Renewing Faith

I am from a small town in Indiana.  Its large enough to be on a map, but small enough to be just a dot.  It's known for many awesome things.  Early in the towns life it was known as Little Detroit.  We are the home place of the first high schools marching band.  Soduko was created by a Connersville resident.  We probably have the worlds longest running daily live news cast brought to you by high school students.  West Side Story, Stant and the list goes on.  Recently have been known for other not so great statistics.  We always rank high in unemployment, teenage pregnancy, low standardized school test scores and more recently Carbon Motors.  However, I LOVE my hometown.  I am a proud Connersvillian.  I wear my red and white like a honor badge.  Growing up in the ville was some of my fondest memories.  So when I heard the latest news coming from the high school I was overjoyed.  No really, it felt like my heart was going to burst with joy. 
Adam Kelly has been named our new high school football coach. 
Some background on our football team?  It sucks.  Sorry, but it does.  We haven't had a streak of winning seasons in probably 25 years.  And a streak would be 2.  Our losing streaks are probably up to 5 years at a time.  And when I say losing season, I don't mean 4-6, I wouldn't be surprised if there were many years in there where we only won one or two games, maybe even a few winless seasons.  It wouldn't surprise me if our last big win was when I was a freshmen or sophomore and we beat Carmel on a game winning touchdown with only 12 seconds to go.  People rushed the field!  We beat CARMEL!!!!
But fast forward to this week.  Adam Kelly.  In high school Adam was so intense.  We hung out with the same group of friends so my Adam stories are many but the one I'll never forget, nor will most anyone, is when Adam was our mascot.  The Spartan.  Hollywood based 300 off of Adam Kelly Spartan stories.  Gerald Butler used yearbook pictures of Adam Kelly Spartan to get into character.  Everyone remembers Adam Kelly Spartan.  He bled his own blood as our fearless leader.  No really, Adam cut his arms in the tunnel before a basketball ball game and when he emerged from the tunnel the crowd went wild! 
In a recent article for The News Examiner Adam said being our high school football coach has been something he had been working on since 1996.  I believe it.
I believe in Adam.
I understand it will take more then just a new head coach to turn around our football program but Coach Kelly has the faith and the drive.  His love is infectious.  If the students can buy into his passion he will have won half his battle. 
So tonight, Spartans, we fight!

**CHS our hats off to thee, to our colors true we will ever be....**