Champaign corker and SoBos closing in on ultimate prize are two Beloit Daily News articles from todays paper. The first one tells about the Sobos 45-22 victory over Kewanee Wethersfield. The second one is by Sports Editor Jim Franz. Here are my favorite bits from the first article:

“It’s awesome to be able to beat them at home since they knocked us off last year and went to state,” Goldsworthy said. “This year we beat them, so hopefully we go and win state.”

“Last year was a disappointment, but this year we made up for it,” DeJuan Listenbee said. “To be the champs, you got to beat the champs and that’s what we just did. And to get there, it’s a dream.”

And boy what a dream it is. I think this dream has been every Sobo Football players. The game was awesome to watch. It was great going down on to the field after the game was over surrounded by all the Sobo fans. Friday I will be nervous as hell. I can’t go to the game, due to the fact I’m dead broke. But I will be thinking about them the whole day until I find if they won.

SoBos’ workforce is the Beloit Daily News article detailing how the Sobos stay in shape. Here is a little bit from the news item:

For the past two seasons, the SoBos have seen the results of a strong workout regimen. And much of the praise can be directed to defensive coordinator and conditioner Todd Martens, who came on board during South Beloit’s 2001 season.

Yep you have to give Martens some praise for what he has done. Let’s hope that he is keeping them going for this game friday.

Sobos’ success groomed on playground a Rockford Register Star article explaining how Coach Potthoff first learned about this present Sobo team way back in 1996. It’s a good read for any Sobo fan.

This article does bring up a something I complained about before:

This season, South Beloit beat North Boone for the first time in 13 years to win the conference title in the last game of the regular season.

Now unless I just don’t know how to add, we beat them 12 years ago. During the 1990 football season when I was a senior we beat North Boone. It was a come from behind win. I still have the WZOK School Of The Week dog tags to prove it. This just offends my pride. While I wasn’t a super football player, I did play and we beat them. I just wish they get this right one of these days.

The South Beloit Sobos are the Class 1A State Champions! The Sobos beat El Paso 50-22. The IHSA has a page with all kinds of stats right here. Congratulations to Shipley and crew.

**Update** The IHSA also has another page here that has play by play summaries, box scores, and quotes.

My Sobos are in the new again. Potthoff leaving on a high note and Potthoff to leave Sobos are two articles telling about how the Sobo Coach is leaving for greener pastures. I don’t know what to say. Here is a blurb from the second story:

“The seniors were happy for me and glad that we’re moving on at the same time,” Potthoff said. “But there were some underclassmen who looked a little upset, and it’s going to be very difficult for me to leave them.”

Apparently it won’t be that difficult for Potthoff to leave them, huh? And sure what do these Senior who are graduating really care if their coach leaves. These guys had a great run and it really doesn’t matter any more for them. But what about these underclassmen? I would be a little upset also. Here is another bit from that second story:

The move is good not only for Potthoff’s career, but also for his family. He and his wife, Marsha, have lived in Woodstock for seven years. His commute to work will now be 15 minutes instead of 55 minutes.

So the way it sounds not only money is a factor, but the convenience of being close to home also plays into his difficult departure form South Beloit. And I can’t blame him there. This is a definite case of tough love. Now I don’t want to sound harsh. But I guess I am. I think whatever Potthoff’s motivation (good or bad) it is a blow to the people and any future football team of South Beloit.

It’s unfortunate this is happening, whatever the reasons. But the Sobos have been down before (I’m not saying their down now) and have came back when no one thought they would. Coaches also come and go. This is another one of those things. Be it for money or because of bullshit school politics. These abandoned underclassmen have got to keep a chin up. And even if this seems to be that their coach is deserting them (and he is). These kids have got to remember that (and I don’t care who say’s differently) they won this championship, not the coaches. And if they have the heart and the determination they can do it again, even without the great Potthoff.

So it’s high school Football time again, my favorite time of year. My Sobos made the Rockford Register Star, but it’s not good news. The name of the article is Pec rolls over South Beloit. Here is a quote from the article:

“We have a real young crew,” first-year South Beloit coach Todd Martens said. “They got tested tonight.”

And thats something to keep in mind. The Sobos have a new coach and a new team. Since Potthoff quit and most of the team graduated last year the Sobos are going to have to fight hard to do what they did last year. And I think that is something they can do, if they have the will and the determination.

On a side note if you want to go to a page that just has news and opinions about the South Beloit Sobos bookmark this page at my site.

The Beloit Daily News had an article called Durand halts SoBos’ late comeback in last Saturdays paper that I missed. Here is a small bit from that article:

“The kids didn’t let themselves give up,” Martens said.

And I hope they don’t ever give up. I can’t really say more than that.