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WOELFEL: Clay ready for visiting colleges
By Gery Woelfel
Within the next couple of weeks, Sara and John Clay will sit down with their son, Johnny, and discuss his future.
They will chat about where Johnny's life is headed and about the options that will be at his disposal. As one of the elite high school football players not only in the state but in the country, the Park High School junior will certainly have an array of options.
A "Who's Who'' of collegiate football powers already are recruiting him and more are likely to come. So, when the Clays have their meeting, some significant decisions will be made, like whittling the list of colleges he's interested in attending to a manageable number.
Clay, a top-flight running back and linebacker who helped Park win the WIAA Division 1 state championship, can make official visits to five colleges under NCAA rules. Clay said he hasn't finalized any visits yet, but he does have some in mind.
"They're up there,'' Clay said. "We'll see how they do with the new coach.'' Asked his opinion of Bielema, Clay said, "I've met him; he's a good guy. I got good vibes from him.'' Clay, whom I regard as the finest running back this state has ever produced, said there's another school that intrigues, one that might shock a lot of people.
"Hawaii,'' Clay said. "If they asked me to visit, I'd go there and see what their program is all about. I've heard they got a good program.'' Another blue-chipper While Clay is the numero uno recruit for Wisconsin, Josh Oglesby of St. Francis High School is the Badgers' 1-A recruit.
Oglesby, like Clay, is generally regarded as one of the top 15 juniors in the nation. And, like Clay, he is being inundated with offers. According to St. Francis coach Doug Sarver, the following college coaches came to St. Francis last week: Jim Tressell of Ohio State, Bill Callahan of Colorado, Lloyd Carr of Michigan and Charlie Weiss of Notre Dame. Bielema wasn't there, instead sending co-offensive coordinator Paul Chryst.
"Wisconsin is obviously very high on his list as it should be,'' Sarver said. "He has attended their camps for several years and knows the coaches well. But his family has indicated to me that he should take visits.'' All juniors can start making official visits to colleges Sept. 1.
Barry will miss Sherman, Beightol There were a lot of Packers who were disappointed to see coach Mike Sherman and offensive line coach Larry Beightol shown the door. But Racine's Kevin Barry had an even closer emotional attachment than most of them.
That's because Sherman and Beightol were highly instrumental in Barry becoming a Packer, convincing him to sign with the team as an undrafted free agent in April of 2002 after playing at the University of Arizona.
On Beightol, Barry said, "It was tough to see him go. I was with him for four years and enjoyed having him as my coach.'' On Sherman, Barry said, "He was one of the guys who gave me a shot to be here. I talked to him on the phone on draft day and he said he wanted me here. He's a good coach.'' Whether Barry remains in Green Bay will likely be decided in the next couple of months.
The 6-4, 335-pound offensive tackle is an unrestricted free agent and can sign with the team of his choice. The free agency period begins March 3. Until then, Barry said he wants to relax.
"I'm not even looking at that right now,'' Barry said of free agency. "This is the offseason.'' Considering Barry is just 26 years and still has a huge upside to his game, it's a given he'll draw plenty of interest on the open market.
Scales takes game to Texas Former Racine Lutheran standout Alex Scales is playing for the Austin Toros in the NBA-Development League. Scales had a cup of coffee with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs earlier this season before joining the Toros.
The 6-foot-4 Scales has played in 16 games with the Toros, six as a starter. He is averaging 10.7 points and 1.9 assists.
Two of Scales' teammates have Wisconsin ties as well. Former Milwaukee Bucks forward Marcus Fizer is averaging a team-leading 19.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. Former Marquette University forward Scott Merritt has started all 22 games and is averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds.
On the money Before the national championship football game between Southern Cal and Texas, Bucks guard T.J. Ford predicted Texas, his alma mater, would win 41-38. The Longhorns did precisely that.
So, who does the Swami pick to win Sunday's Super Bowl between Seattle and Pittsburgh?
"I like Pittsburgh,'' said Ford, an avid football fan whose favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts. "They're a physical team.'' And what will be the score? "I don't know yet,'' Ford said. "I need some more time.'' But time is of the essence in this business; deadlines need to be met. So I'll have to take matters into my own hands: Seattle 24, Pittsburgh 13.
Around the horn UW-La Crosse got a nice catch recently when Horlick starting quarterback Chris Spangenberg made a verbal commitment to attend the WIAC school. Spangenberg intends to play football and baseball for the Eagles. Š While the Packers will be in position to choose a quarterback with the fifth overall selection in the NFL draft, I'd bet my 1955 Sandy Koufax rookie card they won't. Knowing Packers GM Ted Thompson, he'll take someone nobody even had projected as a first-round pick, kind of like the way nobody else in the NFL had Mike McCarthy on their short list of head coaching candidates.
Gery Woelfel is a reporter for The Journal Times. You may reach Gery by calling (262) 634-3322, Ext. 322, or by e-mail at gery.woelfel@lee.net. Gery's "The Woelfel World of Sports'' blog can be read at www.journaltimes.com
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