Smith centers record streak ends the wichita eagle. The football team in smith center, kansas, holders of the nations longest highschool winning streak, embrace a philosophy of life taught by their legendary coach, roger barta. The first post office in smith center was created in january 1873. An inspiring portrait of the extraordinary highschool football team whose quest for perfection sustains its hometown in the heartland the football team in smith center, kansas, has won sixtyseven games in a row, the nations longest highschool winning streak. Kansas pregame publisher john baetz played for roger barta at smith center in the early 90s and remembers the coach occasionally getting off the bus after games to. Smith center alumni take aim in college news, sports, jobs. Learn the facts about football recruiting in smith center, ks. He was a prewar native of elwood, kansas, who died leading his regiment on october 21, 1864 at the battle of the little blue river.
Watch smith center high school smith center redmen football highlights and check out their schedule and roster on hudl. Smith center, kansas, is one of the least known geographical center locations, but held the title from roughly 1894 to 1918. Former smith center coach barta honored for contributions to. Jan 22, 2021 the bestselling book is titled our boys a perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen. Nov 29, 2009 smith center sophomore trey molzahn, center, takes a knee as the redmen gather together after their 2012 overtime loss to centralia on saturday, nov. Schedule smith center redmen smith center, ks varsity. Expectations remain high for powerhouse smith center. His accomplishments were so noteworthy that an east coast writer spent a year in kansas to write about them. It was dedicated as gary gardner field in september 2011. The team begins the 2008 season with 54 straight wins, so in order to break the record the team, the redmen, need to win the state championship. But its also home to kansas s biggest football powerhouse, a team that entered the fall of 2008 with 56 straight victories and four consecutive championships. Live here sacred heart knights vs redmen smith center kansas high school football live hd the smith center ks. A perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen, written by a writer for the new york times.
The football team in smith center, kansas, has won sixtyseven games in a. I just finished the book our boys which chronicled the 2008 season as they broke the kansas win streak record. They lost in the state championship game in overtime this year. The football team in smith center, kansas, holders of the nations longest. Joe drape, a kansas city native and an awardwinning sportswriter for the new york. The football team in smith center, kansas, holders of the nations longest highschool winning streak, embrace a philosophy of life taught by their legendary. How smith center became best little high school team. This is organic stuff, a fat and healthy slice of unadulterated american life. I read the book because i know who is being discussed even though i have not actually lived in smith center but have visited on numerous occasions. Smith center redmen football smith center high school. According to plaintiffs, the football program at smith center high school is the fiber of the regions social fabric and was featured prominently in the book our boys. Nov 30, 2009 smith center, which saw its 79game winning streak end on saturday in the kansas class 21a championship game, built a successful program on a simple philosophy of teamwork.
A perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen more information the football team in smith center, kansas, has won sixtyseven games in a. Smith county commissioners has released the burn ban for smith county, but please contact dispatch at 7852825180 to get a burn permit. Former smith center coach barta honored for contributions. Its a concept mccall and lehmann agree with that the people of smith center are just as responsible for the football teams. The smith center redmen are riding a 4 year winning streak that has culminated in 4 state titles. Kansas high school football coach accused of sexually. Barta was one of three active coaches in kansas with 300 career. Nelson smith of the 2nd colorado cavalry, a prewar native of elwood, kansas, who died leading his regiment on october 21, 1864 at the battle of the little blue river. Smith center was a town destined to whither and fade away until the fortunes of the football team started to rapidly change. The kansas state pee wee all star tournament is tomorrow, august 1st in concordia. Contributions may be tax deductible under irs regulations. There was, thankfully, an athletic trainer on hand to look into the teenagers eyes, to have the player recall what he. Joe paterno, head football coach, pennsylvania state university if you want to turn away from the highvoltage auctioneer babble that surrounds bigtime, bigmoney sport, take this trip to smith center, kansas, with joe drape.
How smith center became best little high school team news. Smith center, kansas simple english wikipedia, the free. Watch this highlight video of the smith center ks football team in its game matchup. May 26, 2020 in november of 2007 drape wrote another article about barta, a football power in a small kansas town that appeared in the nov. A perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen by joe drape. During the schools 2008 football winning streak, the smith center high school football team was featured in sports illustrated and was the subject of a book by a new york times writer titled. Apr, 2017 they were the subject of the book our boys. Aug 16, 2009 the smith center redmen might just be the best little high school football team in america. He took me back to my high school days, friday night football games, the joy of winning and all of the experiences in between. The smith center high school football team has won 51 games in a row, outscoring opponents this season, 7040. And he has seen it in its purest form in smith center. Respect each other, then learn to love each other and together we are champions. Aug 18, 2009 joe drape weaves a story of the passion, dedication, persistence, grit, family, and pure love surrounding the sport of high school football in smith center, kansas. Barta brings kansas football roots into sunflower showdown.
During the midtolate 2000s, smith center gained national attention due to the success of its football team which held the longest winning streak in the nation at 79 games. Geological survey and also in charge of compiling the united states census of 1890. When roger barta became the head football coach at smith center. Mar 27, 2021 brooks hometown, smith center, is in northern kansas just about 15 miles south of the nebraska line. Live game this match is a part of the 2020 kansas high school football playoff brackets. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,665. In 30 years at smith center, barta has compiled a record of 26958. Author joe drape wrote about roger and pams treks on page 186 of the bestselling book our boys, the story of the 2008 smith center football team that was released in 2009. Sep 05, 2009 transcript in the tiny western kansas town of smith center, high school football is not just a sport its a communitywide crusade. The book, written by joe drape, chronicled smith center through the 2008 season, when the team boasted the longest winning streak in the. A perfect season on the plains sports feel good stories.
