Wednesday, July 16, 1997

Sidney player unsure he belongs in game, but he's glad to be there

By MARK WILSON / Abilene Reporter-News

Craig Steele doesn't sound too sure that he should be here this week, getting ready to play football one more time in Saturday's All Americas Bowl at Elmer Gray Stadium.

Maybe the former five-sport standout at Sidney just needs to review his past accomplishments in Six-Man football.

Steele will be one of the quarterbacks for the South all-stars (Texas) in the game against the North all-stars, which is composed of out-of-state and Canadian players. He will be a freshman at Hardin-Simmons University this fall, and plans to play basketball for coach Dennis Harp's Cowboys.

Steele's humility concerning his selection to the team and his athletic ability was a breath of fresh air.

"I kind of didn't expect to get picked," Steele said after Tuesday morning's workout. "I figured some guys were left out that deserve to be here. I'm glad, though. I'm honored to be here."

During his junior year, Steele earned all-state honors as he recorded 2,400 yards passing with 42 touchdowns. His total passing yards dropped off to 1,600 yards his senior year after the loss of a key receiver, Reed Trosper, to graduation.

Working with the other all-stars this week has been a pleasant experience for Steele.

"It's a totally new deal. All these guys used to be stars of their team," Steele said. "They're actual football players. When you are one, it just comes together."

Steele lettered in football, basketball, baseball, tennis and track all four years at Sidney. He batted .450 in baseball, although he downplayed that mark by saying, "We played weak teams."

He got the most attention from college coaches by averaging 25 points a game in basketball this season, after switching from point guard to shooting guard. He had tryouts at Cisco Junior College and Angelo State. Tarleton State was also on his list in the beginning.

Staying in Abilene this week is the first taste of "big city" living for Steele, who has lived on a farm outside of Sidney since he was two years old. He has already noticed at night that the calming sounds of various country critters have been replaced by noisy automobiles.

"In some aspects, I'm going to like it," he said. "I don't know how I'm going to get to sleep at night with all the cars. I'm used to hearing cows at night, and certain sounds in the country. Last night, I didn't hear a sound until cars came by."

Steele, who is 6-2 and 170 pounds, says he isn't big enough to play football in college, although he also has experience as a starting safety in high school - a position where his size wouldn't be a problem.

"Even Coach Harp is going to try to put weight on me," Steele said.

If he does end up playing another sport at HSU, he feels it may be in baseball as a shortstop.

"Right now, it's just basketball," said Steele, who plans to become a coach. "I want to get my feet planted in college. I may try later, once I get embedded in college. I may try to play baseball."

Since he believes Saturday's game will be his last in a football uniform, he's sad to be leaving the game behind - once again. He thought his final game for Sidney was going to be his final outing in the sport he loves the most, until his all-star selection.

"It makes me sick at my stomach. Football has always been my favorite sport," Steele said. "I'm just not good enough at it to play at a higher level. It will be hard to let it go."