I remember being at the awards dinner for the Touchdown Club of Houston in 2000 at the JW Marriott Hotel. It was my very first high school awards dinner and I was there in support of Pearland head coach Tony Heath and All-State running back Anthony Evans who was a a sure bet to win the "Offensive Player of the Year" award. After all - he had led the Houston area for two straight years with over 2,000 yards each year. Plus - he finished his high school career as the Class 5A No. 2 all-time leading rusher in Texas football history with 6,192 yards and 66 TDs. The player holding the No. 1 slot that same year was Cedric Benson of Midland Lee, UT, and now the Chicago Bears.
   The highlight film of Evans dazzled the crowd with constant ooohs and aaahs. When they read the name of someone else -- there was a polite applause for the winner while others just sat stunned. Many said, "How could they have missed?"
   Their snufa would be like Benson being a finalist for the "Offensive Player of the Year" award at the Midland-Odessa Touchdown Club and someone else getting the award. Of course that didn't happen out there in west Texas.
   However, the Houston Chronicle came to the rescue and named Evans as their "Player of the Year" for the University of Houston bound running back that told Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops in his living room here in Pearland that he was going to go to UH.
   It took only the next year for the Touchdown Club of Houston to snub another Pearlander. This time it was head coach Tony Heath who saw his Oilers advance to the Class 5A Division I state semifinals before coming up short against San Antonio Taft to finish with a school-record 13-1 mark. The Oilers were the only team in the Houston area that advanced that far in the post-season.
   Heath was one of eight finalists for the "Coach of the Year" award. And the winner is? The head coach from The Woodlands who lost in the second round.
   Remember - Pearland was the same school that was 6-63-1 from 1990-96 prior to Heath's arrival in 1997 including a 19-game losing streak that he inherited. Five years later - the Oilers are one game away from playing for a state championship.
   Since that time - Heath has become the Susan Lucci of All My Children (sorry coach - you know we love you) who was nominated 19 straight years before winning a Daytime Emmy. Heath has been a finalist for the "Coach of the Year" award in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006.
   Once again, the Houston Chronicle came to the rescue as Heath was named "Coach of the Year" in 2001 while also being recognized for that honor by his district coaching peers.
   In 2006, the Touchdown Club of Houston finally got it right when Pearland All-State running back Fozzy Whittaker was named "Offensive Player of the Year." He finished as the No. 6 all-time leading rusher in 5A history with 5,717 career rushing yards while on his way to the University of Texas.
   Last Wednesday, the Touchdown Club of Houston really outdid themselves.
   The previous Saturday, Jacquizz Rodgers of Lamar Consolidated scored five touchdowns to send his team to the 4A Division I state finals. He became the all-time touchdown leader in Texas football history of any class with 133 TDs. The previous record was 128.
   Rodgers now has 8,008 career rushing yards (and still counting) that places him seventh on the all-time rushing list of any class. He has 1,025 receiving yards to give him 9,033 total career yards (and counting).
   The 5-6 running back is on his way to Oregon State to join his freshman brother, James, who scored the winning touchdown against state-rival Oregon a couple of weeks ago,  The pair helped turn Lamar Consolidated around from a consistent loser to a state power in just a few short years.
   Oh - back to the TD Club of Houston.
   Rodgers didn't win their award either. In fact - he wasn't even invited as one of the eight offensive finalists.
   Don't get me wrong. The TD Club of Houston does a great work in supporting Houston area high schools. They have given over $145,000 in establishing weight rooms in schools that couldn't afford equipment for their kids. Scholarships have been given to help kids go to college.
   That's what they do well. Just wish they would involve some of the area sports writers who cover these kids to get their advice as to who should be a finalist to win the award.
   Watch and see if Rodgers will win the "Player of the Year" award by the Chronicle. Mark it down! He will!
   The high school sports writers won't miss either. They will also vote for him to be an All-State first-team pick. I have a vote and he will be my Class 4A "Player of the Year" whether his team wins the state title or not. And other sports writers across the state will follow suit. Just wish he had decided to stay in Texas to play at the next level.

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