Dallas Clark Signing Memorabilia to Benefit Child Success

By Brea Love, KCRG-TV9
March 4, 2016

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) – Four Oaks is holding a special fundraiser featuring NFL champion Dallas Clark to encourage the community to support its mission.

The organization’s mission is to assure children become successful adults through its many preventative programs, emergency shelters, residential centers, and school based programs.

Clark will be signing Hawkeye and Colts memorabilia at the Wilson Avenue HyVee in Cedar Rapids from 5 to 8 p.m. Photos and Autographs are $10, he will also sign Train Wreck Winery bottles for $5. Herky the Hawk will also be on site until 7 p.m.

Before heading to the HyVee fundraiser, Clark is meeting with youth in Four Oak’s residential center. Education and Employment Officer Debbie Craig said the visit will have a big impact on the kids.

“You can only imagine what that would do for a youth in a residential program to have that inspiration. We’re going to have this gentleman he came from a small town in Iowa, he went to the University of Iowa, and then went on to the NFL and won a Superbowl, that gives them hope,” Craig said. “When those children achieve their success, their families, their neighborhoods, even their communities all get stronger. If we can help these children achieve success we in fact get stronger communities.”

Charles Davis Sees A Bright Future For Brandon Scherff At Guard

Last year around this time, when the Redskins and general manager Scot McCloughan were trying to determine who might fit as the No. 5 overall pick, NFL analyst Charles Davis believed one of the team’s prime targets, left tackle Brandon Scherff from Iowa, should really be a guard.

By Jake Kring-Schreifels

February 29, 2016

“I moved him to guard in my position rating,” Davis said in early April. “I didn’t leave him at tackle; I made him my No. 1 guard in the position ranking. I think that’s where he’s going to be best.”

That analysis proved true. After a week in training camp, and some time for head coach Jay Gruden to determine who fit best and where on the offensive line, Scherff was moved to right guard, while Morgan Moses took over the starting spot at right tackle.

The decision proved more than effective. Scherff, standing at 6-foot-5, 319 pounds, would only miss one snap – thanks to his cleat falling off – the entire season, growing into a strong blocker up the middle and forming a powerful right side.

“I think the more comfortable he gets, and remember, we’re talking about a guy that moved into a position he hadn’t played, he’d always been a tackle, always out on the edge, and things are different inside,” Davis told Redskins.com at the NFL Combine. “But I thought body type, strength, I thought the way that he played the game fit.”

Davis chose not to brag about his foresight. Instead he made even more predictions.

“It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him become a perennial pro bowl, All-Pro type of a guard because he has those types of skills and now with one year under his belt, going into this year, everything’s not foreign anymore,” he said. “Everything’s not super-fast anymore. Now it’s just adding some polish to some things. He’s the type of kid that will work and get that done, have no doubt in my mind that we’ll see him going to Pro Bowls and be listed on All-Pro lists coming up.”

Avery Williamson Giving Back in a Big Way

February 23, 2016

Current Tennessee Titan and Former Kentucky Wildcat Avery Williamson is back in the bluegrass and giving back to someone who has given her time to help so many. Williamson will be doing a FREE Public Signing at AllSports (Fayette Mall) this Friday from 6-7pm. Williamson is encouraging those who come out to donate towards Sarah Warner Lister's battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. For the past 10 years Sarah has been the Executive Director of Lexington's Ronald McDonald House, providing comfort and hope to thousands of families from around the world while their children are hospitalized. Sarah's beautiful smile and always positive personality is contagious to anyone who meets her. Many of Sarah's supporters have started wearing Orange Ribbons to help raise Leukemia Awareness as well as promoting the hashtag #TeamSarah.

Williamson who played under Coach Stoops at Kentucky was an All-SEC Selection and was chosen by the Tennessee Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft. "I love Kentucky and anytime I'm back I love meeting members of the BBN. After hearing about Sarah's battle and how much she has done for so many others I thought it would be a great idea to rally the BBN for a great cause." Williamson recorded 102 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception for the Titans this season. See below for more information about Sarah's fight and how you can help donate.

In addition to signing for donations, Avery is giving away two free tickets to a 2016 Tennessee Titans home football game. For a chance to win please bring a donation of any amount to the free public signing.

If you can’t make it out, here is how you can participate from home:

1. Visit Sarah Warner's donation page: Team Sarah donation page
2. Select a donation amount of your choice
3. Input your name
4. Input #TeamAvery in the “Comments, In Memory, Tribute” section
5. The winner will be contacted on March 2, 2016