Winning is the ultimate, but victory without character is empty and meaningless. Effort minus integrity is a total waste of heart, but hope is never out of style as long as the spirit is willing. The size of the dog doesn’t matter.
Tri-Central’s football program has stuttered for most of its 41 harrowing seasons — a perennial doormat with but six winning campaigns and a dungeon-like 85-310 record dating back to 1972. Highlights have been very few: a 6-5 record in 1990; 10-2 in ’91; 5-4 in ’93; 7-3 in ’94; 6-4 in 2004 and 6-4 in 2011 — scant joy in the battered remains of 34-293.
Suddenly, there’s a new flood of adrenaline and a grand resurgence ignited by a defiant Trojan breed that has aroused a heretofore silent football environment. The brisk, refreshing attitude of a pleasantly rebellious TC troupe has declared, “Enough is enough!” Concession patrons, cheerleaders and fence jockeys no longer outnumber bleacherites.
Granted, the opponents have been less than monster-like. But heretofore bully opponents are now shredding their smirks for concern, respect and long, silent bus rides. The Blue and Gold rush has become black and blue mementos.
Proof? Try a 2012 school record start of 8-0, bettering the previous best start of 5-0; a 395-86 scoring advantage, 459.9 total yards per game and a stout defensive effort — perhaps not trophy stock or a summons to greatness but mind boggling to big-eyed witnesses and calculators.
For what it’s worth, the Associated Press’ pollsters have stamped TC an unheard of No. 10 in Class A, and the coaches’ poll has it No. 9, a shocking leap ahead of perennial power Sheridan, setting up something of a historic clash for the Hoosier Heartland Conference title at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday (7 p.m.).
Seemingly, coach George Gilbert has been around forever. Not really, just 34 years, the bulk at Clinton Central before landing at Tri-Central. He’s seen the valley and has been to the mountaintop with the same trip ticket — hard work, no nonsense, bare bone honesty, compassion and “one size fits all.”
He explained this to players, parents, fans, etc., at his initial meeting prior to his 2009 Trojan debut: “I’m here as long as players dedicate themselves. When they don’t, I’m out of here. We can and will win, but it’ll take time.”
An 0-10 start had eyes rolling and everybody wondering, Gilbert included. A 3-7 mark in 2010 hyped attention; the 5-0 start and 6-4 finish in 2011 confirmed the promise, and the current 8-0 splash has the giddy masses asking, “How high is up?”
In a lengthy discussion last week, Gilbert — recalling his first TC roster of 16 — remarked: “A change of attitude has been the big thing. We’re getting more kids [32] thanks to the efforts of senior veterans A.J. Tentler, Austin Horn and Martavius Hunt, but our success last year got us going in the right direction.
“We now have kids with a football mentality, and they’ve responded tremendously. Teams used to delight in beating TC, now we’re beating them. It’s been a fun ride for the team, school and community that is only going to get better.
“But we’ve also recruited some outstanding people,” Gilbert added, referring to assistants Shane Arnold, Memo Perez, Jason Tolle, Josh Hunter, Tony Blades, Tim Johnson, P.J. Hatcher, Mike Keller, Jeremy Kennedy, Jerry Reeves, Jason Leininger and Jovon Rayl. “I’m truly blessed to have such a great staff, the best I’ve ever had,” he finished.
Offensive coordinator Arnold offered: “The kids have been amazing. They’re like sponges, they soak up everything, ask questions and dig deeper than any group I’ve ever seen or associated with. Best of all, they care for one another.”
As to the resurgence, Tentler remarked: “We’re so much more focused. Coach Gilbert has simplified things and made them easy to understand. He’s made us believe we can be very good to the point we expect to win every week.”
Hunt stated: “The coaches have us really pumped and have instilled the will to win. We bring it every day and will not be denied. A lot of people don’t respect us, but we’re going to make them respect us.”
Horn added: “Coach Gilbert has been like a second father. Before he came we didn’t know how to play the game. He gave us the tools we needed to win and a plan that worked. He taught us football, but also about life.”
Two-way junior lineman Darius Stanley offered: “We’ve really come together because the coaches have put their hearts and souls out in such a positive way. They’ve brought a new feeling about playing football and the will to win.”
The improvement and leadership of sophomore quarterback Cody Howell and receivers Seth Blunck, Bryce Dowell and Jade Pickett has steadily grown, and with 1,000-yard rushers Horn and Hunt the Trojans have served due notice.
