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Bracken's Combess signs with Campbellsville
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 10:05 PM EDT
"Anytime you have an athlete that has obviously excelled as Brandon has and is going on to the next level, you want to recognize them," said Bracken County athletic director Robert Hammonds. "Everybody here knows Brandon was our Mr. Everything last year in football: he ran the ball, kicked the ball, had the most tackles, did everything he could."
Combess was listed as a 5'10"/189 pound guard and linebacker in last year's Polar Bear football program, but he ended up playing mostly fullback on the offensive side of the ball. As of May 9, he was one of 38 recruits to sign to play for Campbellsville this season according to the school's sports website.
"(Brandon) exemplifies what a model student is all about, I'm very proud of him," said BCHS principal Martha Hall. "I start off the year with a motto, for this year it was 'I believe,' and I never stopped believing in Brandon, because I knew he set a goal for himself and he met that goal."
Campbellsville, an NAIA school that plays in the Mid-South Conference's West Division, was 3-8 last season under first year head coach Jim Deaton. Deaton came to CU from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., where he was an assistant coach for 24 years.
"They didn't have a really great season last year, but they're rebuilding, they had a lot of freshmen playing last year," said Combess.
Combess has already begun preparations for CU's intense weight-lifting program. He also hopes to earn his way onto the field as a freshman.
"I'll be in great shape because they have me on a good summer program," he said. "I'm not 100 percent sure where they're going to put me, but I'm being recruited as a linebacker. My realistic goal is to play special teams as a freshman. I'd like to start, but realistically I'd like to play special teams."
Though he has played his last game as a Polar Bear, Combess hopes the opportunity to play at the next level will mean more support for the Bracken County football program, which begins its first season under new head coach Chuck Faust in the fall.
"Hopefully this means more people will come out, which means more talent, which will get more support from around here," said Combess. "(Having) people coming to the games means more money, which means better equipment. All in all, it'll hopefully makes the program better."
Combess is the son of Tom Combess and Pam Faust. He chose Campbellsville over Georgetown College and University of the Cumberlands.
The Tigers begin the 2006 season with a 1:30 p.m. home game against Ohio Dominican on Sept. 2.
On the web:
Campbellsville Athletics: http://www.campbellsville.edu/athletics/index.htm
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