Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsSunday, November 26, 2006 9:05 PM CST
Comments Comments (17) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
NCHS fans celebrate
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

NORMAL - Normal Community High School Principal Jeanette Nuckolls called the football coaches out Saturday afternoon in the school gym.

After the Ironmen's 30-20 victory over Batavia in Saturday's Class 6A final, she wanted them to the join the players at a post-game rally celebrating the school's first state football championship. Most of the coaches were leaning quietly against the back wall.

"You deserve this," Nuckolls said to the coaches as they joined the players, dignitaries and head coach Hud Venerable seated front and center, as they were rewarded with a standing ovation from the fans, the players and everyone in the noisy, excitement-filled gym.

In speaking to the team and coaches, Nuckolls said. "You made me very proud. You made the teachers proud. You made the parents proud. Thank you."

The walls of the gymnasium were lined with signs and posters made by fans, and supporters clad in orange and black filled the bleachers.

Sophomore Madison Salisbury and her family rushed home from the game in Champaign, stopped to buy some supplies and made a sign, "There's no weak link in this Iron."

"It's a good feeling," said Unit 5 Superintendent Alan Chapman, who recalled being a youngster cheering on the team, then a student at the high school, a teacher, a principal and now superintendent of the school district.

It was like Christmas for their team and their fans. The team's booster group won a plaque for the best decorated tent at University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium with the theme of "All I Want for Christmas is a Championship."

Watching the game itself was almost too exciting for some fans, including special education teacher Jayne Runyon.

"I want to go home and watch it on TV now because I know how it ends," she said.

"They deserve it," she said of the team, which had a perfect season of 14 victories.

"Wow," was how Andy Turner started the congratulations ceremony. The school's athletic director said it sometimes seems like it's all about football.

"It's not all about football," he said. "It's about how we look at things in life."

Congressman Tim Johnson, a Republican from Urbana, told the crowd his nephew played on the Urbana team and said in three years as a starter he'd never met a team with as much heart and determination as NCHS.

NCHS' victory Saturday was the first state championship among the Twin City public schools' football teams. The Ironmen won in their second consecutive Class 6A title-game appearance, and Bloomington High School was in the title game the three years before that.

Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton, a NCHS alumnus, told the crowed that the city will issue a proclamation congratulating the team.

"Congratulations, state champions," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, bringing the crowd to its feet. "You had some unfinished business. It's now finished."

"I'm just going to thank everyone," Venerable said, listing fans, parents, players coaches and all. He said he would personally write to some and thank others when he sees them, explaining he was too emotional to put all the words together now.

Like each of the speakers, he emphasized the quality of the players as people on and off the field.

Gary Woods, an alumnus, assistant coach during the Ironmen's first second-place state finish in 1974 and former NCHSathletic director, said he was proud of everything he read from the fans, the players and coaches because they gave credit to all those involved.

"I want you to remember that wherever you go from here - once you're an Ironman, you're always an Ironman," he said.

Take a look
Normal Community High School football coach Hud Venerable is humbled by wild applause from the crowd during a postgame celebration at the high school Saturday. (Pantagraph/David Proeber)
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 17 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to biggie wrote on Nov 29, 2006 9:00 PM:

" yea and there wont be a team like that 2006 ironmen "

to: Sore losers wrote on Nov 29, 2006 4:11 PM:

" Were you at the NCHS vs West game this year. I recall the score being 14-7 Iron. It sounds like West almost beat the Iron as well. "

NCHS Grad wrote on Nov 26, 2006 8:42 PM:

" I now live in another state, but have continued to follow NCHS through the years.....after all, as Gary Woods stated, "Once you're an ironman, you're always an ironman." I am as proud as if it had been my class that had won the state championship. Way to go IRONMEN!!!!! "

State Champions wrote on Nov 26, 2006 8:07 PM:

" NCHS will forever be in the record books as the 2006 6A State Champions. No one can ever ever ever ever take that away! This staff and the players deserve a standing ovation for their play this year. As for all of the bitterness, I guess it just goes with the territory. As long as there are fans rooting for a team, there will be an opposition rooting against them, just part of the game. The record books are also part of the game, and this record book is closed with a final note, NCHS won the State Championship! "

MSalz wrote on Nov 26, 2006 7:13 PM:

" Of course thre will never be another 1967 team--that was almost 40 years ago, this is 2006. Get over it. Your players/coaches weren't up to par to be state finalists or champs. After a long wait, our awesome school has finally been comended. GO IRON "

Mr. I wrote on Nov 26, 2006 6:58 PM:

" The 1967 Bloomington football team went 3-6. "

Proud Dad wrote on Nov 26, 2006 12:44 PM:

" I would like to commend the coaching staff for making adjustments early and answering Batavia's first score. Yes, running the ball is fundamental and safe, but in games like this you have to take what the defense is giving up. It was a beautiful day to unveil the air attack and NCHS went to it early and often. The defense, offense, and special teams have been exceptional all season. Now they are perfect (14-0). Can some hit the rewind button so we can do it all over again... "

Sore losers wrote on Nov 26, 2006 12:44 PM:

" ..raider and Biggie...being green with envy isn't a good thing. NCHS had a dream season, and if I recall correctly, beat the snot out of BHS this year. They were better from day one, period. Also if I recall correctly, BHS almost lost to West, if West didn't decide to give them the game. You had a down year, live with it! GO IRON! "

NCHS MOM wrote on Nov 26, 2006 12:25 PM:

" CONGRATS TO THE COACHES AND PLAYERS. YOU GUYS PLAYED AN AMAZING GAME AND DESERVE TO ENJOY THE SPOTLIGHT. WAY TO GO IRONMEN!! "

Mayor Koos wrote on Nov 26, 2006 11:59 AM:

" I know Stockton was an NCHS alum but makes you wonder where Koos or any Town of Normal reps were for the Victory celebration! "

BHS Basketball wrote on Nov 26, 2006 11:57 AM:

" Assume the reference to BHS doing something is for the upcoming boys basketball season...... Good luck to the coach keeping a bunch of individuals happy...... Talent is there to do some very impressive things but as the NCHS football team proved all year long it is all about a TEAM. Great job Ironmen, and would hope if BHS wins the State Basketball title (or hey how about being the first AA team since the late 70's to even make it there) NCHS fans are better at being supportive of a fellow community team than a few BHS fans and players are. But then again, most comments are positve so don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch! "

raider wrote on Nov 26, 2006 10:56 AM:

" Biggie let them have their time now, ours will come soon enough. It just might not be this sport. "

Will there be... wrote on Nov 26, 2006 9:15 AM:

" Does anyone know if there will be a parade to celebrate and honor the players and coaches? "

To Biggie: wrote on Nov 26, 2006 9:15 AM:

" Please don't try to take away from the glory of what these kids have done, by making reference to a team from 40 years ago. NCHS football players and coaches did a great job, and should be commended for their accomplishments. Way to go IRONMEN!!! "

Mark Roberts wrote on Nov 26, 2006 8:26 AM:

" Biggie.. jeez man.. this story is about NCHS. Save the Raider comments till next year. Let the Ironmen have their time in the spotlight like they deserve. "

BHS Fans wrote on Nov 26, 2006 7:21 AM:

" Are bitter, sore losers. "

biggie wrote on Nov 26, 2006 12:15 AM:

" go raiders there will never be another 1967 team like those raiders "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy