McMillan: Texas football in hearts of Army players

Hollywood may exaggerate a bit with its depictions of football life in the state of Texas but there’s no doubt that football is the center of life in the Lone Star State. 

“God, family, football is what a lot of people say in Texas – that’s kind of the order of preference for what you do in your life,’’ said Cade Barnard, of Seminole, Texas. “It’s a big thing, high school football, college football. I mean, people eat and live football.’’ 

That’s why Jerry Jones built a $1.3 billion domed AT&T stadium for his Dallas Cowboys, replacing an equally famous Texas Stadium where it is said a hole was left atop the partial roof so God could watch his Cowboys, headlined by Roger Staubach. The old Astrodome was made famous by the “Luv Ya Blue” Houston Oilers of Earl Campbell and coach Bum Phillips. 

That’s why bond issues tend to pass across the wide expanse of the state, allowing for the construction of multi-million dollar high school football stadiums that would rival some college facilities. It’s no wonder since Texas is the No. 1 state in the country for participation rates, with 153.3 students-per-school as of three years ago. It is the home of not only 11-man football, but also 6-player football for the most remote of schools, just so they can play on the gridiron and extend the legacies of their older brothers, fathers, uncles and grandparents. 

Cade Barnard would know. The junior fullback for Army has followed the lead of his father, Chris, who played for West Texas A&M in the early 1980s. His brother, Christopher, played Division II ball for East New Mexico University in the early 2010s, almost at the same time another brother, Cliff, played for New Mexico State. 

“So the burden was put on me to be just as good or better than they were,’’ said Barnard, who made his first collegiate start last Saturday against The Citadel. 

Army football is widely considered America’s team, for its rich diversity and drawing players from all across the nation. Texas is one of the prime recruiting draws, with a handful of assistant coaches dedicated to covering the largest state in the lower 48. 

“It’s the best football in the nation, I have to say,’’ proclaims Luke McCleery, of Keller, Texas. 

The debates rage in the Army locker room all the time. 

“Every guy is proud of his state,’’ McCleery said. “Georgia likes to be really proud. Florida’s really proud of their football. Even if you go up north … we’ve got a couple guys from New York and New Jersey and the northern states and they are super proud of their football.’’ 

But, they’re wrong, right? 

“I know football’s the best in Texas,’’ McCleery said. 

“There’s just this culture that surrounds football in Texas that I don’t really see in any other state. You watch (the movie) Friday Night Lights and that whole story … that’s Texas.’’ 

The movie came out when McCleery was 5 years old, fueling the desire of every red-blooded young boy (and some girls) in Texas. 

“There is a little more pressure because everyone expects everyone to play football,’’ McCleery said. “I was a bigger kid growing up (so) you kind of get slotted into football. Thankfully, I was someone who still had that desire to play football and wanted to be in those Friday night lights. 

“I was in second or third grade and my parents had a church group going that had a bunch of high schoolers in it. One of the guys I was really close with, kind of a mentor for me. I remember watching this game and he got a pick six (interception return for touchdown) as a defensive lineman and I remember that is what I want to do that some day, to get to play and all these people are watching you.’’ 

McCleery was fortunate to play for a high school that won the Texas 4A title. “I think about that state championship we won at least once a week. It’s a great feeling,’’ he said. But even for those who did not go on to win titles or advance to major college or pro football, the experience of playing Texas high school football lives on forever. 

“Those guys still have the same notoriety in my hometown as the guys (who won) or didn’t,’’ McCleery said. “I think that’s really cool. That’s why I think the culture of high school football in Texas is so important.’’ 

It’s no cliché when people say football can teach the proper lessons for life. 

“Football was very important,’’ Barnard said. “It really makes you grow into a man, and the more I’ve been at West Point the more I realized that football really is the one thing that teaches you how to be a good leader. It teaches you how to deal with others, and really just prepares you for life more than any book can or anything else.’’ 

There are 12 Football Bowl Subdivision teams – best known by the former Division I-A term – in Texas. The Texas Longhorns may be the most highly recognized, but the others have thrived and often played Army over the years: Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Rice, Southern Methodist, Texas Christian, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Texas El Paso and Texas San Antonio. Throw in 77 more in the lower divisions. 

Army and UTSA are squaring off in the Alamodome for the second consecutive year on Saturday, a pleasant outcome of a revised schedule. Head coach Jeff Monken said he likes to schedule games in Texas because it gives an opportunity for families to come support the hometown boys, and entertain the thousand of soldiers stationed throughout the state. 

“I have a lot of family coming,’’ Barnard said. “It’s exciting to be able to get down there and be in an area that I’m familiar with.’’ 

It may not be Friday night but the lights still burn bright inside the Alamodome and within the hearts of Texas’ finest. 

kmcmillan@th-record.com 

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR