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Having A Coach 24/7
Pruitt enjoys playing under brother
Last updated Friday, October 5, 2007 1:47 AM CDT in Prep Sports
SPRINGDALE — Houston Pruitt never catches a break, but it's probably for the better.
Just a sophomore, Pruitt starts at free safety for Springdale Har-Ber. He's only one year removed from his playing days at Southwest Junior High and just celebrated his 16th birthday yesterday, so it's understandable that he might make a couple mistakes in the field in practice or during a game.
And when he does, he hears it from his coaches, just like any of his teammates would. But after the game is over, after he's changed out of his pads and after he's gotten in the car to head for home, he still hasn't heard the last of it.
If he messes up, he hears about it. If there's something he could have done better, he hears about it. If there's anything else a coach might want to say to him after the game, he probably hears about that, too.
Why?
Because after he gets in the car and buckles his seat belt, there's a coach next to him. Say hello to Pruitt's brother, Zach, a graduate assistant coach for the Wildcats and a former standout linebacker for Springdale High's 2004 state runner-up squad.
"It's like having a coach with you 24-7," Houston said. "He's always trying to help me. He used to be the one getting interviewed and doing well on Friday nights, and now I'm here and he's a coach. It's great."
On the field, it's not that evident that the two are brothers. Zach doesn't say much to him. He doesn't shout across the field at him — he's usually busy helping coach the linebackers.
"When they're out here on the field together, you can't even tell they're brothers," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said.
But when Zach isn't working with the linebackers, he watches his brother closely, dissecting almost everything his little brother does. What are his strengths? What can he do better? What does he need to say that the other coaches haven't already said?
"When we get in the car, that's when it starts," Zach said. "His two biggest critics are me and my dad, so he doesn't have it easy. Like if I don't think he practiced hard enough, I give him a hard time. I try to stay on him as much as I can."
So far, he's done a pretty good job. Houston is known for his hard hits in the Wildcat secondary, and he played a huge role in helping Har-Ber (4-1, 2-0 7A-West Conference) push to the top of the conference standings. He's recorded three interceptions — all coming last week at Van Buren — and 17 tackles.
"He's doing good so far, and I'm proud of him," Zach said. "But he can do better."
Spoken like any big brother would.
Profile
Name: Houston Pruitt
School: Springdale Har-Ber
Class: Sophomore
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 160
Notable: Pruitt's brother, Zack, started for Springdale High's 2004 state runner-up squad.
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