https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/sports/prep/story/2013/aug/30/hall-eager-joother-l-e-giants-mauldin-carpent/304005/…PROBLEMS WITH THE “PAUL HUDDLESTON DAYS AT THE HELM OF THE MIGHTY LIBERTY-EYLAU LEOPARDS’ ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND HEAD FOOTBALL COACH…..THE WRONGS JUST DON’T MAKE IT RIGHT!!!!!!!

WHEN HISTORY GETS/HAS GOTTEN AND DOES GET WRITTEN, BY OTHERS; ESPECIALLY WHITE AND “JIM CROW-ISM ERA” TYPE COACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS…THEY DO WRITE STUFF AND HAVE WRITTEN STUFF WITH “SLANTED VIEWS”… I AM VERY GLAD THAT THE ARTICLE I FOUND AND POSTED ABOUT OUR “VERY, VERY FAMOUS COUSIN=MARVIN REECE (CONSIDER THE BEST WIDE RECEIVER AND BASKETBALL PLAYER TO EVER PLAY AT LIBERTY-EYLAU HIGH SCHOOL) BUT THE OTHER “GLARING HISTORICAL HISTORIES/AND FALSEHOODS AND THINGS WERE DONE TO US AND OUR TEAMS AND MASSIVE POTENTIALS THAT NEED “TRUTH/TRUE” HISTORIES AND “RE-WRITES” ..I MAY ASK SOME OF MY “FORMER CLASS MATES TO “REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBERRRR!!!” EXCERPT FROM THE TEXARKANA GAZETTE STORY: PAUL HUDDLESTON (1969-1978, 62-37-2)
Nine winning seasons makes Huddleston the winningest coach in L-E history.
His most enjoyable campaign probably came in 1974 when the Leopards won district and played DeSoto in the first round at Texas Stadium.
Quarterback Steve White led the ’74 Leopards, completing his football career at Southern Arkansas University, known as Southern State College in the early 1970s.
“We tied DeSoto and lost the game on penetrations,” Huddleston said. “There was no overtime in those days. Penetrations was ball control inside your opponent’s 20. If you tied there, first downs determined the winner.
Huddleston is shy about naming his best players.
“We’ve had so many excellent players down through the years,” he said. “There’s no way I can remember them all.”
Bruce Rainey was one of the more underrated quarterbacks.
“He played for me my first year,” Huddleston said. “We ran a pro-style offense because he was a great passer, but his knees were terrible and I wouldn’t allow him to run. His knees kept him out of college.”
Huddleston hasn’t forgotten wide receiver Byron Williams, who played college at the University of Texas-Arlington, and then professionally in the CFL and the NFL with the Giants.
Willie Teal was like a fine wine getting better with age. He started seven years for the Vikings after L-E and LSU careers.
Huddleston had two outstanding centers in Jeff Black and the late Frank Roberts. The 240-pound Black was a big guy in his day, and graduated from Baylor in 1977 with Huddleston’s son. Roberts wasn’t nearly as big, but still enjoyed memorable careers at Tulane and in the WFL.
Maybe the best all-around athlete to play for Huddleston was Johnny Webster, a star quarterback and punter for the Leopards in 1973. He could do it all according to Huddleston.
Marvin Lewis and Tony McCoy were “great running backs” for Huddleston.
“The best lineman we ever had on defense was Theotis Murrah,” the former coach said. “He only weighed 150 pounds, but Lord he was quick. He was some kind of nose guard.”
Huddleston believe the 1975 team might have been his best. The Leopards finished 8-2, but lost to Pittsburg on a late two-point conversion.

RONNIE INGRAM (1979-1988, 45-51-3)
You could say Ingram’s timing has been off in his head coaching career.
Despite having some outstanding talent, Ingram’s Leopards consistently found themselves outmanned against Henderson, Kilgore, Paris, Carthage and others.
“After leaving Liberty-Eylau to be head coach in DeKalb, we got stuck with L-E,” jokes Ingram.
Three Ingram teams finished their respective seasons with winning records. His teams were well known for playing outstanding defense, but struggled on the offensive side.
L-E finished 7-3 in 1981 and 1987. The Leopards outscored their opposition 169-116 in ’81, and 205 to 116 in ’87. They missed the playoffs both years.
“In 1987, we were in first place, but lost to Kilgore, which knocked us out of the playoffs,” Ingram said. “We might have been the smallest 4A in the state at that time, or close to it.”
Some of the high school stars to play for Ingram included running back Cedrick Jackson, who would go on to play at TCU, and backup Barry Sanders in Detroit.
Anthony Strong and Gary Hunt were outstanding backs for the Leopards in the early 80’s. Robert Lowe and Rodney Atkins were brilliant receivers, while Clarence Arnold played both sides of the line and went on to play at Henderson State University.
Giant Michael Finn (6-8, 290) saw action for Texas, and was given a chance in the NFL at Green Bay. Kenneth McCoy was a great high school quarterback.

