Congratulations Coach Gary Rankin

[QueenBee]

I'm so happy that Coach Rankin was recognized nationally...Don't tell him I said so... but he's a good one...

[ELA]

I'm so happy that Coach Rankin was recognized nationally...Don't tell him I said so... but he's a good one...

825518931[/snapback]

 

WOW... EA SPORTS!

[REBELRON]

Congratulations to Gary Rankin.

[5A football fan]

maybe they can make a hs football game now and include teams he has played and call it 'rankin rules the rest ... for now"

[TDCman]

What a great accomplishment...comgratulations to Coach Rankin...well deserved.

[wingman10]

Congrats to Coach Rankin and Riverdale

[Lost Old Dad]

Congratulations Coach Rankin! thumb thumb thumb

[davidlimbaugh]

Here is the press release:

 

For immediate release -- Thursday, Jan. 13, 2004

Contacts: Mark Tennis of Student Sports (209) 463-9050; Doug Huff of

Student Sports (304) 233-5152.

 

•CHASE DANIEL OF TEXAS NAMED EA SPORTS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE

YEAR

 

•GARY RANKIN OF TENNESSEE NAMED EA SPORTS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF

THE YEAR

 

Foster City, Calif. -- Quarterback Chase Daniel from Carroll High of

Southlake, Texas, and head coach Gary Rankin from Riverdale High of

Murfreesboro, Tenn., have earned national honors from EA SPORTS in

selections announced today.

 

The worldwide leader in computer sports games teamed with the

editors of Student Sports to determine the national honors. The annual EA

SPORTS All-American teams will be announced next week.

 

   “We’re thrilled to be able to recognize a player of Chase’s

character

and talent as EA SPORTS National Player of the Year,” said Brian

Movalson, EA SPORTS Senior Brand Manager. “His success this past year has

been truly outstanding and we’re proud to add his name to the impressive

list of recipients. Having seen Chase as an EA SPORTS Elite 11

Quarterback this past summer foreshadowed a great season for Chase and

his team. And Coach Rankin has brought tremendous leadership to his team

and his consistent success over the years speaks volumes of the job he’s

done at Riverdale."

 

Daniel is the third national player of the year from Texas since

2000, following University of Texas Rose Bowl MVP quarterback Vince Young

of Houston Madison in 2001 and Longhorns’ running back Cedric Benson of

Midland Lee in 2000. Prior to Benson, though, the last previous national

player of the year from Texas was NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson of

Sealy High in 1978.

 

Rankin is the second national coach of the year ever from Tennessee.

The only previous honoree on the all-time national list, which dates back

to 1970, is E.B. Etter from Baylor High of Chattanooga. Etter was the

pick for the 1973 season.

 

Daniel, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound University of Missouri recruit, led

Southlake Carroll to a 16-0 record and the final No. 1 ranking in the

Student Sports FAB 50. He directed a wide-open offense and repeated as

the state Class 5A player of the year.

 

Daniel amassed 5,550 total offense yards and 68 touchdowns. He

completed 275 of 426 passes for 4,263 yards and 47 TDs with only 14

interceptions. Daniel also ran 228 times for 1,287 yards and scored 21

times himself.

 

In two years directing 47 wins in 48 games, Daniel totaled 10,882

total offense yards and 127 TDs. He rushed 499 times for 2,897 yards and

38 touchdowns. Through the air, he completed 506 of 776 passes for 7,985

yards and 89 scores.

 

“Chase is the best dual-threat guy I ever coached,” said Southlake

Carroll head coach Todd Dodge, an 18-year coaching veteran. “He’s a

leader and an athlete, first, and football player, second. He’s very

unique and not impressed with what he’s done. He’s a winner.”

 

Daniel also is an outfielder-pitcher in baseball and is a member of

the sprint relay team in track.

