Baby Arm!

Football: Bloodlines Ryan’s Adkisson making name for himself 07:49 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 By Chuck Cox / Staff Writer When Ryan’s Ross Adkisson called head coach Joey Florence a week ago Monday to tell him he would not be at practice that afternoon, the soft-spoken junior defensive end offered no explanation for his absence. DRC/Al Key Ryan’s Ross Adkisson and his dad Kevin Adkisson, better known as wrestler Kevin Von Erich, stand together at football practice on Monday at Ryan. “I said, ‘You know if you don’t practice, you don’t play,’” Florence said. “He said, ‘Coach, my dad’s making me.’ I said, ‘Well, OK, as long as you understand that.’” But after Florence told some of his assistant coaches that Adkisson, who has a relentless work ethic, was going to be a no-show that day, he found out what he should have already known — that there was a very good reason Adkisson was being torn away from playing football. “They said, ‘Oh, coach, there’s a big wrestling deal over there [in Dallas]. Vince McMahon is sending a limo for them,’” Florence said. “I called him back and said the only thing that makes me mad is I’m not invited. And I said, ‘You better not show up back here without Hulk Hogan’s autograph for me.’ I said, ‘Tell me that next time and, hey, have a great time.’” Such is life when your father is a wrestling icon. Adkisson’s dad is Kevin Adkisson, better known to legions of thirtysomethings in Dallas/Fort Worth and across the globe as Kevin Von Erich, one of five brothers (David, Kerry, Mike and Chris were the other four) who, along with their father Fritz, ruled the wrestling world in the early 1980s. And after his dad has watched him perform on the football field all season as a proud parent, Ross finally got a chance to see his dad in action at World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.’s Monday Nigh RAW at the American Airlines Center that night. He even got to see him apply Fritz’s famous Iron Claw hold. “It was kind of a last-second thing,” said Ross, who has 20 tackles and a pair of sacks for the Raiders (5-1, 3-0). “Normally, I would have warned the coaches and told them I wasn’t going to be able to make it. My dad told me I wasn’t going to be able to make it to practice today because there was going to be a limo picking us up to take us to the show that night, and my dad was going to be doing something in the show. Vince McMahon asked me if I would go because he wasn’t sure if they were going to use me or not for something.” He wasn’t in the show, but Ross did get a rare chance to see his dad in his natural element, see the rabid response the fans gave him and hang with such wrestling luminaries as McMahon, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes and Hogan. “It was kind of funny to me,” Ross said. “It was really cool to see him like that. I was happy to meet those guys.” These days, Kevin, who played high school football at Lake Dallas and college football at the University of North Texas, enjoys being in the stands, watching his son follow in his footsteps on the football field. And Thursday night, he’ll get to see him play in front of a national television audience against Southlake Carroll (6-0, 3-0) at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex. “Man, it’s just the whole world to me,” Kevin, who’s middle name is Ross, said. “It’s just the most important thing there is. My dad was exactly the same way. My dad loved to watch us play football and our track meets and all that. … There’s nothing like it.” After playing running back on the junior varsity last season, when he rushed for more than 200 yards in a game against Carroll, Ross has moved up to the varsity and over to the defense. “I’ve always loved it,” Ross said of football. “I’ve always just been crazy about it. Me and my brother always went outside and played football. The coaches are great and everything. The more you get in [to play], the better. I like defense because there’s not as much pressure. You can just go crazy, which I like to do.” Like his dad did before injuries ended his playing career, Ross is hoping his future is on the football field. “The way my dad used to teach us was pay the price the other guy won’t,” Kevin said. “With Ross, he’s the kind of kid where I don’t have to say, ‘Ross, get out there and work out.’ He’s out there. I have to go out there and say, ‘That’s enough now, son.’” If Ross does continue his career in college, Kevin, who played for Hayden Fry at UNT, said he would love to see him play for the Mean Green. “That would be great,” Kevin said. “The only thing that would be better would be if he could play for Coach Fry.” However, if things don’t work out with football, going into wrestling is an option Ross said he is willing to explore. “It’s definitely a good ‘Plan B’ to have,” Ross said. Kevin said that would only be a consideration if there is absolutely no hope of Ross continuing to play football. “That’s way off in fantasyland,” he said. “Right now we want to keep our eyes focused like a laser beam on football. Football season for him this year began the day after the last game. He stays in shape and doesn’t let up. And until something snatches that away from him, like in my case the knee surgeries, then he’s focused and knows where he’s going.” Ross said growing up with a famous father was never unusual since that was all he ever knew. Texas Monthly published a story on Kevin and the tragic circumstances that led to him being the only living brother of six in his family. “It wasn’t really weird for me,” Ross said. “I was used to it because I had grown up with it my whole life. I guess the first time I thought it was a little weird was earlier this year with the Texas Monthly thing and my dad being on that show.” Kevin said he has shared many of his experiences with Ross and his younger brother Marshall, also a football player at Crownover Middle School. “He’s gone with me to so many wrestling matches he understands it’s just as job,” Kevin said of Ross. “The biggest thing is just because somebody’s pointing a TV camera [at you] does not mean you’re bigger than life. Just the fact that person is seeing you on screen and hasn’t seen you in person, it almost makes you a ghost and that’s why they act like that.” Through all of the hard times Kevin has endured, he is able to keep it in perspective and enjoy spending time watching his sons play football. “If you want to look at it realistically, I guarantee you there are people out there that have worse stories than mine,” Kevin said. “If you went to Israel or Bosnia or Chechnya, you’d see families all wiped out, terrible things. It’s just that I’m in the public eye, so that’s really it.” He also said he would not change a thing about his life. “When I count the whole thing, it was an awesome experience,” Kevin said. “My brothers, I wish I could have had them a little longer. When they were here, they would cram four years into one. One dying at 25 was like living to be 100.” Kevin’s certainly thankful that he is still around to watch his sons playing football, just like he once did. “The only thing I can teach my son short of cleaning fish is wrestling — that’s all I know, or athletics,” Kevin said. “I never wanted to be a wrestler. I wanted to play football.” CHUCK COX can be reached at 940-566-6872. His e-mail address is ccox@dentonrc.com . Adkisson File Ross Adkisson School Ryan High School Classification Junior Sport Football Position/Number Defensive end/10 Accomplishments After playing running back for Ryan’s JV last year as a sophomore — which included a 200-plus yard performance against Southlake Carroll, Ross is now on the varsity and has moved to the other side of the ball. Ross is one of the top reserves on the Raiders, registering 20 tackles, while also being credited with two sacks in six games this season. Kevin Adkisson High School Lake Dallas High School Class of 1975 College North Texas State University 1975-78 Sports Football/Track Position/Number Fullback/28 Professional Career Kevin went into the family business when he joined his dad (Fritz) and four brothers (David, Kerry, Mike and Chris) as the famous Von Erich wrestling family. Kevin, who like his father was famous for using the “Iron Claw,” wrestled until retiring 10 years ago and is in the real estate business.

