Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 10, 1993 TAG: 9312100014
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-15 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM COMMENTARY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
First came Radford under Norm Lineburg with back-to-back Group AA state championships in 1971-72. Parry McCluer under Bob Williams took consecutive Group A Division 1 state crowns in 1986-87.
It hasn't happened that much on a statewide basis. Hampton coach Mike Smith has won seven Group AAA state crowns and done it twice in consecutive years. West Potomac won back-to-back in 1989-90, but in different divisions.
In Group AA, only Courtland and Southhampton have done it besides Radford.
In Group A, former Christiansburg coach Phil Robbins did it at Powell Valley while Ralph Cummins, the winningest all-time coach in Virginia, did it at Clintwood.
Is it Coach Joel Hicks' turn at Pulaski County? The veteran coach says trying to repeat has been a point of real pressure for him this year.
"Last year, we weren't picked to win it. You're just so glad [when you win in the playoffs] to be at the next step," said Hicks.
"We won the first game in the regional and beat GW-Danville in the second game. I think they were favored. Those were great times to upset people. It was a surprise because they weren't expecting it. It was like a gift at Christmas."
There are no gifts this Christmas. From the first day, Pulaski County, with a veteran team, has been hunted. Any team beating the Cougars had a chance to make its season, much the same way Clint Eastwood's Harry Callahan character dared people to make his day by trying to shoot him.
"The very first poll, they had us No. 1, plus we were in the [USA Today] top 25. So you've got expectations that are so much higher," said Hicks.
"Our expectations were to be right here at this time. That's a rough road. Right now, we're just living up to expectations. Last year, we lived up to expectations when we won the district."
Hicks feels a lot of the pressure on him was relieved by the Cougars' making it back to the state championship game. By Saturday, he'll be salivating, wanting to win another state title.
Other coaches remember the back-to-back problems. "Fortunately for us, we had a very talented team returning the second year," said Lineburg. "The second year, everyone tries to defend you a different way and, offensively, they run new sets that you don't expect.
"It's a thing the opposing coaches use to motivate their kids with the idea of beating a state champion."
Still, Lineburg says, the first year was tougher because in that season the Bobcats were forced to play some games in horrendous weather that equalized the teams.
Smith says it depended on who his Hampton team was playing as to which year was the toughest.
"We thought we could do it three times in a row. We had won 37 straight and we tripped up. I never looked at the pressure part. I always thought it was fun to play."
Parry McCluer's Williams agrees with Hicks about the second year being more difficult. Unlike Hicks, Williams still felt the pressure in the second title game.
"The kids felt more pressure and I know the coaches did just from the idea of repeating," said Williams. "The pressure continued right to the end. Then we got behind early [to Strasburg in 1987] and had to fight hard to come back."
Hicks says his kids aren't cocky and that they've done a great job living up to expectations, win or lose Saturday.
"I don't believe the kids ever felt the pressure. They're a loose group. They've played hard and well. It was just the coach who kind of felt the pressure," he said.
Bob Teitlebaum is a Roanoke Times & World-News sportswriter.
by CNB