FORMER HEAD COACH ADDRESSES PLAYERS AND FANS AT COMMUNITY PEP RALLY

Former head football coach Tom Chappelear was the featured speaker Friday evening at a Community Pep Rally at McFarland Stadium. After a musical performance from the Cambridge High School Pep Band, a few cheers from the varsity cheerleaders, video highlights from the season, and player introductions, those in attendance were treated a "history" lesson on Bobcat football from "Chappie" who starred for the Bobcats in the mid-1960s. After concluding his college football playing days at West Liberty State College, Chappelear returned to his alma mater as a teacher and coach. Chappelear reflected on the 1952 Bobcat team that went 8-2 setting the then-Bobcat record for wins in a season. He said he never thought this record would ever be surpassed but in 1975, the Bobcats finished 9-1 establishing a new record for wins in a season. The mark was equaled in 1988 when a Chappelear-coached team just missed the playoffs with a 9-1 record. Chappelear said the only thing that prevented a perfect season that year was a "bad" coaching decision against Coshocton which he has regretted ever since. He concluded his speech discussing the accomplishments of the Bobcats over the past three years and the excitement this year's team has provided for Bobcat fans. In his 54 years of watching Bobcat football, Chappelear explained the best high school football game he had ever seen came this year at Dover when the Cats defeated the Tornadoes, 42-35. Chappelear concluded his portion of the pep rally with a prayer that he said he used before each game during his 4-year head coaching career.