By ED ROBINSON
PRINCETON — Prior to the start of the 2009 football season, the Princeton coaching staff and team members had lofty goals for the campaign. The two preceding seasons, the Tigers had a combined 4-16 record. Their aspirations were to have a winning season and to make the playoffs.
To some outsiders, these goals seemed very unrealistic given the team’s recent shortcomings.
These desires did not appear to be unrealistic given the team’s strong work ethic, a cadre of talented running backs, a number of athletic players, and the team’s collective determination to achieve.
One of the coaches’ chief concerns was the lack of experience along the offensive front with only one returning starter. They realized that the unit, however, had considerable potential and, given maturity, could become a powerful force.
The Tigers’ opening four games were a daunting challenge (Spring Valley, Bluefield, Capital, and George Washington). In fact, all of these teams were highly ranked, and all would make the playoffs.
Princeton lost the first game, then the second game, then the third contest, and finally the fourth game.
Despite the prevailing doom and gloom, there were patches of blue. First, in three of the four games, the Tigers played very well. Second, the offensive line was steadily gaining experience and confidence.
The fifth game against a similarly winless Graham team started badly for Princeton. The Tigers fumbled the opening kickoff deep in their territory. Graham drove down the field and collected a first down on Princeton’s four-yard line. They would not get any further on that possession.
The goal line stand energized the Tigers. They won that game and proceeded to win the next five. Many of the players cite the Graham game as a turning point of the season.
During the last six games, the offensive line developed to a point that they consistently punched out large holes for the Tiger running backs to run through. As a result, Princeton now has one of the state’s most powerful ground attacks.
The dramatic turnaround is a tribute to the team’s determination to make their “impossible dream” come true.
When the players learned that they had made the playoffs, their emotions covered a broad range.
Senior center/defensive tackle Jody Bailey said, “ I was pumped.”
For senior offensive guard Zack Barker, “It was the happiest day of my life.”
Junior defensive end Tony Jones declared, “It was the greatest feeling in the world.”
Senior offensive guard/defensive end Shawn Rivera said, “I jumped out of my chair and then called everyone I knew.”
Senior tackle Jarred Cook “could not sleep.”
Senior offensive end/linebacker Tanner Grose revealed, “The seniors shed happy tears.”
And, the coaching staff was elated. They said that this team deserved the achievement and that they were one of the hardest working squads they had ever seen.
