Building a Dynasty?

Two out of three ain't bad. Three out of four's even better. That's what the Euless Trinity football team will be aiming for this season, when it seeks to capture its third 5A state championship in the last four years. The goal looks favorable for the Trojans' heading into the 2008 schedule, as the team returns 10 starters (six on defense, four on offense) from its 2007 title team. Could this be the making of the latest Texas high school football dynasty? Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver said he hasn't the foggiest. And frankly, it's far from his focus. "We don't have any goals for becoming a dynasty and becoming a highly-ranked team," said Lineweaver, who enters his ninth season at the Trojans' helm. "We haven't even really had the goal of, 'Let's try and win state.' "I just think we're going to focus on what we focus on and that is trying to have a successful season, regardless of the media and the polls," he said. "We focus on the process of what it takes to become a good team." Since Lineweaver's arrival at Trinity in 2000, the Trojans have done more than just become good - they've become great. After his first year as coach, it was apparent in a hurry that Trinity would be a solid program, but just how good the team would be over the long haul was yet to be seen. Trinity went 8-3 its first season under Lineweaver, who had notable success building a power out of 3A school Commerce. In Season 2, the Trojans already found themselves reaching the state semifinals and finishing 13-2. However, the next two seasons resulted in playoff setbacks. Back-to-back 9-1 regular season records in 2002 and 2003 were followed by first-round postseason losses. Although disappointing, Trinity brushed itself off and returned to the state semifinals the following year. The team finally broke through and claimed the prize in 2005, bringing home the school's first state football championship. Over the last three seasons, the Trojans have been nothing less than stellar, compiling a 40-3 record en route to two state titles. The success is reaping respect, as early polls from publications such as Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine have Trinity as the top team in the state. Other rankings place them in the national spotlight. Talk of dynasty is beginning to buzz. "If they're not [considered a dynasty yet], they're close to getting there," said Joey McGuire, Cedar Hill football coach, whose Longhorns won the 5A Division II title in 2006 and whose team hosts Trinity in a Week 2 non-district match-up on Sept. 12. "They are ranked No. 1 in the state and, in some polls, No. 1 in the nation. "When you have a game against a program like Trinity, it's kind of a measuring stick for your team and it lets you see where you're at as a program," he said. "There's a different feel in the game when you're playing that caliber of a team." Respect on the battlefield is nothing new for the Trojans, who have had their share of impressive seasons in the past. Playoff appearances weren't uncommon under previous coaching regimes, and Trinity even reached the state final in 1992. The team's only state appearance in the school's first 33 years of existence - prior to Lineweaver's arrival - was a 52-0 loss to San Antonio-area power Converse Judson. But this current era has launched the Trojans into a whole new stratosphere. In the past eight seasons, Lineweaver has guided his team to winning it all or at least knocking on state's door four times. The stomping Trinity received in its first trip to state has even been avenged, as both the school's titles came at the expense of Judson - a 28-14 final in 2005 and a 13-10 victory in 2007. Like local and state powerhouse Southlake Carroll, which claimed 5A state titles four out of five years between 2002 and 2006, the Trojans sense that their name is beginning to join that level of elite status. It's an honor the players welcome, as they believe their time has come. "I think we'll get there at one point, but right now we're trying to be a good example to the community and to the [new players] coming up," said senior Dontrayevous Robinson, who looks set to be Trinity's go-to running back after collecting 885 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns last season. "We've finally put ourselves out there and become recognized by the people." Trinity senior linebacker Elikena Fielo, who was named Defensive MVP of the 5A Division I state championship last season, said that earning the distinction of perennial power is more about growing as a team. "That's true that we're building a dynasty," Fielo said. "It's because of the unity of our team and the talent that's coming back. But the unity is the key." Unity is an idea preached by Lineweaver and his staff. Despite the changes that come with a new football season - new teammates, new positions, new schedules - the Trinity coach emphasizes the need for his players to re-establish their roles each year and get acquainted with the personalities of the teammates around them. It's a big part of making sure the team is functioning at the same high level it was the year before. "You start over in January," Lineweaver said. "You clean the slate and say, 'Guys, we don't have a team. We have to build