All things Armwood

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published December 8, 2005

A sign adjacent to the Armwood football field that faces Interstate 4 promotes the program's back-to-back state titles.

The question is, what happens if the Hawks win Saturday?

"If you'll notice," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said, "there's actually room to put two more championships on it."

Callahan said leaving extra space on the sign, which cost $18,000 to build and install, wasn't out of cockiness.

"It's a common sense thing," Callahan said. "I told the guy to make sure he left space. You can't put up a new sign every year."

During pregame warmups before last week's 37-34 win over Miami Washington at Traz Powell Stadium, Hawks linebacker Dougie Thompson heard something he didn't like from an opposing assistant coach.

As Thompson and the other linebackers walked off the field for a moment to grab a drink, the coach said to his players, "Here comes the all-steroid team." Thompson turned to his teammates and replied, "Steroids? It's called hard work."

The Hawks have 15 players who bench press 300 or more pounds. Callahan has said repeatedly the squad's commitment in the weight room has been crucial to the program's success.

A pep rally will be held at 2 p.m. today at the school for the Hawks. There will be a sendoff for them Friday morning at 9:30.

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:51:07]