Morehouse Football Continues Perfect Season In Chicago
Last-second TD clinches win
Morehouse College football team entered week four against Miles College ( Birmingham Al.) in Chicago for the 21st HBCU classic held at Soldier Field. Morehouse, the undefeated underdog, had a huge fan base in the stands that cheered the team on every second of the way. The Maroon Tigers trailed the Golden Bears the entire game until the final nine seconds. With a prayer and a hail-mary pass from Michael Sims to Tremell Gooden, Morehouse was able to protect their flawless record. The crowd was in an uproar for the amazing last second play that sent the Maroon Tigers to the winner’s circle. Old alumni and current president of Morehouse was seen in the locker-room celebrating with the team.
“It was one of the toughest classics I have witnessed,” athletic director Andre Patillo had said. The reason the game was so difficult was the journey Morehouse football team took to get to Chicago. Early Friday morning, close to 6 a.m. , Morehouse football team was hit with a heavy blow. The team found out that half of the players did not have a plane ticket for the game and at worse they may have to drive 10 to 12 hours on a bus.
Devastated by the news, head coach Rich Freeman was given direct orders by Patillo to leave with his scheduled flight. The fate of the team was left in the hands of Patillo. With the savvy thinking and hard work done by Patillo, he was able to secure every player a plane ticket to Chicago, but not as a team. The Maroon Tigers arrived to Chicago in thirds; One flight landed at noon, another at 3pm and the final flight at 9pm. Team captains took on the role as coaches by leading the rest of the crew to their terminal and onto the plane. Luckily the team was all reunited before Saturday’s match against Miles.
Despite the turmoil the football team faced before the game, it didn’t phase them as they took Soldier field. The game was everything everyone anticipated and more. With the nail- biting victory over Miles College Morehouse football team had given president Thomas “His greatest moment ever since becoming the president.” After these words were stated coming from president Thomas, he joined the team in a cheerful chant that rallied across the players.
