Written by Carter L Robison
“I love going to Bison basketball games because I am so close to the players, and I am one of the little Rhodes Rowdies,” Peydon Harlow said.
Peydon Harlow,J. Paul Fullerton, Pate Fullerton andDavis Morganhave several things in common: They are members of the Arkansas Bison USSSA baseball team, their dads are actively involved in Bison athletics, and they love Harding athletics and the athletes who are involved in them.
These four boys are often seen under the basket in the Rhodes Fieldhouse, jumping up and down, screaming their hearts out and cheering on their role models at the Lady Bison and Bison basketball games.
Shane Fullerton, assistant coach for the Lady Bison basketball team and former Bison baseball coach,has worked with many athletes during his 14-year tenure at Harding. He said he knows how much it means to the athletes to have the children around.
“I hope it means a ton, and I believe it does,” Fullerton said. “I believe our athletes at Harding are excellent examples of what we want to represent. Sometimes we fail, but I believe that the hearts of our coaches and athletes are in the right place, and the athletes take very seriously of their obligation to young people.”
Even the young boys understand and appreciate the Harding athletes and how they treat them.
“I like Steven Blake, Trent Morgan and Kevin Brown (basketball players) because they are nice to me,” Pate Fullerton said.
Head Athletic Trainer Ronnie Harlow has spent 18 years at Harding, including school and his professional career. Harlow understands the impact the athletes have on his children.
“It’s huge, both in Christ-like attitude on and off the floor, and even work ethic,” Harlow said.
Although the athletes play an important role in the lives of their fans, the coaches and the fathers play an even more important role to these “Little Rhodes Rowdies.” Fullerton, Harlow and men’s basketball head coach Jeff Morgan are actively involved in coaching and supporting their sons’ USSSA baseball team.
J. Paul loves a lot of things about baseball, but his favorite thing about baseball doesn’t necessarily have to do with the sport itself.
“My favorite thing about baseball is my dad coaching me,” Fullerton said. “I really wouldn’t like anybody else coaching me. I wouldn’t mind somebody else, but he knows my strengths and weakness to help me.”
Davis Morgan loves baseball but said he has one goal for his life.
“I want to play basketball at Harding, because I want my dad to coach me,” he said.
