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ACHS returns to normal after winning TAPPS championship
How things change.
Just one week ago, Abilene Christian High School was celebrating its second state championship in five years.
This week, football coach Ronnie Vinson washed football uniforms, mopped the floor from the mess made washing football uniforms, and drove the basketball team to the Rotan Tournament.
"Kind of brings you back down to earth," he said.
Many of the state championship football players have moved into basketball where their goal is nearly as lofty, but were 1-2 in their first three games after just one day of hoop practice.
For the first time in 16 weeks, teacher Ronnie Vinson can start grading papers before sundown. He took his son hunting Friday and planned to get his Christmas tree Saturday.
"I drove the bus for the basketball team last night (Thursday) just to get to go to the game," Vinson said.
Things are a little easier for the former eighth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. Texas Association of Private Schools meetings, compiling next year’s schedules and finding colleges for some of his talented seniors occupy time previously reserved for football practice, viewing films and making game plans.
"I got home at 4 o’clock the other day," Vinson said. "There wasn’t anybody there. The sun was still up and I felt funny. I felt guilty. It felt like I should be doing something."
But the free time also gives him a chance to reflect on the first unbeaten season in ACHS history. The Panthers went 12-0-1 in securing the TAPS Division II state championship and won the semifinal and final games easily.
This year’s state title actually began four years ago. After winning the school’s first state championship in 1982, the current senior squad watched from eighth grade as the varsity went without a victory.
The next year as freshmen the Panthers suffered through a 1-8 year as eight of this year’s 12 seniors started and a ninth split playing time. At the time, the group was a small, slow outfit and ACHS suffered through beating after beating. But the Panthers never quit.
An early win the next year helped ACHS make a drastic turnaround.
"When they were sophomores, we lacked a little leadership and that’s when David Hutton (a senior) came in and provided leadership for us," Vinson said. "We were 1-8 (the previous year) and really had some problems as far as the winning attitude.
"We went to Roby and David Hutton intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and we won 7-0 (in the season opener). And there was a bunch of sophomores that got excited and every week was an adventure."
The Panthers improved from 1-8 to 7-4-1 and a team that wasn’t expected to do very well was given an at-large berth in the TAPS playoffs. Abilene Christian rode the excitement all the way to the semifinals where the Panthers tied Canyon Creek Christian but lost on penetrations.
"I think that Roby game, David Hutton’s returned interception, I think that was the catalyst," Vinson said. "I think David Hutton brought in some leadership and a work ethic that some other kids caught on to. I think a lot of that showed up this year and a lot of that’s just maturity."
Abilene Christian followed that with an 8-3 season. But, with the pressure to win following the surprising 1985 season, another loss in the semifinals frustrated a Panther team that was expected to fare better.
"When they were juniors, we had just moved to a new facility. Everything was new," Vinson said. "We had two-a-days at three different fields. All the routines were messed up."
The results were not what the coaches and parents had expected. With all the distractions, the team just didn’t jell.
"That was the first time in the 10 years I’ve been here that there was pressure to win," Vinson said. "They were expected to win. There was a lot of pressure and we just didn’t come around that year. It wasn’t a team effort. It was a valuable lesson.
"We were 8-3, but we felt the season was not as successful as it could be. There was an underlying feeling that we were not too happy."
That unhappy feeling led to a change. The players worked hard immediately following the season and came into this season with a different attitude.
"I think I could tell (the attitude was better) as soon as our season was over," Vinson said. "The kids recognized the things that they needed to work on and the things that, in order to be a championship team, they had to work on.
"I could recognize it more during two-a-days. They were willing to get in shape. They worked hard to get in shape and it paid off in our early ballgames."
It also paid off in the long run. There were no serious injuries during the season and Vinson can remember having to tend to a cramp just once during the year.
"When we went in this year, our main goal was to play with class, play with discipline and to win. And that’s what happened. And it was so much fun," Vinson said.
"I think even if we had not won state, we would have had fun and ended this season on a good note. It was a team effort."
And championships go to teams.
Just one week ago, Abilene Christian High School was celebrating its second state championship in five years.
This week, football coach Ronnie Vinson washed football uniforms, mopped the floor from the mess made washing football uniforms, and drove the basketball team to the Rotan Tournament.
