Last week we included the description of Coach Gilbreath’s first two years with the Gobblers. In addition to arduous off-season training, Gilbreath “resolved to field the very best athletes – period. It didn’t matter the color of your skin, whether your parents were employees of the school, whether your father was the mayor or president of the school board - if an athlete came in with the proper attitude, had sufficient knowledge of the game, was physically up to the challenges of his program, and was willing to contribute as a team player, he could be a starter.”
This set the team on a successful trajectory that culminated in a 1973 state championship win.
1974 – (15-0) Backto- Back One might find it puzzling to ponder how a team could improve on a perfect season, but that was the mindset of the coaching staff and the goal of the ’74 squad. As the non-district schedule played out, the Gobblers won decisively over: Yoakum (36-0), Victoria Stroman (230), Edna (23-6), Samuel Clemens (39-0), and Refugio (56-0), racking up four shutouts, with only a single score by the Edna Cowboys allowed by the Gobbler defense.
