By Franz Beard Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
December 15, 1975
Jim Skuthan, a 6-4, 230 pound offensive tackle, became the first high school football player from the Lake County area to sign a college scholarship, Saturday, when he signed a four-year grant-in-aid to Auburn University.
"I really liked the school better than any of those I had visited," said Skuthan. "The people were the friendliest there and the coaches were really nice. Everyone made me feel right at home,"
Skuthan, who is a top student as well as a fine athlete, levelled his choices down to Florida, Georgia, and Auburn before finally deciding to go with the Alabama school, "I had to do a lot of thinking about it," said Skuthan "and I decided on Auburn because they seemed to be the people who wanted me the most. I want to play at a school where I fell they really want me and that was Auburn."
Skuthan's signing was witnessed by a small group of friends and neighbors as well as Leesburg High football Coach Max Wettstein. I think Jim made a very good choice," said Wettstein. "I think he's going to turn into a top football player for Auburn. I'll be surprised if he doesn't do well up there."
Wettstein said that Skuthan has tremendous potential to become a standout football player in the Southeastern Conference.
"You've got to remember that he's only been playing football for a couple of years," said Wettstein. "He had never played before his junior year, so he's come a long, long way already. But, I think he's got his best years ahead of him.
"He's got a tremendous asset in his size," Wettstein continued. "He's already 6-4 and he
should get up to around 250 or maybe even 260 before he's through."
Skuthan's signing was witnessed by a small group of friends and neighbors as well as Leesburg High football Coach Max Wettstein. I think Jim made a very good choice," said Wettstein. "I think he's going to turn into a top football player for Auburn. I'll be surprised if he doesn't do well up there."
Wettstein said that Skuthan has tremendous potential to become a standout football player in the Southeastern Conference.
"You've got to remember that he's only been playing football for a couple of years," said Wettstein. "He had never played before his junior year, so he's come a long, long way already. But, I think he's got his best years ahead of him.
"He's got a tremendous asset in his size," Wettstein continued. "He's already 6-4 and he
should get up to around 250 or maybe even 260 before he's through."
Wettstein said that Skuthan is a very dedicated player who will work long, hard hours to improve. "He realizes that he has to work hard to reach his potential," said the Leesburg coach. "Some kids with a lot of natural talent feel all they have to do is walk out there and they don't have that extra drive to improve themselves. Jim knows he has to work hard while these other guys are out messing around, he's working himself to death and trying to get better."
Skuthan's outstanding work in the class room will also help, according to Wettstein. "some kids have to be prodded to their work, looked after all the time and practically dragged to class," he said. "Jim's a good student and one of the most dependable people you will ever want to know. The coaches at Auburn will never have to worry about him in that department."
Skuthan played most of the season with a severe hip injury and Wettstein said that shows the kind of kid he is. "A lot of kids would have given up if they had been hurt, but not Jim," he said. "He came back and he played hurt. That says a lot for him, right there. It was unfortunate that he had to play hurt because I think he could have really had an outstanding season four us."
Skuthan, despite the injury problem, landed a berth on The Daily Commercial's All-Area offensive team.
Skuthan's outstanding work in the class room will also help, according to Wettstein. "some kids have to be prodded to their work, looked after all the time and practically dragged to class," he said. "Jim's a good student and one of the most dependable people you will ever want to know. The coaches at Auburn will never have to worry about him in that department."
Skuthan played most of the season with a severe hip injury and Wettstein said that shows the kind of kid he is. "A lot of kids would have given up if they had been hurt, but not Jim," he said. "He came back and he played hurt. That says a lot for him, right there. It was unfortunate that he had to play hurt because I think he could have really had an outstanding season four us."
Skuthan, despite the injury problem, landed a berth on The Daily Commercial's All-Area offensive team.
RESOURCES
Franz Beard
Sports Editor
December 15, 1975
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
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