Dogs' Bellow makes most of his chance as new QB

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Dogs' Bellow makes most of his chance as new QB

By Tom Halliburton

The Port Arthur News

NEDERLAND -- Kirby Bellow accepts each separate challenge as it arrives. For now, the challenges just keep on coming in various shapes and sizes.

  The 15-year-old newly appointed sophomore field general for Nederland merely handles the matter as if he is walking up the aluminum steps of Bulldog Stadium's grandstands. It's really rather simple -- just take one step at a time, watch where you're going and stay in the present.

Don't try to take more than one step. Don't get careless. Stay within yourself.

  It's pathetically simple, yet endlessly complicated. The Nederland coaches never have tried to make their 6-0, 170-pound sophomore extend beyond his expected abilities. That's the beauty of Nederland's coaching staff.

Assistant coaches such as offensive coordinator Monte Barrow, running backs coach Cody Robbins and receivers coach Bryan Spell all played quarterback at Nederland. They've been there, done that, and they keep the issues for Kirby within an attainable level.

  If those three aren't helping Bellow (not Bellows) out enough, head coach Larry Neumann and volunteer student quarterback coach Ryan Sampere are also available to lend advice.

  Sampere has returned to school this week with a cast covering his injured ankle. So he has discovered ample time to coach Bellow through a job that he planned to handle.

  Amazingly enough, the volunteer student mentor sees the exact attribute in Kirby that the seasoned offensive coordinator notices. Sampere and Barrow remarked on Wednesday just how calm and relaxed that Danny and Lisa Bellow’s son has coped with this most nerve-wrecking football position.

  Making his first varsity start last week at Houston Forest Brook, Bellow threw four touchdown passes and gave every indication of filling Sampere's large void rather comfortably.

  Sampere even could watch Bellow in the game from the sideline after his ankle fracture. He noticed that Kirby looked rather relaxed.

  "He was loosy-goosy back there," Sampere said of Bellow's emergency Reliant Stadium varsity debut. "I could see him from the bench. He never looks intense."

  Bellow remembered the scary late night entrance a bit differently. He had to replace Sampere without a moment's notice with less than three minutes left in the third quarter of the Brenham game.

  "I was much more nervous against Brenham because I wasn't prepared," Bellow recalled. "I thought Ryan was going to play the whole game."

  Kirby had impressed observers as an eighth-grade quarterback at C.O. Wilson Junior High. His development as a passer was curtailed last year as a Nederland freshman. Bellow played wide receiver and safety because he was advised to limit his throwing last season.

He was only cleared to start throwing last March. Meanwhile his competitive maturity and confidence was benefitting from the opportunity to start the entire varsity baseball season at first base.