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One man can make a difference!

CM Coach May1,000+ posts
This is not a baseball story but a football story. But I believe it can be a reminder to all of us as well. One man can make a difference. Tonight our football team won its first playoff game since 1975. Thats right 32 years. It also finished in a three way tie for the conference championship. This is only the second playoff appearance in the last 32 years as well. Three years ago we got a coach. It was very obvious from the start that we got a special man in coach Mike Hobgood. The former UNC lineman took the job understanding that this was a program with no winning history , pathetic facilities , no numbers and no community support. He arrives everyday first and is the last guy to leave. He started an off season weight and conditioning program. He started an in school weight lifting program. He began to run summer football camps. In other words he went to work bigtime. He has changed the entire mentality of the football program. He has instilled discipline and a strong work ethic. And he leads by example. Congrats to Coach Mike Hobgood and the South Granville HS Vikings. I am so proud of Coach Hobgood and his players. One man has made a huge difference.
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Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
That is awesome. Funny, similar story at my son's HS, although it was 16 years ago.

Our coach came to the same situation. No winning tradition. Did all of those things you mention, and then some.

My son has been the beneficiary - now, the school is a perennial state title contender, is recognized universally as the class program in the state, and year in year out the guys expect to win and do win.

The school has 1250 kids, and plays in the top division against schools with as many as 2500 kids.

This year we are 10-0, ranked #1 in the state and Maxpreps has us #9 in the nation.

While there are literally dozens of coaches and others who make the program run, none of it would have happened without the one guy whose vision and hard work made it happen.
Last edited by Rob Kremer
B Bee>1,000+ posts
quote:
He started an in school weight lifting program
started, wow ... that program WAS (mal)functioning in a past era Frown

conditioning is a very common thread in many programs that have been turned around by a young coach who was well educated on the importance of conditioning & work ethic in college

congrats
Last edited by Bee>
play baseballplay baseball1,000+ posts
Coach May,

You have also made a difference for pointing this out to us....that WE can be that one person to "make a difference"--and I'm sure that many of us have.....but the results may not be as tangible as the results that Coach Hobgood has.

Congratulations to him and to all who have learned from him. Congratulations to all who have "made a difference".....

And good luck to the South Granville HS Vikings and to Young Kremer's team!
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
We had a new AD come to our high school several years ago. In eight years he's canned one coach after another. He brought in coaches from winning traditions with "can do" attitudes. A bunch of spoiled kids with country club backgrounds used to only win in tennis, golf, swimming, water polo and s****r. Now every team is winning except baseball. But baseball got a new coach last year. So long Mr. Genius "I've Coached 17 losing seasons in 20 years" baseball coach. The basketball and field hockey teams are successful enough to have shoe contracts.

The football team used to consider it a good year if they beat the the other league doormat on Thankgiving Day. They've gone from 0-11 with the old coach to 3-8, 6-5, 7-4 and now back to back 9-2's. An assistant told me winning a state championship with kids off the mean streets of the country clubs is not likely, but 9-2 is doable every year. He added, once in the playoffs anything can happen.

It's a great education in life for the kids having the tools is not enough. It takes dedication, commitment, attitude and wanting it. And an occasional kick in the rear. Smile

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