Top row Left to right: Trent Sivley, Andrew Nuss, Will Lawrimore, Britt Gillette. Middle row: Connor Landers, Shamaud Swope, Scout Alexander, Jackson Terry, Caleb Finn, Caleb Meyer. Bottom Row: Riley Wood, Austin Boardman, Lane Anders, Zeth Malcolm. Not pictured: John Mosley.

Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

“Play like a wolverine.” Hartselle defensive coordinator Oscar Glasscock has been driving this message into the defense for weeks now, as he wants his defense to play and fight as ferocious and fearless as a wolverine. However, to the defense “play like a wolverine” is more than just a phrase. “It’s a united thing” senior linebacker Scout Alexander said, “it brings us together as a whole.” The Wolverines are a fast growing phenomenon in the city of Hartselle and I was able to sit down with the defense and find out just what it was.

The idea began to stir last season between senior defenders Lane Anders and Caleb Finn; “We thought it might bring some excitement and energy to our team.” Finn said. It then began to pick up steam after a dinner the players had with the alumni of Hartselle. The elder Tigers explained to the young Tigers that when Hartselle first formed a football team back in 1916  they were called the wolverines. This was before a coach came in and changed the name in the 1920’s.

“Coach Glasscock then started telling us that he wanted us to play like wolverines,” Anders said. Senior defensive back Zeth Malcolm would also chime in. “We won a big game against Cullman right after that so the name just kind of stuck.” Since then the wolverine fad has become an interesting topic. Each week after a game a “wolverine of the week” is named.  The player receives a piece of paper with his  stats  listed, along with a big picture of a wolverine. Each member of the defense was given this honor after the Florence game, a game in which the defense only allowed 7 total points.

The wolverines hit a huge roadblock however, on October 23  in the  game against the Austin Black Bears. In that game the defense allowed 41 second half points en route to giving up 62 total points. Most people will tell you that it was just one of those nights and that it can happen to any team, but the Tiger defense wasn’t going to make excuses for themselves.

“It was an eye opener” Alexander said, “It showed us that we weren’t where we thought we were, and  we needed to get better.” Head coach Bob Godsey was quick to defend his defense. “To be honest I’ve completely blocked that out. We were at the end of a tough four game skid and we were just gave out in that second half. It happens” Godsey said, “However, not many teams can pick themselves up after a game like that, and the way they rebounded and played the next week is a true testament to them.”

Since that game the Tiger defense is playing more determined than ever. They have all adapted new hairstyles for the playoffs that will allow them to look as fierce as they play. “It was something we could do together” Alexander said “we thought about doing it last year but never did, then we just decided to load up to the barbershop and nobody was leaving till we got it done.”

The defense knows though all that matters is what they do under the lights. “Play like a wolverine” linebacker Connor Landers said, “It means we play nasty and fierce.” Hartselle knows the road ahead isn’t easy and  they face plenty of adversity, but senior Trent Sivley feels they are ready. “I think we play good against adversity” Sivley said, “We pull together and find a way to get through.”

The wolverines include Lane Anders, Caleb Finn, Zeth Malcolm, Scout Alexander, Trent Sivley, John Mosley, Connor Landers, Caleb Meyer, Austin Boardman, Andrew Nuss, Riley Wood, Shamaud Swope, Will Lawrimore ,as well as young bucks Jackson Terry and Britt Gillette. These guys are anxious to prove themselves and give it everything they have in the playoffs. The first step is Gardendale and they know they will have play hard in order to win or as senior John Mosley puts it, “Just get after it.”