ALBANY - Senior Patrick Deegan was 5 years old and a ways away from playing football the last time Albany had a cooperative football team with Evansville.
The Evansville-Albany co-op spanned 15 years until 2000 when the Rock Valley Conference voted to break it up. Well, history has a way of repeating itself.
Fast forward 12 years, and the Evansville-Albany co-op is back in action. Deegan is looking forward to kicking off the season.
"We were a powerhouse until the conference decided to split us up," Deegan said. "We definitely have a lot of tradition. I think as a team it's hard leaving Belleville. I think it's better for our school as a whole. It's a nice change."
In the last co-op, Evansville-Albany won seven conference championships and made four state semifinals appearances over a 15-year span.
Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said Evansville never wanted to lose Albany.
"It was just a decision by the conference," Grovesteen said. "We are glad to have them back. It (the co-op) was an asset for 15 years. Albany has some very good athletes."
Deegan said the communities have already renewed a rapport from middle school up to high school, and the players have completed conditioning and weight lifting together. The camaraderie is building confidence.
"I think we can definitely make a run to the playoffs," Deegan said.
Albany junior Logan Webb, who is a defensive and offensive lineman, was also excited about the season.
"I can't wait for it to start," he said. "I'm already friends with all the guys in Evansville now. It will be a good year."
Webb understands the success the co-op has had in the past, and he's looking to build on that success.
"It really feels like they have a sense of tradition in Evansville," Webb said. "It feels right being back in Evansville. It feels like home."
The Evansville-Albany co-op spanned 15 years until 2000 when the Rock Valley Conference voted to break it up. Well, history has a way of repeating itself.
Fast forward 12 years, and the Evansville-Albany co-op is back in action. Deegan is looking forward to kicking off the season.
"We were a powerhouse until the conference decided to split us up," Deegan said. "We definitely have a lot of tradition. I think as a team it's hard leaving Belleville. I think it's better for our school as a whole. It's a nice change."
In the last co-op, Evansville-Albany won seven conference championships and made four state semifinals appearances over a 15-year span.
Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen said Evansville never wanted to lose Albany.
"It was just a decision by the conference," Grovesteen said. "We are glad to have them back. It (the co-op) was an asset for 15 years. Albany has some very good athletes."
Deegan said the communities have already renewed a rapport from middle school up to high school, and the players have completed conditioning and weight lifting together. The camaraderie is building confidence.
"I think we can definitely make a run to the playoffs," Deegan said.
Albany junior Logan Webb, who is a defensive and offensive lineman, was also excited about the season.
"I can't wait for it to start," he said. "I'm already friends with all the guys in Evansville now. It will be a good year."
Webb understands the success the co-op has had in the past, and he's looking to build on that success.
"It really feels like they have a sense of tradition in Evansville," Webb said. "It feels right being back in Evansville. It feels like home."
