44INAROW
08-07-2008, 11:25 AM
This is a long but interesting read for "sports history buffs" Just trying to post sports related articles, so here it is ;)
Sports
Cuero Gobblers: a tradition of excellence
by Richard Morton, Record Sports
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The first football practice of the season began this week, and in a few short months another season of Gobbler football will enter the history books. It is that history that only a few Gobbler fans really know and appreciate. From the first game played in 1911 to the season to come, the Gobblers have a long and storied past.
The following is by no means a comprehensive history of the Gobblers, entire books could be written on the subject. This is simply an attempt to give Gobbler fans some insight into the team they love to follow.
As far back as 1909, talk circulated around Cuero of a desire to field a football team for the 1909-1910 season. 1911 saw the Gobblers take the field for the first time, beginning the third longest rivalry in the state with the Yoakum Bulldogs. The Gobblers lost both games that season, but a proud tradition of excellence would not elude Cuero for long.
By 1913 football was becoming a big part of the sporting scene in Cuero. The Gobblers went 5-1 that season and competed in a early variation of the playoffs. With a win over Victoria High in the first game of the season, Cuero's all time record was 4-4 and put the Gobblers at a .500 winning percentage for the first time; 986 games and 95 years later the Gobblers have never dropped below .500 all-time.
By the 1917 season, anyone in town who wanted to talk about World War I or any other topic was simply out of luck. Gobbler football had become the talk of the town and remains so today. A flu and pneumonia epedemic in 1918 threatened to end the program and resulted in only one game being played that season. Football however had become a mainstay of Cuero and the Gobblers weathered the storm.
The early days of Gobbler football, looked a little different than what fans of today's game are used to. In the early days, games were played any day of the week, mostly played in the afternoons, and game travel was sometimes made by train.
The 1920's were truly roaring for the Gobblers as they went 46-26 for the decade. In the second game of the 1920 season the Gobblers defeated Victoria High 38-6, playing the second half in darkness as there were no Friday night lights around. That same season, the Gobblers played a benefit game against former players. The Cuero Record described the All Star team as being ...made up of former football stars, has beens, would bees, counts, and no counts. In 1924 the Gobblers joined the; UIL and in 1928, Cuero won its first of twenty six district championships.
The next three decades were up and down for the Gobblers as they posted a 180-195-20 record from the 1930's through the 1960's. Four more district championships came in 38, 41,'42, and 57. It seemed that after the momentum of the early years, the Gobblers were struggling to find their winning ways. Little did the players or residents know, a new coach was about to shake things up and turn Cuero into a Texas high school football powerhouse.
In 1969, Buster Gilbreth became head coach at Cuero High School. Within one year, the Cuero Gobblers became the most successful team in Texas from 1970-1975. The 1970 squad won the district championship on a coin toss and lost the State Championship to the Brownwood Lions. The momentum of the 1970 team carried over to the teams that followed. The 1970 Cuero Gobblers inspired and motivated us, said Jeff Ray, captain of the 1974 Gobblers.
The 1971 and 1972 Gobbler teams posted undefeated regular seasons only to lose in the playoffs to the Uvalde Coyotes, who won the 1972 State Championship. After coming close for two seasons, the Gobblers were poised to make a title run.
The 1973 Gobblers became the first Gobbler team to win the State Championship posting 10 shutouts, including Mount Pleasant in the title game. The team posted a 15-0 record, the first perfect season in school history.
Not to be outdone by the 1973 squad, the 1974 Gobblers repeated a perfect season. The Gobblers forced 9 shutouts and set a school record by scoring 74 points in one game. The 1974 State Championship made Cuero the first team in 3A history to win back to back undefeated championships.
Entering the 1975 season, the Gobblers had huge shoes to fill. Cuero had another undefeated regular and returned to the title game in attempt to win three straight championships. The Gobblers extended their winning streak to 44 games, then lost a hard fought title game with Ennis, 13-10.
After three more seasons with the Gobblers, Coach Gilbreth retired in 1979 as the winningest coach in Gobbler history. His overall record after a decade with the Gobblers was 107-22-4, and a .805 winning percentage. Coach Gilbreth laid the foundation for 18 straight winning seasons, won back to back titles and played for two more. The record, the winning streak, the State appearances and championships posted in six years are unmatched by any other football program in the 1970's. Coach Gilbreth was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 1993.
The first three years of Coach Larry Pullin's tenure with the Gobblers, were somewhat average, but Cuero's winning ways returned for his final three years. District Champions in 83, Area Champions in 84, State finalists in 85.
