Such a nice article about the Bailey boys in the Joplin Globe today! Football a common bond for Bailey familyBy Mark Schremmer 11/27/2013 11:43 PM When the Bailey family gets together for Thanksgiving, it’s a safe assumption that football will be a topic of conversation. Scott Bailey is the Lamar Tigers’ head football coach. His brother, Steven Bailey, is an assistant. Their nephews, Ben and Sam Bailey, are all-state performers. “Every time we have a family get-together, football is always one of the main topics, especially when Coach (Scott) Bailey is there,” said Ben Bailey, a senior offensive and defensive lineman. “I don’t think we even talk about anything else.” Football is definitely on the minds of the Bailey family this week as the Tigers (13-1) will try to win their third consecutive Class 2 state championship when they face Lawson (12-2) at 4:15 p.m. Friday at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. It will be the final time for the twin brothers, Ben and Sam, to play together as Lamar Tigers and their final time to be coached by their uncles. “Being coached by my uncle has probably been one of the most special things that has happened in my life,” Ben Bailey said. Scott Bailey said he has enjoyed watching his nephews progress as players. “It’s probably been more special to me than it has been to them,” he said. “To them, there have probably been a lot of days where it has been a pain in their butt. With me and my brothers, they never get away from it.” But senior tight end and defensive Sam Bailey said he knows the goal was always to make them better. “Him (Coach Bailey) being family, I’ve always known whatever he’s telling me, whatever he wants me to do, it’s for my best interest,” Sam Bailey said. “He knows what’s going to make me better. He really wants to see us succeed, and he wants to be a part of our success and be close with us.” The brothers have both had their share of success with the Tigers. Sam Bailey (6-6, 252) and Ben Bailey (6-7, 232) each earned first-team MFCA all-state honors last year and second-team all-state honors from the Missouri sportswriters. Sam has verbally committed to play the offensive line for the Missouri Tigers. Ben has received interest from several schools. This season, the brothers have helped block for an offense that has produced 6,310 rushing yards and 60.1 points per game. Defensively, Sam Bailey has 58 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Ben Bailey has 9.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries. They were recognized as the co-Big 8 Conference defensive players of the year. The competition between siblings has helped each brother work to get better. “If it wasn’t for Sam, I don’t know if I’d be as far along as I am,” Ben Bailey said. “Not very many people can say they get to play against their exact opposite. “Everybody has their days where they’re just like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ Then you look over at the other side of the weight room and you’re brother’s there doing it and having fun. It motivates you.” A sibling rivalry has fueled the brothers through the years, but they also are each other’s biggest fans. “We’ve always wanted to be better than the other one,” Sam Bailey said. “That’s it just plain and simple. When we play against each other, we hate each other. We’ll do anything to beat the other. But after that, we go back to being brothers.”
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 14:47:23 +0000
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