Honaker’s Super Hero

By: Tim Hayes-Bristol Herald Courier

January 31, 2009

Perhaps the most telling sign that his hometown is gripped with Super Bowl fever isn’t at the stadium where Heath Miller first made a name for himself.

Nor is it on the drive – Heath Miller Circle – named in his honor.

No, the most telling sign is at a local pizzeria, which is paying homage to the town’s favorite son in its own way.

The “Heath Miller Special” has arrived at Pizza Plus. The establishment is offering four large, one-topping pizzas for $23.96, or four medium pies for $19.96 for the big game.

“We’ll probably be really busy,” Pizza Plus Manager Michael Saunders said. “The people back him up a lot. [The employees] all have shirts made with his number on the back. We’re going all out.”

The truth is, the whole town of Honaker is rooting hard for Miller, who will start at tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIII.

Signs congratulating the 26-year-old dot the downtown landscape, while well wishes are extended on signs in front of Honaker High School and the elementary school.

“It’s great,” Honaker Athletic Director Trevor Coleman said. “Everybody’s excited about it, you know. I know everybody watches SportsCenter and they see him on there, they talk about it. They talked about seeing him get off the plane in Tampa [on Monday] and things like that.

“Even when we’re playing ball games here, the visiting teams come and they want to talk about it.”

It’s also a topic of conversation around the halls of Honaker High School, where Miller has reached hero status. “He’s a really great influence,” said Honaker football standout Koby Miller, who is not related to the Steeler. “He inspires everybody and is somebody to look up to. … He just inspired me to go on and better my life and do better for myself.”

Ethan Davis, a junior on Honaker’s basketball team, looks up to Heath Miller, as well, though maybe he has more reason than most. The two are first cousins.

“He’s a great guy,” Davis said. “Most people think about him as just football and everything. I got to know him as a kid growing up. He’s outgoing and funny. … He’s just Heath to us in the family.”

For one Sunday, at least, Heath Miller will unify the town’s football loyalties. While people might have allegiances to their specific teams – one student wore a Baltimore Ravens jersey to school last Tuesday – there’s no doubt for whom they will root on Sunday.

“Even if they don’t like the Steelers, they still pull for Heath,” Koby Miller said. “To see somebody from our hometown do good and play in the Super Bowl – it’s something to see.”

It’s been eight years since Heath Miller, who was raised in the Swords Creek community of Russell County, donned a Honaker uniform. However, his star still shines brightly in his hometown.

“Everybody thought the world of Heath when he was here,” Coleman said. “I don’t know if you can find a person in Honaker who has a harsh word to say about him.”