Coach Pat Blessing inherited a talented team in 1986 that had played in the State Championship game the year before. That season saw the Gobblers return to the title game after winning 15 straight games, the Gobblers were shut out by Jefferson 24-0.
Much like the 1973 season, 1987 was a magical year for the Gobblers. That season the Gobblers went 16-0 to win Cuero's third State Championship. The team set school records for wins and points scored in a season with 695. That year Robert Strait was named a High School All American, Cuero's first and only. To this day Strait ranks in the top five in nine Texas high school records, four of which were set in 1987.
The State Championship was followed by two losing seasons to end the 1980's; and the 90s started off on a good note with another district championship. Coach Mickey Finley took over the Gobblers in 1992. After a losing season in his first year, the Gobblers returned to the title game in 1993, losing to future 5A powerhouse Southlake Carrol. The 1993 season began a run of seven consecutive playoff appearances; a school record.
The following season had a strange ending for Cuero. After starting the season 12-0, the Gobblers tied Port Isabel 20-20 in the Regional round of the playoffs. Based on a UIL rule, the game was decided by penetrations inside the twenty yard line, and Cuero was eliminated.
After solid regular seasons, the 95,'96, and 97 season all saw Cuero eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Sealy Tigers. The 1998 season saw Cuero overcome the tragedy of a flood and the Gobblers return to the state title game and a loss to Aledo 14-7. The 1998 squad was named the 3A Team of the Year.
During the mid 1990's, a bitter rivalry was forged between Cuero and Sealy and culminated in a #1 vs. #2 matchup in the preseason of 1999. Gobbler stadium played host to a standing room only crowd of over 8,000 that night, but the #2 Gobblers came up short 26-3. The ten year war continued until 2004 with the Tigers edging out the Gobblers 6 wins to 4.
Coach Bill Littleton took over the program for the 99 season and achieved some success in the 2000 season posting a 9-2 record, the best of his tenure. After two early departures from the postseason and two years without making the playoffs Coach Littleton left Cuero after the 2002 season.
Coach Mark Reeve became head coach of the Gobblers after the departure of Littleton. Coach Reeve has achieved success like that of another Gobbler coach, only lacking a State Championship. Reeve has led the Gobblers to a 60-8 record, five straight district championships, and one state championship runner up in 2004.
From 1911 through the season to come, football in Cuero has a long and storied history. This years Gobblers will look to add their own chapter to that history.
Cuero Record Link - go to SPORTS (www.cuerorecord.com)
Sports
Cuero Gobblers: a tradition of excellence
by Richard Morton, Record Sports
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The first football practice of the season began this week, and in a few short months another season of Gobbler football will enter the history books. It is that history that only a few Gobbler fans really know and appreciate. From the first game played in 1911 to the season to come, the Gobblers have a long and storied past.
The following is by no means a comprehensive history of the Gobblers, entire books could be written on the subject. This is simply an attempt to give Gobbler fans some insight into the team they love to follow.
As far back as 1909, talk circulated around Cuero of a desire to field a football team for the 1909-1910 season. 1911 saw the Gobblers take the field for the first time, beginning the third longest rivalry in the state with the Yoakum Bulldogs. The Gobblers lost both games that season, but a proud tradition of excellence would not elude Cuero for long.
By 1913 football was becoming a big part of the sporting scene in Cuero. The Gobblers went 5-1 that season and competed in a early variation of the playoffs. With a win over Victoria High in the first game of the season, Cuero's all time record was 4-4 and put the Gobblers at a .500 winning percentage for the first time; 986 games and 95 years later the Gobblers have never dropped below .500 all-time.
By the 1917 season, anyone in town who wanted to talk about World War I or any other topic was simply out of luck. Gobbler football had become the talk of the town and remains so today. A flu and pneumonia epedemic in 1918 threatened to end the program and resulted in only one game being played that season. Football however had become a mainstay of Cuero and the Gobblers weathered the storm.
The early days of Gobbler football, looked a little different than what fans of today's game are used to. In the early days, games were played any day of the week, mostly played in the afternoons, and game travel was sometimes made by train.
The 1920's were truly roaring for the Gobblers as they went 46-26 for the decade. In the second game of the 1920 season the Gobblers defeated Victoria High 38-6, playing the second half in darkness as there were no Friday night lights around. That same season, the Gobblers played a benefit game against former players. The Cuero Record described the All Star team as being ...made up of former football stars, has beens, would bees, counts, and no counts. In 1924 the Gobblers joined the; UIL and in 1928, Cuero won its first of twenty six district championships.