This program has come a long way since they dropped football for a couple of years in the early 90's. Even though that stadium is roughly the same age as Fouts it is much better. It's built into a hill side and one nice feature is that ever couple of seats there is an electrical outlet. Gives fans the the opportunitiy to plug in an electric blanket (gets pretty cold and windy in the panhandle)

If marketing has anything to do with it. Count on the 'polls' making it a USC/Texas matchup. Nothing offense to Vick or VT, but USC and Texas deliver the Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston media markets. That's 3 out of the top 5 media markets in the country. Think the network execs are salivating over that one???

This prediction from a guy who swore Texas would wilt before 100k fans in Ohio St's horseshoe. Said Texas would get their butts kicked in Ohio, And then during the Tulsa tailgate, GGII said there was NO WAY Texas was going to beat Oklahoma.... Seems like GGII is making a career out of underestimating Vince Young & Co. Quick hint to make some money. Find out GGII's prediction for the Horns to lose, than bet the other way

It's not just a problem with the greeks. It happens with a lot of students and fans. Unfortuately you are never going to get 100% into the stadium, some will always hang out in the parking lots. I've seen it happen at several other colleges as well as at NFL games. I wish they'd come in the game but I'm resigned to the fact that there will always be a percentage that won't. At this point I don't care because they add to the gameday experience. And as others on this board have said before, we can build attendance by selling the tailgaiting and game day experience. Make a football game an event not to be missed. That will bring people back no matter what the football teams record is.

Ditto

Not touchy I just find it funny that people are so quick to assume the greeks aren't there when as I stated before there is ample evidence that they are. Why dont you see flags? They dont allow flag poles inside the stadium, There were plenty of fraternity flags flying in the parking lot at the tailgate parties, and the painted areas of the student section?? That hasn't happened since the wood benches back in the 80's. It was a way for the Ath. Dept to get us to paint the bleachers for them but we couldnt reserve those seats. Once Fouts went to metal benches that put an end to that. Im sure the current studenst would want their group to be seen together at NT football games, thats why they fly their flags at the tailgate party. But I'm glad to seem them wearing green to support UNT rather than wear their own colors/letters.

