[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATIONS TO MARYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL'S RED REBEL FOOTBALL TEAM

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, on December 3 of this year, the Maryville 
High School Red Rebel football team finished its season with an 
undefeated record of 15-0 as it became the 2005 Class 4A State 
champions. The Red Rebels defeated Melrose High School of Memphis, 23-
10 at this year's championship game in Murfreesboro, TN. This victory 
gave Maryville its second straight State championship, its fifth 
championship in the past 6 years and its ninth Football State 
Championship overall.
  At the beginning of the 2005 season, Maryville Coach George Quarles 
stated that it was his goal for each senior class to win a State 
championship. This particular senior class has not only achieved this 
goal set by Coach Quarles but they exceeded it. This group of seniors 
will leave Maryville High School having won three State Championships, 
completed each of its regular seasons undefeated and achieved an 
outstanding record of 58 wins to only 1 defeat. The Red Rebels became 
the first team in 10 years to finish consecutive seasons with an 
unblemished record.
  I am proud of the Maryville Red Rebel football program as it has 
become a perennial powerhouse under Coach Quarles. Year in and year 
out, Coach Quarles has produced winners on and off the football field.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the readers of the Congressional Record and my 
fellow colleagues 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, Dec. 11, 2005)

            Maryville, Alcoa Honored for State Championships

                           (By Brad Gaskins)

       Maryville.--John Reid and George Quarles know good high 
     school football programs when they see 'em. Reid of Alcoa and 
     Quarles of Maryville both won second consecutive state 
     championships last weekend.
       Their programs shared the stage in celebration Saturday 
     morning at the amphitheater downtown, on what was proclaimed 
     ``Maryville Rebels and Alcoa Tornadoes Day'' by the mayors of 
     the respective cities.
       The respect between the Blount County programs is more than 
     mere chivalry.
       ``You think of Alcoa-Maryville, you think of enemies, or 
     rivals,'' Quarles said. ``And it certainly wasn't like that 
     today. Both schools have a healthy amount of respect for one 
     another.''
       ``In their case,'' Reid said of Maryville, ``good coaching 
     is going on. We discuss things back and forth. Both staffs 
     are dedicated to being good football teams.''
       Both proved how good last weekend in Murfreesboro. 
     Maryville beat Memphis Melrose 23-10 in the Class 4A title 
     game. In 2A, Alcoa beat Goodpasture 55-13.
       Maryville mayor Joe Swann had a ``unique'' situation on his 
     hands.
       ``A lot of people celebrate a state championship,'' Swann 
     said. ``These kids get a chance to celebrate together.
       ``They've both accomplished something that's really 
     remarkable. It'll make for a lot of good conversations over 
     the years between these boys as the grow up in this 
     community.''
       It's that community, Alcoa senior running back and 
     University of Tennessee commitment Dustin Lindsey said, that 
     made all this possible.
       ``It's not only coaches and players, it's people in 
     general,'' he said. ``We've got a wonderful community that's 
     backing us up, and people that love each other.''
       The community wasn't cheering the night of Nov. 29, 2003. 
     Both teams were eliminated from the playoffs in semifinal 
     losses.
       Since then, neither team has lost to a team outside Blount 
     County. Maryville went undefeated and handed Alcoa its only 
     two losses. Combined record: 58-2.
       ``I think that says about all you need to say about it,'' 
     Quarles said. ``There's good football in Blount County.''
       ``In this size of a county,'' Reid said, ``to be carrying 
     around four state championship balls is unbelievable.''
       Three years ago, Reid became Alcoa's coach, wondering if 
     the Tornadoes would ever win a game. They've lost just six.
       ``How lucky can you get?'' Reid asked aloud. ``And that's 
     part of it.''
       ``It seems so incredible that 365 days have gone by this 
     fast,'' Reid said of last year's celebration. ``It's a 
     tremendous amount of work to get here, and I think that's one 
     of the things that gets overlooked at times.''
       Alcoa was expected to win it all this year. Maryville was 
     not, but still won its fifth title in 6 years. What was most 
     fulfilling?
       ``The fact that a lot of people didn't give us much 
     chance,'' Quarles said. ``We lost so many players from last 
     year's team, but these kids refused to listen to other 
     people.
       ``They wanted to make sure that they gave themselves every 
     opportunity to hopefully win a state championship.''
       Thirty minutes after the ceremony, Quarles was fielding his 
     last question from reporters. He waved at a passing jogger 
     where the crowd had stood, and offered one last pep talk to 
     players of both teams:
       ``If you've watched the movie `Friday Night Lights,' you 
     see people who live in the past, where the greatest thing 
     that ever happened to them was a state championship,'' he 
     said. ``I don't want this to be the best thing that ever 
     happens to these kids. I want them to take what they've 
     learned in football and be successful in life.
       ``Be a good dad, a good husband, a leader in the 
     community--all those things. Don't let this be the high water 
     mark. A lot of people live in the past. That's a mistake.''

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