DAVID REAM (1989-1999, 63-55-2)
Boosters haven’t forgotten the day Ream moved to Texarkana from West Texas. He didn’t guarantee wins, instead promising L-E would be competitive no matter who they played.
Ream was facing the same problem Ingram had in that the Leopards’ district opposition were bigger schools. Texas High’s enrollment was twice that of L-E’s, but the Leopards usually played their best ball against the Tigers.
After three losing seasons, the Leopards and Ingram enjoyed success with spectacular play from quarterback Jon Black, tailback Keldrick Williams and defensive back Ramos McDonald. Williams was the school’s all-time rusher with 1,770 yards in ’92. Keith McFadden, LaMichael James and Tra Carson would later surpass his L-E records.
Williams helped L-E beat Texas High and Arkansas High, while tying Sulphur Springs. He scored eight touchdowns in those three games. He later left for junior college, his career having a shocking end when he got into trouble with the law. McDonald went on to play in the NFL with the 49ers and Giants.
L-E and Ream’s coaching staff finally got some love from the UIL in 1998 when the school was moved down to Class 3A.
Ream didn’t make it public, but he told some individuals he thought his Leopards could contend for a state championship immediately. They made it to the quarterfinals in ’98 before losing to Aledo which went on to win state.
“I’ll always believe we should have won state that year,” he later said. “We had most of our players back in 1999, and despite some close calls early, we got hot and won big in the Astrodome. It was a long time coming, but a great moment for the kids, coaches and community.”
The Leopards’ roster in 1999 resembled an All-Star Team. Twenty-two members of that championship team would go on to play some kind of college football. Alternating quarterbacks Jamie Green and LaMarcus Franklin would sign with the University of Memphis and Northwestern Louisiana, respectively.
Receiver Brandon Jones was the 3A Offensive Player of the Year and inked with Oklahoma, eventually playing in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers.
Other outstanding players on that 1999 squad included linebacker Garren Rockwell; lineman Klayton Shoals; lineman Rodney Cannon; tight end/lineman Doug Maxey; running back/lineman Leeldre Grundy; tight end/defensive end Jeremy Rone; running back Keith McFadden; running back/linebacker Darrel Dixon; safety Courtney Richardson; and offensive lineman Brandon Grant.
Richardson may have saved L-E’s title run in the first round of the playoffs when he chased down a Pittsburg runner and stripped the ball away inside the Leopards’ 1. L-E used the entire fourth quarter to march 99 yards for the winning touchdown, a short pass to Jones.
Among Ream’s first standouts were running back Jason Cooper; quarterback/safety Cedrick Hamilton; quarterback/tight end Brian Collins and lineman Scott Bergt. He also remembers Charles Hillis, Tilton Arnold, Jerome Martin, Curtis Hunter, Rodney Musgraves, Rodney Norris, Robbie Radford and Rodney Curry as being major contributors during their schoolboy years.

JOEY DRENNON (2000-2003, 20-21)
If Ingram was unlucky during his coaching tenure, Drennon’s four seasons as the Leopards’ head coach were the same or worse. His only playoff team finished the year 5-7, losing a heartbreaker to Gainesville.
L-E was 7-3 during Drennon’s first two season and missed the playoffs both years. The Leopards’ optimism disappeared early in 2002 when Drennon lost his starting quarterback. After surviving a tough non-district slate the Leopards rebounded to make the playoffs.
Like his predecessors, Drennon was blessed with talent. He inherited Brandon Jones, but his quarterbacks could not get the ball to him. He was still dangerous on kick returns, and he rallied the Leopards to victory over rival Arkansas High when he was lined up in the wildcat formation.
Despite subpar receiving totals in 2000, Jones remains L-E’s all-time leader in season and career receptions with 50 and 95, respectively. He scored 15 touchdowns in 1999, finishing with a record 24 touchdown catches.
“Jones is the most gifted athlete I have ever coached as a head coach,” Drennon said. “He was a great kid with exceptional personality. Brandon had unbelievable hands and athleticism. He was a great punt and kick returner.”
Brandon Rollins and Kyle Jackson were also special performers for Drennon.
“Rollins was the best defensive player I coached at L-E,” he said. “His motor never stopped, not even in practice. He loved the game and gave his all every time he was on a practice or game field.”
Rollins would go on to be an all-conference player at Arkansas State University despite a tragic accident that saw Rollins fall down an elevator shaft and break several bones. He is now an assistant coach at L-E.
“Jackson was the best offensive lineman I’ve ever had,” Drennon said. He would dominate the man in front of him every week. He was extremely smart and had a tremendous work ethic.”
Drennon coached many standouts in his four seasons, including running back/defensive back Steven Lowe; defensive lineman Klayton Shoals; receiver Josh Wheeler; linebacker Thomas Price; quarterback Matt Combs; running back Michael Reed; and linebacker Kenny Price.
“I am probably leaving someone out because it has been so long; I sure there’s many more,” said Drennon, who went on to coach at Corsicana Mildred and Mineola, Texas.

