Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Turn out the lights
BY BILL HARVEY
A summer of anticipation has now passed and the kickoff of the 2008 football season will take place in the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The two-day event is called the “Texas Football Classic” and ten teams will play five games on Aug. 29 and 30. It is no secret that one of those teams is the Calhoun Sandcrabs.
Just a few short years ago it would have been hard to imagine that a Calhoun football team would be invited to such a prestigious event. The playoff drought had lasted 45 years and the last winning season occurred in 1991. But here they are, those Fighting Sandcrabs, about to embark for a season of high school football which has the potential to be a very special campaign, indeed.
The architect of the Sandcrabs’ success is Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Richard Whitaker. He came from a winning program at Houston Aldine, a team that won the state championship in 1990 under the direction of Texas coaching legend, Bill Smith. Under Smith’s tutelage, Whitaker learned the importance of having a comprehensive athletic program and that philosophy is extended through activities like the Champions Course and weight training and his emphasis on academic achievement. When afforded the opportunity to become a head coach and to implement his program, he and his coaches turned the Kingsville fortunes around on a dime, transforming the Brahmas into a playoff caliber team before performing the same magic at Calhoun.
Still, if Whitaker is the architect, his staff is the builder. Defensive coordinator Cory McFall is masterful in developing defensive strategies and game plans designed to counter the offensive punch of the opposition. That acumen was well illustrated last year as the Sandcrab defense held opponents to 14 or fewer points on eight occasions and held three teams scoreless. The varsity cast members, Jim Weatherwax, Lance Riddell, Roger Saenz (promoted to offensive coordinator after the departure of Larry Vincent), Wes Johnson, Mario Gonzalez, Santos Alvarado and Wayne Stewart round out a coaching staff that is talented, experienced and very hard working. These guys are good.
Against that backdrop, we return to a football game and the hometown team that is prepared to participate in that game. “This group of seniors is a very special bunch, “said Whitaker. “They have been a very tight group ever since they came up from middle school. They have had common goals and they care for each other.”
Aside from the usual suspects, several players who did not start last year are going to be a big part of the Sandcrabs’ success in 2008. “We have had several players who did not start for us last year that have had great off-seasons and are going to play important roles on this team. Daniel Roland has really stepped up and worked hard to get better; I am really proud for him and of him,” said Whitaker. “Alex Trevino (a freshman) has something in his nature that cannot be coached and that is his effort. He only has one speed and that is about 100 miles per hour. Daylan Bubenik (who transferred to Calhoun) is still learning our system but has really started to understand his role. “ Then, as he mentioned the name of Dawayne Lewis, Whitaker smiled as he spoke, “Dawayne has had a tremendous off season and he has excellent athletic ability for his size. It is really fun to watch him.”
The last game of the Texas Football Classic pits Calhoun against Mercedes High School (District 32-4A for those of us who have our official, autographed by Dave Campbell copies of Texas Football). The Tigers went 6-5 last season, are ranked second to Edcouch-Elsa in the district and return one of the state’s fastest running backs in the form of Alex Trevino (a quick side note, here. There is a Twilight Zone chance that in Saturday’s game, running back Alex Trevino could be tackled by linebacker Alex Trevino.)
“We are going to have a really tough pre-district schedule and it starts with Mercedes,” said Coach Whitaker. “Mercedes has a solid offensive line, a great running back, very quick linebackers and good receivers. Our goal will be to run right at them, control the ball and keep their offense off the field.”
So, just in case there is anyone left in Calhoun County this weekend, the Calhoun Sandcrabs will play the Mercedes Tigers in the Alamodome on Saturday, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Now, what could be more fun than watching a football game played between two quality football teams whose fans are filling the stands at the Alamodome? So in remembrance of a sign posted along the road in the hours before Calhoun played Uvalde in the Alamodome, I ask one favor.
Will the last one out of Port Lavaca please turn off the lights?
