Friday, February 18, 2000
Newport star takes home football honor
Lineman Atkins wins 'That's My Boy' award
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Matt Atkins won an armful of awards for his football prowess. He is now as renowned for the smarts hiding under that helmet.
The Newport senior, a second-team all-state lineman, is a first-teamer in the classroom: a 3.8 GPA, a ranking of third out of 130 in his class, a National Honor Society membership.
“He's a great leader in everything he does,” Newport coach Roy Lucas Sr. said.
Now Atkins is also Northern Kentucky's “That's My Boy” winner, the area's top football-playing student-athlete. He was presented the award Thursday night at the annual banquet for the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the National Football Federation and College Hall of Fame.
“I must first thank my parents (Debbie and Perry) for pushing me,” Atkins said. “I never missed a day of school in my life, and that discipline in academics carried over into football. It took a lot of hard work to achieve this.”
Atkins scored the highest in a rating system based on football participation, school activities and academics. The other finalists were Conner quarterback Jeremiah Giron, Dixie Heights running back Jason Soden and Bellevue lineman Matt Pickeral. St.Xavier's Steve Sollmann won the Cincinnati “That's My Boy” award.
Atkins, class president both as a junior and senior, has con tinually seen his all-around attributes celebrated. He was named a “varsity scholar” at Newport the past three years. WCPO-TV (Channel 9) and WLWT (Channel 5) both named him their Student-Athlete of the Week. The Enquirer Prep Sports Show honored him as a Classroom Star.
Thursday's award was the crown jewel.
“This means as much to Matt as any award he can get,” Lucas said. “It's for a combination of athletics and academics, and he takes a lot of pride in being able to do both well.”
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Atkins was a team captain for obvious reasons: He almost never left the field. He started at offensive tackle, defensive end and punter. He was a three-year starting lineman.
The Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association named him a first-team all-star the past two years, and he earned the same honor from the Enquirer this fall.
“He really does dominate both ways,” Lucas said.
Atkins had six sacks and 62 tackles this fall, but his greater impact may be seen in his teammates' offensive stats.
He helped the Wildcats set a team single-season rushing mark (3,200 yards) this year, despite playing just one playoff game. He helped quarterback Charlie Smith surpass 1,000 yards rushing and passing in each of the past two seasons. He helped tailback Nick Partin become the school's career rushing leader.
Newport went 19-4 the past two seasons.
Atkins is deciding between football careers at Division I-AA Morehead State and NAIA power Georgetown (Ky.).
“He has always had his head on really straight,” Lucas said. “He knows what he wants to do, which is to continue being a true student-athlete,” Lucas said.
Sports Stories
UC 77, Houston 65
UC NOTEBOOK
Even Martin needs a hand to hold onto
Temple revs up for UC
Neagle's health is Reds' wealth
Kids drew Portugal back
Perez' No. 24 will be retired in May
Rose caught off guard
Tomko ready for new start in Seattle
Pickens fit for Saints?
Bengals' Hawkins welcomes competition
Overruns not new to stadium architect
Xavier's fortunes tied to Frey's consistency
