Corsicana —
The same sports related question resonates throughout the community or on the local radio show and it is: “What is wrong with the Tigers?”
The answer is that there is nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all. There is an expression used on twitter and/or facebook with the letters LQTM, and while I don’t Laugh Quietly To Myself when the question is asked, I do smile quietly to myself.
The reason for the covert smile is that for the last three years this Tiger program has successfully raised the expectations again.
At the end of the 2008 campaign the Tigers wrapped up a 5-5 campaign that was the end of a 3-year 15-16 campaign. A former Daily Sun sports reporter texted me that it wasn’t the Big 3 anymore with Waxahachie, Ennis and Corsicana. It was the Big Two. Corsicana, according to him, didn’t need to be mentioned in the same football sentence as Ennis and Waxahachie.
As a fella born and raised in Corsicana, my blood boiled.
Entering 2012, the Tigers have more playoff wins since I received that text than Ennis and Waxahachie combined.
So I smile to myself when someone asks what is wrong with this 2012 bunch because despite playing without their highest recruited player in quarterback Devontay Bell for the majority of the first five games, people expect this team to win. Without their starting linebacker in Game 2, they expect this team to win. Without their entire starting backfield in Game 5, they expect this team to win.
A pre-district schedule that includes 5A Denton Ryan, a Red Oak team that will probably be 5A next realignment, an always pesky Forney team, the long standing rival with Big 4A Waxahachie and a 100-mile trip to storied Sulphur Springs, and this program is expected to deliver.
Prior to 2012, head coach Phil Castles had led this team to a 26-12 record.
The most important record at this very instance is that the Tigers are 0-0 headed into District 16 4A play. Former Tiger athletic director Sam Thompson told me more than once that anytime your team plays eleven games at the high school level, success has been achieved.
Of course eleven games means your team qualified for the postseason. Despite the Tigers’ 1-4 start, the players that make their way through the crowd on the west side of the Tiger Stadium stands on Friday night should focus on one game at a time and one common goal. Week 11.
From Cody Evans to Cameron Cutrer to Dominic Kelly to Cameron Washington to Tevin McDonald, the bar has been raised again. These players with a host of others have put the expectations on 2012.
The ultimate compliment from Zach Rash to Donovan Fields to Cedric Weaver to Dean Fletes to Bobby Wallace is that your fans believe enough in you that they still expect greatness despite the adversity.
Take it as a compliment and then go prove them right.
Sports
Related Photos
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Tigers fullback Hunter Easley (34) and quarterback Zach Rash (16) hold their hands across their hearts during ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the Red Oak game on Sept. 7. Daily Sun file photo/Ron Farmer
Discussion
Point After: What is wrong with the Tigers?
Nothing wrong at all
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