Yeah, Carthage and Calhoun were always playoff bound. Somehow we never drew Carthage in any of my HS years. I was fine with that.IMADreamer wrote:Freed Roger wrote:I've got lots of connection to the Saukees -via my cousins. Fortunately they were able to help us after Saukee fans flattened our tires at their place. Good times. It was the only time I sensed discrimination against us, for the Catholic thing.IMADreamer wrote:Freed Roger wrote:And an ass-whipping by QND.IMADreamer wrote: The only thing I look back and got out of football was a bad knee.
Oh you had to go there!
Quick QND story. We played a game up there, I'll say this is 1997 maybe. We get there and all of the lightbulbs are taken out of our locker room. No big deal I guess you guys were dicks we all knew that.Then we run out to the field all while the crowd is throwing things at us. I did not think highly of QND back then.
Got my revenge in the spring when I hit two bombs in baseball season. One was a go ahead three run shot that probably still hasn't landed. Since it was QND not only did I watch it, but I stared down the pitcher as I rounded third. I was not the best winner in my youth. lol
The basketball games were even more nutso, with that cuckoo coach Bennett - much of both teams were football players just switching seasons, so the game was more football than basketball.
Much respect for ye olde Saukee football program though. Those legendary record-setting teams under Deek Pollard. From what we were told, players were highly encouraged to cross-train in the winter/spring by running track, wrestling. Earlier into the weight-lifting programs than most places. Our coach idolized the guy.
HS football - the work practice to game time ratio is way out of whack, especially with injuries. I realize it is largely a thing of the past for kids like me, and I probably was more cut out for soccer in the fall, but don't have regrets.
That not liking Catholics thing is pretty strong here. I've felt it myself as a Catholic. It had to be way worse as a QND Catholic. lol
The legendary teams of the early 70s were never far from anyone's mind. You go to the field and there is that huge 64 wins in a row sign. Then before every game the couch would make us go sit in the gym for a few minutes and be quiet. He'd say something like "look up there boys" as he would point to the rafters where the banners from all those seasons, plus the basketball banners hung. He'd then say "don't think this doesn't matter. Do great things and this town will never forget you." Every game. Of course we never were that great. We made the playoffs a couple times but we'd go up against some school that would cream us. Usually Carthage or Calhoun.
My old coach Larry Johnsen now coaches for Geneseo and I think they have won a championship or two.
Basketball though, that's where it was at when I was in high school. I didn't play, but I felt like the best three athletes in my class usually skipped football for basketball. Which is probably why we were ranked number one a time or two only to get upset in the tournament. Coach Bennett. Now there is an interesting guy. As a football player I never got to do PE but he was the teacher and in the winter he would make the classes do Square Dancing for a week. He would call the dance. It was a thing to see. lol
Oh yeah getting back on topic. Football hurt and still does. Stupid 40 second drills and junkyard dog.
I guess I'm in the minority here, I loved two-a-days. They meant football season was starting, and compared to putting up hay and straw they were a breeze.
