2001

Cheatham fitting in at East Central

his alma mater, Neshoba Central. But now, Cheatham has returned to coaching at the colle– giate level - he once served as special teams coach at Clemson – and he is loving it. "I feel like I've died and gone to heaven," he said. "(East Central head coach) Terry (Underwood) runs a very good program, and there's a pleasant atmosphere at this campus." Underwood was glad he invited Cheatham to join his staff. "We think be's great," Underwood said. "He's a great · guy, and a seasoned coach. Plus, he's worked at the collegiate level before, and that's good experience. He's only been here a short time, but the players really respect him." Cheatham sees several of his fonner players on the East Central roster, including sophomore offen– sive lineman Cedric McAfee (6-3, 320). sophomore defensive back Buck Thames (5- 11 , 172), and It c1.hman offcnsivc Iincrnan l .l'andtl'W McDonald (6 0, 255) <'h~·111ham ', dutil's with lhc Wuttuu' tlldtult• toad llttV lllll' 1!,11 l..t" .111d • pc•n,tl ll'lllll\. I k i.s 1tl•.o Ill \~lt[lf~~~~· Ill lltl' lvollll ~ llltlll

By MITCH LUCAS Sports Writer

DECATUR - Just months after leaving his position as head football coach at Philadelphia High School, Steve Cheatham has ---=:: settled in as an assistant in the East Central Community College pro– gram. Just ask his charges. "We' re glad to have him," said Brian LilHs, a tight end-defensive lineman for the Warriors, who played at Neshoba Central, Cheatham's biggest rival while the Tornadoes' head coach. "He brings a great intensity to this team." Cheatham 's intensity and tenacity made him a hot commod– ity among high school coaches in the !>laic, and had he stayed at Phdadc lphta, Cheatham surely WIHtld haw hc~·n mentioned for ol hn pH'fl Jllh\ II " name was .tl" ,ty• ht ttll~•hl up ,unon)! ~clwob' wi~h II 1 I It• ,ci,,ll lu d !111 lotttadot•s fnt flit It ~·:;_t~.t111' I IIII IJllhllf .I IC\ II ! In 111.! iih' ll 111.1 l1llll I 111\'l'lllliV\ lttp 111 1111 I l.t• 1 \ (li.tyull ' l'rllttp· (Ill 1 1111p(1t l '"' In I'll S J':m I it 'lll hfllfl WI}~ 41 (l ·II 1111 I

Photo by Mitch Lucas

East Central Community College Head Football Coach Terry Untft •twood, kneeling, is surround– ed by assistant coaches. from left, Steve Cheatham, Fred Lyon••. I tm Coats, Joey Pinkston, Tommy Clopton and trainer Joey Mcleod.

agers: Ben Wilbanks, Terrance Anderson, Hardy Gross, Brook Bobo, Justin Wilkerson, and Ncshoba countian Damon lludson . " I hcy' rc a good group of ktd< hl· \:t id. " I tl'llthcmwhat wt•

need done, and they do it, without hesitation. We' re geuing alon~· great." Coaching-wise, C'hcatham h"' been pleased wllh lw, pmup o l lincbucl..cr" whtl h aH' lh111 Wil<>on (C1 ~. Jl'l). of Nt·wtou

John of I u~caloosa, Ala.; Kody Comans ('I II , 195) of Decatur; Howard I11rbon (5- t I , 220) of Forest; Josh Vtvetcllc (5- ll , 170) of Lake; 1 1\l'tHhick Love (5- 11, 190) of Soo CHEATHAM, page 27 ' .2: J ~ ze> ffii= ~ oz C>>- zi-W . . z 1- ...J ::::> 0::: (/) Zwz~oo~ 0 cn=>a.u~~ wcnOa.zLL o:::wu~ 00 z ~~1-zl-1-o wwl- 0 cn-1- a.~O-z~~ Q.~UZ>a.W ~...JCI) ::::> :>cn Z Bibb (5-1 1, 225)

spcrd of' lhl' gunw at th~ ill11101 'oiiCMl'lcvcl and tlw hiJ'h school level. "That's I he bigvcst di ITett•nec." Itt 'ittld. "Tiwsc guys have some spccu, and I know a lot of the team!> we' II be playing have it, tno. II 's kind of amazing to get used to this again....But we play in a good league, and many of lhe players here could be playing Division I. college football right now. We're excited about the season, and I believe we'll have a good one."

Lnjti~vilil' und of cou•~e. lotmcr Ncshoba e,rtlt~tl ,,,u Stacey Lewis ((t 0, 246), u 1 ,·,hnt.ut < 'lwathlltll was high 1111 I ~·wi:o. when the young matt wa-. :-.ltllut Neshoha Ccntrnl and Cheatham had to coach nguinst hun as the leader of the Tornadoes. ''Stacey's been working very, very hnrd ror us," said Cheatham. "He's got a chance to do some special things." Overall, Cheatham is having to once aguin get accustomed to the difference in