Bacon speaks to Enterprise Quarterback Club

Bill Bacon roamed the sidelines as the Enterprise football coach for 27 years, and all of his teams had one thing in common.

"Every team I ever coached was designed to win a state championship," Bacon said. "I want to say that from the beginning. I coached them all the same. I worked as hard on the ones that didn't win it as I did the ones that did win it."

During his coaching career, which began in 1969 at B.C. Rain, Bacon amassed 242 wins.

Enterprise enjoyed 212 of those victories and two state championships.

The Wildcats won the Class 4A state title in 1979 and 1982. Bacon attributed his championship program to relationships formed in the classrooms and community. He also stressed discipline to his players.

"You want your players to be on time," Bacon said. "You want them to care for one another. I wanted them to, as I used to say, 'act right, do right and be right.'"

The discipline Bacon expected from his players also carried over to his staff.

"All forms of discipline (have) to be in the whole staff," he said. "I had a great staff. Coach (Faulkner) has got a great staff. You're dependent on those guys just like you are a player. They have to be prepared when they go to practice. The players have to be prepared when they go to practice. They've got to teach those players what to do so you're very dependent (on the staff)."

Championship programs are ensured by the people involved as well as the games played during the season.

"There's a lot that goes into making a state championship besides just what takes place on the field," Bacon said. "It's the kind of people you've got and all of those things."

There was one other ingredient Bacon mentioned which contributed to the success of his 1979 and 1982 championship teams.

"Talent. Real talent," he said. "We had it. I want to tell you that right now, we had it. In those years we won the state championship, we had what Prattville had. We had what Hoover had. We had what Daphne had."

The 1982 team boasted 14 players who went on to play college football, and the 1979 team had 10 future college players.

Bacon said Enterprise is "headed in the right direction." He also said it is important for players to embrace the philosophy of the program set before them in order to build a championship team.

"They've got to believe," Bacon said. "They've got to believe doing the right things at the right times and being the right kind of people are important."  

 

Quarterback Club notebook

 

Players of the Week recognized

 

The quarterback club recognized its players of the week at Thursday's meeting.

The Offensive Player of the Week is running back Carlos Robinson. Robinson ran for 87 yards on eight carries, had one catch for 13 yards and scored the go-ahead rushing touchdown in last Friday's game against Eufaula.

"Carlos is a tremendous worker," Faulkner said. "He is a lead-by-example guy. He's a guy the coaches love. He doesn't cause a lot of problems. He doesn't say much. He just comes to work every day and has continued to prove on a daily basis."

The Defensive Player of the Week is linebacker Xadrian Smith, who Faulkner said was in on 14 tackles against the Tigers.

"(He) has really put together three solid games over the past three weeks now," he said. "We're excited about his play and look forward to him leading us defensively through the remainder of the season."

The Special Teams Player of the Week is Nick Forti. Forti, who is a wide receiver for the Wildcats, doubles as the holder on field goals and extra points. He helped ensure five successful PATs in the game.

"When the ball goes through the uprights the kicker gets a lot of credit and when they miss it the kicker gets a lot of blame, but a lot of that comes down to your holder," Faulkner said. "He has just done a remarkable job of what we say getting the ball on the tee." 

 

 

  

1982 state championship team honored

 

The 1982 state champion Enterprise football team was honored at the meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the Wildcats' title. Several members of the team were present Thursday.Enterprise enjoyed an undefeated regular season and playoff wins against Ensley, Jeff Davis and Vigor before advancing to the Class 4A state finals at Legion Field. The Wildcats played Berry to a 10-10 tie in the championship game.

"By all means, the '82 team is a deserving champion," Faulkner said. "We're proud to have them with us today."