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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><IMG ALT="Final Horn"ALIGN =CENTER WIDTH=296 HEIGHT=118 BORDER=0 SRC="../pic/finlhorn.gif"> </H1>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER> by Kent Partridge </H2>

<P>
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Oct. 18, 1993, and Ace Atkins sat in the Sewell Hall lobby surrounded by reporters and having the time of his life. You see, one thing Ace Atkins had no trouble doing was talking.
Two days hence Ace had enjoyed a football career of memories in one afternoon as Auburn upset Florida. Little used, and even more little known, Ace Atkins had come from obscurity to sack Gator quarterbacks twice in key situations. From there he would go to the cover of a commemorative issue of Sports Illustrated.
Ace Atkins refused to let this moment in the sun pass him by. He was going to enjoy it all and relish his time with the writers, for he fully intended to be one himself.
<P>
So they gathered around Ace that day. Because he had made four of the 11 tackles he would make that senior season in one magic hour, they wanted to know his life's story and Ace was willing to tell all. Maybe even embellish a little if need be.
<P>
The questions came fast and furious and Ace was up to the challenge. You see, the one thing Ace had no trouble doing was talking, but there were other areas where Ace Atkins was quite adept. Like most good writers, he was also a good listener and quick of wit.
Innocently (or might I say ignorantly) enough, the question was posed as to what he remembered most about watching his dad play at Auburn. Ace's father, Billy, played a vital role on Auburn's 1957 national championship team and Ace was proud of that fact, but he hadn't seen it. It happened 13 years before he was born.
<P>
Still, a question asked was a question which deserved an answer and Ace wasn't about to disappoint.
<P>
"I remember it well," he said, never batting an eye or leaking a grin. "You see, I've been reincarnated and in the late 50's I was an Auburn cheerleader. Prior to that I was an Indian Princess."
<P>
The writer scribbled furiously before it occurred to him he had been had.
I told you this story, one of many, to remind you of what I said before. Ace Atkins wanted to be a writer, a published novelist, and he never missed an opportunity to hone his craft, either by the written or spoken word.
Five years since that shining moment in Ace Atkins' brief athletic career, the shining moment of what promises to be a much longer professional career has been realized.
<P>
Once an undersized defensive end, Ace Atkins is now -- and most importantly -- a published novelist.
<P>
CROSSROAD BLUES, published by St. Martin's Press, will hit the shelves of your local bookstore very soon.
<P>
The fax from St. Martin's read: "Make Way for Ace Atkins. From James W. Hall to B.B. King, everyone's howling about CROSSROAD BLUES, the gritty, battered, floor-stomping, guitar-licking adventure by this first time novelist."
Like so many young athletes, Ace Atkins came to Auburn with a dream. As it turns out the dream stretched way beyond the boundaries of a football field.
In the "Personal" section of Ace Atkins 1993 media guide biographic sketch there is a line which reads "is also editing his first novel." His first novel.
Yes, one thing Ace Atkins could do was talk. But he could also dream.. and persist. And as it turns out, write.
<P>
Make way for Ace Atkins. The Indian Princess has arrived.


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</BODY>
</HTML>
	<HTML>

	<HEAD>

	<TITLE>Kent Partridge</TITLE>

	</HEAD>

	<BODY <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">>

	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><IMG ALT="Final Horn"ALIGN =CENTER WIDTH=296 HEIGHT=118 BORDER=0 SRC="../pic/finlhorn.gif"> </H1>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER> by Kent Partridge </H2>

	<P>
	I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Oct. 18, 1993, and Ace Atkins sat in the Sewell Hall lobby surrounded by reporters and having the time of his life. You see, one thing Ace Atkins had no trouble doing was talking.
	Two days hence Ace had enjoyed a football career of memories in one afternoon as Auburn upset Florida. Little used, and even more little known, Ace Atkins had come from obscurity to sack Gator quarterbacks twice in key situations. From there he would go to the cover of a commemorative issue of Sports Illustrated.
	Ace Atkins refused to let this moment in the sun pass him by. He was going to enjoy it all and relish his time with the writers, for he fully intended to be one himself.
	<P>
	So they gathered around Ace that day. Because he had made four of the 11 tackles he would make that senior season in one magic hour, they wanted to know his life's story and Ace was willing to tell all. Maybe even embellish a little if need be.
	<P>
	The questions came fast and furious and Ace was up to the challenge. You see, the one thing Ace had no trouble doing was talking, but there were other areas where Ace Atkins was quite adept. Like most good writers, he was also a good listener and quick of wit.
	Innocently (or might I say ignorantly) enough, the question was posed as to what he remembered most about watching his dad play at Auburn. Ace's father, Billy, played a vital role on Auburn's 1957 national championship team and Ace was proud of that fact, but he hadn't seen it. It happened 13 years before he was born.
	<P>
	Still, a question asked was a question which deserved an answer and Ace wasn't about to disappoint.
	<P>
	"I remember it well," he said, never batting an eye or leaking a grin. "You see, I've been reincarnated and in the late 50's I was an Auburn cheerleader. Prior to that I was an Indian Princess."
	<P>
	The writer scribbled furiously before it occurred to him he had been had.
	I told you this story, one of many, to remind you of what I said before. Ace Atkins wanted to be a writer, a published novelist, and he never missed an opportunity to hone his craft, either by the written or spoken word.
	Five years since that shining moment in Ace Atkins' brief athletic career, the shining moment of what promises to be a much longer professional career has been realized.
	<P>
	Once an undersized defensive end, Ace Atkins is now -- and most importantly -- a published novelist.
	<P>
	CROSSROAD BLUES, published by St. Martin's Press, will hit the shelves of your local bookstore very soon.
	<P>
	The fax from St. Martin's read: "Make Way for Ace Atkins. From James W. Hall to B.B. King, everyone's howling about CROSSROAD BLUES, the gritty, battered, floor-stomping, guitar-licking adventure by this first time novelist."
	Like so many young athletes, Ace Atkins came to Auburn with a dream. As it turns out the dream stretched way beyond the boundaries of a football field.
	In the "Personal" section of Ace Atkins 1993 media guide biographic sketch there is a line which reads "is also editing his first novel." His first novel.
	Yes, one thing Ace Atkins could do was talk. But he could also dream.. and persist. And as it turns out, write.
	<P>
	Make way for Ace Atkins. The Indian Princess has arrived.


	<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" TARGET="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> \| <A HREF="../" TARGET="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> \| <A HREF="../../index.html" TARGET="_top">HOME</A></P>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>© 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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