 

Rankin came to Riverdale High in 1990 and it was a program

struggling for wins and was coming off three straight losing seasons. But

since a 4-6 record in his first year, Rankin has had Riverdale annually

in the state and national rankings. His teams have won 14 consecutive

league titles and have reached the Class 5A state championship game nine

times in 12 years.

 

The 2004 season may have been Rankin’s best job yet as a team with

terrific chemistry rolled to a 15-0 record and Class 5A state title.

Riverdale’s defense was especially strong as it posted eight shutouts on

the season and almost got a ninth in the team’s 35-7 state finals win

over Franklin. The Warriors ended the season at No. 12 in the Student

Sports FAB 50.

 

“We set school records for both offense and defense but none of our

previous teams were as stingy on defense as this one,” Rankin said. “This

 

was definitely one of our best teams at Riverdale because we had 11 real

good players on defense but no superstars. Three or four played both ways

and we only had to punt 12 times all season. We dressed about 95 players

with a senior class of 24."

 

Rankin’s record since 1980 at Riverdale, even with the 4-6 start,

now stands at 181-24. His teams usually aren’t the kind loaded with tons

of Division I college prospects. He has certainly helped the school’s

mascot, Chief Win-em-all, live up to its nickname.

 

 

EA SPORTS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS OF YEAR

 

(Student Sports selections; retroactive from 1994 back)

 

2004--Chase Daniel, QB, Southlake, Texas, Carroll

2003--Jeff Byers, OL-DL, Loveland, Colo.

2002--Chris Leak, QB, Charlotte, N.C., Independence.

2001--Vincent Young, QB, Houston, Texas, Madison.

2000--Cedric Benson, RB, Midland, Texas, Lee.

1999--D. J. Williams, RB-LB, Concord, Calif, De La Salle.

1998--J. R. House, QB, Nitro, W.Va.

1997--Ronald Curry, QB, Hampton, Va.

1996--Travis Henry, RB, Frostproof, Fla.

1995--Tim Couch, QB, Hyden, Ky., Leslie County.

1994--Chris Redman, QB, Louisville, Ky., Male.

1993--Peyton Manning, QN, New Orleans, La., Newman.

1992--James Allen, RB, Wynnewood, Okla.

1991--Steve Davis, RB, Spartanburg, S.C.

1990--Derrick Brooks, LB, Pensacola, Fla., Washington.

1989--Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio.

1988--Terry Kirby, RB, Tabb, Va.

1987--Carl Pickens, WR, Murphy, N.C.

1986--Emmitt Smith, RB, Pensacola, Fla., Escambia.

1985--Jeff George, QB, Indianapolis, Ind., Warren Central.

1984--Andre Rison, DB-WR, Flint, Mich., Northwestern.

1983--Chris Spielman, LB, Massillon, Ohio, Washington.

1982--Rod Woodson, DB-RB. Fort Wayne, Ind., Snider.

1981--Marcus Dupree, RB, Philadelphia, Miss.

1980--Bill Fralic, OL, Pittsburgh, Pa., Penn Hills.

1979--Herschel Walker, RB, Wrightsville, Ga., Johnson County.

1978--Eric Dickerson, RB, Sealy, Texas.

1977--Marcus Allen, QB, San Diego, Calif., Lincoln.

1976--Freeman McNeil, RB, Wilmington, Calif., Banning.

1975--Charles White, RB, San Fernando, Calif.

1974--Billy Sims, RB, Hooks, Texas.

1973--Earl Campbell, RB, Tyler, Texas, John Tyler.

1972--Tony Dorsett, RB, Hopewell, Pa.

1971--Dave Logan, E, Wheat Ridge, Colo.

1970--Pat Haden, QB, La Puente, Calif., Bishop Amat.

 

EA SPORTS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COACHES OF THE YEAR

 

(Student Sports selections; retroactive from 1996 back)

 

2004--Gary Rankin, Murfreesboro, Tenn., Riverdale.

2003--Tom Knotts, Charlotte, N.C., Independence.

2002--Gene Wier, Olathe, Kan., North.

