Hermiston keeps hope alive

Published 7:09 am Monday, November 17, 2008

When Hermiston hired Mark Hodges to replace David Lewis as head football coach this season it definitely raised a few eyebrows around the area.

The move became a laughing matter in Pendleton and several readers in Hermiston expressed concern over whether the hiring committee had done its homework before flushing the future of the program down the drain.

It was all understandable, considering the coach was coming off the most publicized non-signing in college sports history when one of his players at Fernley High in Nevada duped his coaches, the student body and local media into thinking he would be playing Division 1 football the next fall.

To make matters worse, Hodges’ first season at Fernley concluded in the team having to forfeit it’s five wins due to the use of one or more ineligible players – a matter that should ahve fallen on the athletic director’s plate.

It was so bad, even members of the media in Nevada and southern Oregon were calling and e-mailing our office with sentiments of disbelief in Hodges’ quick hiring.

People used Hermiston principal Buzz Brezeau and athletic director Mike Kay’s friendship with the coach as a way to throw dirt on the hiring.

Granted, Hodges did not come into Hermiston as public enemy No. 1, but he definitely rode into town casting a long shadow.

Fast forward to the present, and there may not be a more loved figure in Hermiston than Hodges is right now.

With his Bulldogs playing as deep in the playoffs as they ever have, the coach hasn’t said or done a single thing to give credibility to any of his detractors.

In fact, all he has done is live up to the words of former opponent coaches who had nothing but praise for Hodges’ work ethic and results on the gridiron.

A pending lawsuit with his former employer may go further in clearing the coach’s name after it was dragged through the mud for standing by his player like any parent would hope their child’s coach would.

And it seems odd to say, but Hodges’ Bulldogs are the last remaining hope for a team state title in Eastern Oregon this fall.

McLoughlin soccer is looking to start a new run, and Umatilla soccer and Helix volleyball both reached the title game only to be turned away. The fact that neither Heppner or Pilot Rock football will play this weekend just seems wrong.

So with all of the area’s perennial powers now getting ready for basketball season, it is down to the Hermiston Bulldogs, who have never advanced to the semifinals, to get it done.

Winning titles is nothing new in Hermiston, but football success has been hard to come by.

Hodges has coached in two state title games in Oregon, and he even got his team over the hump by beating Pendleton this year in a series dominated by the rival Bucks.

With all that the Hermiston football program has endured this season, from early turmoil and a slow start, to blowout wins and frustrating defeats, nothing they do this weekend against Glencoe should be surprising.

All-EO volleyball: The East Oregonian’s annual All-EO volleyball section will run Tuesday. The format will be a little different this year, but the area is still split between large schools (5A-3A) and small schools (1A-2A) with coaches and players of the year in both classification.

Changes: Beginning this week the EO sports section is saying good-bye to a valuable member. West Sports Editor Daniel Wattenburger has taken a job at the news desk with the EO.

That means coaches and readers on the west side of Umatilla county will be seeing more of sports writer Justin Chartrey and myself, but I also want to use it as a chance to evolve our sports coverage to better suit our readers.

Each Monday there will be a column on the Web. Also keep an eye on the printed edition for more columns on local, regional and national topics.

Every Tuesday look for features on local athletes, coaches or teams. This week will be preempted by the All-EO volleyball section.

Every Thursday Page 1B will be devoted to coverage of the outdoors. We’d love to hear from any hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, skiers, surfers or anybody that does anything sporting in the great outdoors.

We also want to hear more from our younger and older athletes. Youth coaches, junior varsity coaches and adult recreational league players are welcome to submit scores, standings and any information on recently played or upcoming games.

In that same vein, keep an eye out for the Alumni Round-Up. It disappeared for a while but will be back on a regular basis.

So stay tuned and remember to keep an eye on the Web for more comprehensive national coverage than our printed section allows.

Matt Entrup is Sports Editor of the East Oregonian. Write him at mentrup@eastoregonian.com.