TC has 10 juniors, nine sophomores and 10 freshmen to go with the three seniors. All have been involved which means Gilbert is inching toward the magic number of 40. Rumor has it the list will grow in 2013.
The Trojans have won 14 of their last 18 outings since Gilbert’s rude 0-10 awakening in 2009. He didn’t flinch or make excuses, and neither did his Trojans. They paid the price with a stubborn will and a greater determination but well understand they must prove their mettle every step of the way from now on.
The numbers are for real but are no more glaring than the smiles and convictions of a gang of young warriors who’ ve proven it’s not who gets knocked down but who gets up. And the band plays on.
• Gene F. Conard covers Tri-Central for the Tribune. He may be reached through the sports department.
Sports
CONARD: TC football enjoying special season
Prior to this year, Tri-Central had just six winning seasons.
- Sports
-
-
Field is set for Indianapolis 500
After being bumped from the starting field while sitting on the qualifying line on pole day, Josef Newgarden turned the fastest time on bump day, assuring himself a spot in the Indianapolis 500.
The field of 33 cars will have one final opportunity to practice on Friday before next Sunday’s 97th running of the 500.
One year ago the Sarah Fisher Racing Team withdrew Newgarden’s entry on the first day of qualifying and had to qualify on bump day. This year the team decided not to make another qualifying run and got bumped. -
Athlete of the week
Cole led the small-school Comets to the Kokomo Sectional title, their first title since 1998.
-
Kats regain tennis throne
At 10:51 a.m. Saturday morning, the bulk of Kokomo’s girls tennis team sprinted from the viewing hill to the east entrance of the tennis courts to mob No. 1 singles player Morgan Mohr as she came off the court following her 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Eastern’s Courtney Clark.
The No. 3 singles match was still raging, but the team match was already won. The Wildkats had reconquered the throne from two-time defending champion Eastern and were once again champions of the Kokomo Sectional. -
Eastern boys track claims first sectional title since 1998
The boys track and field coach at Eastern High School from 1987 until last season, Paul Nicholson’s parting message to his team was simple: “Don’t deny the gift.”
That motto left such a lasting impression on the Comets’ returning athletes that they had it screen printed on their 2013 season T-shirts.
With Nicholson in attendance to celebrate with them, new coach Austin Roark and the Comets outlasted host Kokomo to win their first sectional title since 1998 Thursday night, topping the Wildkats by 3.5 points, 124.5-121.
-
Eastern, Kokomo favored in boys track sectional
Some of the names and faces have changed, but the plot remains much the same.
The Kokomo boys track and field sectional, much like last year, will likely be a two-horse race between the host and three-time defending champion Wildkats and Eastern, a team looking to break through and win its first sectional title since 1998. -
Cole to jump at Miami University
Eastern athlete Grant Cole has only been a long jumper for two seasons, but being turned on to the event late in his career has landed him a scholarship to Miami University.
-
Comets roar to sectional title
As the old adage goes, it’s harder stay on top than it is to reach the top.
Eastern’s girls track and field team entered the 2012 postseason hoping to put in a strong enough effort to claim the program’s first sectional title.
Having done so, the Comets entered Tuesday’s postseason opener — the Madison-Grant Sectional — with a much larger bull’s-eye on their backs than in previous years.
Eastern proved up to the challenge, scoring a landslide victory to repeat as sectional champions with 125 points. -
Dexter leaving Eastern
Eastern girls basketball coach Jeremy Dexter has stepped down from the Comet program after accepting the AD job at Churubusco last week. Churubusco is in Whitley County about 15 minutes west of Fort Wayne.
Dexter led the Comets to a Class 2A state runner-up finish this past season. -
Hunter edges Shrout in Thunder Car thriller
Two drivers who are no strangers to Victory Lane returned there Sunday night at the Kokomo Speedway. Meanwhile, a third driver scored just the second feature win of his career at the local oval to highlight the racing action.
Chris Hunter, the winningest Thunder Car driver in the history of the local oval, ground out a gritty win over defending track champion Jason Shrout to highlight the chilly night. -
Girls track sectional is tonight
Eastern’s girls track and field team is ready to chase some more championship hardware.
Two weeks ago, the Comets won their fourth straight Howard County meet. Last week, they won their fourth straight Mid-Indiana Conference meet. Now, the postseason is here, with the Madison-Grant Sectional tonight.
“We’re looking forward to taking the next step,” Eastern coach Michael Goodspeed said. - More Sports Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
