Nova Titans Football

Posted on Wed 07/27/05 in South Florida

Nova High School – Davie, Florida – Alumni Site

David Martin (‘95) was hired as the new Head Football Coach at Nova yesterday. Khalid Abdullah (‘95), Melvin Jones (‘95), Bob Mullen (‘96), Chris Orazi (‘95), and Tom Joyce (‘95) will be joining David at Nova as well.

I am both proud and amazed to see this crew possibly reunited. I played with them in high school during one of the most successful eras of Nova Titans football. Led by Coach Willie Dodaro, we made the second round of the playoffs two years in a row; this was something the program had not done in over twenty years. I believe these men can bring a sucessful program back to Nova, as I can attest that each of these men is a leader and knows what it takes to win as a team.

But, I know that the road will not be easy. During last season, I stopped in to watch the Titans practice. It didn’t look anything like how I remembered it being. Most of the guys were loafing around the field and some were even sitting down. Some girls were watching the practice, and I asked them who the star players were; the ones they described as the best players seemed to care the least about hustle and teamwork.

I was disappointed.

But, as I write this now, I think vividly back to ten years ago when I was playing. Many feelings rush through me. The hair on my arms stands up and my blood is beginning to pump hard. I flashback. I can hear the silence during our bus ride to the to the field on Friday night, each player rehearsing in his mind his duties for the battle ahead. The exhilaration unleashed when our team stormed through the banner onto the field, enticed by the vigorous fans, would hold me over just long enough before it was finally my turn on the field. Taunting the conquered, 100-pound-advantaged nose guard was part of the mind games we engaged our enemies with.

Some occassions envoked the most emotion, like those off the field, in the locker room, after a truly heroic effort—whether we won or lost—when we championed ourselves for leaving every ounce of heart on the field and returning home as a team to prepare for the next opponent.

These are the feelings that these men are hoping to find upon their return to football; only this time, as coaches.