one.' We have new guys that have come up from the junior high and we don't even know their names. We want to get to know each other. "I remind them that the seniors aren't there anymore," he said. "I tell our new seniors, even though they're still juniors by classification at that point of the year - 'Look around; you're the senior big brothers, you're the leaders we'll look to for leadership.'" The principles of unity and leadership taught by Trinity's coaches inspired the players to have these words etched on their 2007 state championship rings: Faith, Next and Backbone. Faith represents their spiritual beliefs and trust they put in God in order to do their best, as well as their faith in each other. Backbone means that they've got each other's back and will help hold each other up when they feel weak. Next reminds them to focus on what they have to do next and not get too wrapped up in the positive or negative things they just experienced. "Regardless of whether you made a spectacular play or a horrendous play just a minute ago, you put that behind you and focus on the next play," Lineweaver said. "That also talks about thinking about the next game, the next team we're going to face." That concept has been helpful for the team on several occasions, such as the early playoff exits of 2002 and 2003. After winning it all in 2005, Trinity lost a 23-22 area-round thriller to Carroll in the next season's playoffs that cut short its plans of a repeat. But the Trojans rebounded and stayed focus to earn the title in 2007. Even during last year's championship season, the team could have found itself in a tailspin early. Trinity was dealt what Lineweaver called a "devastating loss" to Odessa Permian in Game 2, falling 30-3 to the Panthers in a nationally-televised game. The Trojans shook it off, looked forward and reeled off 14 consecutive wins, punctuated by the championship last December. With the resiliency and consistency the team has displayed in recent year, opponents expect Trinity to be one of the toughest, if not the toughest, games on the schedule. "They're the type of team you can expect to be strong every year," said Grapevine coach Gary Mullins, whose team now faces the Trojans as part of the newly-realigned District 5-5A, hosting Trinity at Mustang-Panther Stadium on Oct. 24. "They have a pool of kids right now that allows them to be large and fast and physical. "There's a lot of positive things going on with that program," he said. "I don't see too many flat tires on that vehicle." Trinity's roster contains a huge dose of talent and experience. Other than Robinson and Fielo, other notable stars include linebacker Ernest Norman and defensive back Prinz Kande, both four-year lettermen that have committed to Kansas; Eyron Barnett, a returning starter at defensive back committed to Texas; Denarius McGhee, returning starting quarterback; and Siosaia Tiupulotu, a defensive linemen committed to Louisville. Robinson is committed to Nebraska, while McGhee (1,706 yards and 14 TDs passing, 178 yards and 6 TDs rushing) is seeking an appointment to one of the military branches with plans to play college football. Others are being recruited but have yet to make a decision. Euless' Tongan community, which has given the team its share of big, strong athletes, continues to provide a boost for the Trojans this season as well. It also provides the team with a tradition, the haka, a Polynesian dance that gets the team fired up and ready for battle before games. "That's what ignites the breath of competition, that's what gets us going for the game," Fielo said. On the field, Trinity's offensive schemes seem rather simple. In an age of high school programs running complicated spread passing formations, the Trojans play an old-fashioned running game that relies on strong blocking that pounds it out on the ground and wears out opponents. "They're a throwback team that just lines up and runs and they're going to try to smash it at you," McGuire said. "If you're going to run a smash-mouth type of football, you'd better be big and physical and they've been that. ... They've also got a great quarterback that runs that offense really well." Lineweaver said Trinity's great success in running a simple offensive system is all about players following through with their duties. "We feel like with any championship team, the key to it is execution," he said. "We feel like the schemes you use ... yeah, they're important, but you have to choose whatever works best for the kids." Lineweaver did just that when he first arrived at Trinity. Evaluating the talent, seeing that the team normally had a surplus of big linemen and a lack of skill players, Lineweaver ditched the wishbone and set up an I-formation offense. He also established a bend-but-don't-break defense that better fit the unit's personnel. Learning to run those schemes to perfection, the Trojans continue to roll. Is it enough to make their mark as a dynasty? Mullins said it could be years later before people can look back and see what current teams will truly be considered dynasties. But Trinity appears on track. "I don't know if it takes five, six years or more to be able to determine that, but playing for that brass bell each year is sure helping them work toward that status," he said.