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.”
2,278 responses to “Despite 30 years of losses, Sabine stays optimistic”
That is a good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read article!
One thing is that when you are searching for a education loan you may find that you will need a co-signer. There are many circumstances where this is correct because you could find that you do not use a past credit ranking so the bank will require that you’ve got someone cosign the financing for you. Good post.
I’ve shared this with my friends who are interested in [topic]. It sparked a great discussion!
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
You ought to take part in a contest for one of the most useful websites online. I most certainly will highly recommend this web site!
Excellent blog post. I certainly appreciate this website. Stick with it!
I never thought about [topic] in that way before. Thanks for sharing your perspective
Yet another thing to mention is that an online business administration study course is designed for scholars to be able to well proceed to bachelor’s degree programs. The 90 credit diploma meets the other bachelor diploma requirements then when you earn the associate of arts in BA online, you will get access to the most recent technologies on this field. Several reasons why students want to be able to get their associate degree in business is because they are interested in the field and want to have the general education and learning necessary previous to jumping right bachelor education program. Thanks alot : ) for the tips you really provide in your blog.
I think one of your commercials caused my web browser to resize, you may well want to put that on your blacklist.
I’m often to running a blog and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for brand new information.
One other issue is that if you are in a situation where you would not have a co-signer then you may really want to try to exhaust all of your money for college options. You can find many grants or loans and other scholarships that will ensure that you get money to help with school expenses. Thanks for the post.
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I found this during my search for something regarding this.
I used to be able to find good info from your blog articles.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often.
I enjoy looking through a post that will make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment.
That is the proper weblog for anybody who desires to find out about this topic. You understand a lot its virtually laborious to argue with you (not that I actually would need?HaHa). You undoubtedly put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply great!
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful post. Many thanks for supplying these details.
I love reading through a post that will make people think. Also, thank you for permitting me to comment.
Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Thanks
Having read this I thought it was very enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!
Thanks for these tips. One thing I should also believe is credit cards providing a 0 interest rate often lure consumers along with zero interest, instant approval and easy on the web balance transfers, nevertheless beware of the real factor that can void the 0 easy street annual percentage rate and as well as throw you out into the terrible house quick.
Having read this I believed it was rather enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this short article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is actually a terrific website.
I want to to thank you for this excellent read!! I absolutely loved every bit of it. I have got you book marked to check out new things you post…
I can’t express how much I value the effort the author has put into creating this outstanding piece of content. The clarity of the writing, the depth of analysis, and the wealth of information offered are simply impressive. Her passion for the subject is apparent, and it has definitely resonated with me. Thank you, author, for providing your insights and enhancing our lives with this extraordinary article!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your site. You have some really great articles and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Many thanks!
You need to take part in a contest for one of the best blogs online. I most certainly will highly recommend this website!
Can I just say what a relief to uncover an individual who genuinely knows what they’re talking about over the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people ought to read this and understand this side of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular given that you surely have the gift.
I believe that avoiding ready-made foods could be the first step for you to lose weight. They might taste good, but highly processed foods include very little vitamins and minerals, making you take in more to have enough electricity to get with the day. Should you be constantly consuming these foods, transferring to grain and other complex carbohydrates will help you have more energy while consuming less. Great blog post.
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe this web site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read through more, thanks for the information!
I love looking through an article that can make men and women think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment.
Everyone loves it whenever people come together and share ideas. Great website, keep it up!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am going through difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody having similar RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!
I was able to find good info from your blog posts.
That is a really good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Short but very precise information… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read post!
I absolutely love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you create this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create my own blog and want to find out where you got this from or what the theme is named. Kudos!
After I initially commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the exact same comment. Is there a means you are able to remove me from that service? Kudos.
Spot on with this write-up, I honestly feel this site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more, thanks for the info!
Hi! I simply would like to give you a huge thumbs up for your great info you have here on this post. I’ll be returning to your website for more soon.
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
I used to be able to find good advice from your content.
Hi, I do believe this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
After going over a number of the articles on your site, I really appreciate your technique of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my web site too and tell me your opinion.
Excellent web site you have here.. It’s difficult to find good quality writing like yours these days. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Thanks!
When I initially commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is a way you can remove me from that service? Cheers.
Right here is the right website for anybody who would like to understand this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a topic that’s been discussed for many years. Great stuff, just excellent.
I needed to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
It’s hard to come by experienced people in this particular subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks