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.”
5,458 responses to “Despite 30 years of losses, Sabine stays optimistic”
Howdy I am so excited I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I was searching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your site is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say excellent blog!
This is very interesting, You are a very professional blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for seeking more of your magnificent post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks!
Hmm is anyone else experiencing 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 blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something that helped me. Thank you.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
I used to be able to find good information from your content.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon on a daily basis. It will always be useful to read content from other writers and practice something from their web sites.
Right now it seems like Expression Engine is the top blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
Hi there! I simply wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for the great information you have got right here on this post. I will be coming back to your site for more soon.
I used to be able to find good advice from your content.
After I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I receive four emails with the exact same comment. Is there a way you are able to remove me from that service? Kudos.
??? ????
I seriously love your site.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you develop this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own personal site and would like to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Cheers.
I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. I have you book-marked to look at new things you post…
I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your information. This article has really peaked my interest. I am going to book mark your website and keep checking for new details about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.
There is definately a lot to learn about this issue. I really like all of the points you made.
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this post plus the rest of the website is also very good.
Greetings, I do think your site might be having internet browser compatibility problems. Whenever I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in IE, it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Besides that, great site.
wonderful issues altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What could you suggest in regards to your submit that you made some days ago? Any positive?
One more thing. I believe that there are lots of travel insurance websites of respectable companies than enable you to enter holiday details to get you the insurance quotes. You can also purchase the actual international travel cover policy on the internet by using your own credit card. Everything you need to do would be to enter your own travel information and you can start to see the plans side-by-side. Just find the system that suits your budget and needs and after that use your bank credit card to buy that. Travel insurance on the web is a good way to take a look for a trustworthy company to get international travel cover. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
There is definately a lot to find out about this topic. I love all the points you made.
This design is incredible! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
Hi there! I just would like to give you a big thumbs up for your great info you have got here on this post. I am returning to your blog for more soon.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article plus the rest of the website is very good.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am experiencing troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting the same RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!
Good information. Lucky me I discovered your website by accident (stumbleupon). I have saved as a favorite for later.
Very good info. Lucky me I found your site by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful article. Thanks for supplying these details.
Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your site is useful. Thanks for sharing.
Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it won’t disappoint me as much as this particular one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I truly thought you would have something helpful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this web site before but after looking at many of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely pleased I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!
Everything is very open with a very clear explanation of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your site is useful. Many thanks for sharing.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
Hello! I’ve been following your web site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!
The things i have often told persons is that when evaluating a good online electronics store, there are a few elements that you have to think about. First and foremost, you should make sure to look for a reputable and also reliable shop that has picked up great assessments and classification from other consumers and market sector analysts. This will make sure that you are handling a well-known store that delivers good assistance and aid to their patrons. Many thanks for sharing your ideas on this weblog.
Greetings, I think your site could be having web browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Aside from that, great site.
Spot on with this write-up, I actually suppose this website needs far more consideration. I?ll in all probability be once more to learn much more, thanks for that info.
I?ve read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a wonderful informative site.
I’m really inspired with your writing skills as well as with the layout for your blog. Is this a paid subject or did you modify it your self? Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it?s uncommon to look a nice weblog like this one nowadays..
I feel this is among the most important information for me. And i’m satisfied studying your article. But should statement on few basic issues, The site style is great, the articles is actually nice : D. Excellent process, cheers
I have read several excellent stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you set to make this type of fantastic informative web site.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site so i came to ?eturn the favor?I’m trying to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Top Stage Hypnotist for hire Kristian von Sponneck performs private stage hypnosis shows anywhere in the UK, Europe or worldwide. Hire hime for your next event!
Top Stage Hypnotist for hire Kristian von Sponneck performs private stage hypnosis shows anywhere in the UK, Europe or worldwide. Hire hime for your next event!
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon every day. It’s always helpful to read through content from other authors and use something from other sites.
I’m more than happy to find this website. I want to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely appreciated every bit of it and I have you saved to fav to see new information on your website.
bookmarked!!, I love your web site!
I could not resist commenting. Well written.