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Note: The T-birds were 6-0 in region play and 10-1 overall. The team's first loss came in the 4A quarterfinals against new region rival Springville.PROVO — The Timpview football program was so accustomed to winning, that they may have forgotten what built one of the state's most successful programs — hard work.
Head coach Louis Wong is 67-7 in seven years as a head coach at Timpview High. He graduated from Castle, Hawaii.Offense (4 returning starters)
Wide receiver Rickey Shumway is one of the few returning starters. Running back Jonathan Ghosoph also returns, and they will team up with senior quarterback Marshall Nelson, who was a backup to Christian Covey, to keep defenses guessing.Defense (5 returning starters)
The T-birds defense has more experience than its offense. Senior defensive tackles Gordon Moimoi and Carson Rawle will anchor the defense. Senior Josh Burr returns as a linebacker and will provide much needed leadership to those with less experience. Bentley Wilson, senior safety, also returns, as does defensive end Skylar Harmon.
The last thing any of the T-bird coaches wanted was for the players to believe success was something they were entitled to, just because they wore the T-bird uniform.
But when the heavily favored T-birds were upset by Springville last season, both coaches and players took a good, long look in the mirror and decided they would do things with just a little more focus, a little more gratitude.
"We've changed things a little this year," said head coach Louis Wong. "Let's not look father down the road than the next practice, the next drill. I think because of our success, we may have been looking down the road a little last year."
Wong said the season is long and there is a lot of useless chatter that can keep his players from reaching their full potential on the football field.
"There are too many distractions," he said. "The only thing that matters is what we do on the field that day. Our goals, our objectives are for today, right now. If we can focus on that enough, then everything else takes care of itself."
It does not hurt that the T-birds have a sideline full of new, young talent hoping to add their names to the tradition that has become Timpview football.
2011 Schedule
| Aug. 19 at Alta 7:00 p.m. |
| Aug. 26 Westlake 7:00 p.m. |
| Sept. 3 Bakersfield, Calif. (at Mission Viego High School) 11:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 9 at Mountain View 7:00 p.m. |
| Sept. 16 at Maple Mountain 7:00 p.m. |
| Sept. 23 Timpanogos 7:00 p.m. |
| Sept. 30 at Orem 7:00 p.m. |
| Oct. 7 Salem Hills 7:00 p.m. |
| Oct. 13 at Springville 7:00 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 Provo 7:00 p.m. |
This year's seniors said the loss to Springville still stings.
"I'm not very happy about last year," said senior linebacker Josh Burr. "We do want some revenge, but we know they're a good team. I think that's the first time we ever got out-played."
His teammates nod in agreement.
"But this year we're really cleaning things up," said defensive tackle Gordon Moimoi.
They're all looking forward to a new region this season.
"I like our new region," Wong said. "Football is football. You have the same number of people on the field. It's a tough region, but having Springville in our region will push and make us better. It will make all the schools in the region better."
Wong said he's never satisfied and always working to tweak the program here and there. There is always room for improvement, even for a program with just seven losses in seven years.
Sometimes with success comes a feeling of entitlement, and that, said Wong, is a difficult challenge for both players and coaches.
"When you have success people thing it's an automatic," Wong said. "You have to guard against that feeling. You have to earn it and work for it."
The players said they're committed, focused and working hard every play to put the T-birds back on that winning path.
"The pressure of the past motivates us," said Jonathan Ghosoph, a senior running back. Adds Bentley Wilson, a senior safety, "When you come from a winning tradition, it just motivates you even more."
"It's like having a father who is successful," said Moimoi. "It doesn't make you feel pressure, it makes you feel proud and you want to live up to that."
