MT. VERNON RAM TOUGH

I never thought it possible that Mt. Vernon would become a football town. I never thought the fans could leave 1954 behind. Actually, a string of State Champions in basketball for '49, '50, third place finish in '52, and another state title in 1954.

But it looks like it's happening. Defeating Belleville East, Triad, and a school from Chicago. All in the first three games. Being ranked first in the state last year before dropping a quarter-final game to a mid-state school, either Bloomington Central or Normal Community. Mt. Vernon defeated the other one.

I mean I remember playing Chester and Benton and Goreville. Ok, we never played Goreville. But I'm talking about the big boys now. (Also, this is to take nothing away from any of the teams who played the old South Seven schedule--you didn't get to choose who you played.)

But when those teams advanced in state competition, they were almost always mauled. I still remember Brian Fox, one of the hardest of the hardnosed kids I ever watched play, limp into my classroom the day after a playoff whalloping. Battered and bruised, he had been to war. And now the Belleville kids are talking about how hard the Rams hit. What?

It's early, but I'm congratulating Big Dan Mings and his staff. Way to turn around a program. And a town.

And will they be tough next season? You can set your clock on it. (Ok, that was a stretch to get the tee-shirt and the Rams in there together, but there may be money to be made on a shirt like that with Coach Ming's mug in the middle.)