Oct 31, 2007 smith center, a 21a school of about 150 students in north central kansas, is known for its high school football. In the end, the book is about coach barta and the values he instills. Kstate football recruiting, wildcats flip memphis smith. Our boys by joe drape smith center, book discussion, books. Our mission is to provide and preserve a highquality performing arts center that is embraced by the community and recognized as a vital force by supporting artistic. A perfect season on the plains with the smith center. A perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen more information the football team in smith center, kansas, has won sixtyseven games in a row, the nations longest highschool winning streak. This years kansas honor scholars are jarek meyer and jaci charbonneau. Following is an overview of the book as it appears on the barnes and noble website. In 2010, the book chronicling these achievements was published. But it can also help a program, said smith center football coach. Our boys a perfect season on the plains with the smith center. Kansans shouldnt have an inferiority complex about their football, says joe drape. Our boys author drape recounts smith center tale sports the.
This is one of the best books i have read on high school sports since reading friday night lights 20 years ago. Every year, the university of kansas recognizes the top 10% of the senior class. Dec 18, 2020 roger barta is the retired high school football coach who set these records in smith center. Plainville cardinals kshsaa 1a substate football live from hubbard stadium smith center high school smith center, ks go redmen. Growing up that close to nebraska, brooks was well aware that nebraska had long been the. Joe drape weaves a story of the passion, dedication, persistence, grit, family, and pure love surrounding the sport of high school football in smith center, kansas. Football fall 2021 fall 2021 fall 1920 fall 1920 fall 1819 fall 1819 fall 1718 fall 1617 fall 1516 fall 1415 fall 14 fall 12 fall 1112 fall 1011 fall 0910 fall 0809 fall 0708 fall 0607 fall 0506 fall 0405. The author, joe drape, moves his wife and son jack to smith center, kansas to follow the exploits of the towns high school football team. Smith center football coach roger barta watches his team work out in 2007. A pretty good book by joe drape about a football team from smith center, kansas that attempt to break the state record for most consecutive wins in a row for a high school football team at 67. This airport has 2 runways, one which was completed in 2011, selfserve fuel.
Dec 16, 2020 the bestselling book is titled our boys a perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen. Smith center kansas win streak stopped at 79 games. Coach barta teaches the simple values of hard work, dedication and love. It would inspire a new york times writer to pen the bestselling book. Smith center hs football in kansas travels without an. The basis for smith center s location at 39 55n 98 50w is most likely from henry gannett who was a geographer for the u. Throughout its history, the smith center football program has won. The year is 1988, and justin davis, a former nationally recruited football prep star, awakens from. It begins in a tiny kansas farming town, a dozen miles. A perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen, which chronicles the unstoppable football team that held on to the nations longest winning. Smith centers history of success under kansas hall of fame coach roger. The smith center for the performing arts is a nevada nonprofit organization registered with the secretary of state. The first game will begin at 11am, followed by a pitching velocity tournament and a home run derby. Nelson smith of the 2nd colorado cavalry, a prewar native of elwood, kansas, who died leading his regiment on october 21, 1864 at the battle of the little blue river geography.
Inman teuton footballl please send contributions to smith center jr. The football team in smith center, kansas, holders of the nations longest highschool winning streak, embrace a philosophy of life taught by. Overmiller, age 89, passed away at the smith county memorial hospital in smith center, kansas, on march 30, 2021. Aug 23, 2009 drape mentions the towns importance often in the book.
Nov 09, 2007 the smith center high school football team has won 51 games in a row, outscoring opponents this season, 7040. Smith center airport smith center municipal airport has a new concrete parking and tiedown apron and a new concrete runway. Dec 14, 2009 smith center made national news in 2007 when they scored 72 points in the 1st quarter of a playoff game. Roger barta is the retired high school football coach who set these records in smith center, kansas. His accomplishments were so noteworthy that an east coast writer spent a year in kansas to. A football power in a small kansas town the new york times. The school colors are red and green and the mascot is the redmen. A perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen by. This course is a beautifully maintained course with a driving range and practice green. Smith center is a city in and the county seat of smith county, kansas, united states.
In our boys, joe drape follows a smalltown kansas football team on their quest for a fifthconsecutive perfect season. The bestselling book is titled our boys a perfect season on the plains with the smith center redmen. Smith center vs ellsaline kansas high school football 116. As soon as these events are done, the 2 winners of the first games play each other for the championship while the other 2 teams will play each other for 3rd and 4th. Sacred heart vs smith center live kansas high school. Smith center redmen vs inman teuton football youtube. He was born june 12, 1931 in smith county, to guy and inez barrett. Located in smith center, kansas, the book chronicles the redmen as they chase after their 5th straight state. The smith center municipal golf course is located 4. Like smith county, smith center was named after maj. Football and family go hand in hand for bartas kansas. Smith center high school is the only high school located within the city limits of smith center.
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