Alabama | Red Dirt Chronicles

by Rob Loeber

If you watch Heritage Hall senior Barry Sanders run the football, you can easily picture him wearing a light blue jersey and a silver helmet just like his father did throughout the nineties with the Detroit Lions. The younger Sanders is an electrifying talent and even though he may not be Hall of Fame material just yet, he is ready to take the next step in his football career. Sanders is one of the top recruits in the country and would be welcome at any of the premier division one college programs. I recently sat down with Sanders and asked him about carrying the weight of lofty expectations, how he’ll make his college choice, and what’s going through his mind as he tears through an opposing defense. The following is an excerpt from that interview.

Loeber: Barry you’ve been given this amazing talent, but with that talent means expectations are also extremely high. Can having the name Barry Sanders be a blessing and a burden at the same time?

Sanders: I’ve thought about it, and I think it’s more of a blessing than anything. It’s a lot of opportunity that comes with it and I’ve just been trying to capitalize on it and do the best I can with it.

sanders sr — Barry Sanders Sr. won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2004. (courtesy profootballhof.com)

Loeber: Do you remember the first time you saw your dad run the football?

Sanders: I do remember going to a couple games. I remember the first few times and I remember watching some of his highlights and realizing how great he was. I’m still amazed at what he was able to do.

Loeber: Football or not, what’s the best piece of advice that he’s given you?

Sanders: Probably just to be the best man you can be. We’ve talked about a lot of things off the field, but that’s probably one of the biggest things you know, take care of what you have to take care of and be responsible.

Loeber: Does it ever feel like the expectations placed on you are too high?

Sanders: If you ask me, no. My mom and my grandpa might have something different to say but I would say no because I don’t look at it as expectations. Like I said, it’s opportunity. It’s opportunity hopefully to be one of the greats you know, that’s all you can ask for.

Loeber: Do you ever wish for a day or a week of anonymity, or do you kind of embrace the fact that you are the face of this (Heritage Hall) program? Continue reading The Next Barry Sanders Is…Barry Sanders →

I stayed up way too late last night watching a rockumentary about Rush on Palladia. I love Palladia; it’s what MTV could have been. I think it may be owned by MTV. Nevertheless, there were musicians from several other bands talking about Rush and the influence that band had on their own music. I started thinking about the times I’ve seen Rush and how they are kind of a man cave band. I’m not sure why women don’t dig Rush like guys do….maybe you’ll enlighten me.

Anyway, that train of thought led me to man cave music and eventually to the concerts I’ve seen at, as they used to say, “The Incomparable Myriad!” Naming rights to the building have since been sold to Cox Cable but it’s still the Myriad to me.

My first concert there was in 1977 while I was just in 7th grade. I could not imagine turning my 7th graders loose in a venue that large….not sure what my Mom was thinking but we both survived the experience. And, I saw Led Zeppelin on their last North American tour. Yes I did. For $7. John Bonham, if memory serves, played his orange chrysolite Ludwig drums and had a platform that rolled to the front of the stage for Moby Dick. That and Jimmy Page being surrounded by a cone of lasers while he played his Les Paul with a violin bow are about all I remember…..but I was there DUDE! Continue reading Music from the Man Cave: Chronology of My Concert History at THE INCOMPARABLE MYRIAD →

Showcasing Red Dirt culture ~ authored and managed by contributors with connections to the great state of Oklahoma.