Story
Wellington football experiencing stunning turnaround
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
by
Randall P. Lieberman
Thomas Abel could teach political candidates a thing or two about messaging.
Wellington's stern-voiced first-year coach hasn't strayed from his key talking points since taking over the football program after last season. That focused approach has paid early dividends for the Wolverines, who are 3-0 and have caught the attention of area fans following a decade of disappointing football.
Now Abel's undefeated team is staring down its biggest game in recent history -- Friday night's road test with District 9-8A rival Seminole Ridge in a matchup that has major playoff implications.
"It's going to be like that as long as Wellington keeps me on as head coach," Abel said of his communication strategy with his team. "Aggressive, aggressive, aggressive. Playing together, playing for each other. They haven't seen that at Wellington in a long time."
It's been a long time coming for Wellington, which hasn't had a winning season since 2002, when the surprising Wolverines finished 6-4 in the regular season and lost a regional quarterfinal against Deerfield Beach. Since that season, Wellington has gone 22-66 with a pair of one-and-done playoff appearances out of a three-team district.
Last year's team won its first game, a 20-19 thriller against Boynton Beach, then lost the next nine, prompting the resignation of coach Chris Romano.
Enter Abel, who was an assistant under Romano for five seasons and comes from a Midwest football background, having played college ball at Findlay in Ohio and coached high schoolers in Michigan.
His offseason message was simple: Wellington would be steady defensively, which would carry the team until its young offensive line caught up. His team would be disciplined on and off the field, and eventually start generating some excitement in the community for Wellington football.
No one expected that to happen in three games.
"They're very confident," Abel said of his team, "but I always tell them not to read the newspapers and just focus on us. We're keeping that mentality."
In three wins, Wellington's workmanlike defense has allowed a total of 20 points and forced six turnovers. The offense, meanwhile, has done just enough to win, averaging just more than 16 points per game.
"They're the same scrappy team they've always been," Seminole Ridge coach Matt Dickmann said of Wellington. "This year they're not turning the ball over and they take advantage of it."
Abel spoke in the preseason about modeling his program after Ridge's, while hoping to surpass the Hawks at some point. Ridge enters Friday's game in near-desperation mode, 0-2 with two dismal performances under its belt. A preseason favorite and state-ranked squad, Ridge considers this week's game a must-win.
So does Wellington, something that would result in a smile from even the most confident Wolverine back in the offseason.
That decade of disappointment featured two 1-9 seasons and a winless 2007 campaign. From 2004 to 2006, Wellington won two games each season.
Yet here they are, 3-0 because of good defense and a disciplined coach who stays on message like a good politician.
"They believe in the system," Abel said, "and they're starting to believe in themselves."
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User Comments:
PalmBeachPimp commented on September 21, 2012 at 10:53 p.m.: report abuse
Glades Central loses again.. Let the melt down began.. Will the last person leaving out of Belleglade please bring some sweet corn seeds- because the town is about to get burned down!!!!! hehehehehehehe...WOW
wow commented on September 21, 2012 at 10:59 p.m.: report abuse
@pimpakadouche That might be funny IF GC was all that was in BG. You should get outside of that bubble some time, little boy.
Recruiting101 commented on September 22, 2012 at 8:56 a.m.: report abuse
Young man needs stern talking by his coaches...his football stock dropped for tweeting during game. May cost him.
@recruiting101 commented on September 22, 2012 at 11:36 a.m.: report abuse
I assure you that his stock has not dropped at all and that his college coaches won't care about it. It wouldn't happen in college because he would be no where near a phone at half time.
Not about recruiting commented on September 22, 2012 at 11:44 a.m.: report abuse
It's about class or the lack thereof. There have been some high profile wash outs from AHS because they don't stress anything other than winning at all cost. Zero class.Spare me the "it doesn'tmatter", "you're just jealous" and "haters gonna hate" BS. This was classless, pure and simple. Not about King's, they got smoked fair and square, it's about a lack of respect for the game, period. Come on Post - REPORT IT!
Here's his tweet:
"Greg Bryant @gb4heritage"
49-0 sheeesh with 24 minutes too goo... Im ready to start my bday weekend
------
Why didn't the post mention this in their coverage??
TRUE commented on September 22, 2012 at 5:58 p.m.: report abuse
Bryant's a good kid, but he did make a big mistake with that tweet. Bueno and Socha may not have been nice guys, but they never would have let that happen. Its a disgrace, that I'm sure somebody saw and allowed it to happen. Not fair to group him with some previous "Heritage washouts" as he made a mistake that never should have happened. He won't lose any stock on the recruiting scene, but he should face some consequences.
GET OVER IT commented on September 22, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.: report abuse
Get over it! It was a harmless statement! What's classless is you Kings Academy people always trying to beat up on AHS on these blogs because you can't beat them on the field!!!
