Matthew328
11-17-2004, 11:32 PM
Football success a balm for Wilmer-Hutchins
10:25 PM CST on Wednesday, November 17, 2004
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
FORNEY – Dustin Bell, Wilmer-Hutchins' quicksilver quarterback, and his teammates hear the same hurtful thing everywhere they go.
"People say 'Your school's broke. You don't have anything,' " Bell said.
How do you answer that?
"We don't say anything," Bell said. "We show them on the field that our team isn't broke."
It has been easy to kick Wilmer-Hutchins, to make it the object of ridicule.
Each day brings more sad news: unfit facilities; no resources; missing money; an indictment of a superintendent; allegations of cheating on standardized tests; a takeover by the state.
Adults have failed kids, creating the image of Wilmer-Hutchins as the worst school district in the state.
The blame eventually will be sorted out. In the interim, some kids bring back lost dignity.
Wilmer-Hutchins this season won its first football district title in 14 years. A narrow win against Bonham put the Eagles into the area round of the Class 3A Region II playoffs.
They will play Wills Point on Friday night at Richardson's Eagle-Mustang Stadium. An extended run through the playoffs is possible for Wilmer-Hutchins, which plays at three speeds: fast, faster and fastest.
No matter what happens, this team has already accomplished a significant feat.
It has made it cool again to say you are from Wilmer-Hutchins. No one has to be ashamed.
"We're up and rolling," coach Mike Robinson said.
In describing the place of athletics on a campus, Alabama coach Bear Bryant once said "It's kinda hard to rally around a math class."
Bryant gave academics the short shrift, but he was correct. The reality is nothing gives a campus, be it high school or college, and the surrounding community a strong common bond more than a successful team.
Wilmer-Hutchins football has been good news for an area that badly needed it.
Robinson, who doubles as athletic director, hears the hum when he walks the school halls. Students have emotionally invested in this team, he said.
Robinson hears it when his team takes the field.
In the past, Robinson said, the Eagles usually arrived to the sound of cheering opponents. That does not happen anymore. The fan base has grown.
"It's helped the community," said senior Joryan Culberson, a receiver and kick returner. "It's made it seem like all is not lost. It's brought hope to everybody, not just the team and the school but everybody in the community.
"We can believe our school is still great."
They can also believe that some adults in positions of authority can be trusted. Robinson and his staff have handled problems not found in the coaching primer.
Because of damage to main buildings, Wilmer-Hutchins students were spread among four other district schools at the start of the year. Organizing practice was difficult.
Robinson had to depend on the kindness of equipment vendors to be patient on bills. Money is scarce, but Robinson refused to cut corners on equipment. None of the suppliers, Robinson said, refused to fill an order.
No one gets into high school coaching for the money, but it was difficult to overlook late and missed paychecks. During the financial uncertainty, Robinson and his staff refused to walk out on a team that depended on them.
"I love our coaches," Bell said. "We know they're not in it for a paycheck. They're in it for us, to help us."
In the best of times, coaching is not easy at Wilmer-Hutchins. Robinson has to get by and make do with less than others.
Many of his players come from low-income families. Linebacker Josh McCoy, the top player on a strong defense, often must leave practice early to report for a job that gives his family a needed paycheck.
When the weather turns bad, some schools, such as Class 5A power Southlake Carroll, can move into an indoor practice facility. That's a pipe dream for Wilmer-Hutchins.
Facing a day lost to rain this week, the Eagles practiced because Forney coach Kevin Rush graciously allowed use of the school's indoor practice facility.
Robinson and Rush are friends. It falls under the heading of finding a way to get through each day.
"The Lord gives us tests," Robinson said. "There will be more tests after this. It's up to us to handle them."
Robinson understands the place of his team in the fabric of the school. It is not all about football. His players must maintain in the classroom, too. Restoring pride in Wilmer-Hutchins is a full-time assignment.
10:25 PM CST on Wednesday, November 17, 2004
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
FORNEY – Dustin Bell, Wilmer-Hutchins' quicksilver quarterback, and his teammates hear the same hurtful thing everywhere they go.
"People say 'Your school's broke. You don't have anything,' " Bell said.
How do you answer that?
"We don't say anything," Bell said. "We show them on the field that our team isn't broke."
It has been easy to kick Wilmer-Hutchins, to make it the object of ridicule.
Each day brings more sad news: unfit facilities; no resources; missing money; an indictment of a superintendent; allegations of cheating on standardized tests; a takeover by the state.
Adults have failed kids, creating the image of Wilmer-Hutchins as the worst school district in the state.
The blame eventually will be sorted out. In the interim, some kids bring back lost dignity.
Wilmer-Hutchins this season won its first football district title in 14 years. A narrow win against Bonham put the Eagles into the area round of the Class 3A Region II playoffs.
They will play Wills Point on Friday night at Richardson's Eagle-Mustang Stadium. An extended run through the playoffs is possible for Wilmer-Hutchins, which plays at three speeds: fast, faster and fastest.
No matter what happens, this team has already accomplished a significant feat.
It has made it cool again to say you are from Wilmer-Hutchins. No one has to be ashamed.
"We're up and rolling," coach Mike Robinson said.
In describing the place of athletics on a campus, Alabama coach Bear Bryant once said "It's kinda hard to rally around a math class."
Bryant gave academics the short shrift, but he was correct. The reality is nothing gives a campus, be it high school or college, and the surrounding community a strong common bond more than a successful team.
Wilmer-Hutchins football has been good news for an area that badly needed it.
Robinson, who doubles as athletic director, hears the hum when he walks the school halls. Students have emotionally invested in this team, he said.
Robinson hears it when his team takes the field.
In the past, Robinson said, the Eagles usually arrived to the sound of cheering opponents. That does not happen anymore. The fan base has grown.
"It's helped the community," said senior Joryan Culberson, a receiver and kick returner. "It's made it seem like all is not lost. It's brought hope to everybody, not just the team and the school but everybody in the community.
"We can believe our school is still great."
They can also believe that some adults in positions of authority can be trusted. Robinson and his staff have handled problems not found in the coaching primer.
Because of damage to main buildings, Wilmer-Hutchins students were spread among four other district schools at the start of the year. Organizing practice was difficult.
Robinson had to depend on the kindness of equipment vendors to be patient on bills. Money is scarce, but Robinson refused to cut corners on equipment. None of the suppliers, Robinson said, refused to fill an order.
No one gets into high school coaching for the money, but it was difficult to overlook late and missed paychecks. During the financial uncertainty, Robinson and his staff refused to walk out on a team that depended on them.
"I love our coaches," Bell said. "We know they're not in it for a paycheck. They're in it for us, to help us."
In the best of times, coaching is not easy at Wilmer-Hutchins. Robinson has to get by and make do with less than others.
Many of his players come from low-income families. Linebacker Josh McCoy, the top player on a strong defense, often must leave practice early to report for a job that gives his family a needed paycheck.
When the weather turns bad, some schools, such as Class 5A power Southlake Carroll, can move into an indoor practice facility. That's a pipe dream for Wilmer-Hutchins.
Facing a day lost to rain this week, the Eagles practiced because Forney coach Kevin Rush graciously allowed use of the school's indoor practice facility.
Robinson and Rush are friends. It falls under the heading of finding a way to get through each day.
"The Lord gives us tests," Robinson said. "There will be more tests after this. It's up to us to handle them."
Robinson understands the place of his team in the fabric of the school. It is not all about football. His players must maintain in the classroom, too. Restoring pride in Wilmer-Hutchins is a full-time assignment.