The two-day event is called the “Texas Football Classic” and ten teams will play five games on Aug. 29 and 30. It is no secret that one of those teams is the Calhoun Sandcrabs.
Just a few short years ago it would have been hard to imagine that a Calhoun football team would be invited to such a prestigious event. The playoff drought had lasted 45 years and the last winning season occurred in 1991. But here they are, those Fighting Sandcrabs, about to embark for a season of high school football which has the potential to be a very special campaign, indeed.
The architect of the Sandcrabs’ success is Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Richard Whitaker. He came from a winning program at Houston Aldine, a team that won the state championship in 1990 under the direction of Texas coaching legend, Bill Smith. Under Smith’s tutelage, Whitaker learned the importance of having a comprehensive athletic program and that philosophy is extended through activities like the Champions Course and weight training and his emphasis on academic achievement. When afforded the opportunity to become a head coach and to implement his program, he and his coaches turned the Kingsville fortunes around on a dime, transforming the Brahmas into a playoff caliber team before performing the same magic at Calhoun.
Still, if Whitaker is the architect, his staff is the builder. Defensive coordinator Cory McFall is masterful in developing defensive strategies and game plans designed to counter the offensive punch of the opposition. That acumen was well illustrated last year as the Sandcrab defense held opponents to 14 or fewer points on eight occasions and held three teams scoreless. The varsity cast members, Jim Weatherwax, Lance Riddell, Roger Saenz (promoted to offensive coordinator after the departure of Larry Vincent), Wes Johnson, Mario Gonzalez, Santos Alvarado and Wayne Stewart round out a coaching staff that is talented, experienced and very hard working. These guys are good.
Against that backdrop, we return to a football game and the hometown team that is prepared to participate in that game. “This group of seniors is a very special bunch, “said Whitaker. “They have been a very tight group ever since they came up from middle school. They have had common goals and they care for each other.”
Aside from the usual suspects, several players who did not start last year are going to be a big part of the Sandcrabs’ success in 2008. “We have had several players who did not start for us last year that have had great off-seasons and are going to play important roles on this team. Daniel Roland has really stepped up and worked hard to get better; I am really proud for him and of him,” said Whitaker. “Alex Trevino (a freshman) has something in his nature that cannot be coached and that is his effort. He only has one speed and that is about 100 miles per hour. Daylan Bubenik (who transferred to Calhoun) is still learning our system but has really started to understand his role. “ Then, as he mentioned the name of Dawayne Lewis, Whitaker smiled as he spoke, “Dawayne has had a tremendous off season and he has excellent athletic ability for his size. It is really fun to watch him.”
The last game of the Texas Football Classic pits Calhoun against Mercedes High School (District 32-4A for those of us who have our official, autographed by Dave Campbell copies of Texas Football). The Tigers went 6-5 last season, are ranked second to Edcouch-Elsa in the district and return one of the state’s fastest running backs in the form of Alex Trevino (a quick side note, here. There is a Twilight Zone chance that in Saturday’s game, running back Alex Trevino could be tackled by linebacker Alex Trevino.)
“We are going to have a really tough pre-district schedule and it starts with Mercedes,” said Coach Whitaker. “Mercedes has a solid offensive line, a great running back, very quick linebackers and good receivers. Our goal will be to run right at them, control the ball and keep their offense off the field.”
So, just in case there is anyone left in Calhoun County this weekend, the Calhoun Sandcrabs will play the Mercedes Tigers in the Alamodome on Saturday, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Now, what could be more fun than watching a football game played between two quality football teams whose fans are filling the stands at the Alamodome? So in remembrance of a sign posted along the road in the hours before Calhoun played Uvalde in the Alamodome, I ask one favor.
Will the last one out of Port Lavaca please turn off the lights?
 |
 |
|
| Gustav keeps Texans wary | Point Comfort tax rate hearings scheduled |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of portlavacawave.com.
