Godsey delivered a winner

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Bob Godsey started paving Hartselle’s path to a 12-win season six years ago when the Tigers finished 6-5 in his first season on the sidelines at J.C. Cain Stadium.
A group of seventh graders joined the Hartselle football program the same year that Godsey took over the Tigers after a successful run as the head football coach at Brooks.
Those seventh graders were all grown up this year, leading Hartselle to just its third 12-win season in school history.
Hartselle finished 4-7 in 2007 with a first-round loss to Cullman.
That season certainly wasn’t a success. And it certainly didn’t live up to Hartselle expectations.
But Godsey saw something special in the juniors from that team that lost three games, including two games to rival Cullman.
First, however, Godsey and the Tigers’ coaches had to put the troubled 2007 in the past. But this wasn’t the time to lower expectations, either. Not at Hartselle.
Godsey stressed the need for accountability when the Tigers started their off-season workouts in June. Still more than two months away from their first game, the Hartselle coaching staff had to put ownership of the program on the players, especially the seniors.
Hartselle reeled off 12 straight wins - a school record - on its way to a 10-0 regular season and a Class 5A, Region 8 championship.
There were some unfinished goals - an undefeated season, a trip to the Super 6. But few teams in the state recorded an eight-win turnaround from 2007.
That revival put the Tigers back on the football map again.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com