First it was the local paper.

Friday, September 08, 2000

First it was the local paper. Then it was the state magazines. Next came the national magazines.

Now, it’s Prime Time.

Okay, so maybe it’s still the morning hours, but Redgie Arden figures to grab a little air time Saturday morning on Fox Sports Ohio’s prep report.

The show features highlights of some of the most significant players in the country, and Arden will be on the show that is scheduled to air at 11:30 a.m.

Film highlights of Arden have been supplied by Sam and Penny Heighton of Heigh-Ton Video.

Ironton athletic director and assistant football coach Mike Burcham said he received the call Wednesday morning.

"(Fox Sports) saw we were in the state finals last year and they called the Ohio athletic association, but they couldn’t find Arden," Burcham said.

"I told them that was because he was on the sidelines. He was out with an injury. I told them to contact Sam and Penny. They had all the film on him. They weren’t sure about getting the film from them, but I told them that Sam and Penny were professionals."

Fox Sports contacted the Heightons and found out that there was overhead and sideline footage.

"They said they had never heard of a high school that had sideline footage, too," Penny Heighton said.

"They called about 2 o’clock and said they’d send a courier about 4 o’clock. Sam was worried he wouldn’t get the film together in time."

But he did, and the film was mailed for the Saturday program.

Fox Sports locally airs on Adelphia cable channel 36.

Arden, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound senior, is listed as one of the top linebackers in the country. He has already given a verbal commitment to Ohio State.