Wolves’ historic win part of new era of Rome sports

The objective for sports journalists tasked is to be objective.

Truth is it’s harder than one would think, especially if one spends a career covering teams and athletes in a small community.

Deep down, there is a genuine connection with high school programs and a strong tendency to pull for those kids, especially when that person assigned to report on them really gets to know the coaches, the kids, the parents and the fans.

Still, when it comes down to actually writing, whether it be a game or feature story, objectivity must trump all. Present the facts, good or bad, and provide those who want to know what took place a hopefully unbiased account.

For three decades, up until eight years ago, I tried to remain true to that philosophy here in Rome, and since I opted to close the chapter on that part of my life and go down a road less traveled, that mantra has stayed with me despite a desire to remain involved with sports in other ways.

This past week, however, my mind and heart were at odds when a certain high school program put themselves in a position to achieve what all teenagers who play sports dream about, playing for a state championship and winning it — the 2016 Rome High football team.

Not being actively involved in sports journalism caused a dilemma within me. I certainly had been blessed with having the opportunity to see other teams climb the mountaintop where only a few accomplished that ultimate goal.

I came to Rome from an even smaller city — Carrollton — where I watched three prep teams go all the way, two of them doing it the same night, and was well aware of the remarkable success teams in Rome had prior to our arrival.

The West Rome Chieftains, who went all the way in 1965, were fresh off winning four straight state championships under the direction of three different head coaches, a feat unheard of, while the crosstown rival East Rome Gladiators claimed back-to-back crowns four years prior to that.

The eyes of Georgia’s football followers were fixed on Rome, where all expected even more from the two programs for years to come. Those expectations never materialized when it was decided to merge the two schools into one and, in 1992, the new Rome High opened its doors. Naturally, the general feeling by Romans was one of shock and sadness in that two schools that had developed rich traditions and a rich rivalry were left with only memories. There was, however, an agreed opinion that combining the Chiefs and the Gladiators into one team, now called the Wolves, would make Rome’s football prowess even more dominant.

But there were growing pains. The dominance expected gave way to frustration. In the first four years, under two head coaches, the Wolves were unable to record a winning season. Then in 1996, the breakthrough took place. Under the guidance of a third head coach, the Wolves went above the .500 mark, way above it, as Rome not only compiled a solid 9-1 regular seasonn record but also earned its first-ever state playoff berth. That season was the first of 13 consecutive winning seasons that included 11 state postseason appearances. But the kids who wore Rome’s colors, including a son, never saw their state championship dreams come true, the closest coming in 2008 — the final year of that consecutive winning-season run — when the Wolves reached the semifinals.

Even after the journalism door closed, a close relationship with the Wolves remained. I got a taste of what it was like to be in a classroom and be around the student-athletes, and for the first time in my adult life cheered for a team that, under two more head coaches, just couldn’t seal the deal on a state championship.

Before Rome’s 25th season began this year, I made the decision — call it a life-assessment reflection we all go through — to distance myself from keeping up with high school sports and the Wolves. I saw just one game, Rome’s

first-round playoff game at Barron Stadium, and saw what I had been missing not just this year, but for all 25 years.

There was an atmosphere in the air not felt since teams from the west and east side of the city played there, in the stands, on the sideline and on the field. It was obvious something special had taken place. It was obvious that Rome’s seventh head coach, John Reid, had found a way to bring a school, a city together. When the Wolves punched their ticket to their first-ever and long-awaited trip to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to play for a state championship against a program that is arguably one of if not the best in the state, I went back-andforth in self-debate about making the trip down to see the Class 5A title game.

My thoughts led to the decision to stay home and watch the historic moment on TV. This was, my train of thought went, the right time to step aside and allow a new era to unfold, and the Wolves seized the moment in front of thousands of Rome fans that looked like it was the biggest ever seen for a high school game at the Dome.

Late Friday night, I made it over to the Rome High gym where an impromptu celebration was held for the Wolves, who came home doing a victory lap in downtown Rome before walking into a packed gym carrying the championship trophy.

Although everyone there was tired from a long but prosperous day, they stayed there long after the ceremony had ended.

Pictures were taken with the trophy, hugs were shared over and over and everyone — the coaches, players, cheerleaders, students, parents and fans of all ages — bathed in the moment.

Most noticeable were the number of people who had ties to West Rome and East Rome, who didn’t wear green or blue but instead wore Rome red. So did I. We Are Rome!