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A big welcome to our new Coach Stacy Adams picture and story courtesy of the Times and NWI.com A big welcome to our new Coach Stacy Adams picture and story courtesy of the Times and NWI.com EAST CHICAGO | This was some change of scenery for former Valparaiso University football coach Stacy Adams. It meant leaving Porter County for Lake County and coaching kids who still had driving permits and curfews. Tuesday afternoon, at a well-attended news conference, Adams was introduced as the new head football coach at E.C. Central, primarily known as a basketball school. Welcome to another challenge. "It's a very important day for our athletic program," new school superintendent Michael Harding said. "Athletics is very, very important to us, and we're going to make it a priority with first-class programs and first-class people -- and we've started today with Stacy Adams." The Cardinals were 3-7 last season and haven't had a winning record since 2004. They also haven't won a sectional game since 2000. During that stretch, E.C. is 43-57 overall and 1-10 in postseason play. A 1984 Lew Wallace grad, Adams resigned following the 2009 season at VU, his fifth. He was 15-40 overall while competing in the Championship Subdivision of Division I, formerly known as I-AA, and 6-28 in the Pioneer Football League. "I've worked the past 20 years trying to help young men reach their goals," Adams said. "Their goals at the time were to have a great college football experience, to get a college degree and to be productive in society. Today, I'll be working with a different type of young men with different goals. "They have dreams of getting their high school diplomas, having a great high school experience and would love to go on and play college football like I did. Due to my coaching connections at all levels, I will try to get every coach, from Division I to Division III, in here to recruit our student-athletes." Adams will stress academics to his E.C. Central players, just like he did at VU. He replaces A.J. Rodriguez, who was suspended from coaching duties prior to the Oct. 9 regular-season game with Bowman Academy and not offered a contract for 2010. Rodriguez had a four-year record of 13-23. Adams said his first goal is to get a minimum of 50 players on his roster. Having watched the Cardinals on film, he pointed out that although the players were very athletic, they lacked discipline and weren't as physically strong as their opponents. As for E.C. Central being recognized state-wide as a basketball school, no big deal. "Everybody can't make the basketball team," Adams said. "We want excitement. Our football game is gonna be just like basketball on grass. There's talk that Allen Iverson was a great football player. LeBron James was a great football player. Terrell Owens was a great basketball player but turned out to be a great football player, as well. We can't let our kids be limited to just one sport." Hampered by an independent schedule, E.C. Central has tried unsuccessfully to join a conference because there are no postseason honors for its athletes to receive. "No doubt, everybody would love to be in a conference, to find the right fit," Adams said. "But being in a conference is neither here nor there right now. Right now, the team is subpar. Everybody wants to play you because they figure it's a win. "Once we get good, no one will want to play us and that's one of the advantages of having a conference." Adams said he had earlier received a call from Morton's Roy Richards, who once coached at E.C. Central, saying he wanted the Cardinals on his schedule and hoped to have some 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 camps together this summer. "Already, the excitement is there," Adams said. |
A special thanks to all who made our car washes and our Golf outing a huge success. The Cardinals THANK YOU!!!! Official two a day practices start on Monday August 2nd Anyone interested please report at 11:30 AM on the 2nd. You will need a completed physical to practice. |
| Brandon Cole |
| Kevin Ellis |
| Abe Brown |
| Darius Parker |
| Four Cardinals make their college choices |
Four East Chicago Central Cardinal football players have decided
on their college destinations.
RB/QB/DB Brandon Cole has selected Heidelberg College in
Ohio.
TE/LB Kevin Ellis is headed to North Dakota Science Junior
College
FB/LB Abe Brown is headed to Manchester College
TE/LB Darius Parker will attend the University of Indianapolis
CONGRATS !!!
Pics Courtesy of NWI.com