Return to Glory

For a decade, the Carter Cowboys refused to back down. Carter appealed to the UIL to stay in the state's largest classification, 5A, even though the school had 4A numbers.

And who would have expected anything else from the proud and tradition-rich program that Freddie James built.

But reality is reality, and even though Carter won two 5A playoff games last year, the school took the huge step of accepting 4A status for the 2008-2009 alignments.

I think it's the most meaningful thing that came of last spring's realignment. Because the football factory that James started is going to start playing for state titles - I believe starting this fall.

"Our first 22 kids have always been competitive," said Carter coach Allen Wilson, who knows something about winning state titles, winning one in 1988 at Paris and another in 1994 at Tyler John Tyler. "But when you get injuries, you start taking a nose dive."

It's ironic that Carter may be back in a state title game soon, this being the 20th anniversary of the best high school football I've seen - the 1988 Carter Cowboys.

A brief history if you weren't born yet or if you haven't read Buzz Bissinger's classic Friday Night Lights - Carter's 1988 team was loaded with great players such as linebacker Jessie Armstead. The Cowboys basically dismantled everyone, including the Odessa Permian featured in Friday Night Lights in the state semifinals and then Converse Judson in a 31-14 pounding in the state final.

That Carter team would have shut down today's Southlake Carroll teams. But the legend is somewhat diminished now because the school had to forfeit its title because of a grade change. That team was further tainted when several team members went on an armed robbery spree.

I only mention the '88 team for this reason - the idea of another golden era of Carter football. Highland Park has stayed in the spotlight since dropping to 4A, even winning a state title in 2005.

The same will happen to Carter. Carter proved last year it can compete with anyone, beating North Mesquite and Garland Naaman Forest in the playoffs, and then coming close to upsetting Pflugerville.

"There's no doubt that helped," Wilson said. "It's huge. We know we can play."

And with seven starters back on offense and the fact you know Carter will always be good on defense, watch out.

"We went through some tough times," said Wilson, who has a rather nice looking 53-8 record at Carter. "One reason you pick a school like Carter is because it still has pride. We're coming back. Our players believe in that."