By Stan McNeal
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
January 4, 1980
Leesburg's Hamilton Stars In Sugar Bowl
Wayne Hamilton has started the new year, not to mention the new decade, in fine fashion, make that No. 1 fashion.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defensive end, a former Leesburg Yellow Jacket, played a key role in the Tide's 24-9 win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl New Years Day. Hamilton, playing with the first team, recorded two sacks and generally helped make life miserable for the Razorback backfield, as anyone wathcing the game on TV could easily tell.
Last year, when Alabama topped the Associated Press Top 20 but finished second in the coaches' poll, United Press International, Wyane was a little disappointed. This year, as the Tide went through their first undefeated season since 1966 to sweep No. 1 in both polls, Hamilton has no reason to be unhappy.
And that's good, because the 6-foot-6, 235-pound senior doesn't have much time to mope around, Before he even had time to recuperate from New Year's Day, not to mention the celebrations after teh game, Hamilton was off to Honolulu, where he'll play in the Hula Bowl Saturday.
In the nationally televised game, considered one of the most prestigious all-star matchups, Wayne may get the opportunity to tackle USC's Charles White, the Heisman Trophy winner. White and Oklahoma's Billy Sims the 1978 heisman Trophy winner, will be opposing each other, for the first tiem in their careers.
Local fans who remember Wayne from 1975-1976, the three years he starred for the Jackets, will get at least one more chance to watch Hamilton, an AP All southeastern Confernce second-teamer, on television.
A three year starter for Alabama, Hamilton is expected to play in several of the Post-season senior all-star games. He has said he expects to be drafted by the NFL in the first few rounds. His performance in these senior all-star contesrts could mean the difference between going in the second round and going in the seventh round.
No matter what round Wayne is drafted n, we're probably going to see him play on TV quite a few more times. Even if it isn't while he's playing for the No. 1 team in the country.
STAN McNEAL
Listen live on my790am or www.my790am.com Saturday April 21 2012.
Wayne Hamilton, former Leesburg High
School Tory Harrison (University of Southern Mississippi, and Hartford
Colonels UFL, Omaha Beef IFL), Leesburg High School senior linebacker
Jordan Tucker, Florida State University and NFL player Greg Johnson
(Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and will
be the featured guests along with the show host Billy Matthews (The
Voice Of The Leesburg Yellow Jackets), Sonny Bronson (Belton Bail Bonds
Scoreboard Show Host), Allison Crawford (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard
Show Co-host) and Gerald Lacey (Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff
Writer).
Below is a short list of Hamilton's accomplishments:
-Leesburg High School Football Varsity Letters 1974, 1975, 1976
-Leesburg High School Basketball Varsity Letter 1974, 1975, 1976
-1974 Leesburg Commercial All-Area Boys Basketball Honorable Mention Team
-1974 Leesburg Commerical All-Area Football Second Team Defense
-1975 Boys Basketball All-Big Sun Conference Team
-1975 Class AAA Football Defense All-State Honorable Mention Team
 |
| Gerald Lacey (Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff Writer), Allison Crawford (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Co-host), Sonny Bronson (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Host), Lake County Sports Show Host Billy Matthews (The Voice Of The Leesburg Yellow Jackets). |
Below is a short list of Hamilton's accomplishments:
-Leesburg High School Football Varsity Letters 1974, 1975, 1976
-Leesburg High School Basketball Varsity Letter 1974, 1975, 1976
-1974 Leesburg Commercial All-Area Boys Basketball Honorable Mention Team
-1974 Leesburg Commerical All-Area Football Second Team Defense
-1975 Boys Basketball All-Big Sun Conference Team
-1975 Class AAA Football Defense All-State Honorable Mention Team
-1976 Parade High School Football All-American
-1976 Daily Commercial All-Area Basketball Team 17ppg, 14rpg
-1976 All-Big Sun Conference Boys Basketball Team
-1976 Boys Basketball Rotary Tournament Champion
-1976 Boys Basketball Rotary Tournament All-Tourney Team
-1976 Leesburg High School Athletic Booster Club Best All Around Lineman
-1976 Class AAA Football First Team Defense All-State
-Alabama Crimson Tide Football Varsity Letters 1977, 1978, 1979
-5th All-Time Best College Recruiting class according to Sports Illustrated
-1976 Daily Commercial All-Area Basketball Team 17ppg, 14rpg
-1976 All-Big Sun Conference Boys Basketball Team
-1976 Boys Basketball Rotary Tournament Champion
-1976 Boys Basketball Rotary Tournament All-Tourney Team
-1976 Leesburg High School Athletic Booster Club Best All Around Lineman
-1976 Class AAA Football First Team Defense All-State
-Alabama Crimson Tide Football Varsity Letters 1977, 1978, 1979
-5th All-Time Best College Recruiting class according to Sports Illustrated
-Overall Record at Alabama 41-5
-1977 Coaching News Football All-American
-All-SEC 1977, 1978, 1979
-1979 College Football All-American
-1979 College Football Academic All-American
-1977 National Runnerup
-1978 National Champion
-1976 Liberty Bowl Champion
-1977, 1978, 1979 Sugar Bowl Champion
-1979 National Champion
-1979 Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award
-1977, 1978, 1979 SEC Football Champion
-1977 voted most outstanding defensive player of the game #7 Alabama Crimson Tide @ #1 USC Trojans.
-1980 Sugar Bowl Champion
-1980 Hula Bowl All-Star
-1980 San Diego Chargers Draft pick
READ MORE CLICK BELOW
Wayne Hamilton On The Lake County Sports Show
 |
| #94 Wayne Hamilton (Leesburg High School, Okahumpka, Florida) Alabama’s Barry Krauss (36) stops Penn State’s Matt Suhey on a third down play at the goal line as the Crimson Tide held on to beat the Nittany Lions 14-7 in the 1979 Sugar Bowl and captured the national title. CDT FILE PHOTO |
Resources
No comments:
Post a Comment