All-Northeast Tennessee Offensive Player of the Year: Sullivan South’s Curt Phillips
Brian T Smith/Bristol Herald Courier
Published: January 3, 2008
Updated: January 3, 2008
How good was Curt Phillips this season?Published: January 3, 2008
Updated: January 3, 2008
Phillips wasn’t good. He was better than good. He was better than great.
Phillips was extraordinary.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior quarterback led Sullivan South to a 12-2 (7-0 Mountain Lakes Conference) record. The Rebels won 10 straight games, captured their third consecutive MLC title, and made it to the Class 4A state semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Maryville.
And as Sullivan South racked up wins, built prestige and garnered respect, Phillips put up numbers. Lots of them. And the numbers were big. And they were jaw-droppingly impressive.
Phillips completed 63.9 percent (161 of 252) of his passes for 2,115 yards and 16 touchdowns. He ran 238 times for 1,868 yards (7.85 yards-per-carry average) and 39 touchdowns. He accumulated 205 yards and a touchdown returning kickoffs and punts. Combined, Phillips accounted for 4,118 yards and 56 touchdowns. And he even stepped up to play safety during the latter part of South’s memorable season.
“Hands down, Curt’s the best player, the best kid I’ve ever coached,” said Rebels coach Stacy Carter. “And I’d normally never say something like that – that’s a big statement. But Curt deserves it. He put in the work and the time. He utilized every ounce of his talent. And he always put the team first.”
And now, Phillips has been named the 2007 Northeast Tennessee Offensive Player of the Year.
Funny thing, though. To let Phillips know, a call had to be made. And when Phillips got the word, he was in Tampa, Fla., celebrating New Year’s Eve and preparing to watch the University of Wisconsin take on the University of Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.
“It’s great to hear,” said Phillips, who will join the Badgers later this year. “The whole season was kind of like a dream season for us. We started something and we did our best to stick together and finish it.”
Moreover, Phillips said that when he played his last game as a Rebel, he walked off the field with no regrets.
Phillips helped South lay the groundwork for a new legacy. Three MLC titles and region-wide respect now have the Rebels sitting high atop their throne. And according to Phillips, that’s something no one will ever be able to take away.
“All of us will always be able to look back now and talk about what we did,” he said. “And it wasn’t just me. I couldn’t have done any of the things I did without my teammates. This is something we can all be proud of for a long time.”
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At a Glance
Player: Curt Phillips
High School: Sullivan South
Year: Senior
Position: Quarterback, safety, kickoff/punt returner
Numbers: Passing - 161 of 252 for 2,115 yards and 16 touchdowns; rushing - 238 rushes for 1,868 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Honors: Northeast Tennessee Offensive Player of the Year; Division 1, Class 4A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Award finalist; Mountain Lakes Conference Player of the Year; Gatorade Player of the Year (Tennessee).
College: University of Wisconsin
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