The Falcons walk through the beaten and bruised sign that withstood the tornado for warm-ups.
A constant rythmn is used to keep warm-ups going and on beat.
Coach Thomas commands his team from a distance, having complete control and trust in his team.
Coach Thomas and the Falcons hit the field moments before their game against St. Ansgar.
(Photo Courtesy http://www.nytimes.com/)
ED THOMAS
Ed Thomas has led the Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons to the playoffs 18 times and has played in six state championships with the Falcons coming out on top in two. But his 19th trip, the 2008 football season was different from all other trips.
On May 25, 2008 an EF5 tornado ravaged through the town of Parkersburg. Six Parkersburg residents died during the storm.
The entire south part of town was gone, City Hall destroyed, the building that was the high school lay in shambles.
When the town needed someone to lift them up, Ed Thomas was there with the Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons football team right by his side. For the citizens of Parkersburg, and the community of A-P football gives them the chance to get away from their daily lives. Football is the pride of their town.
When it came time to pick up the pieces and start over it wasn’t a surprise what was the first priority. Cleaning up and restoring the football field made its way to the top of the list.
“I didn’t look for anybody to turn to me, but that is just my nature to step up and get going,” Thomas said.
“I always tell the players and parents that if the only thing they learn in our program is how to play football then we have failed as coaches,” Thomas said. “To me it is about all the intangibles that will help make them successful in life to be better dads, husbands and members of their church and community.”
He teaches his players about commitment, dedication, work ethic and putting individual egos aside. For Thomas, this all begins with the seniors.
He doesn’t have team captains but instead uses a system of senior leaders. Each year after the winter season sports end, Thomas begins talking to the juniors who will be seniors and guides them through a six week leadership program.
It is within this program that Thomas instills his beliefs of putting others ahead of yourself and making a sacrifice for the sake of the team.
Every January Thomas gets his next class of seniors-to-be together and begins talking to them about their goals and being accountable for everything they do. Each senior selects a group of the returning players that they are held accountable for. Thomas puts the team in his seniors’ hands and asks them to lead by example. The end goal is to make these men more than just football players. It is to help them develop a servant mentality and have them come together as a family.
And in the backdrop of disaster, the family showed up for the one who taught them what they knew.
Below is a video of A-P's first home game since the tornado and includes a very emotional pregame speech from Coach Ed Thomas.
What is wrong with baseball today? I think it is the lack of parity in the sport compared to football and basketball.
In any sport you play, either team can win on a given day, but in baseball you are more apt to find uneven teams playing each other on a regular basis. Where as in football and basketball the teams are on a more level playing field on a more consistent basis.
So what would make baseball more competitive? Have the owners and players stop their arguing and finally agree on a salary cap.
The Yankees this past week offered C.C. Sabathia a contract worth $140 million. The Marlins total team payroll for 2008 was just over $21 million. Now how can a team like the Marlins compete for free agents and the top talent with teams like the Yankees when the large market teams offer players such large amounts of money.
A salary cap would level the playing field and give the small market teams a chance to sign quality athletes. It would make every game of the 162 game schedule count. It would give reason to why the season is so long. No longer would you have the Kansas City Royals being the joke of the league. They would have the same chance at the talent every other team would.
We would no longer be shocked to see a team like the Tampa Bay Rays make it to the World Series and the Yankees wouldn't be paying $3 million more in luxury tax than the Marlins did in payroll.
Level the cap, level the playing field, better the game.
At least that's what I think, what about you?
Breaking away from the Cubs for a bit here I recently placed a call to my best friend from back home to "remember the good old days".
Patrick and I grew up always playing sports together. He was a year older than me so his senior year was a bittersweet moment for both of us because it was the last time we would be competing on the same field together.
Talking to him brought up so many memories of football, basketball and track that it made both of us realize just how much we miss it. Having been obsessed with the movie Top Gun, Pat nicknamed us Maverick and Goose due to our friendship.
We were always known by parents and friends as the two guys on the team that never quit no matter the score. Pat and I both look back on that now as what made us such good friends.
"I don't really know how we got along so well when you were are darn Hawkeye fan," Pat said.
It's true, we were so different that we worked so well together, on and off the field. We always would challenge each other to be better no matter if it was on the football field, the track or the hardwood.
We would always give each other a hard time for mistakes we made and pushed each other constantly.
"Yeah, you remember when you dropped that sure pick 6 against Guthrie?"
Yeah, I remember it well, but Pat doesn't let me ever attempt to even try and forget it.
No matter what the score was we were always playing to the final whistle and never gave up. It's what made our bond so strong. We both knew we would never let up and let the other one down.
"That's something my mom always would say," Pat said. "She always said that by the end of games you and I seemed to be the only ones still trying, even when we were losing by 40."
Basketball and track were full of moments Pat and I could talk about forever, but the memory that stands out the most was our final football game of his senior year.
We weren't the best team by any means that year. Actually we had a lot of problems! Our starting quarterback got hurt the second game of the year and left us playing an experienced and much less talented quarterback. For most of the year, it was Pat and I continuing to work and never giving up as we suffered devastating loss after loss.