BEGINNING AT THE START OF “INTEGRATION/DESEGREGATION”, FROM THE SIXTH/6TH GRADE OF PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL, SWITCHING TO TACKLE FOOTBALL; OUR FOOTBALL TEAM, “DID NOT” LOOSE A GAME, UNTIL WE STARTED GETTING “SPLIT-UP AND SEPARATED, IN THE 10TH GRADE …WITH SOME OF OUR TEAM MATES BEING ON THE VARSITY AND SOME OF US BEING ON THE “B-TEAM/JR. VARSITY”. MATTER OF FACT(S). WE HAD NO REAL MAP TO GUIDE US ABOUT “JIM CROW/HATRED/HOW THINGS CAN GET MANIPULATED” AND HISTORY CHANGED. THIS IS NOT MY OWN STORY, YET TO BE CALLED OUT OF CLASS, AND WALK BEHIND THE GYM AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES TO THE “HEAD COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, ALONE; WHERE NOBODY SEES ME/SAW ME, TO BE BASICALLY “THREATENED”, PUNISHED, AND “BLACK-BALLED” AND KICKED BACK DOWN FROM THE VARSITY TEAM (AS A FRESHMEN, AFTER THE 9TH GRADE; BECAUSE I REFUSED TO PLAY FOOTBALL, ANYMORE=WELL THAT WAS A VERY LONELY TREK, FOR A KID (ME); WHO HAD ZERO/NO IDEA OF HOW THINGS REALLY WORKED, BUT “SPIDY SENSED” HOW SOMETHINGS JUST WERE NOT RIGHT??!!

THIS IS NOT REALLY ABOUT ME, BUT ABOUT CERTAIN OTHER THINGS….

IN MY SIXTH GRADE CLASS, AND AFTER INTEGRATION; I MET A YOUNG “STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER” NAMED “JAMES SPENCER” AND HIS MOM, “IVEY” SPENCER (A PAM GRIER LOOKER, TO ME, AND JAMES PRETTY SISTER, RENEE SPENCER, JAMES AND I SPENT TIMES AT EACH OTHER’S HOMES AFTER THAT AND BY THE TIME ALL OF OUR FOOTBALL TEAMS ASSEMBLED AT LIBERTY-EYLAU SEVENTH/7TH GRADE; THERE WERE: LEROY McDONALD, TOMMY WILLIAMS, WILLIE CARSON, RICKEY AUBREY, WILLIE TEAL, LEVITUS LUCKY, THEOTIS MORROW, RONNIE WALKER, JAMES EVANS, MYSELF, AND I WILL NEED OTHERS TO HELP “WRITE TRUTHS AND TELL EM IF I AM REMEMBERING STUFF CORRECTLY…???

THE GREAT “JAMES SPENCER”, MMAANNN, THAT KID, WAS A “GAIL SAYERS-LAMAR JACKSON” COMBINATION TALENTED TYPE PLAYER EVAN AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. WATCHING JAMES FROM A STINT ON THE SIDELINES, WAS LIKE WATCHING “BARRY SANDERS AND THOSE OTHERS” IN A MAGICAL HIGHLIGHT REEL. THAT KID COULD/WOULD “REVERSE FIELD” AN JUST BE “GONE” AND “JUKE” DEFENDERS AND HEADED FOR LONG TOUCHDOWN RUNS!!! AND HE PLAYED “QUARTERBACK” Y’ALL, FOR US AND YET WAS ALSO OUR GREATEST/BEST “RUNNING BACK, FROM THE QUARTERBACK POSITION….WE WON THE “CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS” AND OUR “HELMETS”, ESPECIALLY THAT “MIGHTY DEFENSE”…OUR THING WAS “NOT” ALLOWING ANY TOUCHDOWNS TO BE SCORED AGAINST US! THE “MIGHTY DEFENSIVE LINE ANCHORED BY: “TOMMY WILLIAMS, LEROY McDONALD, WILLIE CARSON, LEVITICUS LUCKY AND ENFORCED WITH LINEBACKERS: THEOTIS MORROW, AT MIDDLE LINEBACKER AND OTHERS THAT ARE HARD TO REMEMBER, NOW; BUT MAANNN, WE CRIED, AFTER 1 GAME, WHEN (I THINK IT WAS HUGHES SPRINGS, FINALLY SCORED A TOUGH DOWN ON US) AND WE HAD TO MARK THAT UPON OUR LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD, IN THE MIDST OF OUR STRING OF OPPONENTS NOT SCORING TOUCHDOWNS ON US. MY TEAM MATES HELMETS WERE FULL OF “SKULLS AND CROSSBONES” (WE HAD NO IDEA OF ANY SYMBOLISM S EXCEPT THAT SOME “MASSIVE HITS” AND PLAYS BY THOSE DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE SPECIAL PLAYS GOT LOTS OF HELMET DECORATIONS!! SMILE/LOL…

SO, AS WE WORKED OUR WAYS UP THE GRADE LEVELS, THE “HS” COACHES MADE SOME VERY “STUPID” AND “TRULY” JIM CROW DECISIONS TO AFFECT MESSING US UP KINDA… “SWITCHING JAMES SPENCER TO RUNNING BACK” INSTEAD OF LEAVING HIM AT QUARTERBACK…SPLITTING US UP TO PUT SOME OF US ON VARSITY….

THERE SHOULD BE “ZERO/NO-BODY” FROM OUR GRADE LEVEL THE 1976 GRADUATING LEOPARDS TEAMS, WHO HAD FOLLOWED US FROM 6TH GRADE TO 10TH, 11TH, 12TH GRADE; HONESTLY WHO SHOULD TELL YOU THAT “STEVE WHITE”, OR RICKEY WEBSTER, OR JEFF HUDDLESTON, OR EVEN MY “LEFTY GREAT QUARTERBACK RICKY FOWLER;;NONE OF THEM REALLY COULD “EVEN TOUGH THE SHOES OF “JAMES SPENCER” AS OUR QUARTERBACK..NONE OF THEM!!!

ALTHOUGH “JAMES STILL PERFORMED SOME MAGICAL MOMENTS, AS A RUNNING BACK, WE DID TRAVEL TO “TEXAS STADIUM” THE FORMER NEW HOME OOF THE DALLAS COWBOYS AND PLAYED OUR HEARTS OUT (I ONLY TRAVELED WITH THE TEAM; NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL, BY THEN) BUT WE PLAYED AN “ALL WHITE DESOTO, TEXAS TEAM, AND GOT 2/3 TOUCHDOWNS “CALLED BACK” FROM “FATHOM” PENALTY CALLS, HAD FAKE CALLS ON EXTRA POINT TRIES; AND LOST THAT “STATE PLAYOFFS, 1ST IN HISTORY FOR LIBERTY-EYLAU 7AAA…IN THAT GAME ; IT BECAME VERY CLEAR; WE WERE NOT GOING TO “WIN”, UNLESS WE COULD “PLUCK A RABBIT FROM A HAT” OR A “JEANIE FROM A BOTTLE”…

WHEN I SAW RICKY FOWLER, ABOUT A FEW YEARS AGOL WHEN HE WAS THE PRINCIPLE, WE SAW EACH OTHER FROM A DISTANCE, AND ASWE WALKED TOWARDS EACH OTHER FOR A LOVING HUG= WE BOTH YELLED OUT AT EACH OTHER; “49-OPTION PASS/41-OPTION PASS AND JUST LAUGHED…. TEAMS KNEW WE WERE GOING TO RUN THOSE TWO PLAYS, WHENEVER RICKEY/LEFTY ENTERED THE GAME AND I WAS IN THE GAME, YET THEY COULD NEVER STOP THOSE TWO PLAYS.. LEARNING TO CATCH A “LEFTY’S FOOTBALL” OR “BASKETBALL” ROTATING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IS NOT/WAS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO;;;”PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE…

IF YOU WERE A 1976 GRADUATE OF THE LIBERTY-EYLAU LEOPARDS, OR THE YEARS AROUND THE 1976 GRADUATING CLASS, YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THESE THINGS….MAYBE EVEN BETTER THAN I DO AT THIS TIME…??!!!

THE LIBERTY-EYLAU HS AND LEOPARDS’ STORIES REALLY NEED TO BE “RE-WRITTEN CORRECTLY AND TELL THE TRUTH!!!

CAN THE TRUE/TRUTH FINALLY BE TOLD!!??