Scott Runyan, 1981 BFS Athlete of the Year

by Dr. Greg Shepard Reprint for this Special Edition Scott Runyan "BFS Athlete of the Year" in 1981 continues winning. He led his Artesia Football team to two State Championships. This outstanding quarterback is now a freshman at the University of Wyoming.

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Scott, a QB, increased his Bench from 200 to 435 plus' Several years ago I became familiar with Artesia High School in Artesia, New Mexico. Coach Mike Phipps became interested in the BFS Program and started using it for his football team. Coach Phipps had a young athlete by the name of Scott Runyan who weighed 155 pounds, ran a 4.9 forty and could bench 200 and squat 200. Coach Phipps decided because Scott was a 4.0 student and a fine athlete, he'd be a natural at quarterback. After an opening loss against Hobbs, New Mexico, Scott became the starting QB as a Sophomore. Scott led his team to 13 straight victories and the State 3A championship.

He ran the wishbone to perfection as he rushed for 1,369 yards and a 6.6 yard per carry average and managed to throw for 380 more yards and 6 touchdowns. There was no denying Scott first team All-State honors. He scored 19 touchdowns and 23 extra points which was a new record for scoring by a sophomore in New Mexico. He was the first team AllState punter. Scott is also a baseball pitcher and his fastball has been clocked at 92 MPH. Both Coach Phipps and Scott work very hard at winning. When I call long distance to talk to Coach Phipps in the evening, [call the field house, not home. Kind of reminds me of Coach Paul Bear Bryant who, many years ago, called Auburn from the Alabama field house.

The operator said "Seven in the morning is toe early. Our head football coach doesn't come in until much later." Coach Bryant drawled, "You folks don't take your football too serious, do you?" Anyway Coach Phipps reported that Scott, just before his Junior year in August, 1981, now weighed 185 pounds, ran a 4.6 forty and could bench 340, squat 515 and clean 275 pounds. The hometown fans expected another state championship. Afterall, Artesia had an All-State quarterback didn't they? It should be a piece of cake. Never mind that opposing coaches lay awake nights trying to figure out how to key on Runyan. Never mind that four schools on the schedule have twice the enrollment of Artesia.

Well, when they only just made the State playoffs and didn't win the State championship, there was some grumbling. A lot of Monday morning QB's just knew they could have won the State championship. Now Coach Phipps wanted to win this year in the Fall of 1982, especially since it was Scott's last year. Coach Phipps invited me in the spring of 1982 to put on a BFS Clinic. I was really excited about going to Artesia. I'd never met Coach Phipps or Scott Runyan, even though Scott had been the BFS athlete of the year in 1981. Artesia is a town of about 15,000 in southwestern New Mexico. I wondered why Coach Phipps had a southern drawl.

He said he'd grown up in Arkansas and that wasn't how people normally talked in New Mexico. We pulled up to the high school and Mike Scott's 500 Squat helped him run a 4.7 forty.

Scott Runyan 1981 BFS Athlete of the Year Continued from page 12 had a class to teach. I was immediately impressed with the friendliness of the other teachers and especiaJly the students. The politeness of the general student was unusually nice. An administrator told me the coaches and athletic program have a major influence on the fine attitude of the school. After class, Mike and I drove in his pickup to the field house. This is where the weights and athletic dressing rooms are contained. The stadium was really impressive. The football field was in a bowl with seating surrounding the field. The field house was located on one end of the field. Then something unusual was to happen.

As we got out of the pickup, 1 noticed Coach Phipps left his keys in the ignition. I said, "Coach, don't you want to get your keys?" Mike responded matter of factly, "We don't have to worry about that here!" 1 was to soon find out that in the Artesia athletic program trust, honesty and seJfrespect were not meaningless words. It was quickly apparent great leadership was in great abundance. Finally I was to meet Scott. We shook hands. "Hello, sir." said Scott politely. Scott was with some of his buddies. As I asked them questions, they all responded, "Yes sir or no sir." Coach Phipps told me, "1 guess we just do this because I'm from Arkansas." "Yes sir," I said.

"( think it's such a great habit. Rick Anderson and l respond this way on the phone in our office in Salt Lake City. Try us some time." I've done a number of clinics in the southern states where it's natural to say "yes sir or no sir," but not in New Mexico. Good habits were taught in Artesia. We had a great clinic. Scott dead lifted 500 pounds. Goals were set to win the State championship and the BFS munchies goal setting plan to arrive at that goal was instilled. Coach Phipps and l had a great time talking about football and the strength program. In fact, we talked too long. "You've got to drive me to RoswelL" I frantically yelled. "What time does your plane leave?" said Mike calmly.

I blurted out, "In 35 minutes." "Don't worry," he said as we scrambled to the pickup. "It's only 44 miles away." Well I'll guarantee you, Coach Phipps' pickup went faster than my plane. I made it. Now Coach Phipps and Scott and his teammates had to make it with a lot of hard work to make their goal. After the first four games this past season, I called Coach Phipps to get an update on Scott. I called the field house at 10 in the evening. "Coach Shepard, we're one win and four losses," offered Coach Phipps dejectedly. "They're keying on Scott something fierce. I don't know if the wishbone's the way to go. We may try the [ formation. We played some of the big, tough teams in Texas.

Now we settle down to league play. I just don't know." "Can you still win the State championship:>" I asked. "Yes, but we have to win all the rest," related Coach Phipps. "Then go for it," I replied. Last month j got a call from Coach Phipps. This time the tone of his voice was different. "We won itl", said Coach Phipps. "We switched to the I formation and it opened Scott up a little more. Eight consecutive victories to the State championship'" "You know what's funny" queired Coach Phipps. 'Tm sure a lot of fans who wanted me out eight weeks ago think I'm okay now' but I'm not a dang bit smarter now than I was then." "That comes with the territory, coach," ( replied.

"Obviously, Coach Shepa rd, the BFS Program was a big success. As a team, we were much stronger and we didn't have any injuries. The team lifted twice per week throughout the season. In our State championship game, Scott rushed and passed for 189 yards in our 31-28 victory." Scott had over 5,400 career yards passing and rushing. He lifted three times per week in-season and he was unbelievably strong. In December he was working on a 450-pound bench weighing 198 pounds' At the present time he is playing football at the University of Wyoming and their coaching staff is extremely high on Scott.

Scott chose the University of Wyoming not totally because of the football program but primarily for the fine medical school opportunities at the University. So many times we hear about the dumb football player who is stereotyped as being in college only to be a gladiator on the gridiron. Scott Runyan presents us with the refreshing ideal. Super grades, super attitude, super dedication, super performance and super life-time goals and commitments. Scott is someone we can all try to emulate, and to be associated with people like Scott and Coach Phipps makes life all worthwhile.

From BFS Magazine — November/December 1983. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).