We finally got our quarterback back for the finally three games and were able to put things together on both sides of the ball for the first time all year. Heading into Pat's senior night we were 2-7 and knew this would be the final football game we would ever play together.
We were playing against are biggest rival, the Earlham Cardinals and the game had so much emotion involved in it. We weren't fighting for the playoffs or anything but there was a lot at stake against are rivals and it being the end to our season.
I remember standing there with Pat before we headed down for special teams, "One last time kid".
Pat and I both will always remember this game because our team came out differently than we had all year. We had a different level of emotion that surrounded our team. All the details of the game elude both of our memories to be exactly correct. But we both ended with interceptions against the Earlham quarterback, who ironically became one our good friends now in college.
The one moment that stands out to both of us is that our last football game together, we won. No matter what had happened that year, all of the tough losses and all the sweat and tears that went into trying to get better, it all ended with a W.
I will forever remember the moment in the locker room following the game when Pat didn't want to leave, didn't want to give up the jersey. It was an odd feeling to have as I knew I would have another year to play football. My time wasn't up yet but it seemed as if it was. No longer would I be on the same field as my "wing man". It was almost like it was over for me as well because everything would be different from that point on. The guy who always pushed me every day in practice would no longer be there.
As I was picking up my things and getting ready to head home, I gave Pat a hug and thanked him for all we had done together in football. Our time playing football was up but the memories we had together would live on forever. And so for one last time we were the final people to exit our locker room after the game, not quite wanting it to end so quickly.
3:05 PM - Game is just about to get underway in about ten minutes. Big news for the start of this game is "Big Ben" Roethlisberger is said to be making the start.
The explosive offense of the Colts will have a tremendous task in front of them going up against the Steel Curtain defense of the Steelers. Should be a good game.
3:15 PM - Game starts with the Colts kicking off. Gang tackled at the 22. Roethlisberger takes the field.
1st Quarter
14:00 - Colts defensive seems completely different with Bob Sanders in the game. Much more physical.
Willie Parker is out with an injury today.
11:00 - 23 yard catch by Holmes gets the Steelers into the red zone
10:07 - Big Ben looks sharp to start out. Steelers now first and goal.
9:07 - TOUCHDOWN STEELERS! They made it look way too easy there. The Colts defense needs to figure out how to make a stop soon or it could be a long day. Steelers up 7-0
Drive Summary - 10 plays, 62 yards in 5:53 and Roethlisberger went 4-4 for 48 yards.
7:41 - TOUCHDOWN COLTS! 65 yard pass, tipped then caught by Reggie Wayne, he did the rest. Colts tie it up.
Not how they draw it up in practice but it still counts. Big play for the Colts to come back and answer right back.
Drive Summary - 77 yards on 4 plays, 1:26 TOP
6:15 - Steelers go 3 and out. Finally the Colts got some pressure on Roethlisberger. Colts set to take the field again.
You know, having to watch some of these commercial it makes me respect soccer that much more. What would football be like if they just played straight through without all of these television time outs? I want to watch the game not learn about Viagra!
5:24 - Iowa alum Dallas Clark with a big 3rd down conversion. First down Colts.
3:20 - Manning goes down for the first sack in 119 dropbacks.
End of 1st Quarter - very hard hitting game thus far.
2nd Quarter
13:53 - Flea-flicker! Leads to another Steelers score. TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!
11:49 - Steelers defense holds again. Colts still haven't got much going offensively.
8:46 - The Steelers defense is blanketing the Colts right now. Manning is having to try and thread needles to complete anything. Colts are going to have to figure things out quickly to get anything going against the solid defense of the Steelers.
4:35 - The Colts defense has spent the better part of the first half on the field. Manning and the offense have only been on the field for a little over 8 minutes so far.
Side note - Maybe it's just because I still am way too excited about the Hawks winning yesterday, but looking at the Steelers and Colts uniforms, they look oddly similar to that of Iowa's and Penn St's respectively.
4:15 - FIELD GOAL STEELERS! 17-7 Steelers.
2:55 - Marvin Harrison hauls in a catch to extend his consecutive games with a catch streak to 184....next play...drops a sure touchdown.
2 MINTUE WARNING - Colts need to get some points here heading into the break to have a chance in the second half.
1:52 - When they needed it the most the Colts couldn't get anything going. First time they had the ball in Steeler territory and come away with nothing to show for it. Steeler defense is just simply outplaying the Colts right now.
1:24 - INTERCEPTION COLTS! They have second life now, let's see what they can do with it.
:28 - Big penalty on the Steelers. Bad time to have your first penalty of the game. Sets up a first and goal for the Colts.
:06 - TOUCHDOWN COLTS! DALLAS CLARK! Big score for the Colts. Now they will get the ball to start the second half down only 3.
End of 1st Half - Steelers had everything going their way. but Roethlisberger threw one bad pass and let the Colts right back into the game. Should lead to a good second half.
