Glenville needs its players to be super leaders without assuming super powers.
Glenville QB Cardale Jones led an impressive comeback in the Tarblooders' opening victory of the season in Indiana, but coach Ted Ginn is looking for more from his veteran players.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Super powers originated in Glenville, but as mighty as the Glenville football team might seem, the Tarblooders are not bulletproof, they cannot fly and they do not stop speeding trains.
Having at least a dozen college scholarship-worthy seniors back from a team that reached last year's state final, Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. worries his players might assume they not only live in Superman's neighborhood, but their red and black uniforms make them invulnerable.
"It's not a situation where you just show up and you play football and you win," Ginn said. "We've had some success, and with the success brings pressure, but also the same pressure requires work. The success we had prior to them was the result of a lot of work. There's a story behind all the praise. There's some accountability and some buy-in on both sides.
"You've got to buy into the program. You continue that every year and you hope the class prior left the program as they found it. It's been tough the last few years, and it requires the coaches to do a lot leading."
The last comment is telling. Ginn is frustrated. He has been harping on his team all summer that with this season's increased expectations and attention -- they are nationally ranked and play on national TV next Monday against Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer High School -- powerful leadership is required. He is not yet satisfied, but was encouraged by Saturday's dramatic, last-minute win at Indianapolis Warren Central.
"In order to fight, you had to have some type of leadership as a team. They showed that character," Ginn said. "At a certain point, the quarterback [Cardale Jones] showed some leadership, and at certain times he didn't. As a whole, we kept fighting."
Ginn sites wide receiver/defensive back Shane Wynn as one of the team's strongest leaders by example. Wynn readily admits he is not the vocal leader Ginn wants.
"Me, Cordale, Malik Moore, Aundrey Walker and Andre Sturdivant are leaders," he said. "Malik is the vocal leader, and so is Cardale. Really, they're all vocal except for me. I'd rather show and be a helping leader. I want to make sure they're in class, and in school on time and make sure they stay out of trouble."
While Superman is a work of fiction created in Jerry Siegel's tiny Kimbery Avenue bedroom, just a mile from the Glenville Academic Campus, what Ginn wants his boys to maintain in Glenville on and off the field is real and permanent, albeit tenuous, in a community that so loves its team, they threw it a parade despite losing in last year's state final.
"I'm trying to hold on to something that took a lot of hard work and it's getting to be harder because of the expectations -- the expectations I have, and the example of hope we can provide for this city and community," he said. "Some of the kids don't think that's important as long as they can play football and win the game."
In short, Ginn is looking for players who will be men of today and, as Superman was known, "Men of Tomorrow."