The 2016-17 school year is proving to be a special school year with new rules and beginnings, including the exciting 50th anniversary of the Slippery Rock High School football team. Despite how much the athletic department has changed since 1966, the determination and brotherhood of the team still remains.

Mr. Christy, a social studies teacher and assistant coach of the football team, states, “I like football because it teaches responsibility and it is a mix of physical and mental challenges.”

Cole Bell, a junior offensive center on the football team, says that his favorite thing about being a part of the team is that “It is a sport not everyone can play and you need to have the heart for it [in order to] overcome all obstacles.”

Though the team got off to a rough start when the season began in August, players hope to achieve victory by the end. Bell continued on to say he believes one of the hardest teams to beat was Hickory and expressed a hope to make playoffs. Now, their dreams will come true and on October 28th they will be playing their first playoff game this season.

Mr. Burtch, a history teacher and alumni of Slippery Rock, was previously on the football team himself as a high schooler. Burtch stated that while not a lot has changed regarding the layout of the team, during his freshman and sophomore years, “they were 11-1 and they made it to the WPIAL semi-finals. My junior and senior years they made it into the  AAA with Beaver Falls, Blackhawk, and Aliquippa,” victories that the team has had to work hard to reach again. According to Burtch, the team was created by Bill Batey.

Although the team has suffered loss in the past from graduating seniors and injuries associated with players, the Rock football team has maintained a special brotherhood and a winning spirit which they plan to hold for the next fifty.