Former Leopards Head Coach Jeff Cordell ( center ) was excited to reconnect with players and coaches from his 2003 championship team . He also gifted the championship trophy to the school to be put on permanent display .
State champs come home 2003 Gainesville High School team remembers title run
Time moves on relentlessly , but for most people there are glorious times that stick in their minds like they happened yesterday . Like , for instance , winning a Texas state high school football title .
Several players and coaches from Gainesville High School ’ s 2003 state team reunited for a late September home game , to cheer on the Leopards and celebrate the 20 th anniversary of their 3A championship run .
“ I can ’ t believe it ’ s been 20 years ... it ’ s been 20 years ? I still can ’ t even believe we won ,” said Colt Eberhart , who played nose guard .
That Gainesville squad , and its stingy defense , was tested by top competition throughout its playoff run . It faced and saw off future NFL quarterbacks Case Keenum , Stephen McGee and Caleb Hanie and wide receiver Jordan Shipley .
Gainesville spotted Burnett a 21-14 lead at the half before the defense , which held all but three opponents to 10 points or less per game , showed up . It held Burnett to a second-half field goal and the offense picked up three touchdowns to claim the 3A title with a 35-24 win .
Players and coaches alike insisted that the 2003 Leopards never got rattled . Coaches made the right halftime adjustments and the players executed without fail . Receivers coach Randy Romines moved on from Gainesville to nearby Calliburg , where he still coaches golf and helps out with other sports . He still marvels at what that 2003 team did .
“ It is hard to win a state title in anything you do . And at Gainesville , the kids sold their souls and did everything Coach ( Jeff ) Cordell wanted ‘ em to do . And it was probably the best coaching staff in the state of Texas at the time ,” Romines bragged . “ If you go back and look at the state championships or runners up that these ( coaches ) have won , it ’ s probably up in the 20s . I , I ’ d be curious to know that . They were just
GAINESVILLE LIVING 22 HOLIDAY 2023