The next three decades were up and down for the Gobblers as they posted a 180-195-20 record from the 1930's through the 1960's. Four more district championships came in 38, 41,'42, and 57. It seemed that after the momentum of the early years, the Gobblers were struggling to find their winning ways. Little did the players or residents know, a new coach was about to shake things up and turn Cuero into a Texas high school football powerhouse.
In 1969, Buster Gilbreth became head coach at Cuero High School. Within one year, the Cuero Gobblers became the most successful team in Texas from 1970-1975. The 1970 squad won the district championship on a coin toss and lost the State Championship to the Brownwood Lions. The momentum of the 1970 team carried over to the teams that followed. The 1970 Cuero Gobblers inspired and motivated us, said Jeff Ray, captain of the 1974 Gobblers.
The 1971 and 1972 Gobbler teams posted undefeated regular seasons only to lose in the playoffs to the Uvalde Coyotes, who won the 1972 State Championship. After coming close for two seasons, the Gobblers were poised to make a title run.
The 1973 Gobblers became the first Gobbler team to win the State Championship posting 10 shutouts, including Mount Pleasant in the title game. The team posted a 15-0 record, the first perfect season in school history.
Not to be outdone by the 1973 squad, the 1974 Gobblers repeated a perfect season. The Gobblers forced 9 shutouts and set a school record by scoring 74 points in one game. The 1974 State Championship made Cuero the first team in 3A history to win back to back undefeated championships.
Entering the 1975 season, the Gobblers had huge shoes to fill. Cuero had another undefeated regular and returned to the title game in attempt to win three straight championships. The Gobblers extended their winning streak to 44 games, then lost a hard fought title game with Ennis, 13-10.
After three more seasons with the Gobblers, Coach Gilbreth retired in 1979 as the winningest coach in Gobbler history. His overall record after a decade with the Gobblers was 107-22-4, and a .805 winning percentage. Coach Gilbreth laid the foundation for 18 straight winning seasons, won back to back titles and played for two more. The record, the winning streak, the State appearances and championships posted in six years are unmatched by any other football program in the 1970's. Coach Gilbreth was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 1993.
The first three years of Coach Larry Pullin's tenure with the Gobblers, were somewhat average, but Cuero's winning ways returned for his final three years. District Champions in 83, Area Champions in 84, State finalists in 85.
Coach Pat Blessing inherited a talented team in 1986 that had played in the State Championship game the year before. That season saw the Gobblers return to the title game after winning 15 straight games, the Gobblers were shut out by Jefferson 24-0.
Much like the 1973 season, 1987 was a magical year for the Gobblers. That season the Gobblers went 16-0 to win Cuero's third State Championship. The team set school records for wins and points scored in a season with 695. That year Robert Strait was named a High School All American, Cuero's first and only. To this day Strait ranks in the top five in nine Texas high school records, four of which were set in 1987.
The State Championship was followed by two losing seasons to end the 1980's; and the 90s started off on a good note with another district championship. Coach Mickey Finley took over the Gobblers in 1992. After a losing season in his first year, the Gobblers returned to the title game in 1993, losing to future 5A powerhouse Southlake Carrol. The 1993 season began a run of seven consecutive playoff appearances; a school record.
The following season had a strange ending for Cuero. After starting the season 12-0, the Gobblers tied Port Isabel 20-20 in the Regional round of the playoffs. Based on a UIL rule, the game was decided by penetrations inside the twenty yard line, and Cuero was eliminated.
After solid regular seasons, the 95,'96, and 97 season all saw Cuero eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Sealy Tigers. The 1998 season saw Cuero overcome the tragedy of a flood and the Gobblers return to the state title game and a loss to Aledo 14-7. The 1998 squad was named the 3A Team of the Year.
During the mid 1990's, a bitter rivalry was forged between Cuero and Sealy and culminated in a #1 vs. #2 matchup in the preseason of 1999. Gobbler stadium played host to a standing room only crowd of over 8,000 that night, but the #2 Gobblers came up short 26-3. The ten year war continued until 2004 with the Tigers edging out the Gobblers 6 wins to 4.
Coach Bill Littleton took over the program for the 99 season and achieved some success in the 2000 season posting a 9-2 record, the best of his tenure. After two early departures from the postseason and two years without making the playoffs Coach Littleton left Cuero after the 2002 season.
Coach Mark Reeve became head coach of the Gobblers after the departure of Littleton. Coach Reeve has achieved success like that of another Gobbler coach, only lacking a State Championship. Reeve has led the Gobblers to a 60-8 record, five straight district championships, and one state championship runner up in 2004.
From 1911 through the season to come, football in Cuero has a long and storied history. This years Gobblers will look to add their own chapter to that history.
Cuero Record Link - go to SPORTS (www.cuerorecord.com)