By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
For many players, this week’s Sertoma Grin Iron Classic serves as a bridge between their high school careers and the start of their college career.
Landon Eggerman, 6-foot-6, 290-pound all-state offensive lineman from Lockwood, certainly attracted the attention of college coaches.
“He’s a big, strong kid who played all year with a torn ACL,” Lockwood head coach Clay Lasater said. “On our level (Class 1), he manhandled anyone he wanted to. He’s an intelligent player.”
Eggerman is going to attend Missouri State University in Springfield this fall, but he’s decided he doesn’t want to play football for the Bears or any other college team.
“That’s just not my deal, I guess,” he said. “You’d think so. A lot of people ask me that. ... I couldn’t make everything work probably. I’m a farm boy, and with everything, it would have been a tight squeeze. I probably could have made it work if I had the will.
“I could have gone somewhere. People sure were interested. I considered walking on. It was pretty hard and heavy for a while. I really probably should (walk on), see what it would be like. I wouldn’t have any regrets that way. ... We’ll see 10 years from now if I have any regrets.”
While he won’t be playing college ball, Eggerman is happy to have been selected for Saturday’s 7 p.m. southwest Missouri all-star game at Plaster Stadium on the Missouri State campus.
Eggerman and his West teammates have been practicing this week at Junge Field. Joplin’s Doug Buckmaster is the West’s head coach, and Vince McCrosky of Cabool is the East head coach.
Eggerman said his biggest concern, other than staying injury-free, is learning the terminology of Joplin High School’s offense.
“There are a lot of plays to learn,” he said. “It’s all new to me again ... like a freshman.”
The game day and location are new this year. In previous years, the game was played on a Friday night at Parkview’s Kennedy Stadium.
Tailgating at Bearfest Village on the MSU campus will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are $6 for the game. There is no charge for tailgating activities.
