Hickenbotham is climbing up charts
TODD TRAUBARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Still struggling uphill, James Hickenbotham is right at home at Arkansas State.
In a departure from last year, and thanks in large part to Hickenbotham, the Indians are still in contention for a championship heading into today's 2 p.m. kickoff at Middle Tennessee.
Hickenbotham, ASU's junior receiver/return specialist, returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown against Idaho last week. The explosive play, with Hickenbotham racing untouched down the left sideline, pulled the sputtering Indians within 31-27 of the Vandals with 8:47 left in the third quarter, and ASU rallied for a 34-31 victory.
"I know that special teams, a burst from special teams, could help lift the team up," said Hickenbotham, who finished the day with 240 all-purpose yards. "On that kickoff return, the guys blocked so well I had no choice but to take it to the end zone. The holes that they gave me you could drive a Mack truck through."
It was the kind of play Hickenbotham was preparing for as he bicycled up the hills and mountains of his native Virginia during the off-season.
"I ride my bike, I guess, about 3 or 4 miles to my old high school and work out, and then from there I'll ride my bike back," said Hickenbotham, who attended Roanoke (Va.) Patrick Henry and Fork Union Prep. "Just coming up mountains and hills and everything. So I get a real good workout and keep my legs in shape, and as a result, I think my squat went up 80 pounds when I came back."
A victory today would give the Indians a share of first with two conference games remaining. Though ASU (2-5, 2-1) has won just one more game than it did last season -- when it beat North Texas in the finale -- the victories have come in Sun Belt play, meaning there is something substantial at stake in November.
"Definitely having won some games going into November, that's a lot as far as motivating the team," Hickenbotham said. "Coming into this knowing we have a chance to win the Sun Belt Conference. We're our own worst enemy if we don't win the games we're supposed to win."
ASU was coming off a 4-8 season when Hickenbotham was a freshman and won just five games his first two seasons. Hickenbotham has envied the success of some of his Virginia high school contemporaries like Michael Vick, now in the NFL, and Lee Suggs of Virginia Tech.
But Hickenbotham knew what he was getting into at ASU.
"They went to programs that were already established," Hickenbotham, 5-10, 176 pounds, said. "This one's on the rise. If I can help get this one up to where it is established, then I've done my job. I've done my part."
And how.
Hickenbotham averages 7.3 yards every time he touches the football while maintaining a 118.6 yards per-game average.
He has two kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career and is fourth on ASU's all-time kick return chart with 948 yards. His return Saturday was the seventh-longest in school history. ASU is 23rd in the nation with an average of 23.2 yards a return.
"We feel like on all kickoffs that we have an opportunity," Coach Joe Hollis said. "If the ball stays within the playing field, we have an opportunity to return it for a touchdown."
Hickenbotham was an all-state and honorable mention All-American selection as a high school running back when he rushed for 2,213 yards his senior year. But he was converted from running back to receiver after arriving at ASU.
It was a move Hickenbotham didn't like, but at least he is making the most of the time he spends with the ball.
"I mean, there's nothing I love better than having the football in my hand," Hickenbotham said. "It's a major adjustment from touching the football in the backfield about 18-25 times a game to touching it 4 or 5. Major difference when you're a true competitor. But if we're going to win by me doing that, then I will sacrifice it."
ARKANSAS STATE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
WHEN 2 p.m. today
WHERE Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
SERIES Middle Tennessee leads 2-0
LINE Middle Tennessee by 22
COACHES Joe Hollis (17-44-1 in fifth season at ASU), Andy McCollum (15-15 in third season)
TELEVISION None
RADIO KKEY-FM, 95.9, and KNEA-AM, 979, in Jonesboro; KEWI-AM, 690, in Benton; KHPQ-FM, 92.1, in Clinton; KASR-FM, 82.7, in Conway; KQEW-FM, 102.3, in Fordyce; KXJK-AM, 950, in Forrest City; KBOA-FM, 105.5, in Kennett, Mo.; KXSA-FM, 99.9, in Monticello; KTLO-AM, 1240, in Mountain Home; KNBY-AM, 1280, in Newport; KWYN-AM, 1400, in Wynne and KAAY-AM, 1090, in Little Rock
This article was published on November 3, 2001
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