Team or Story of the Year

[Purple & Gold Standard]

Now that the season is in the rear-view, what are your thoughts on a team or player or story that you would consider to be __________ of the year ??....

 

My vote for Comeback Program of the Year would be the Obion County Central football team......

 

A little history....Back in 2006 the Rebel football team had just completed a 6-4 season..It was Darren Bowling's 4th and what turned out to be his final season in Troy....He later took the job as head man at Dyersburg High School where he finished his one and only season there at 10-2..He then became head coach at Union City where he has accumulated a 22-4 record and won a State Championship this year...For whatever reason, Bowling staying at Obion Central was considered a long stint as a coach at the school...There has not been much stability there....In comes the search committee for a new coach to replace Bowling...The folks at OC pick their man....For the life of me I can't think of his name...Not real surprising, he didn't make it 4 days as coach...If I remember right he was hired on a Wednesday or Thursday and resigned on a Monday, reportedly after a confrontation with a fan at a basketball game after he was hired....Another search finds Jason Driggers...So in 2007, the Rebels hit the field after losing a coach and 16 seniors...The Rebs were not a very good football team in 2007...They ended up 0-10...They scored only 68 points while giving up 485..Not one game would be considered close...Enter 2008...Another coaching change...Coach Driggers returned to be on the staff at Jackson South Side...Another search for a coach is needed...This time the administration find a guy from Missouri...Shawn Jackson was hired to coach the Rebels...During 2008 the Rebels showed improvement..They didn't win a game but they did score 155 points while giving up 450...Another 0-10 season which meant this program entered 2009 on a 20 game losing streak...Over the offseason coach Jackson made some much needed improvements to the facilities and continued his tough off-season regiment...

 

Fast forward to 2009....The Rebels opened the season with a big win over Fulton County, Ky...The Pilots aren't considered a Kentucky powerhouse but when you haven't won a game in two years does it really matter??...This Rebel football went on to finish 6-4 and made the 4A playoffs...They went down to Memphis and played Fairley where they played a very good game..They had the lead late before the Bulldogs went on won 34-28...So the Rebels ended their season with a 6-5 record..Not very good to the powerhouse programs in the state but real good to the fans at Obion Central...

 

This offseason needs to see the OC administration do whatever is necessary to keep Jackson as head coach...Stability is a big thing in sports...Jackson has interest in the program back...He plays a fun brand of football that the kids enjoy playing...He has kids wanting to play football again at OC...

 

What your thoughts on some of the big stories of 2009 ??