Extra Credit

$760 and counting: Southlake Carroll football fans bid on photo of lucky fox

Southlake Carroll schools' mascot is a fire-breathing dragon, but right now, they're crazy about a fox.

It all started when a small fox darted onto the field just as Carroll's quarterback Kenny Hill was making the winning touchdown in the last moments of the Texas Class 5A Division I state semifinals on Dec. 10.

Fans took the appearance of the fox at SMU's Ford Stadium as a lucky sign. Fans brought fox replicas to the state championship at Cowboys Stadium the next week. And a photo of the moment, showing Hill crossing paths with the fox, was put up for auction on Ebay. The framed print is autographed by Hill, a junior, and coach Hal Wasson, who is nicknamed the Silver Fox.

It's a hot ticket. By late Wednesday afternoon, with about five hours left, bidders had driven the price from $100 to $760. The week-long auction ends Wednesday evening. The money will go to Christ's Haven for Children, a Keller-based charity.

The Dragons went on to win the state championship on Dec. 17, prevailing over Fort Bend Hightower 36 to 29. It is the eighth state titles for Carroll Senior High School.

Jessamy Brown

 

Note: the picture to the right isn't the one being auctioned. It shows one Southlake fan's enthusiam for the good-luck fox.                                                                         

Fort Worth schools students compete in Whiz Quiz tonight

Big happenings at the Fort Worth school district tonight. The 33rd annual "Are You Smarter Than a 6th Grader" Whiz Quiz begins at 5 p.m. at the Board of Education meeting room, 2903 Shotts St.

The event matches the best academic teams in the district and those interested can watch in person (and play!) or catch it being streamed live on the district's website, www.fwisd.org. It's also being broadcast live on EdTV, the district's educational TV service.

Carroll schools chief to match wits with Southlake gifted students

Can super smart kids best the leader of one of the state's few exemplary-rated school districts? The Carroll schools superintendent will take on students enrolled in district gifted programs in an unusual matchup. It is billed as a local version of the TV show, called “Is Dr. Faltys smarter than a CISD fifth grader?”

The event featuring David J. Faltys will take place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Barnes and Noble in Southlake Town Square. The Southlake Association for Gifted and Talented is hosting the game as part of a weekend fundraiser. 

Jessamy Brown

Cheerleaders fundraise for Komen breast cancer group at Central vs Keller football game

Next month's friendly football rivalry between two Keller school district campuses is expected to draw a large crowd. And supporters from both teams are hoping to capitalize on full stands to help support a cause.

 

Before the Oct. 2 varsity matchup between Central High's Chargers and Keller High's Indians, cheerleaders from both teams will be selling pink t-shirts to fans, resulting in a sea of pink in the stands.

 

The second annual "Pink Out" Play for the Cure event is to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. At halftime, reps from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization will accept a check from the cheerleaders.

Jessamy Brown

Southlake Carroll to text Dragon football scores during games

In Carroll football news, fans can keep up with how the Dragons are doing on the gridiron using their mobile phones. Score updates will be sent by text message at the end of each quarter. The Carroll Athletic Booster Club has a sign up page on its Web site.

 

Jessamy Brown

Keller football fans to party in designated tailgating zone in stadium lot

Hey, you fans who cheer on teams at home football games in Keller. Keep it down and play nice.

 

Keller school district has imposed new stadium parking and tailgating rules for the 2009 season, which includes 15 regular varsity games.

 

"While it is a great tradition and adds to the pre-game excitement, it has become more and more of a safety hazard in our parking lots," officials said in a statement.

 

Tailgating is now limited to the southernmost end of the home side parking lot at KISD Athletic Complex. The area, with about 100 parking spaces, is to be marked as a tailgating zone.

 

Here are the rules:

1. "Try to limit your spot to two spaces." Or fewer.

2. Clean up afterward and take your trash with you.

3. Music should not be so loud that it offends neighbors or other tailgaters.

4. No tobacco or alcohol.

 

Fossil Ridge High takes on Flower Mound Marcus High tonight. In honor of Sept. 11, the first 1,000 fans will get an American flag, courtesy of athletic boosters.

 

Jessamy Brown

Dragon fans at Southlake Carroll football games can text for help

Fans at Dragon Stadium in Southlake can now call for help without even leaving their seats during football games. The Carroll school district is implementing an instant two-way text-messaging alert system, starting at Friday's football game against Houston Bellaire. Carroll is believed to be the first k-12 school district in the country to launch the system.
Fans can use GuestAssist to report problems, such as disruptive guests, health emergencies and lost children. A staffer checking the messages can reply.
Send a text using the key word "DRAGONS," plus a location and message, to 78247.
Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth high school football games rescheduled for Saturday

That weather Thursday night was something. There were 350 lightning strikes between 7 and 8 p.m. yesterday, including one that hit a pregnant Bedford woman. So the kickoff to many high school football seasons was delayed. Three Fort Worth games that were canceled will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday. Click here for more details.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Carroll to debut online show on Dragon's football season opener

Carroll football fans will be able to tune into a new Internet-based show featuring football highlights after home games. The "Official Dragon Post Game Show" will launch with the season opener at SMU's Ford Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29, and the show is to be available by noon on Saturday. The show will feature the band, drill team and cheerleaders and include interviews with students, teachers, coaches and administrators. Plans are to create an online television show for the Southlake-based school district next year called "Inside Carroll."

Jessamy Brown

Keller High students want to leave their mark with world record

What to do while classmates are busy taking the state standardized test next week? Seniors at Keller High School will attempt to break a Guinness Book record by holding the world's largest three-legged race.

The senior class and other students who are not taking the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test will start classes late on April 28 while the test is given. Pairs of students will bind their adjacent legs together for the mass race in an attempt to surpass the record of 80 pairs of racers set in January by lawyers in Hong Kong.

The Class of 2009 wants to achieve the goal to leave a legacy, said Patrick Waters, a Keller High senior who is leading the event.

Watch the race: 11 a.m., April 28, Keller ISD Athletic Complex, 500 N. Pate Orr Road, Keller.

Jessamy Brown