DIANA – An artificial fog drifted across Eagle Stadium a week ago.
The third quarter was under way — New Diana versus Sabine, Friday night football — and long passes and the smaller players were lost as the smoky haze settled on the field.
“It’s just hanging, but it’ll blow out,” said Tobie Turner, the Sabine athletic booster club president.
He grinned sheepishly. The smoke was his doing. Following halftime, he’d gotten a little carried away with the fog machine that he sprays when the players are running onto the field, and now the fans in the bleachers could barely follow the action.
“If we’d just get a little breeze, it would dissipate,” he said.
The best-laid plans
Even when they can’t see the playing field, East Texans are crazy about their high school football. Players, coaches and boosters devote countless hours in the pursuit of Friday night glory. They sweat and bleed and pray for wins.
But try as they might, sometimes a plan goes up in smoke.
For every team with a storied tradition of district titles and deep playoff runs, there is a high school with a less heralded history and a reputation for losing. For every Kilgore Bulldog, there is a Sabine Cardinal.
The Sabine team has posted three winning seasons in the past 30 years – once in the 1980s, once in the 1990s, and in 2002.
Twenty times in the past three decades – two out of every three seasons – the Cardinals have failed to win more than two games.
It makes for a long 10-game season, and it’s a history of losing that is unmatched in East Texas.
“Everybody loves a winner, and everyone wants to be a part of winning,” said Jerry Baker, in his first year as head coach. “Sabine’s kids over the course of a few years have learned, doggone, it’s not so much about winning as it is about surviving, because they’ve taken so many blows and been through so many coaches.”
And yet, hundreds of Liberty City residents made the 30-mile drive to support their Cardinals when the team played New Diana a week ago. Not everybody in the stands was kin to a player, band member or cheerleader. The fans were there because they wanted to be.
Remnants of glory
The old coach from Sabine’s glory days sat off to himself at the Friday game. He chewed on a toothpick as he watched “our little kids” from a lawn chair he had unfolded on the running track near the end zone.
“Of course, I can’t talk much about losing,” said Lonnie Fenton, who retired in 1979 and still lives in Liberty City. “I coached out there for 13 years and never had a losing season.”
Fenton, 78, said the crowds were bigger when the team was winning.
“They’ve still got a good following. They haven’t given up,” he said. “I still follow them, and they’re pretty competitive. It will just take a certain group of kids to overcome the idea that you can’t beat somebody.”
The announcer’s opinion
Keith Wilkerson leaned against the chainlink fence, not far from the old coach in his lawn chair.
Wilkerson, Sabine’s home game announcer for 16 years, said Cardinals fans focus more on community involvement than wins and losses.
“I think a lot of people in the community are interested in what a coach teaches the kids, more than his win-loss record,” he said. “At the end of the day, how many of these kids are going to play in college, much less at the next level? The life lessons are a whole lot more important than wins and losses. At the same time, I know coaches live by their win-loss record.”
Over the years, he said, the lack of success has discouraged participation in the football program.
“But the kids always come and play four quarters, and they play hard to the end of each season,” he said. “I don’t think you can say it’s the coaches or a lack of interest. The community offers its support. It’s all been there. It’s just an odd thing.”
Wilkerson’s neighbor, Bud Florence, offered his two cents: “A lot of kids don’t want to put in the effort to get hammered every week,” he said.
Sabine’s academic record is strong, Wilkerson noted, and the marching band is precise.
“A lot of times we’ll say, well, at least we won halftime,” he said.
The fog clears
The haze that blanketed the field in Diana came courtesy of a new, unexpectedly potent can of “fog juice.” Turner and other boosters run a fog machine at games with the hope that it will infuse school spirit and Cardinal pride in the team.
The players run through an inflatable tunnel shaped like a cardinal’s head, then burst through the fog on their way to the sideline before each half.
“We are trying to come out of the cellar and into the limelight, and I want to do what I can to help the program come forward and start doing things right,” Turner said.
The Cardinals started strong against the Eagles, with help from a couple of New Diana turnovers. But by the early fourth quarter, the fog had lifted and the Cardinals found themselves in a three-touchdown hole.
