Publisher’s Note: This past Monday my mother-n-law Brenda Smith called me and asked if I could help her friend Bernice Patton. Bernice and her worked together at Nissan for many years. She is putting a send off event at Stars and Stripes parking lot at 333 N Lowry Street in Smyrna this Saturday from 1-3pm for her grandson Arion Carter.
Arion is the Smyrna Bulldog Football player who recently chose to play for the University of Tennessee over Alabama. Last week he was named Gatorade Tennessee Football Player of the Year.
I invited Arion to be my guest at the Tennessee General Assembly’s swearing in ceremony. I also invited the University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd. 
It was obvious that Randy was impressed with Arion. They chatted for a while and Randy gave him his cell number.
What impressed me with Arion initially was his manners and southern charm. I’ve never seen a young man with such strong manners and friendly attitude—well my assistant Marvin has some impressive manners and charm as well.
While on the house floor of the general assembly we started the day with the invocation. 
The prayer was led by a catholic priest. At the end of the prayer he said the Lord’s Prayer. The people and my fellow representatives started saying the prayer. Growing up attending St. Rose Catholic Church—I knew the words. I was shocked to overhear Arion say the entire prayer.
I introduced Arion to Cameron Sexton, the newly elected Speaker of the House. 
The speaker asked Arion what he wanted to study and what career he would pursue?
To my surprise Arion’s GPA is 3.97!
For those that want to meet Arion and wish him well stop by the Stars and Stripes parking lot this Saturday between 1 and 3pm.
_______________________________________________________________________________
*Originally posted in the Murfreesboro Post by Tyler Palmateer
Smyrna’s Arion Carter was named the Gatorade Tennessee Football Player of the Year on Friday.
Carter rushed 185 times for 1,184 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense while helping Smyrna to a 10-2 record. At middle linebacker, he tallied 92 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.
RELATED: Arion Carter, Tennessee Linebacker
He was recently named the Main Street Preps Two-Way Player of the Year.
Carter, who is 6-1, 210 pounds, began the year without a Power 5 offer but
by midseason was sought after by the country’s top programs, including Ohio State, Alabama and Michigan. He was named Class 6A Mr. Football and signed with the University of Tennessee.