"Kind of brings you back down to earth," he said.
Many of the state championship football players have moved into basketball where their goal is nearly as lofty, but were 1-2 in their first three games after just one day of hoop practice.
For the first time in 16 weeks, teacher Ronnie Vinson can start grading papers before sundown. He took his son hunting Friday and planned to get his Christmas tree Saturday.
"I drove the bus for the basketball team last night (Thursday) just to get to go to the game," Vinson said.
Things are a little easier for the former eighth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. Texas Association of Private Schools meetings, compiling next year’s schedules and finding colleges for some of his talented seniors occupy time previously reserved for football practice, viewing films and making game plans.
"I got home at 4 o’clock the other day," Vinson said. "There wasn’t anybody there. The sun was still up and I felt funny. I felt guilty. It felt like I should be doing something."
But the free time also gives him a chance to reflect on the first unbeaten season in ACHS history. The Panthers went 12-0-1 in securing the TAPS Division II state championship and won the semifinal and final games easily.
This year’s state title actually began four years ago. After winning the school’s first state championship in 1982, the current senior squad watched from eighth grade as the varsity went without a victory.
The next year as freshmen the Panthers suffered through a 1-8 year as eight of this year’s 12 seniors started and a ninth split playing time. At the time, the group was a small, slow outfit and ACHS suffered through beating after beating. But the Panthers never quit.
An early win the next year helped ACHS make a drastic turnaround.
"When they were sophomores, we lacked a little leadership and that’s when David Hutton (a senior) came in and provided leadership for us," Vinson said. "We were 1-8 (the previous year) and really had some problems as far as the winning attitude.
"We went to Roby and David Hutton intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and we won 7-0 (in the season opener). And there was a bunch of sophomores that got excited and every week was an adventure."
The Panthers improved from 1-8 to 7-4-1 and a team that wasn’t expected to do very well was given an at-large berth in the TAPS playoffs. Abilene Christian rode the excitement all the way to the semifinals where the Panthers tied Canyon Creek Christian but lost on penetrations.
"I think that Roby game, David Hutton’s returned interception, I think that was the catalyst," Vinson said. "I think David Hutton brought in some leadership and a work ethic that some other kids caught on to. I think a lot of that showed up this year and a lot of that’s just maturity."
Abilene Christian followed that with an 8-3 season. But, with the pressure to win following the surprising 1985 season, another loss in the semifinals frustrated a Panther team that was expected to fare better.
"When they were juniors, we had just moved to a new facility. Everything was new," Vinson said. "We had two-a-days at three different fields. All the routines were messed up."
The results were not what the coaches and parents had expected. With all the distractions, the team just didn’t jell.
"That was the first time in the 10 years I’ve been here that there was pressure to win," Vinson said. "They were expected to win. There was a lot of pressure and we just didn’t come around that year. It wasn’t a team effort. It was a valuable lesson.
"We were 8-3, but we felt the season was not as successful as it could be. There was an underlying feeling that we were not too happy."
That unhappy feeling led to a change. The players worked hard immediately following the season and came into this season with a different attitude.
"I think I could tell (the attitude was better) as soon as our season was over," Vinson said. "The kids recognized the things that they needed to work on and the things that, in order to be a championship team, they had to work on.
"I could recognize it more during two-a-days. They were willing to get in shape. They worked hard to get in shape and it paid off in our early ballgames."
It also paid off in the long run. There were no serious injuries during the season and Vinson can remember having to tend to a cramp just once during the year.
"When we went in this year, our main goal was to play with class, play with discipline and to win. And that’s what happened. And it was so much fun," Vinson said.
"I think even if we had not won state, we would have had fun and ended this season on a good note. It was a team effort."
And championships go to teams.
More Local News
ACHS SEASON REVIEW
ACHS Opponent Score
21 Roby 0
7 Rotan 6
21 Snyder JV 7
21 Parkview Christian 0
34 Era 20
32 Dallas Temple Christian 2
35 Amarillo Christian 0
0 Garland Christian 0
42 Waco Christian 6
PLAYOFFS
15 Lubbock Christian 7
30 Fort Worth Temple Christian 6
34 Canyon Creek Christian 8
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