU's camp), he was just overweight earlier in the year and has worked to slim down. However, I still do not think he has any offers yet since slimming down.

[Stallion]

several people thinking alike-I did a search yesterday and found some information I believe on his high school webpage that said he committed to Northern Colorado-mentioned some JUCOs as well

[emilygold]

Rivals.com tells me that only Northern Colorado has given him an offer. It also says that Bert Hill is his recruiter from SMU. I thought the recruit looked good in his Junior year tape. I'll take a look at the other tape later.

[Cadillac]

I hope he Visited Greely before committing. Northern Colorado smells like Ft. Worth 30 years ago lol.

-CoS

[ponyboy]

Lol, that is so true. Another comparison is Amarillo now.

[SMU 86]

Who knows, we may offer him the week before signing day.

[mustangbill67]

Lol, that is so true. Another comparison is Amarillo now.

Obviously you have never spent any quality time in Amarillo. The good side of the tracks from Lubbock.

Go Sandies!

[Alaric]

Lol, that is so true. Another comparison is Amarillo now.

Obviously you have never spent any quality time in Amarillo. The good side of the tracks from Lubbock.

Go Sandies!

my wife is a proud Sandie

[mustangbill67]

So am I. Played football for Bum Phillips, way back when.

[ozfan]

So am I. Played football for Bum Phillips, way back when.

Did you follow him to SMU when Fry hired him.

[mustangbill67]

So am I. Played football for Bum Phillips, way back when.

Did you follow him to SMU when Fry hired him.

Bum had other stops before he was at SMU. I do not remember exactly what years Bum was at SMU but I believe I was already out of school. Mrydel may have been on the team when Bum coached. Bum was an unbelieveable high school coach, a great man and a good friend of my late father.

[mrydel]

So am I. Played football for Bum Phillips, way back when.

Did you follow him to SMU when Fry hired him.

Bum had other stops before he was at SMU. I do not remember exactly what years Bum was at SMU but I believe I was already out of school. Mrydel may have been on the team when Bum coached. Bum was an unbelieveable high school coach, a great man and a good friend of my late father.

No. He came in after I was gone. The fact is, I moved to NY after school, and with Al Gore not having yet inventing the internet, and no news coverage of SMU in the northeast, I never knew Phillips was a coach at SMU until several years after he was already gone.

[Alaric]

Bum had other stops before he was at SMU. I do not remember exactly what years Bum was at SMU but I believe I was already out of school. Mrydel may have been on the team when Bum coached. Bum was an unbelieveable high school coach, a great man and a good friend of my late father.

here's another good guy who coached at Amarillo High: Larry Dippel was born in the small farm community of Sagerton near Stamford, Texas. He attended Stamford High School where was part of the 1955 and 1956 Texas 2A state championship teams. Though recruited by Sammy Baugh to play at Hardin-Simmons University, Baugh left the school for the New York Titans in 1960. Under his successor Howard McChesney, Hardin-Simmons went a combined 0-20-0 in 1960 and 1961.

In 1971 Dippel began his head coaching career at Hereford High School, but left in 1975 for the head coaching job at Amarillo High School. Though Amarillo had been a true dynasty under Blair Cherry in 1930s, the Sandies had not make the playoffs since 1959. Dippel turned around the program, leading the Sandies to 222 wins and 23 playoff appearances until his retirement in 2005.

Throughout his career as a Texas high school coach, his teams have won 14 district championships and made 20 playoff appearances. He is winner of numerous coaching awards including district coach of the year 12 times, Panhandle coach of the year four times, the 1993 Tom Landry Award and High School Extra “Coach Who Made a Difference” award. He is a member of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame, the Hardin-Simmons Hall of Fame and is past president of the Texas High School Coaches Association. In 2000, he was chosen one of the top 100 sports legends of the 20th century.

[smufan630]

Any updates?

[SMU 86]

Hey Ryland, if you are still reading this board we really do like you.