THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150357
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
For the past several years, when it came to living up to the expectations set by glory teams of years past, the UCLA men's basketball team and Southampton High School's football team were more or less in the same boat.
But last spring, the Bruins abandoned ship by winning an NCAA title. These days, the Indians sail that course alone.
The Indians are ranked first in the Group AA state poll, own their first undisputed Bay Rivers District title and will take a 10-0 record into Friday's Division 3 playoff semifinal against Nottoway. But it appears that it'll take more than a gaudy regular-season record and mere promise of a strong postseason run to galvanize a rural community that once took state championships as a matter of course.
``I think (good seasons) are taken for granted every year,'' Southampton coach Littleton Parker said. ``But those are just the expectations of this program.''
Such is life when the populace has been spoiled by the memories of a full-fledged dynasty a few years back, a succession of teams so strong fans took to booing if the opponents even scored.
During the 1970s, the Indians, led by coach Wayne Cosby, won four state titles and reached the state championship game eight years in a row. That streak included 69 consecutive regular-season victories and wins in 99 of 105 games.
Cosby surprised nearly everyone by retiring after two straight state titles in 1979, at age 37. And while the Indians have fielded good teams in the years since - they reached another state final as recently as 1989 - for many, good hasn't quite been good enough.
These days, Southampton averages roughly 1,000 fans per game at 4,000-seat Indian Field, and those who come are passionate enough. But the bandwagon-jumping types who could make Southampton football a wouldn't-miss-it happening again seem stuck in a ``been there, done that'' mode.
``I'm sure there's a certain standard we're measured against,'' said Southampton principal Bill Wright. ``I even sent a memo around to our teachers saying, hey, we can't be blase about being 10-0.''
Even media attention, a staple of Indians postseasons past, has proportioned itself to the new reality of Southampton as merely one of several quality teams in the area.
``Where have you guys been?'' Parker asked, only half in jest, when contacted by a reporter.
Of course, if anyone can deal with coping with Southampton's legendary past, it's Parker, a taciturn headman who considers begging for attention and schmoozing with press-types low on his list of priorities, if they're on there at all.
Parker, who has a 63-39 record in eight years as the head coach, is also a link to the Indians' glorious past. He coached the secondary and receivers under Cosby and filed the detailed scouting reports that helped make the Indians the most prepared team on the field.
Like most coaches, Parker is unwilling to compare past and present. But he did allow that many of the hallmarks of the old powerhouse teams - size, intelligence and the ability to exploit opponents' weaknesses - are present in the 1995 Indians.
``We didn't really know what kind of year we could have when the season started,'' said Parker, who fretted over the loss of four of five offensive linemen from last year's 9-2 squad. ``But we've had a lot of kids step up and do a good job.
``And the best thing about these kids is, they never complain. They just work. Whatever we ask them to do, they do.''
No one exemplifies the Southampton work ethic better than senior William Brown, the prototypical ``big man on campus.'' Brown, a pitcher, catcher, third baseman, first baseman and .500 hitter on the baseball team and a fixture on the basketball team, has punted, kicked off, played inside linebacker and scored 24 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight year.
``Whatever you need, he gives you,'' Parker said of Brown, a captain on the football team since his sophomore year.
According to rival coaches, however, it's been team speed that has truly set this year's Indians apart from Southampton teams of recent vintage. Renowned for employing ``smash-mouth football'' before anyone had ever heard of the term, Southampton has stunned opponents this year with quickness and athleticism, particularly from junior Rico Ivey, a 178-pound junior who has sprinted for a team-high 1,223 yards.
``They've got so many more athletes than usual,'' Lakeland coach Ed Smither said. ``Defensively, they can take that quick (end) Durane Parker and move him around, and you've got Ivey at free safety covering from sideline to sideline.
The improved quickness has combined with the Indians' traditional power to make this a memorable campaign, regardless of what happens in the postseason. But while Parker may not worry about fulfilling the expectations of those who'll appreciate nothing less than a state title, he doesn't fool himself into believing those expectations don't exist.
``Everybody loves a winner,'' he said. ``But that's nothing new. Around here, it's always been that way.'' ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL KESTNER
Virginian-Pilot file photo
``I think (good seasons) are taken for granted every year,''
Southampton coach Littleton Parker says.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
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