For some reason, the print media I have read this past week had come down hard on Oklahoma State Football Coach Mike Gundy.

The problem started when a sportswriter said some bad personal things about one of Gundy’s players, essentially calling that player “scared.” Gundy, in a news conference seen coast-to-coast, took the reporter to task, adding that the writer could write anything she wanted about him (the coach) but that it was totally out of place to say that type of thing about the player.

Gundy added that college (and high school) players are just kids and criticism like that should be reserved for professional athletes. I very much agree with the coach, and really feel he helped his own recruiting reputation with his rant.

Many people still view college athletes as pros but actions recently taken by the NCAA had tended to put the word amateur back in vogue. College football players no longer live in their own dormitory and no longer have a private training table.

About the only time those players are isolated from the general student body is during preseason practice and on game days.

Almost all college coaches steer clear of violating NCAA recruiting rules. That has become increasingly difficult as the NCAA recruiting manual is several hundred pages long.

As far as I am concerned professional athletes in any sport are fair game as far as criticism goes, but I think it best to lay off college and high school athletes with personally directed criticism.

A real epitome of what I am talking about was the late Glenvall Estes. I never read a word by Glenvall that included personal criticism of a young individual.

As far as I am concerned, if a Natchez (or the Miss-Lou) sports hall of fame is ever developed, Glenvall Estes and the late Coach A. I. Rexinger should be the first charter members.

A funny thing happened several years ago.

As you know, my column runs in The Democrat on Tuesdays, and is headed by my picture. Until he retired from writing, Glenvall’s “Just Talkin’” ran on Thursdays, also topped by his picture.

My youngest granddaughter Baylee Graning used to sit in her late other grandfather’s lap when he read the paper. He would point at my picture and Baylee would say “grandfather.” One Thursday he pointed at Glenvall’s picture and Baylee said “grandfather.” I never got to tell Glenvall that tale. He would have been insulted, because he always had a lot more hair than I do.

Here are your weekly eight-man football scores. Calvary Christian beat Rebel Academy 40 – 22, and Kemper remained unbeaten with a 58 – 13 trouncing of Mt. Salus. The Ben’s Ford v Russell Christian game was postponed.

After verbally criticizing some high school football officials Friday night, I have egg on my face.

During my officiating time, it was required that the receiving team on a kick off have at least five players between their 45 and 50 yard lines. That is no longer true, as the rear (45 yard line) restraining line has been eliminated.

You can receive a kick off with no players there or with all eleven if you choose.

Having no one or only a couple of players in that position leaves a team vulnerable to the on-sides kick, but the more a team has back deep the better return blocking is available.

As with all things, there is more than one way to skin the cat.

And, That’s Official

Al Graning writes a weekly column for The Democrat. He can be reached at AlanWard39157@aol.com.