McFadden, Malzahn among Touchdown Club honorees

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Posted 2:12PM on Friday, December 16, 2005

LITTLE ROCK (AP) Darren McFadden is beginning to sense a trend. Last year, he was honored by the Little Rock Touchdown Club for his performance as a high school senior. This year, McFadden was back at the Touchdown Club's season-ending banquet as Arkansas Razorbacks player of the year. ``Hopefully I can come back again next year,'' McFadden said afterward. McFadden was one of several coaches and players honored Thursday night by the Touchdown Club. The former Pulaski Oak Grove star rushed for 1,113 yards for the Razorbacks and was a first-team all-Southeastern Conference selection as a freshman. The Touchdown Club chose players of the year for 10 Arkansas colleges, and a player and coach of the year for each of the state's high school classification. Frank McClellan, the Barton High School coach who retired after this season with 367 wins, received a distinguished career award. The Touchdown Club also acknowledged several out-of-state honorees none of whom were at the event. Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler was named SEC offensive player of the year, Alabama's DeMeco Ryans was SEC defensive player of the year and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier was SEC coach of the year. Southern California's Reggie Bush, this year's Heisman Trophy winner, was named national player of the year. Almost all of the in-state recipients were on hand to accept their awards. Only Mitch Mustain, named co-player of the year in Class AAAAA along with Springdale teammate Damian Williams, was unable to come banquet master of ceremonies David Bazzel said Mustain had to prepare for a test. Mustain has received plenty of publicity after a phenomenal senior season and his decision to reopen his recruitment after orally committing to Arkansas. But even with his absence, the banquet didn't lack for star power. Gus Malzahn, who coached Mustain at Springdale before becoming Arkansas' offensive coordinator last Friday, was one of the main attractions and he said afterward the evening was a memorable one. ``It's a wonderful event to recognize the state's players at all levels and the coaches,'' said Malzahn, named Class AAAAA coach of the year. ``It's just a special night.'' Malzahn has become famous around the state for his success as a high school coach. His wide-open offenses have been devastating Springdale went 14-0 this season and outscored its opponents 664-118. But when Malzahn stood to accept his award, McFadden was seated a few feet away, so the coach decided to address the star running back's role in next year's offense. ``First thing for the Hog fans. Next year, we will run the football still,'' Malzahn said. ``And Darren McFadden will get the ball as much as he wants.'' Eric Neihouse was named Arkansas State's player of the year after kicking a pair of game-winning field goals this season. The Indians leave Friday morning for Lafayette, La., where they'll play Southern Mississippi in the New Orleans Bowl next week. ``We're going to play Tuesday night, so hopefully we'll have everybody's support,'' Neihouse told the audience. ``Watch us on ESPN as we play Southern Miss.'' Most of the acceptance speeches took barely a minute, but McClellan spoke longer after receiving the night's first standing ovation. ``I tell all our players if you don't get anything out of football but football itself, then we're failing as coaches,'' he said. ``If you don't learn some things in playing football and I'm not saying you don't learn with other sports too but I think it really shows more probably in football.'' McClellan was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2003. He won eight state championships, and from 1986-90, Barton set an Arkansas record with a 63-game winning streak. ``Football has been a great part of my life for a long time,'' McClellan told the crowd. ``I think it's a great game. And I'll tell you what I wouldn't take anything for it.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)