National Football Foundation puts on quite a show

Wow.

They put on quite a show Friday (Jan. 6) at the Scottsdale Hilton. The Valley chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame staged its Arizona High School Football Champions Luncheon.

About 500 were in attendance and saluted the state’s top 25 players, as selected by the Arizona Football Coaches Association. Arizona’s six state champion football coaches also were recognized.

A good mix of familiar past and present football faces were on hand. Former Arizona State coach Frank Kush sat at a table with one of his former quarterbacks, Danny White, an alumnus of Mesa Westwood High.

One of Kush’s former receivers, J.D. Hill, delivered the invocation. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was there to thank people for their participation in the Sheriff’s Youth Assistance Foundation.

The new coaches at ASU and rival University of Arizona, Todd Graham and Rich Rodriguez, respectively, couldn’t miss this opportunity to mingle with their new constituents.

Graham worked the room with Kush’s help before the proceedings.

“Coach, I’d like to introduce you to Table 14,’’ Kush said before pointing at me and adding, “Except for him!’’

Kush still has that irresistible charm. I got to know him pretty well after his ASU days, when he coached the USFL’s Arizona Outlaws.

Graham and Rodriguez, longtime friends, both spoke and provided a good-natured spark to their new rivalry.

Graham spoke first. Rodriguez then stood before the microphone and said, “They told us we could talk for a couple of minutes. Todd took five, so I’m going to take six.’’

Five individual football awards were presented.

Jaxon Hood of Chandler Hamilton took home the Curley Culp Defensive Lineman Award. Tempe Corona del Sol’s Andrus Peat was the recipient of the Frank Kush Offensive Lineman Award. Scottsdale Chaparral quarterback Connor Brewer earned the Danny White Quarterback Award and Phoenix Desert Vista’s Michael Arredondo won the Ron Pritchard Linebacker Award.

The best, and most touching, presentation, came last. Gary Gregory, the interim head coach at Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, accepted the Earl Putman Dedicated Coaching Award on behalf of Scot Bemis, the Notre Dame football and soccer coach who has been temporarily sidelined as he deals with lung cancer.

The event has expanded over the years, moving from smaller venues to the Hilton. It had the feel of the old Arizona Republic All-State banquets for football and other sports. Lew Shaw, one of the foundation’s originals, helped get this thing up and running and should be commended, as well as all of those who participated.

The show was emceed by Valley radio talk-show host Dan Manucci and KPNX (Channel 12) sports anchor Bruce Cooper.