Tough season ends for Wildcats

November 12, 2007

By Jeremy Wise

On Friday night, there were tears, hugs and handshakes on the Bates Memorial Stadium field.
Sadly, those were tears of loss and hugs and handshakes of condolences.
It was from a team that already knew the sting of pain from loss, moreso than possibly any other team in the area in a long time.
The sights were from the opening round playoff loss the Enterprise Wildcats suffered. The loss concluded a season of hardship that showed the true test of a community, of a school and of about 100 15- to 18-year-old boys.
For the team, the start of the season was mired in adjustments: adjustments to new locker room facilities, adjustments to a new school schedule and adjustments to a new practice schedule.
Of course, these adjustments were among many of the changes the Wildcats had to go through since they lost their home, Enterprise High School, and eight classmates in a March 1 tornado.
A typical day for a football player on this new schedule was to arrive at the Enteprrise-Ozark Community College campus for breakfast at about 8 a.m. You see, at EOCC, there are no lunchroom facilities, and the only chance for food in a given school day is a sack lunch given out in the lobby of Lolley Gymnasium.
It’s hard to go to school and endure a greuling practice without a good meal in your belly.
After breakfast, players watched film in one of a few portable classrooms that became their home this fall.
After film, the players had about an hour to prepare for school, and they would attend class from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on most days.
Then came practice, a new set of hardships since they had to change into pads and uniforms in portable classrooms or locker room facilieties in Lolley Gymnasium.
Toward the end of the season, the players had to ride a bus to practice since the field at EOCC had no lighting.
They did this with the thoughts of March 1 weighing on their minds. They did this while preparing and playing a tough 6A schedule.
They overcame off the field, and they overcame on it.
Three times, the ‘Cats rallied from trailing in the fourth quarter to win. Once, they did it on a field goal from Parker Stinnett as time expired.
It was as if the ‘Cats had not proved they had enough heart.
To top it, the Wildcats also lost two heartbreakers on the road, including a double-overtime loss to Smiths Station.
In all, five of the Wildcats’ 11 games were decided by one score or less.
But the ‘Cats kept on playing, right until the final horn.
Wildcats’ head coach Kevin Collins said the players never complained once. He also said that the community should be proud of them.
Judging by the crowds at every home game, including after thunderstorms in the first two games, I believe they are.
I know I am.