|
|
|
|
Monday, October 1, 2007
Growth of Grossman
Central Indiana, IN
|
|
|
By: Mike Beas
|
Photo(s) By: David Dixon
|
For a stretch through the 1990s and early this century, the Carmel football program had become almost an afterthought in the large-school scene. Then came the arrival of coach Mo Moriarity, bringing with him a bran
Mo Moriarity laughs when he remembers a story about Rex Grossman and the quarterback's days as a Bloomington South Panther.
The Readers' Digest version is as follows: Some friends are boxing and they ask the soft-spoken Grossman to slip on the gloves. Grossman obliges, then proceeds to lay the leather to anyone bold enough to get within arm's length.
Word spreads. Don't mess with that Grossman kid. He might have a golden arm capable of delivering pinpoint 60-yard spirals, but that mouthpiece-removing right hook isn't too shabby, either.
"Rex is as tough a player as I've coached," said Moriarity, who with Grossman's help led Bloomington South to the 1998 Class 5A state championship. "He's a quarterback, but he has a linebacker mentality and that's why his teammates love him."
Currently the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, Grossman's one-minute-spectacular, next-minute-erratic unpredictability as a NFL signal-caller sets the 27-year-old up for a brand of public ridicule few in his profession ever experience.
Every Grossman incompletion and interception are analyzed and overanalyzed by media members and fans alike. To some, he's the singular component preventing the defensively-strong Bears from achieving lasting greatness – the topic of punch-line fodder for standup types, bloggers and sports columnists.
It's almost as if society wants Grossman to succeed, but expects him to fail.
Moriarity, who remains close to the quarterback, wishes it weren't this way.
"When Rex succeeds, I'm happy. I hope that during his career that my leadership has helped him," said Moriarity, now in his third season as head coach at Carmel High School. "Obviously, when Rex struggles it hurts. And it hurts me because he's hurt. The peaks and valleys in football are so high and so low, when you go through that with someone the bond is very strong."
In a different sort of way, Grossman is still slipping on the boxing gloves, attempting to silence anyone willing to doubt his God-given abilities. Moriarity is confident that like that day in Bloomington, Grossman will prevail.
"I have a great relationship with Rex. I cherish it, but it's kind of private," said Moriarity. "I think Rex is such a strong person inside and that's how he gets through it."
|
|
| No comments added! Click [ add a comment ] to be the first! |
|
|
|
|
|
“I Bleed Green”
by: Renee Gork
Western Arkansas -- Stars playing for summer league teams often have teammates try to convince them to transfer or move high schools, so...
More 
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
On the Wright Path
by: Dave McConnell
Central Indiana -- Even if it’s your brother, you wouldn’t think asking the opposing coach for a favor on the night of the...
More
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
Raleigh - Durham, North Carolina -- “You can’t win ‘em all” is the tried and true cliché that attempts to make us feel better after a...
More
Archives
|
|
|
|
David Tran
Raleigh - Durham, North Carolina -- David Tran is a senior at Sanderson High School and is on the school’s Varsity Wrestling Team. This school year...
More
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disciples of Coach K.
by: Jim Donovan
Collin County, Texas -- On the night of Oct. 3, 1986, the Plano Wildcats were on the brink of making football history.
Not...
More
Archives
|
|
 ™
|
|
|
Cross Country State Championships
Fort Worth - Denton, Texas -- At the awards ceremony following the state cross country meet, it was Humble Kingwood hoisting the 5A girls team trophy. However, further review of the...
More
|
|
Athletes Learn To Manage Low Back Pain with Physical Therapy
by: Dale A Boren Jr. PT, MPT
Central Oklahoma -- The lower part of the back, when healthy and in good condition, functions with such versatility that people can engage in a variety of demanding,...
More
|
|
Youth Hockey Making Strides
Fort Worth - Denton, Texas -- Hockey is a non-traditional sport in the state of Texas, for obvious reasons, but that might be on the verge of changing. Like soccer before...
More
|
Archives
|
|
 ™
|
|
Hot Eats/cool Seats
by: Rich Williams
Raleigh - Durham, North Carolina -- Cheese and steak. Steak and cheese. Two things couldn’t have been more made for each other in my mind. Piping hot, thinly sliced ribbons of...
More
|
Getting the Kids Involved in Saving for College
by: Beth Gallen Mastrromarino
Reading, Pennsylvania -- The World War II generation got a taste of higher education through the G.I. Bill and made it a point to supplement or pay their...
More
|
Remembering Richie
by: Tim Polzer
Collin County, Texas -- Into all of our lives enters a special person destined to give us perspective. He or she appears uniquely talented or desperately tragic, but never...
More
|
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grill
by: Tim Polzer
Collin County, Texas -- Two points kept the Frisco Lady Raccoons from the state Class 4A final game last year. Their 61-59 loss to...
More
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
®
