LJ FB: Putting on the 'Hurt'

Kevin Hurt (right), Vikings specialty coach,
with Matt Hammel before the Hilltop
7-on-7 passing league Sat., June 1.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

Kevin Hurt is doing double duty at La Jolla High Spring football practice.

The new Viking assistant, who was a kicker at Ole Miss back in the day, was busy juggling his coaching duties with Devin Bale, a punter, and other players, while anticipating his son Kyle's status in the amateur baseball draft, which began Mon., June 3.

Kyle is a right-handed pitcher at USC.

"His agent just sent me this text," said the amiable, easy-going older Hurt, who has stories to tell about adjusting to life at the University of Mississippi as one of the few Northerners on the football team. The text had a list of draft prospects, with "Rounds 7-10" next to his son's name.

"Today is rounds one through three. Tomorrow is rounds four through 10," the football coach informed a reporter. "That means he (Kyle) would go tomorrow."

The dollar goal? "He's looking for a million dollars."

A large issue is the fact USC just let go of its head coach, who Kyle was recruited under, and brought in a new coaching staff. With the change in coaches, Kyle's standing on the school's pitching staff would be yet-to-be-determined. So his preference, according to his father, would be to move on--if the bonus money is satisfactory.

Hence, the seven-figure number.

Meanwhile, the coach spun spirals to Bale, who grabbed them, then boomed punts across the width of the Edwards Field turf, rather than length-wise, right near the other "indy" stations run by other assistants in the Viking football program.

"We'll see," was Dad's attitude, here at the 4 o'clock hour on Monday, the day before it's more likely his son would be selected.

The agent's other prospects also had "Rounds 7-10" next to them in the text.