The champions are coming home.

Ohio State Buckeyes assistant football coach Mark Snyder and freshman tight end Redgie Arden, members of the NCAA National Championship team, will be guests Friday when the Ironton Fighting Tigers host Lawrence County, Ky.

Arden was all-state in 1998 and 1999. He was the Associated Press Division IV Defensive Player of the Year his senior season along with current Buckeye teammate Brandon Schnittker.

Arden played on special teams this season and had some spot play at tight end. He caught four passes for 50 yards including one for 19 yards.

Snyder was an All-Ohio quarterback and safety for Ironton in 1982

when he guided Ironton to the Division III state championship game. He later played at Marshall University where he was first team All-Southern Conference and honorable mention Div. I-AA All-American.

As a coach, Snyder was a member of the Youngstown State staff under current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel when the Penguins won four I-AA national championships.

He later was an assistant coach at Minnesota and helped engineer an upset win at Ohio State.

Arden and Snyder will be honored at halftime while senior members of the Ironton basketball team will be honored prior to the game.

----------

7 to enter Chesapeake HOF

Chesapeake High School will hold its athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies prior to Saturday night's game against Huntington St. Joseph.

Former players being inducted are Rick Edwards, Allen Osborne, Larry "Buzz" Curry, Richard "Dicky" Wilkes and Shawn McWhorter (football & track). Honorary inductees will be booster Marlene Pannell and booster/youth league director Tom Curry.

Edwards attended prep school and then started at the University of Richmond before playing professionally overseas. Osborne was a four-year starter as Marshall University's catcher, and McWhorter was a two-time runner-up in the state track meet in the shot and discus.

----------

Is Tubby headed to the NBA?

Rumors persist that Orlando "Tubby" Smith will leave the University of Kentucky after this season to become the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

Smith is expected to sign a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $4 million per year.

As for a replacement, UK reportedly has its eyes fixed hard on current Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey.

Kentucky fans might have a little resentment if Brey is the choice. Before becoming a head coach, Brey was an assistant at Duke.