From Deseret News archives:
Murray kids really high on David
There are posters with his name on them hanging in the halls. There's a banner strung across the State Street overpass ("Don't Forget to Vote!"). Outside the school entrance the electric marquee flashes the time, temperature and "MHS is Proud of David Archuleta." The principal even has news clippings taped to the front office windows.
And then there's the student body, 1,500 kids strong, every one of them a close personal pal of the odds-on favorite to become the next "American Idol."
"Everybody in this school says they're like his best friend," says Stacey Hansen, a senior, student body officer and member of the Spartonians drill team. "It's so ridiculous."
But a good ridiculous.
"It's such a great thing for Murray High School. Everybody is pulling for him, everybody's excited," says Stacey. "It's just weird to me. I mean, he sang 'Happy Birthday' to me at my party."
She knew him before it was cool to know him, in other words.
Before Randy, Paula, Simon and America knew him.
"Ever since we started riding the same bus in junior high," Stacey says.
"Some people would give him a hard time; they thought it (singing) was kind of feminine," she says. "But look at him now."
Now he's got high school kids clamoring for assemblies after school.
"Before this, nobody cared much about assemblies," says Adam Ward, Murray High's student body president. "Now they're asking about having 'David' pep rallies at night."
The student body officers have already hosted one rally, inviting all students to the school auditorium at 7 p.m. on Tuesday to watch "American Idol" on TV together and then text their fingers off voting en masse for you know who.
"We're planning another one this Tuesday," says Ward. "I can assure you he'll get a lot of votes."
Ward says he's had a couple of Spanish classes with Archuleta and knows him slightly, but mostly as the small, shy kid who would belt out Christmas songs during the holidays as every other kid in the class looked on in open-mouthed amazement.
"He was quiet but everybody liked him," says Ward. "He's in with a group that's like the nicest kids on Earth."
Only a few, such as Stacey, who know him from way back like, clear back to seventh grade appreciate how wild it is that David Archuleta has acquired full-on idol status.
That it's his name on posters all around the school.
And that all the girls on the drill team now proudly own and wear their "I Love David" T-shirts.
"It's funny, girls want to marry him," says Stacey the further the 17-year-old Archuleta advances in the competition, the more the marriage proposals mount "and I know he wouldn't even hug anybody."
"He's just a really genuine, regular high school kid," she says with the air of someone who knows her subject well.
And then adds, "With an amazing voice."
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.
Recent comments
david is so awesome!!! he's going to winn because everyone in utah...
Anonymous | April 16, 2008 at 1:49 p.m.
Thank you for the article. Please keep the David news coming.
Sam | April 9, 2008 at 12:09 a.m.
david is amazing!!! everyone loves him and he is going to win for...
anonymous | April 8, 2008 at 2:37 p.m.
- Jazz missing 4 to injuries 12:55 a.m.
- Pitta doesn't win award 12:47 a.m.
- Jazz manage a magical win 12:43 a.m.
- Speed skating tuneup Friday 12:41 a.m.
- BYU football: NCAA awards 12:30 a.m.
- Magic unable to continue road act 12:26 a.m.
- Fans should worry about lousy teams 12:24 a.m.
- U.S.-born Hispanics see gains 12:23 a.m.
- Editorial: Extremism spike alarming 12:23 a.m.
- No need for more stimulus 12:22 a.m.
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Defense witness goes on offensive
- BCS = power conference monopoly
- 5 officers lose their certification
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- Y.'s Emery bruised, but rarely beaten
- Letters: Global warming a lie
256 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
193 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
165 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
149 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
124 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
122 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
David Rankin, one of Utah's youngest and ablest astrophotographers has...
There was a time when free shipping was rare. This holiday season, you...
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
I worked within my ward for many years, always giving service when ever...
TCU will end up ranked in the top 5 at the beginning of the season next year...
If people wonder why many of us Jazz fans constantly complain or tell it like...
These liberals mock Sarah because they fear her. They think if they make fun...
Good article, I agree.
Get real. Coulda. Woulda. Shoulda. Yeah the game could have been different if...
That the TNT crew are wrong. I listened to them talk after the game and they...
To the Palin haters and naysayers. If you have to ask the question as to why...
The reporter did get it right. The article says, "Now that gift will help...
I have seen Ben Lomond every game this year. I grew up in the Ogden area, I...


