A remarkable day for Catawba

It was a remarkable day for Catawba College Saturday afternoon. One of the few football teams in America to hit the field in wake of the tragedies in New York City and Washington, D.C., the Indians got a dose of just about everything in a 12-0 victory at South Atlantic Conference foe Wingate.

There were flags flying — the red, white and blue coinciding with Catawba’s colors. A bright sun and 72-degree temperatures brought a big crowd to Belk Stadium.

It also brought a large contingent of media types. Head coach David Bennett had never been swarmed like he was after this game.

But with Division I and Division I-AA games postponed — and most of Division II as well — everyone wanted Bennett to tell them, “Why did you play?”

“Most other commissioners said, either ‘You will play’ or ‘you won’t play,’” explained Bennett to the mass of cameras and reporters. “Our commissioner (Doug Echols) said it was up to the athletic directors. We might have been the only conference in the country that did that.”

Wingate’s honchos said play, so that was that.

“We had no control over it,” Bennett continued. “We’re coaches and we’re players and we go play the game. It’s like I told all those reporters at Wingate: ‘We’re just a small fish in a big ol’ pond.’”

Because no one else in the area played, Catawba was a big fish Saturday, and not just because of a No. 6 national ranking. For the sports media, Catawba vs. Wingate was finally something to cover — and everyone, it seemed showed up for the pageantry.

Bennett had cold chills during pregame ceremonies, which began with a prayer. Then, 3,000-plus fans sang in unison “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner.”

The chills were still there afterward when Bennett saw the media surging his way.

There were a horde of reporters (including three from the Post) and Charlotte TV stations 3, 6, 9 and FOX in attendance. Charlie Fredrick of WBTV even asked Bennett to hold the microphone when he talked because Fredrick had to man the camera.

“It was nice to get that coverage but we won’t get it again,” Bennett said. “They all want to watch the big boys play. But I was glad they got to see some good small college football. We feel in our hearts we’ve got kids who could play for anybody in the country.”

n

Maybe, but in the SAC, those kids have gone virtually unnoticed, despite an unbeaten record, a high ranking and outscoring their first three opponents 104-0.

When the SAC named its players of the week, Mars Hill was represented. So was Tusculum. Even Wingate, which lost to Catawba, had the special teams player of the week, a guy who missed two field goals.

Bennett has yet to see an Indian named.

“You kinda get used to it,” he scoffed. “We circle the wagons. It’s Catawba vs. the rest of ‘em.”

Bennett even had a classic example.

Linebacker Todd McComb entered 2001 as a preseason All-American in Street &Smith. He is a two-time all-Region selection, which means he was chosen as one of the best players from Virginia to Florida. But in the SAC? The junior wasn’t even first-team.

“You kinda grow numb,” Bennett said.

The snub has the entire team talking. You’d expect at least one of Bennett’s four linebackers, which also include Shawn Sanders, Shawn McBride and Darris Morris, to get some type of recognition in the conference.

“We don’t care about individual awards,” insisted McBride.

“We don’t talk much about it,” Sanders added.

“I guess you can say their actions speak louder than words,” smiled Bennett, who you know uses it every day for m-o-t-i-v-a-t-i-o-n.

n

It’s no surprise that the linebackers are 1-2-3-4 in tackles so far this season.

“We said all along that their leadership would be the catalyst for this team,” Bennett said.

It seems the other players are a bit more perturbed about not seeing Catawba’s name mentioned.

Offensive lineman Joe Nixon wants to make this perfectly clear.

“We deserve somebody as player of the week,”he said. “Nick Means had a heck of a game (seven catches for 89 yards). Our linebacking corps is one of the best in the country. I don’t see why it isn’t happening.”

n

What is happening this week is the annual showdown with Presbyterian, the 22nd-ranked team in the land.

Some things will remain the same as last week. The flags will be flying high, the cold chills will return to Bennett’s arms and his linebackers will more than likely have their usual outings.

Win or lose, Bennett won’t be expecting as many cameras and reporters charging him. He probably won’t even be expecting one of his Indians to be player of the week. He’ll again be a small fish in a big pond.

But that’s OK. The Catawba Indians have no control over any of that.

They’re players and they’re coaches and they just go out and play the game.

n

Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4256 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com .