2B CLINTON DAILY NEWS

 SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018

Team mentality looks to put Reds on top

BY COLLIN WIEDER
Clinton Daily News
The slate is officially clean and
thoughts of Clinton’s 2017 season are
over. The old coaching staff, offense,
defense and mentality are back. It all
starts at the top with a senior class
that’s committed to owning up to past
shortcomings and vowing to never let
them happen again.
With 17 seniors on the roster, this
team is overflowing with experience
on each end of the football spectrum.
It’s come within a touchdown’s reach
of a state title appearance. It’s also
seen a 27-year playoff tradition come
to a humbling end. They’ve remained
even keel and came back ready to
work for the 2018 season.
Head coach John Higbee believes
this team has what it takes to climb
back in the saddle. It’s just going to
take some time, but he said they’re
ready to bring the sweep, the 50 de-
fense and the patented hard-nose
Clinton play back into a statewide again and not to kill what got started “They were earned, and this is how
spotlight. here. Honestly, they probably took a you earn it. It’s a grind. It’s a day in,
“They’re the ones who told me – the whole lot of responsibility themselves day out, come with the right attitude,
seniors are the guys I’m talking about and put it on their own shoulders and come to get better every single, soli-
in particular – how embarrassed they blamed that on themselves. It’s a team tary day. (We) Don’t back down when
were with how thing, so you things are going bad. You’ve got to
things went last kind of got to put find a way when you’re getting pushed
year,” Higbee “I talked to them from day one that on yourself a on and pushed on and pushed on, and
said. “The people bit. It was unfor- things are falling apart to pull togeth-
in the community, about how those things weren’t tunate circum- er. I think we can do that.”
and I’m thinking stances. For Clinton, it all starts with a
they’re talking given to them. Nobody handed “All I do on a focused and explosive group on both
about their broth- consistent basis sides of the ball. Higbee has raved
ers and relatives
anyone on those 16 state cham- is remind them regularly about the team speed across
and other people
their age are pok-
pionships teams the trophy.” of who we are
and where we
the roster. In the first scrimmage of
the year versus El Reno, the team re-
ing fun at them are. I remind corded a 28-0 win. All the scores in the
a little bit. Or, JOHN HIGBEE them about all game came from 57 or more yards out.
they’re getting Clinton High School head football coach those champion- The running game and passing game
onto them about ships up there on offense can break the game open in
killing the tradi- on that building one play.
tion here. over there. I talked to them from day DayDay Simpkins took the ball 57
“They’re the ones talking to me one about those things weren’t given yards on a jet sweep and weaved his
about that. They’re basically say- to them. Nobody handed anyone on way around tacklers for a zooming
ing, ‘We don’t want that to happen.’ those 16 state championships teams
They’re hungry not to let that happen the trophy. See PROGRAM REVAMP, page 3B

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We are proud of the Clinton
football players, coaches,
d s C o mpany and cheerleaders
oo an
Bar-S F company with who all make the Tornadoes
wing kage,
is a gro t benefits pac a winning team.
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