Jackson community has a love of its Indian football program, coach

Fans cheer as a bus hauling members of the Jackson football team departs for the MSHSAA Class 5 state championship Friday in Jackson. The Indians take on Carthage for the title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.

Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian

Jackson is abuzz with talk of the hometown Indians.

Highway billboards and restaurant marquees wish the high school football squad success as it plays Carthage in Saturday’s Class 5 final in Columbia.

An impressive crowd gathered on Jackson Boulevard Friday to wish the Tribe success as the 13-0 team began its bus journey west.

It’s a trip the Jackson faithful hope will bring the school its first football state title.

Just a block from the county courthouse sits Bob Schooley’s Ground-A-Bout coffee shop, where the community comes daily to debate matters both large and small and to enjoy a warm cup of joe.

Its friendly proprietor, along with four other men, are primed and ready to talk about the only thing on their minds.

“Do you know if Coach Eckley seems happy here in Jackson?” asked retired Missouri Highway patrolman Blaine Adams.

Eckley is completing his eighth season as coach of the Tribe, and Adams, a 1978 Jackson alum, is fearful the coach who has amassed an overall 70-22 record could be snatched away by a higher-profile program.

When Eckley took the job in 2012, the Tribe faithful had endured losing campaigns that left Jackson with a 5-15 mark over the previous two seasons.

The notion that Eckley could have coaching options elsewhere informs the fan mindset even as fans celebrate the team’s extraordinary perfect season.

“All I can say,” said Jackson R-2 school superintendent John Link, when asked about his coach, “is that we’re very happy with Coach Eckley and he’s happy with us.”

Adams, 59, was on the 1977 Indians squad that went to a Class 3A semifinal and lost to unbeaten Columbia Park Bridge, the eventual champion.

Brian Hill, 29, is also a Jackson alum and played in a 2007 Class 5 semifinal against another team that won the championship, Waynesville.

“My dad still buys reserved seats at The Pit,” said Hill, who works today in his family’s business, LBB Sales and Service.

All praised Eckley’s work ethic and preparation.

“I like to joke — but it’s not a joke, really,” said Hill, “that Eckley right this minute is somewhere out there breaking down film.”

“He simply outcoaches other coaches,” interjected Adams.

Marc Ashby, 39, is a current state trooper and not an alum — but Ashby’s wife, Megan, is — and their son is in Eckley’s football pipeline, playing on the junior high squad.

“There is no comparison to the atmosphere we have in Jackson,” Ashby said. “There’s not a better environment for high school football than (right here).”

During his high school days at Rockwood Summit in St. Louis County, Ashby said it seemed only the parents of the band members and cheerleaders came to the game.

“There was little community involvement (there),” Ashby said.

Paul Harrison is another non-alum pulled into Jackson fandom by his wife, Heather, a Jackson graduate.

Harrison, 42, said their two children, ages 9 and 14, are mesmerized at The Pit in seeing the Indians emerge from the tunnel on game nights.

“These (boys) look like titans to my children,” Harrison said.

“I didn’t grow up here,” said Harrison, a native of Pacific, Missouri, “but I’m grateful I can show them what high school football should be like.”

“The lessons we try to give our kids at home are being carried over to the team,” Harrison added.

Harrison’s son, like Ashby’s — plays at the junior high level.

Adams said the expected commitment to football is different from 40 years ago.

“We didn’t do anything like these kids do now,” Adams said. “They’re ready to go at 5:30 (a.m.) and (football) is a year-round deal.”

“In my day,” Adams continued, “we started up on August 15 each year and had two-a-days.”

“Now, they’re doing 7-on-7 drills, going to summer camps and even lifting (weights) the day of the game.”

Regardless of Saturday’s result, the four men agreed the team is entitled to a parade and a welcome home.

Superintendent Link said any celebratory plans are fluid and undetermined at this point.

“Nothing will happen until the first of the week,” Link said.

“Some of the team is staying over in Columbia Saturday night and, of course, the community parade (which was delayed to accommodate the game) is on Sunday night,” Link added,

“so we won’t do anything to disrupt those plans.”

Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said the city will go along with whatever the school district proposes.

“I know there was some talk that some of the players might walk in Sunday’s parade,” Hahs said, “but I don’t know if that will come together.”

Hahs said he is seeing “Go Indians” placards in multiple locations, an indication of the deep and widespread support of the Jackson community.

Ashby, the highway patrolman, had the last word as the coffee klatch broke up.

When asked, as a non-alum, why he’s so into Jackson football, Ashby replied with a comment worthy of the millennial generation — “Because it’s awesome!”