Thats One Strange Wing-Tby Jeff Cziska Southeastern Regional
Hawks South Easton, MA I began my coaching career in 1990 and I was
lucky enough to begin my career under the tutelage of my good
friend Frank Gracia. Frank was one of my high school coaches and a
friend to the family. That season I was primarily a gopher. Instead
of being called a coach I was better suited to the role of
glorified cheerleader. However, that season of looking, listening
and Saturday scouting prepared me better than if I had just been
thrown into the fire as an assistant with full coaching
responsibilities. After that season I floated around a bit going
from college to college (I have always hated school), playing a
couple of seasons and coaching another season at my alma mater. It
was not until 1999 that I would have the opportunity to coach with
Frank again. In 1999 I was hired at Old Colony Voc-Tech as the
offensive line coach. I had some learning to do before the season
even began, as Old Colony would be running the Bay City T. I had
seen the offense run to perfection over at Wareham with their
amazing quarterback Stephen Cooper (current linebacker for the San
Diego Chargers) under center. We were one of three teams in the
state running this offense and knew we would give teams fits. The
season opened with a thrilling 16-8 win over Monty Tech. The next
week we lost a tough one 18-8 to Nashoba Valley. The night before I
went to scout our week 3 opponent, the Austin Prep Cougars. I
traveled all the way up to the Manning Bowl with another assistant
coach to scout Austin Prep. Upon entering the stadium I noticed the
field wasnt even lined. Well, Lowell Catholic came out onto the
field and they were both young and low in numbers. Austin Prep
didnt look much more impressive. Well, the Cougars got the opening
kickoff and came out for their first offensive play. Surprisingly
they came out toe to toe on the line, like us, but instead of the T
they had two wings. We joked about how the fullback could smell
what the quarterback had for lunch. They really did nothing fancy.
Toss right, toss left followed by an occasional pass and a trap.
This offense they were running was a joke. We were convinced that
the only reason they had scored 40 points was because Lowell
Catholic was just that bad. Next week would be a cake walk when we
went to play them. Their strange version of the WingT would be no
match for our Power T. Just as I had predicted it was indeed a cake
walk. Austin Prep took a commanding 30-0 lead going into the half.
Early into the 3rd quarter it was 38-0 and we salvaged a little
dignity by scoring 8 points in the last fleeting minutes of the
game. Ive been on the wrong end of scores like this before, but
this was just embarrassing. How the hell did we lose to this team
running just three plays? I was convinced we just had a mediocre
squad at best. Our final 4-7 record cemented that in my mind. That
strange offense we faced that afternoon was nothing special and I
had soon forgotten about it. The next season my mentor Frank took
over as head coach and we made the switch
to the Wing-T. Within months I became one of those crazy Wing-T
Disciples and I knew in my heart of hearts that there was no better
offense. In 2001 we were 7 points away from playing for a State
Championship with just a 21 man roster. It was a long season and
like the last several was taking a toll on my health. In fact, I
had major neck surgery just 4 months before that season. I realized
my health was failing and there was only one thing I could do. With
a heavy heart I decided I needed to step back and retire from
coaching. I had been surfing the internet since 1995 and I was
always looking for more football stuff. Its amazing the plethora of
information that exists out there. Now out of coaching I found
myself spending more time on the web. One day I came across this
amazing tale of some team that had scored 880 points. It more than
intrigued me. The more I researched the offense the more I changed
my thinking about offense. Soon I became an advocate of the Double
Wing and tried to show it to everyone I knew and sang its praises.
The first taker was my friend Don Herman at Marthas Vineyard. He
installed the system in 2003 and won a Super Bowl that very season.
The next taker was my current head coach Ned Scaduto. I had met him
at physical therapy and when he suffered a 51-0 loss to Marthas
Vineyard that season, he too was convinced of the power of this
great offense. He installed the system in 2004, but was having less
than favorable results. Two games into the season his team was
0-1-1 and had failed to score a point. This phenomenal offense I
had sold him on was proving to be a worthless. He asked me that
weekend if I could come down and just check things out. I told him
I would stop by when I could. Honestly, I had to go by and figure
something out. Not only was his season on the line, but so was my
good name. I was there the Monday after their game. The problem the
team was having was understanding their blocking assignments. I
tried without luck to explain it to the offensive linemen. These
kids didnt want to understand and really didnt care for this
offense where they couldnt even score points. Despite years of 2
win seasons, those previous teams at least scored points. It was do
or die time. I simplified things a bit more and showed them just
how easy it was to block any front they faced. This snake oil
salesman was getting through and making believers along the
way.
After our little session we went outside to watch the JV team
play. Ned called a timeout and quickly explained the blocking
adjustment to the players. The next play a Super Power went 40
yards. Not only were those kids believers, but so were all the
varsity players watching the game. After the game we went back to
the coaches office and talked a bit while the players lifted. As I
was leaving offensive lineman Tony Vincente approached me and asked
if I would be back tomorrow. How could I say no? How could I say
yes with my health as lousy as it was? See you tomorrow Tony.
Well, we made it through the week and played our first game that
Saturday against the defending Super Bowl Champions the South Shore
Vikings. With such a formidable opponent I think the main goals
that week were to score a touchdown and try and keep it close.
Well, we ended up losing the game as we failed convert on the
2-point conversion after scoring with no time left on the clock. It
was a loss in the books, but showed everyone that it could be
done.
As each week passed the offense improved. We scored a high of 47
points at Homecoming and two weeks later we faced my last employer
Old Colony. Of all the games we played, this is the one team I
really wanted to beat. A year after I had left Old Colony a coach
on the staff as well as former coaches there conspired to get rid
of Frank as the head coach. With his dismissal brought my utter
disdain for those guys over there. I wanted a little payback.
Luckily for them Ned is a classy guy and did not run the score up.
We could have easily scored 100 points, but the 45-14 victory was
quite satisfying.
One month later we found ourselves where no team in school
history had ever ventured. On December 3rd of 2004 we were playing
for the Division 4 EMass Super Bowl Championship against the Hyde
Park Blue Stars. Despite playing a team bigger, faster (their DT/WR
blocked 3 punts and an extra point) and stronger we emerged
triumphantly with a 13-0 victory. A year later we defended our
title with a 28-7 victory over the OBryant Tigers. A season later
we outscored both of Super Bowl squads and last season we earned
Runner-Up status in the Large School Vocational Super Bowl.
Southeastern Regional use to be the team that everyone wanted on
their schedule. The same teams that use to schedule the Hawks, and
put one in the win column before the game was even played, now
refuse to play us. Its unlikely they ever will again. That strange
Wing-T is no joke.