Why would the Los Angeles Times care
about The Citadel’s football team?
In fall 2005, The Citadel football team had the toughest schedule in the country. That fact aroused
the curiosity of Los Angeles Times reporter Drex Heikes, an award‑winning reporter who decided to
find out why a small military college in South Carolina would subject itself to mismatches with such
teams as Florida State, Auburn and Ole Miss.
Heikes came to early football practice to watch the team prepare for its tough season. He spent 18
days observing practices and team meetings, interviewing players, coaches and other college officials. He
and photographer Damon Winter traveled with the team for its big game with Florida State.
The following pages present what Heikes and Winter saw during their time with the team and
coaches. As you will discover, this story says much more about the character and spirit of these Citadel
players than it does about football.
Tale of the
Underdog
What would make The
Citadel, a small school with
strict discipline but little
luck in football, schedule a
game against a powerhouse
such as Florida State? In
this mismatch, it is money
that matters, but a whiff of
success can stir wild hopes.
By Drex Heikes,
Times Staff Writer
est-Point Reelly ranked Florida
Tallahassee, Fla. -- “W
game against nationa
the
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f
lly
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.
him
a
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nt
in front of NFL scouts
awn Grant quietly rea
Jects.” It was like a tau
on national television,
,
el team co-captain Sh
nce
ad
t
cha
Cit
oin
e:
his
-P
on
be
Al
est
er
uld
W
ad
ts.
me wo
A Le
rs’ locker room. The ga
“West-Point Ree-Jec
m from State in the cramped visito
tea
ll
tba
foo
e
Th
Ree-Jects.”
llege trotted off
television.
The Citadel military co
a standstill on national
to
.
cid
ran
y
tel
isi
qu
only three points, 13-10
the field and into the ex
The Citadel trailed by
cracked their
d
an
for
ets
ed
lm
he
vid
r
pro
ve
sts
s knocked their sil
og
lld
Bu
locker room their ho
e
Th
During the summer, a
e, and the Bullother’s shoulder pads.
h
eac
visitors. It was halftim
on
s
nd
ha
this season, calling for
a miracle. They
d mocked their chances
ha
r
ite
dogs had just worked
wr
rts
spo
State Seminoles
had played the Florida
26
The Citadel 2006