Don't change the subject commented on September 22, 2012 at 11:53 p.m.: report abuse
@GET OVER IT, he wasn't the only one doing it. Rod Johnson tweeted as well. How many more were doing this and are you really cool with it?
Here it is: @Rod2real 49 0 lol
If you think that half time tweeting about blowing out your opponent is okay, then think it's okay. I think these kids need to have a talk with the coach about respecting the game and their opponents. Doug Socha said as much on ESPN Radio, and he knows both of these kids very well and expressed a great deal of respect for Bryant in talking about what happened (www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=73&c=568&f=737371). That it was a district game or that it was King's is meaningless. It's about these kids maturing a bit. They have to understand that they are representing their school poorly when they do that. Despite the haters out there, AH is a fine school, and the school wants to run a winning, classy program. That behavior doesn't fit that goal, period. That's not hate, it's reality.
I wonder commented on September 23, 2012 at 9:48 a.m.: report abuse
These days texting, facebook, and twitter are the main ways many communicate. This player who posted a comment during a game wanted to make a statement to the public. What would happen if he got on the loud speaker during half time and made the same comment he made on twitter? In my opinion, the comment was unsportsmanlike and worst- broadcast to the news media as well as the general public thru major media. Let's see how that school responds on Monday.
Here is what the FHSAA says about unsportsmanlike conduct before, DURING, and after a game.
501.02 Unsportsmanlike Act by a Student-Athlete
(1) Penalties Assessed the Student-Athlete. Student-athletes who commit unsportsmanlike acts before, during or after a contest will be subject to the following suspension levels as determined by the designee of the Executive Director:
(a) Level 1 Suspension. A student-athlete who commits an unsportsmanlike act or a flagrant foul for which he/she is ejected from the contest, will be ineligible to compete for the remainder of that contest and for a minimum of the next two (2) contests, at the same level of participation in the sport of the suspension and in and any interscholastic athletic contest in any sport, at any level, during the period of suspension, in all sports except football. For football, the student will be ineligible for one (1) football game, at the same level of participation, and any interscholastic athletic contest in any sport during the period of suspension. If the unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul occurs in the last contest of a season, the student will be ineligible for the same period of time as stated above in the next sport in which the student participates;
Intentional or not will the FHSAA view the comment as unsportsmanlike? I wonder what will happen next?
@I wonder commented on September 24, 2012 at 7:48 a.m.: report abuse
American heritage will do nothing,
TEBOW_TIME commented on September 24, 2012 at 8:29 a.m.: report abuse
WELL YOU SHOULDNT WORRY ABOUT THERE TWEETS ITS THERE BUSINESS NOBODY GOES ON YOUR TWEETS IN PUT OUT WHAT YOU SAY THATS SOME GAY STUFF.....YOU FEEL ME......SOOO IF IT WAS ONE OF YOUR TEAMMATES YOU WOULDNT BE COMPLAINING OKAY NOW LEAVE IT ALONE IN STAY OFF OF AMERICAN HERITAGE PLAYERS.............
Get a Life commented on September 24, 2012 at 11:56 a.m.: report abuse
Socha needs to get a life... does he still have one??..he is the coach of another school yet overtime he talks its about Heritage..he is the EX COACH time to move on
@Don't change the subject commented on September 24, 2012 at 9:19 p.m.: report abuse
I'm changing the subject! Socha has nothin else to do but try to start some crap with these kids! Socha gave up his right to coach and advise them when he "resigned"!!!
football player commented on September 25, 2012 at 12:03 a.m.: report abuse
If I was a heritage player, i know going into the game that it was going to be a win. but once u get to that big of margin of points, theres no more fun to play. I wouldnt want to play anymore either and celebrate my birthday.. Greg had a great game and did his job. he should be able to celebrate his birthday.. And im pretty sure 49-0 at halftime, he wouldnt have to play the secod half anyway. So everybody shut up and let the man enjoy his birthday
Former Player commented on September 25, 2012 at 8:23 a.m.: report abuse
You obviously dont know Coach socha.. His promises to players came through and we won championships and got into college. He changed my life with his program and will forever be thankful.. He is very hard on his team..He is good at persuading kids to come to schools. Every coach in the country does some sort of recruiting wheather its the hallways or town. He will be very successful aat his new school because he is very hard worker...
Also a Stallion Fan
@alterego commented on September 25, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.: report abuse
Why is there always talk about Socha? He is the ex-coach. He left, he got fired whatever. He is no longer the coach. The team is in the hands of coach sizemore. A guy with skills and character. They are ranked number one and continue to roll. Go coach go!!!! Go Stallions go!!!
John Kelly commented on September 27, 2012 at 9:09 a.m.: report abuse
Enough about Socha. Clearly not a class move to tweet during a game. Much more important, congrats to Jake Giordano for leading the Stallion Defense!
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