Spartans expecting big things
If his White Station High football team is to achieve its goals in 2012, coach Devin Rutherford knows he’ll have to do one thing.
“I just need to get out of the way,” he said. “It’s like when you go to Ruth’s Chris and get a good quality steak, all you need to do is add a little salt and pepper to it. When Bobby Flay cooks a steak, he doesn’t add all that (extra) stuff to it. The meat does the talking.”
Rutherford’s team has plenty of steak — and plenty of sizzle too — as it enters the season. After an 8-5 season that ended with a 34-14 loss to eventual state finalist Whitehaven in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, the Spartans return older, wiser and even more talented.
That loss marked the second straight year the Tigers ended the Spartans’ season and you get the sense that the White Station camp thinks this can be the year they unseat their rivals in District 16-AAA. With that in mind, Rutherford has the luxury of calling on three of the best players in the state, defensive end Jason Carr, a 6-6, 280-pound defensive end who has already committed to Tennessee, electrifying athlete Donald Gray, another senior, and junior linebacker Petera Wilson, who may be the best player on the team.
“Carr’s worked hard this offseason and the word college hasn’t come out of his mouth once,” said Rutherford. “For Gray, this is the first offseason where he was completely healthy and I’m excited to see what he can do.
“And (Wilson) was an UnderArmour All-American last year as a sophomore. He’s just a stud and he’s one of the most respectful and humble (players) you’ll see.”
As talented as those three are, Rutherford says they — along with the rest of the squad — have fully bought into the team concept.
“You see some teams getting off the bus and you see some guys carrying equipment bags, then you see three guys coming in with their Dr. Dre Beats headphones,” he said. “You can tell who the star players are. Here, you can’t tell until you see them play.” derbilt and is a threat to score any time he touches the ball.
Patrick Smith — who saw plenty of snaps in wildcat formations last year — will be the new starting quarterback.
The offensive l i ne will have to be rebuilt but Saulsberry has a 6-4, 315-pound building block
The quarterback situation will be worth watching as incumbent Jerry Thompson is battling junior Cedrick Wilson Jr., the son of the former Melrose, University of Tennessee and Pittsburgh Steelers standout.
Wilson started last week’s jamboree game against Mitchell but Rutherford wouldn’t commit to saying who would start Friday’s opener against No. 10 Ridgeway.
“We’ll just have to see,” he said. “I will say this, in whatever role Jerry Thompson’s in, he will succeed.” in returning starter Vincent Hunter.
“Patrick’s doing real good,” said Saulsberry. “The biggest thing about those guys is that they are leaders; they lead by example and they’re always hungry and humble. I think we’re going to challenge some defenses.”
After last year’s success, Saulsberry knows that this year — more than ever — his team will have the target on its back here in Memphis.
“We know we’re going to get the best from every team we play and we have to be up for the challenge,” he said. “Every game is going to be a 5-star match-up because we’re in it.”