[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 152 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING THE MARYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RED REBEL FOOTBALL TEAM

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 2000

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, on December 2nd of this year, the Maryville 
High School Red Rebel football team became the 1999-2000 Class 4A state 
champions after defeating East High School of Memphis, 33-14, at this 
year's championship game in Murfreesboro, TN.
  This is a remarkable accomplishment for this team, as they started 
this year's season with a record of 0-4. Against all odds, the team 
pulled it together with unparalleled strength and determination and 
came back to win their 2nd state championship in 3 years. Their last 
championship came in 1998.
  The spirit of this team reminds me of the story of former Baltimore 
Orioles' third baseman Brooks Robinson, a Hall of Famer. Robinson once 
said that there were only a few in the Hall of Fame who got there 
mostly on superior athletic ability. Robinson said that the other 600 
or so got here because of drive, determination, discipline, and desire. 
This team possesses the same qualities.
  In an address to a jubilant crowd at a homecoming celebration at 
Maryville High School, George Quarles, Head Coach of the Maryville Red 
Rebels football team said, ``To our team, I want to say thank you for 
not giving up. It would have been so easy to quit after going 0-4, but 
you didn't. The biggest lesson is not to give up. I am proud to be your 
coach.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the readers of the Congressional Record and my 
fellow colleague to join me in congratulating Head Coach George Quarles 
and the Maryville High School Red Rebel football team for their 
glorious victory. I also include the following news article printed in 
the Knoxville News Sentinel. The team's leadership, strength, and 
determination should be recognized by all, and their sportsmanship and 
dedication are at a level that should be followed by every high school 
team in this Country.

         [From the Knoxville News Sentinel, December 10, 2000]

              Maryville Players Lauded for ``Team Effort''

                            (By Ken Garland)

       The Maryville High School football players never gave up, 
     their coach said. They hung in there and went for the gold.
       And they got it. A gold football trophy declaring them to 
     be the Class 4A state football champions came their way after 
     last weekend's state championship in Murfreesboro.
       The Red Rebels defeated East High School of Memphis, 33-14, 
     in the championship round Saturday night, Dec. 2.
       They came home with that championship trophy, their second 
     in three years, to the adoration of their fans in the 
     community and at the school. Those fans came together 
     Thursday morning in the MHS gymnasium for a celebration.
       Meanwhile, across the county, fans of Alcoa High School 
     were gearing up for a celebration honoring their football 
     team. The tornadoes won the Class 2A state championship and 
     were honored at a reception at Alcoa High School Saturday.
       Read more about that reception in the sports section of 
     today's News-Sentinel.
       Maryville Head Coach George Quarles said the state win came 
     as a surprise to him.
       ``Nobody was more shocked to be here than me,'' he told 
     students and guests at the celebration.
       After losing the first four games of the season, Quarles 
     figured the team had no chance in the world of making even 
     the playoffs. But, he said, the team proved him wrong.
       The state championship gives the seniors on the team an 
     impressive history, said Athletic Director Jerry Thompson. 
     The seniors have ``played on a (state) runner-up team and on 
     two state championship teams,'' he said.
       The Red Rebels won their other state championship game in 
     1998. They have won several other state championship games in 
     years past.
       Shortly after that 1998 game, the team lost its head coach 
     to another school. School officials named Quarles, who had 
     been offensive coordinator for six years, as the new head 
     coach.
       At the ceremonies, Quarles thanked school officials who 
     ``took a chance on an untried head coach'' and promoted him.
       Over and over, the officials who spoke, and some who 
     didn't, kept attributing the state championship to the team's 
     ``never-say-die attitude.''
       ``What a remarkable turnaround,'' Thompson said. ``Never in 
     the history of Tennessee football has this happened.''
       Maryville Mayor Steve West, who presented the team with a 
     proclamation naming Thursday as Maryville High School Day, 
     said it was a ``team effort.''
       ``It's a team effort that makes you go to the 
     championships,'' he said, ``Maryville High has always been 
     known for team effort.''
       ``You all did a fabulous job.''
       Quarles, who also was named Class 4A coach of the year, 
     told the team members he was proud of them.
       ``To our team, I want to say thank you for not giving up,'' 
     he said. ``It would have been so easy to quit after going 0-
     4, but you didn't. The biggest lesson is not to give up.''
       ``I'm proud to be your coach.''

       

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