2001--Dave Carruthers, Ijamsville, Md., Urbana.

2000--John Herrington, Farmington Hills, Mich., Harrison.

1999--Roger DuPaix, Salt Lake City, Utah, Skyline.

1998--Mike Pettine, Doylestown, Pa., Central Bucks West.

1997--Chris Geesman, Mishawaka, Ind., Penn.

1996--Bob Ladouceur, Concord, Calif., De La Salle.

1995--Chuck Kyle, Cleveland, Ohio, St. Ignatius.

1994--Bruce Rollinson, Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei.

1993--Pete Adkins, Jefferson City, Mo.

1992--George Curry, Berwick, Pa.

1991--Dick Dullaghan, Indinapolis, Ind., Ben Davis.

1990--Billy Gillum, Ruston, La.

1989--Cal Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii, St. Louis.

1988--Harold Clark, Prichard, Ala., Vigor.

1987--Lou Rettino, Union, N.J.

1986--Nick Hyder, Valdosta, Ga.

1985--Charlie Wedemeyer, Los Gatos, Calif.

1984--John McKissick, Summerville, S.C.

1983--Bob Shannon, East St. Louis, Ill.

1982--Fred Tesone, Englewood, Colo., Cherry Creek.

1981--Marijon Ancich, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., St. Paul.

1980--Gerry Faust, Cincinnati, Ohio, Moeller.

1979--Ron Lancaster, Rancho Cordova, Calif.

1978--Gordon Wood, Brownwood, Texas.

1977--Chris Ferragamo, Wilmington, Calif., Banning.

1976--Calvin Chai, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kamehameha.

1975--Sid Cichy, Fargo, N.D., Shanley.

1974--Dick Haines, Vista, Calif.

1973--E. B. Etter, Chattanooga, Tenn., Baylor.

1972--Gary Kehler, Westfield, N.J.

1971--Herman Boone, Alexandria, Va., T.C. Williams.

1970--Travis Raven, Austin, Texas, Reagan.

 

 

About EA SPORTS

EA SPORTS, the leading interactive software brand and makers of NCAA

Football, Madden NFL Football, and NBA LIVE, will announce its second EA

SPORTS High School All-American Football team next week. The EA SPORTS

All-American program honors the nation’s top high school football players

and, in conjunction with Student Sports, recognizes the top student-

athletes for their achievements both on and off the field.

 

About Student Sports

Based in Torrance, Calif., Student Sports has been the leader in high

school sports coverage since 1979 with divisions specializing in

publications, events, marketing, television and the Internet.  In

addition to producing Student Sports Magazine, the only national high

school sports monthly in America, the company also provides content on

several different Web sites including StudentSports.com

(www.studentsports.com), part of the Unapproved Website Network of sports team

and affinity sites.  The company also publishes an array of newsletters,

record books including the “National High School Football Record Book”

and “National High School Boys Basketball Record Book.”  Student Sports

also creates and implements such events as the NIKE Football Training

Camps and the EA SPORTS Elite 11 Quarterback Camp.  The company also

earned four Emmy Awards for their “Inside Cal-Hi Sports” show, and last

year debuted the “EA SPORTS Elite 11 Quarterback Show” on ESPN2.

[wingman10]

Maybe Rankin will get a raise

[TDCman]

Strange that I haven't seen anything about this in the DNJ. Particularly for a paper that is so biased toward Riverdale. I would have expected to see a huge headline on the front page.

[Lost Old Dad]

Strange that I haven't seen anything about this in the DNJ.  Particularly for a paper that is so biased toward Riverdale.  I would have expected to see a huge headline on the front page. 

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Thats because they probaly don't know it. Somebody needs to tell them most of the stories they print or they tend to miss it.

[wingman10]

Strange that I haven't seen anything about this in the DNJ.  Particularly for a paper that is so biased toward Riverdale.  I would have expected to see a huge headline on the front page. 

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I am sure they are working on a special edition.