The Pine Bluff High School football team could end up playing a nationally televised game on the “worldwide leader in sports.”
ESPN has contacted North Little Rock coach Brad Bolding about moving its home game against Pine Bluff to a Thursday night game, which would be televised on one of ESPN’s networks. Brad Bolding is the brother of Pine Bluff coach Bobby Bolding.
“They made one 30-second phone call to my brother, and there is not anything in the works yet,” Bobby Bolding said. “I haven’t even spoken with ESPN yet.
“They are going into a meeting and researching different games. Nothing more to that.”
Pine Bluff is scheduled to play North Little Rock in the third week of the season.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“If it works out, great. If it doesn’t, whatever,” Bobby Bolding said of the possibility of playing a nationally televised game. “I told my brother we would move it to Thursday if they are going to do it.”
Pine Bluff made it to the semifinals of the 6A state playoffs last year.
One of the reasons ESPN is considering the game is because of North Little Rock running back Altee Tenpenny, who is considered the 54th best prospect in the 2013 class according to ESPN. Tenpenny is ranked as a four-star recruit and has already committed to Alabama.
Tenpenny is considered the top recruit in the state and the fifth-best running back prospect according to ESPN.
“Well, they are probably considering North Little Rock more than us because of him,” Bolding said. “But we will be glad to show up and see if we can play with them.”
There has been no timetable set as to when ESPN will make its decision.