With last season's success, Hilliard has new attitude
By Ray Stein
Dispatch Sports Reporter
Depending on one’s perspective, Hilliard’s 1994 football season could offer a bumpy uphill climb, a smooth downhill cruise or an ugly crash back to harsh reality.
About the only sure thing is that one year after the most successful season in school history, Hilliard faces a season at the crossroads like it has never known.
“We’ve gone from being the hunter to the hunted in a relatively short period of time,” coach John Sines said. “Now teams are looking at us. How well these kids accept that fact will determine whether we’re successful again.”
There was no disputing the Wildcats’ success last season. Hilliard went 9-1 and tied for the championship of the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division, qualified for the playoffs for the first time and won twice before it was derailed by Cincinnati Moeller in a Division I state semifinal.
The sudden prosperity was a surprise to many, including some opponents who had long take Hilliard for granted.
“It used to be that we were everybody’s homecoming game,” Sines said. “I don’t think that’s true any more.”
By the same token, it could have been argued the Wildcats won last largely because of the splendid play of quarterback Steve Baird, who has moved on to Ohio State. True, they return 13 starters, eight on defense, but there also are a few questions.
“I’m sure there are people who think we’re going to go backwards because we don’t have Steve,” senior safety Randy Schwandt said. “I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people who think that…
“We could be even better, especially on offense. We’re not one-dimensional this year. We’ll have six guys who can get it done.”
More than who handles the bulk of the offense has changed from a season ago.
“The attitude of this team is different than last year’s team,” Sines said. “Now they want to maintain what they’ve built. They’re playing with a lot more confidence.”
Senior receiver Mike Furrey said, “We look at our success last year as motivation for this year. People look at us and think that last year was like a dream. Actually, everybody here thinks like it was a steppingstone. We feel like we’ve got more to do.”
But the Wildcats know it won’t be easy getting it done.
“We’re the big dog now,” Furrey said. “Everyone’s going to be coming after us.”
Sines doesn’t mind the new challenge.
“In my mind, the hardest thing to do is win initially,” he said. “Once you start winning, it’s easier to maintain it. The big difference between winning and losing is a frame of mind. It’s an attitude, and I think we have the right attitude…
“That’s not to say there aren’t any problems. Now the expectations are a little higher in the community and there are dangers that the kids won’t be as hungry the second time around.”
That’s not likely, said senior Cliff Rece, who will replace Baird at quarterback.
“When you have the kind of season we had, the expectations are higher,” Rece said. “There’s a little pressure that comes with that, but we’ll be able to deal with it.”
“Our attitude is that now we’re fighting hard to stay where we are. Every team wants to get on top. It took us long enough to get here, so we want to stay here.”
Dispatch Sports Reporter
Depending on one’s perspective, Hilliard’s 1994 football season could offer a bumpy uphill climb, a smooth downhill cruise or an ugly crash back to harsh reality.
About the only sure thing is that one year after the most successful season in school history, Hilliard faces a season at the crossroads like it has never known.
“We’ve gone from being the hunter to the hunted in a relatively short period of time,” coach John Sines said. “Now teams are looking at us. How well these kids accept that fact will determine whether we’re successful again.”
There was no disputing the Wildcats’ success last season. Hilliard went 9-1 and tied for the championship of the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division, qualified for the playoffs for the first time and won twice before it was derailed by Cincinnati Moeller in a Division I state semifinal.
The sudden prosperity was a surprise to many, including some opponents who had long take Hilliard for granted.
“It used to be that we were everybody’s homecoming game,” Sines said. “I don’t think that’s true any more.”
By the same token, it could have been argued the Wildcats won last largely because of the splendid play of quarterback Steve Baird, who has moved on to Ohio State. True, they return 13 starters, eight on defense, but there also are a few questions.
“I’m sure there are people who think we’re going to go backwards because we don’t have Steve,” senior safety Randy Schwandt said. “I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people who think that…
“We could be even better, especially on offense. We’re not one-dimensional this year. We’ll have six guys who can get it done.”
More than who handles the bulk of the offense has changed from a season ago.
“The attitude of this team is different than last year’s team,” Sines said. “Now they want to maintain what they’ve built. They’re playing with a lot more confidence.”
Senior receiver Mike Furrey said, “We look at our success last year as motivation for this year. People look at us and think that last year was like a dream. Actually, everybody here thinks like it was a steppingstone. We feel like we’ve got more to do.”
But the Wildcats know it won’t be easy getting it done.
“We’re the big dog now,” Furrey said. “Everyone’s going to be coming after us.”
Sines doesn’t mind the new challenge.
“In my mind, the hardest thing to do is win initially,” he said. “Once you start winning, it’s easier to maintain it. The big difference between winning and losing is a frame of mind. It’s an attitude, and I think we have the right attitude…
“That’s not to say there aren’t any problems. Now the expectations are a little higher in the community and there are dangers that the kids won’t be as hungry the second time around.”
That’s not likely, said senior Cliff Rece, who will replace Baird at quarterback.
“When you have the kind of season we had, the expectations are higher,” Rece said. “There’s a little pressure that comes with that, but we’ll be able to deal with it.”
“Our attitude is that now we’re fighting hard to stay where we are. Every team wants to get on top. It took us long enough to get here, so we want to stay here.”