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Published 12:00 am Monday, January 10, 2011
South Panola head football coach Lance Pogue was named Russell Athletics Coach of the Year at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Thursday night at the annual barbecue dinner. With Pogue are from left, wide receiver Nick Brassell, Pogue, Dixie, Maleah and Tyler Pogue. The Panolian photo by Angie Ledbetter
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL SELECTS SOUTH PANOLA’S LANCE POGUE
2011 RUSSELL ATHLETIC NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Award Recognizes Top High School Coach
(SAN ANTONIO, Texas) Jan. 6, 2011 —The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee has announced Lance Pogue, South Panola High School, Batesville, Miss., as the 2011 Russell Athletic National Coach of the Year. The award honors the nation’s top high school football coach, recognizing exceptional coaching abilities and leadership skills as well as serving as a positive influence to the youth of America on and off the field.
“The Army is comprised of strong leaders,” said Col. Derik Crotts, Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing and Outreach, U.S. Army Accessions Command. “Coach Pogue exemplifies and possesses similar leadership strengths and provides valuable guidance to his players both on and off the field. We congratulate Coach Pogue on his achievements and for being recognized as the coach of the year.”
Coach Pogue will receive the Yoast Award, named after the legendary Coach Bill Yoast, who along with Coach Herman Boone was immortalized in the movie “Remember the Titans.”
Coaches are nominated and selected by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee. Dale Mueller from Highlands High School, Fort Thomas, Ky., was the winner of the 2010 Russell Athletic Coach of the Year award. Other nominees this year included: Sean Callahan from Armwood High School, Seffner, Fla.; Bob Johnson from Mission Viejo High School, Mission Viejo, Calif.; Steve Lineweaver from Trinity High School, Euless, Texas; Dave Peck from Bingham High School, South Jordan, Utah; and Dale Salapa from Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the premier high school football game in the country held each January at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game features the best high school football players in the nation and has helped launch the careers of Adrian Peterson, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Ndamukong Suh, and many other college and NFL stars since its inception in 2001. Last year the U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew more than 34,000 fans to the Alamodome along with being the most watched sporting event on television over the weekend, besides the NFL Playoffs.
