How the Rockets Football Program blasted off to a perfect season
Perfect Season How the Rockets Made their Football Program Blast Off to a Perfect Season Auburn High School’s perfect season in 2005 was not accomplished by chance. In 1999 the Rockets won only two games, and the following year we only won three. This was simply not acceptable for this Class II school in Auburn, Massacuusetts, and the coaching staff began looking for ways to improve at a greater pace. They found it. ur staff was lucky enough to coach with BFS Clinician Ray Cosenza and his Fitchburg High School staff in the Chowder Bowl Shriners Game,” says Head Coach Jeff Cormier.
“They were very open with and supportive of us, and could not emphasize enough the importance of an off-season program. Thus, we began our BFS program at Auburn High School.” Showing their commitment to the program, the coaches donated much of their own money to buy the right equipment that would best suit their limited facility. The program began that summer, with athletes working out three days per week at 6:30 a.m. “Not one kid was ever late,” says Cormier. “They believed right away that this program would make us better.” They were right.
OThe 2005 season ended with a perfect 12-0 record, and the first Super Bowl victory in school history In 2001 the Rockets made an amazing turnaround, finishing 9-2 and going to the first first Super Bowl in the history of the school. They were beat 54-13 in that game, but it only made them more determined to take their program to the next level as the following year they went 10-1. This was the first time the school ever won 10 games. The Rockets once again got beat in the Super Bowl, but the score was 16-13 and went to double overtime.
Unfortunately, the following year the team appeared to lose #48 Sean Redmond, #68 Kevin Bordage, #44 Andrew Abderazzaq, #18 Bobby Sanford #35 Jake Guertin ran for over 4000 yards in two years. #74 Joe Amaral, #55 Ryan McDermott, #66 Dennis Girmala, #15 Jon Leroux www.bigger fasterstronger.com #55 Ryan McDermott, #40 Adam Beliveau, #15 Jon Leroux some of their hunger. “We hit a bump in the road in 2003, going 5-6,” says Cormier. “We probably took some things for granted, so we decided to host not only another BFS clinic, but also a “Be an Eleven” clinic.
The coaches were looking forward to return to their former glory, but at the beginning of the football season many of their key players were hit with meningitis. After going 2-3, the Rockets finally got healthy and won the remaining 6 games, just missing out on a Super Bowl berth. “The 2005 season became our focus immediately,” says Cormier. “We were determined to leave nothing to chance. Our numbers in the weight room increased, as did our effort.” The renewed determination paid off, and in a big way. The 2005 season ended with a perfect 12-0 record, and the first Super Bowl victory in school history.
With 18 straight total wins, it was also the most wins ever by a football team and the only undefeated, untied, team in Auburn High history. But there’s one additional factor that makes these results even more impressive. Due to construction of a new building, the team was unable to practice or play on campus for the past two years. “In fact, the local park commissioners granted us a parcel of infertile land that was 40 yards by 60 yards for 120 players. But our kids would not be deterred or did not accept any excuses, which I believe is partly due to the “Be an Eleven” clinic, which stressed the importance of leadership and good decision-making.”
Coach Cormier adds that Bill Garneau, the Athletic director, has been a great supporter, encouraging other teams to embrace the BFS program. Most notably is girls soccer and field hockey. In in the last five years the soccer team has MAY/JUNE 2006 The girls’ soccer and field hockey teams are among many of the other sport programs that have excelled at Auburn High School. won four league titles, two district titles, had five district appearances, and a 6815-11 record. The field hockey program has qualified for districts. “In addition, our boys and girls track programs have begun BFS, winning many individual events and challenging for the league the past three years.
Despite the fact that www.bigger fasterstronger.com none of these teams has a practice field on campus-no javelin or shot area, and no track-the number of participants on these teams have gone from 8-12 to over 40 during this time period. When asked to sum up his football team’s success, Coach Jeff replied, “In the past 5 years, we have been 44-12, won 4 league titles, gone to 3 Super Bowls, had a perfect 12-0 season, had the leading rusher in the district, and beat two division I opponents. Also, in 2005, there were only six teams out of 288 that finished undefeated, and we were one of them. The results since we started BFS speak for themselves.”
“The most inspiring night of my life!” ~Kyle Meyers, Rutherford B. Hayes High, OH “Reaffirmed the reason I entered coaching 25 years ago.” - Coach Al McFarland “Every school in the nation should schedule a Be An 11 Seminar today! It is without a doubt the best thing that has happened to our school.” - Coach T. Cox “Be An 11 has changed my life! I WILL BE AN 11!” - Katie Heinlen “This is exactly what our school and community needed.” - Coach Fox A BFS Presenter will come to your school and will spend up to three The cost is only hours inspiring, motivating and $1,400 up to 50 athletes. educating your athletes how to Add’l athletes only $15 each. become true elevens!
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From BFS Magazine — May/June 2006. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