“This is the bad part of the game,” Turner said. “We should be knuckling down and getting after it. We just seem to get too afraid to make mistakes. Seems like a lot of (the other team’s) big plays take the wind out of your sails, but it’s not for a lack of effort. The kids are putting in everything they can.”
Sabine lost, 38-20, but the fans took it in stride. It’s a rebuilding year.
Since the Cardinals dropped to Class 2A, there have been fewer blowouts, they note.
The Cardinals face White Oak tonight in the final game of the season. Moving forward, Coach Baker has been drawing up plans for offseason workouts, and boosters are expressing high hopes for next year – and the years to come.
“The future’s looking very good,” Turner said. “The JV is on a four-game winning streak. The eighth grade is undefeated, and they’re beating people pretty handily.”
9,660 responses to “Despite 30 years of losses, Sabine stays optimistic”
The best choice I made for testing new tokens. Smooth and great support.
Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Cheers|
Hello there, just became aware of your blog via Google, and located that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful should you proceed this in future. Numerous folks might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!|
Hello, I would like to subscribe for this web site to get most up-to-date updates, so where can i do it please help out.|
This post is genuinely a fastidious one it helps new web people, who are wishing for blogging.|
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something informative to read?|
If you desire to take much from this post then you have to apply such strategies to your won blog.|
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking into your web page again.|
There is certainly a lot to learn about this subject. I love all of the points you made.|
Hi there, I discovered your website via Google at the same time as looking for a similar matter, your website came up, it appears good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
I really love your website.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you make this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create my very own website and would love to find out where you got this from or what the theme is called. Thank you!|
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you need to write more about this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always helpful to read content from other writers and practice something from their websites.
What’s up Dear, are you genuinely visiting this website daily, if so then you will definitely obtain fastidious experience.|
Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors!|
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the useful information.
You are so interesting! I do not believe I have read a single thing like this before. So great to find another person with some unique thoughts on this topic. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is something that’s needed on the internet, someone with a little originality.
I personally find that i trust this platform — withdrawals are clear transparency and reliable. My withdrawals were always smooth.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.|
I personally find that the using the mobile app tools are trustworthy service and clear transparency.
I’ve been active for a week, mostly for cross-chain transfers, and it’s always responsive team. The updates are frequent and clear.
I was skeptical, but after half a year of portfolio tracking, the reliable uptime convinced me. Charts are accurate and load instantly.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.|
This piece of writing will help the internet viewers for setting up new weblog or even a blog from start to end.|
I value the stable performance and robust security. This site is reliable.
Usually I do not read article on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do it! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite great post.|
The using the API tools are useful analytics and seamless withdrawals.
I’ve been using it for since launch for using the API, and the useful analytics stands out. Support solved my issue in minutes.
Keep on writing, great job!|
My brother recommended I might like this website. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!|
I’ve been using it for over two years for fiat on-ramp, and the clear transparency stands out.
Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this subject for a long time and yours is the greatest I have found out so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the supply?|
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!|
Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it|
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Appreciate it!|
The interface is wide token selection, and I enjoy swapping tokens here. Perfect for both new and experienced traders.
I’ve been active for since launch, mostly for using the API, and it’s always seamless withdrawals. Support solved my issue in minutes.
bookmarked!!, I really like your website!|
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different web address and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking at your web page repeatedly.|
I’ve been browsing online greater than three hours today, yet I never discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is pretty price enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content material as you did, the web will likely be a lot more helpful than ever before.|
Wow, this paragraph is nice, my sister is analyzing such things, so I am going to tell her.|
The using the mobile app tools are trustworthy service and accurate charts.
I’ve been active for recently, mostly for cross-chain transfers, and it’s always intuitive UI. Charts are accurate and load instantly.
you’re really a just right webmaster. The website loading pace is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a wonderful job on this subject!|
The site is easy to use and the quick deposits keeps me coming back. Great for cross-chain swaps with minimal slippage.
Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Cheers!|
Amazing! Its actually amazing article, I have got much clear idea regarding from this piece of writing.|
This article provides clear idea in favor of the new visitors of blogging, that really how to do blogging.|
I’ve been using it for a month for testing new tokens, and the wide token selection stands out.
I trust this platform — withdrawals are great support and reliable. My withdrawals were always smooth.