I thought it very interesting to read about top Cotton Bowl quarterbacks the other day. The list read like this:

Troy Aikman, UCLA, 1989; Doug Flutie, Boston College, 1985; Dan Mario, Pittsburgh, 1983; Joe Montana, Notre Dame, 1979; Joe Theismann, Notre Dame, 1971; Ken Stabler, Alabama, 1968; Norm Van Brocklin, Oregon, 1949; Sammy Baugh, TCU, 1937.

Quite a stable of quarterbacks. Seeing lists like that does for a fact remind how important solid quarterbacks are. For sure you must have good linemen for the quarterbacks to be able to do their thing. Let’s not forget that.

When quarterbacks do well, though, the headlines just naturally point to all the good things the signal-callers did. Again, only natural.

Take current quarterbacking stars like Eli Manning and an Ole Miss junior offensive lineman who played with Eli:

&8220;I haven’t gotten anything signed by him (Eli), or have taken any pictures with him, but I’ll have it all in my head,&8221; one teammate offered. &8220;One day I’ll be able to tell my grandkids I blocked for that guy for three years. I don’t need any autographs for that. I’ll have my memories.&8221; Quite moving.

I guess you’ve guessed old memories like those talked about here motivate my writing much of the time. I’ve been there and done that since I started writing for The Democrat back in 1939-40. I’ve enjoyed it, that’s for sure.

I guess I’ll continue writing for a while yet. With your permission. Naw, I guess you can stand it if I can. Just kiddin’ &045; we understand each other, don’t we?

Hurried HasH &045; It was rather heart-warming to this ole writer to learn Lance Reed is now head football coach at Natchez High School. We have here a coach of proven ability who knows the territory. If you get my drift, Coach Reed is at home in these surroundings.

Coach Reed is set to go at Natchez High. He’s set because he’s the kind of skipper who practices getting prepared for any task he accepts. Think about it &045; he heads every member of his staff in the right direction as he sees it, let’s them know exactly what that direction is and gets on with it.

I also like it when it’s more than football that gets the attention of someone; NASD officials in this case. And board president Norris Edney in particular. Let me tell you something right now &045; Norris Edney is no dumb-bunny &045; pardon my English. I know you get my drift &045; Norris Edney has been there and done that.

I discussed Eli Manning briefly here last week. Well, I have a little more to say today.

It just so happens Eli is extremely conscientious to go with the &8220;smarts&8221; he naturally calls on. Now that everyone knows he’s a cracker-jack football player, we’re just waitin’ until he goes down to his new job.

&8220;Manning&8221; evidently means &8220;manning&8221; a football, whether it be high school, college or professional. Most college-professional football players are smart enough to size-up things thrown their way by men who have been there and done that.

Just watch ’em when they get to earning weekly grocery money &045; they wise-up for some reason.

Man that ship, Manning.

Glenvall Estes is a longtime columnist for The Natchez Democrat.