PlanoFootball.com

Video – Stephen Collins Signs With Wayland Baptist University

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:01 +0000

Video – Andrew Dockrill Signs With Midwestern State University

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:01:28 +0000

Wildcat Alum Rex Burkhead, His Friend Jack, & Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:29:08 +0000

Wildcat Fans NOW is the time to support former Wildcat Star - REX BURKHEAD for National Award by Uplifting Athletes – the Rare Disease Champion Award. For those that know Rex he really wants you to support someone else – “Team Jack Hoffman-Pray”- see letter below. Dallas Morning News had an article on Rex and Jack this past Sunday.

Please Vote for Rex as he continues to exemplify the Plano Wildcats.

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As many of you already know, our son Jack was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in May 2011. After two neurosurgeries, lots of prayers, support from people like you, and the good Lord’s mercy, Jack is doing super. Presently seizure free and coming off of a good MRI, doctors are hopeful for Jack’s long term success.

Having said that, the only “real” cure for a brain tumor of Jack’s type is complete tumor removal. Jack has a small amount of tumor remaining, unfortunately. The first line chemotherapy is nearly 25 years old and has not changed. While neurosurgery technology and techniques have improved, chemotherapy has not. Children like Jack generally die from the chemotherapy itself. After 6-10 rounds of it, their organs will fail. While Jack has “dodged” chemotherapy so far, and doctors are putting it off as long as possible, it is something that he will likely need eventually.

As many of you also know, Rex Burkhead of the Nebraska Cornhuskers befriended Jack this past fall. During the fall season, Rex wore a “Team Jack-Pray” wristband for each game. A full-fledged relationship between Rex, Jack and our respective families has evolved and has been a wonderful experience for our family. While a lot of positives have come from this relationship (moral support, increased prayer support), one of the best things about Rex’s involvement in Jack’s life has been the awareness he has created for pediatric brain cancer. As only approximately 3,000 children each year are diagnosed with this rare disease, there is considerable underfunding. Right now, there are only two clinical trials going on for Jack’s type of cancer. Awareness is so important, because that is what gets the attention of the Federal government (which spends hundreds of millions each year on more known ailments, and rightfully so, such as breast cancer and aids). Pediatric Brain Cancer, particularly of Jack’s type, is not on their radar. Awareness gets it on their radar.

Long story short, Rex Burkhead has been nominated for a National Award by Uplifting Athletes – the Rare Disease Champion Award. If Rex receives this award, he will be presented with the award at a banquet where the National Institute of Health is present. The NIH is a major player in allocating Federal Funding for research. By voting for Rex and supporting Rex, you would be helping our family “Fight for A Cure”. The winner is selected by online voting.

As a personal favor, I would ask you to consider taking the following steps:

1. Vote for Rex here: http://www.upliftingathletes.org/take-action/rare-disease-champion#vote-now

2. Forward an e-mail request to everyone in your e-mail contact list, fellow-coworkers, family, and friends to vote for Rex and asking them to do the same thing I am asking you to do; and

3. Post a Request on Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace to Vote for Rex along with a link to the voting page. (Please do this every 3-5 days, if possible) ?

Everyone has been so generous and gracious to our family, and we appreciate that. Rex getting this award is not about more publicity for Jack and Rex. It is about getting people fired up to start paying attention to the No. 1 cancer killer in children. Your help is appreciated. Please feel free to forward this e-mail, if you would like.

God Bless and thank you for your consideration.

Andy Hoffman

Video – Hunter Gore Signs With The University Of Denver

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:14:35 +0000

Video – Kevin Merrill Signs With Wayland Baptist University

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:46 +0000

Video – Sam Morell Signs With Snow JuCo

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:52:52 +0000

Plano Wildcats Football Fall 2012 Schedule

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:38:27 +0000

Zero Week Lewisville (H)

Week 1 Irving Mac (A)

Week 2 off

Week 3 Naaman Forest (A)

Week 4 Hebron (H)

Week 5 Flower Mound Marcus (A)

Week 6 McKinney (H)

Week 7 McKinney Boyd (H)

Week 8 Plano East (A)

Week 9 Plano West (H)

Week 10 Allen (A)

Re-alignment Reactions: Surprise, Excitement

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:56:55 +0000

“Yes, I was surprised. I didn’t see a six-team district coming.”

That was the reaction of Plano football Head Coach Jaydon McCullough when we spoke with him early Thursday morning.

“I thought it would be a seven or eight team district. But I can understand how this came about with travel times for all the schools. I had to scramble to get pre-district games lined up, but now we know who we’re playing and I’m excited.”

Will it be an advantage for the Wildcats to be in a six-team district? “This definitely didn’t hurt us. But we’re still playing good teams, tough teams. They will be well-coached and playing hard to get into the playoffs. It will be a challenge for us, but I’m looking forward to it.”

PISD Athletic Director Gerald Brence provided some re-alignment perspective and observations from his attendance at the UIL roll-out meeting Thursday morning. “I thought UIL did a very good job. Re-alignment is very difficult, and there’s always some controversy. This alignment is due to the population changes along the I-35 core in Texas. Demographics changed, which shifted everything East. ”

“The Plano schools are now in Region II which will push regional playoff games toward south Dallas and Waco. This will be good for the Plano schools because we’ll be closer to home in playoffs. As for Plano schools being in a six team district, there is not a lot of room for error for any team. It’s going to be a very competitive, very tight district.”

“PISD will be finishing out the competition year in District 8 and then looking forward to the new competition in District 10. We’re very excited about this.”

Video – Darron Shannon Signs With Evangel

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:17:42 +0000

District 8-5A Re-Vamped For 2012-2014 – Morphs Into District 10-5A

Thad Fenton, Editor & Photographer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:27:00 +0000

The Texas University Interscholastic League announced today the school alignments for public school sports competitiondistricts across the state.

What are the changes to District 8-5A, the district for the PISD schools?

Out: The four Lewisville schools – Lewisville, Hebron, Flower Mound, Marcus.

In: McKinney, McKinney Boyd.

Allen remains in the district.

And this group will now compete for football and basketball in UIL Region II as District 10-5A. The “old” District 8 is Region I and is now comprised of Killeen schools, Waco, Temple and Belton.

Besides the change in competitors, the new alignment changes the competition as Plano will now be in a six-team district instead of an eight-team district.

How will this pan-out for PISD? For the Wildcats in particular? We’ll have reaction soon.