2nd Half Keys For the Colts - They need to find a way to sustain more drives and give their defense a chance to rest. Manning has had mutiple balls tipped by the Steeler defense. If he isn't careful it could cost him in the 2nd half.
2nd Half Keys For the Steelers - They just need to keep doing what they are doing. A dominating performance by the defense thus far although the score doesn't show that. One score was on a tipped ball that landed just right for the Colts and the other came off of Roethlisberger's poor throwing decision and allowed the Colts to get back into the game.
Start of 2nd Half
3rd Quarter
Colts to get the ball first. See if they made some adjustments to steady the offense some.
12:30 - Colts seem to be moving the ball much better here to start the 2nd half. I like how smart the Colts' receivers are to avoid taking the big hit and just getting the yards they can.
8:18 - Marvin Harrison drops another catchable ball and the Colts will have to settle for a field goal attempt.
8:14 - FIELD GOAL COLTS! 17-17
4:40 - The Colts have a chance here to do something on this drive. Big moment in the game if the Colts can take the lead.
3:07 - Reggie Wayne obviously went to church this past week as the good Lord has blessed him with another tipped catch. 1st and 10 Colts.
1:51 - Tyrone Carter delivers a huge hit on Anthony Gonzalez. Forces the Colts to punt.
End of 3rd Quarter -It was tough going for both sides in the 3rd. Should make for quite the final 15 minutes. Colts have played better in the 2nd half.
4th Quarter
10:54 - Steelers are putting together a very good drive here. First and goal at the 5.
8:40 - HUGE stop by the Colts with their backs against the endzone. Forces the Steelers to settle for a field goal attempt.
7:57 - FIELD GOAL STEELERS! That drive lasted 8:27! 20-17
The Colts are going to need to put a drive over their own together and match the Steelers here.
6:13 - Big stop by the Steelers. Question now is how much time will Manning have left to orchestrate a comeback and how much will he be down at that point?
4:44 - INTERCEPTION COLTS! Tim Jennings comes up big for the Colts. Gives Manning and the Colts offense another life.
3:04 - TOUCHDOWN COLTS! You can't keep giving Manning more chances. Sooner or later it is going to turn around and bite you. Finally for the Steelers it bit them.
24-20 Colts
Roethlisberger has just under 3 minutes left to lead his team back. 1st and 10 from their own 27
:48 - First down Steelers. But they need a touchdown right now!
:43 - Big holding call. Leads to a 1st and 20.
:35 - Roethlisberger goes down! Timeout Steelers. They are almost out of chances here.
A final desperation throw by Roethlisberger is intercepted by the Colts as time expires. Colts pull off a big one on the road.
COLTS WIN 24-20 in a very physical contest
POST GAME THOUGHTS - The Colts overcame a sluggish 1st half to win a very important road game. With the Titans pulling away as division leaders, the Colts needed to start a winning streak here to keep fighting for a wild card spot. When they needed a big play the most, the Colts were able to come up with it Sunday evening. Roethlisberger performed well considering concerns over his shoulder. It is a tough loss for the Steelers to face, but it was a battle from start to finish and the ball just didn't bounce their way in the end.
So I was going to wait until this coming week to put together my off-season predictions for the Cubs, but obviously even Jim Hendry is antsy to put 2008 behind him and get ready for 2009.
As a Cubs fan I can't imagine a better way to wake up the last couple of days then to see reports that the Cubs are going after Jake Peavy, are leading contenders for Jake Peavy and now apparently are quite likely going to land Jake Peavy from all indications.
The thing for me right now is, how much will we have to give up for Peavy? Names that have been thrown around include: Felix Pie, Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot and Donald Veal.
Recent reports have also included the possibility of Jeff Samardzija being included as well.
However, today, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald states that neither Samardzija nor Fontenot have been included yet. He also mentions a few other prospects within the Cubs organization that the great Jim Hendry could possibly include as well.
There are some minor rumors that feel that the Cubs may be including another team in the deal to get enough prospects together to get Peavy, but I think the Cubs have enough in-house guys to get the job done.
Unfortunately, acquiring Peavy may limit the rest of the moves the Cubs can make this off-season, but I think it is a necessary move to make. As long as they don't have to give up the entire system I think you take whatever deal you can get. After that you do whatever else you can. One thing I know this does though is prove that Jim Hendry doesn't give up on anything and more often than not gets his man.
Plus how good would a Big Z, Peavy, Harden, Dempster and Lilly rotation look if everything works out well this off-season?
That's right sports fans, DePaul University has done the impossible.
Course number ISP 102-709: Chicago Cubs, taught by professor Blair Banwart and assisted by Ed Pniak.
The syllabus includes a look at the history of the club since the 1870s and its effect on the surrounding community.
Class field trips to Cubs games and a daily conversation about what it means to be a Cubs fan.
By now you must be thinking the same thing as me...can this be real?
But there are papers and projects, like any other class. Each student must write a recap of their Cubs game experience and, for a final paper, a study of how the Cubs mix with society, such as club charities.
It has become one of the most popular classes at DePaul...only question now is what will it take for it to make its way to the University of Iowa?