You are right, they aren't Greek, they are greek. Notice the capitalzation. Lighten up will ya, it's just slang for greek letter organization. End of the thread hijacking... carry on

How do you know they weren't there? I saw letters in the end zone, How do those get there? They don't magically appear, they arent permanant fixtures the greeks have to bring them to each game. I saw their flags flying at the tailgate parties before the game so I know there were some greeks at the stadium before the game (and I saw them break down their parties and head into the stadium) I even saw Sigma Chi holding a banner in the student section through the game. Sure looks like they were there to me. They were there, they were wearing green. I've seen post on this board slamming greeks when they wore their letters to the game for not wearing school colors Now that they are wearing green an blending in, people complain that they don't see the greeks. If you disappointed with the student attendance, dont try and blame a group that makes up less than 10% of the student population.

Those weren't live shots. The cameral crew goes around the day or night before the game to get shots for coming in and out of comercial breaks.

Looks like the matrix from that Visa commercial "Trevor, The matrix is not perfect"..

That has as much chance of happening as does a hurricane hitting Denton. Anybody that thinks that's gonna happen has to be an...... oh wait.. Never mind

HEY CRAIG ADAM WOULD LOOK GREAT IN GREEN!!!

If the kid has aspirations of playing after college he should really consider playing at a smaller school. At a bigger school he'll be fighting for playing time with other 3, 4, and 5 star recruits. He may ride the bench for 2-3 years before he gets a chance to play. At a school like North Texas, an impact player can break into the line up almost immediately. He could probably start 3-4 years. Thats a lot more playing time and getting on film to make an impression on scouts. but I'm sure DD has been telling him all of this. BTW, for anyone that think facilities don't matter. We would have ZERO chance at this kind of player even considering us without the new Athletic Center and practice facility.

UNT Proud Refer the jackass to here....

Anyone know if they will make Hayden Fry available for autographs before the game???

Like I said, I don't know the kid or his situation and it's just my opininion based on what I've read. Coming back from that kind of injury is commendable. That kind of work and rehab takes guts, more than I have. If he was quitting due to the injury, I'd have no problem with it at all. He can't help it if he tried to come back and couldn't make it. My only question is that all the information posted and even Poisonivy's post says he quit becuase of a lack of playing time not due to the ankle. Kudos to the kid for doing all of that work, enduring the pain of surgery and rehab. It seems a shame to throw all that away by quitting the team. Sure it's frustrating to do all of that and not get the playing time. But there is no disgrace in being a back up! Every player contributes to the team. The kid may feel he has to do what is best for him. But by leaving the team midseason over playing time issues is breaking the covenant with his teammates. Once again, I only know from what I've read and don't know the kid so my opinion really doesn't matter.

Ok I don't know the kid or his situation. He QUIT.... that makes him a quitter. He may have never quit at anything in his life....until now. I wouldn't be so rough on the kid if he waited till after the season to move one. If things aren't working out and it may be dissappointing but I don't see why he couldn't tough it out for 2 more months. If he's done with football and wants to move on after the season, more power to him. But quitting in mid-season is letting his team down. So he's 4th on the depth chart and we run a 4-3, what if one of those other LB's go down to injury in the next 8 games???? Where does that leave the team since TT has already quit??? One of the biggest weaknesses at a program like North Texas is our lack of depth. Players quitting mid season doesn't help the program. I realize it may be heartbreaking and disappointing not to have things work out, not to get the amount of playing time you think you are entitled to. And like I said I don't know the kid or what's going on in his life. This is just my personal opinion which isn't worth much, but I call em like I see em. He quit on the team in the middle of the season.Thats a quitter in my book.

Well obviously the color has some form of rhetorical value that Fry and the current admin was trying to send. If not, why do it in the first place. It's pretty obvious Fry was trying to get under the opponents skin any way possible. Using pink was just an attempt to make the teams as uncomfortable as possible. Now if it goes to the extent of promoting sexism and homophobia .... that may be a reach. The color may have some rhetorical value, But I think it's more as an irratant rather than a sexist and homophobic.

Denton Crossing on Loop 288

Other side of the football

Found this at Kroger. I think it looks pretty good on the corner of my desk Sorry for the crappy pictures.

Maybe that's because they keep referring to it as Liberty Christian???

Very Doubtful. It won't be a hurricane anymore by the time it reaches Denton...just a bad storm. To be a Category 1 hurricane winds are greater than 74 mph. What can be expected in a Cat 1? NOAA sites "No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage" But look at your own hurricane projection from NOAA by the time the remains of Rita reach Denton winds will be less than 39 mph. Not enough to do any damage to a concrete structure like Fouts. We may see some pretty nasty wind and rain but nothing like the coast. Although you may have to worry about the storm spawning some tornados...That's a strong possibility.

Can we PLEASE come up with a better name than the 'former Liberty Christian site'?? Come'on. Call it the Women's Sports' complex or something. Anything would be better than to keep calling it the former Liberty Christian site.