Change Photo

Max Higgs

An Interview With Coach Herb King

by Ed Batty

EB) Coach, do you have anything personal you would like to say to the Alumni?

HK) Well we really appreciate the support of the alumni especially the support of the lower level kids in 3rd-4th-5th-6^th grade teams when you guys got on board and help us out it's been a tremendous thing to see these kids get the opportunity to play and have some sponsorship so our kids can play they are really deserving of it, I can't thank the alumni enough it's been really great.

EB) Coach can you kind of give us a heads on what to expect this Friday night with the showdown against F.C.?

HK) Well F.C. Is a really great ball club and there coaches are rating them as equal to or better than there teams of the past two years that have gone to state on the other hand we have improved on what where able to do this year we are a much better ball club and the one game against South Putnam is not quite reflective on how we've played, I think we've improved an awful lot and this is a game that's going to push us and help set the tone for how well we play in state playoffs this year. F.C. Has a Q.B. That is one of the best athletes in the conf. And also a state finalist last year as a wrestler mostly he is there # 1 running back and throws adequately when needed he runs the option well, does a lot of counters, they spread the field to make sure he has the ball in his hands a lot and when the games on the line. We'll have our work cut out for us but I think we have some people who match with them just as well.

EB) Coach does the low level of play of some of our conf. Schools make it harder for to prepare for state playoffs?

HB) I don't necessarily say hard, our conf. Has supplied the state finals with teams several years out of the past, us, F.C. & Attica so we've had several teams make the finals out of here, I don't think it's a hindrance on the other hand on a 1A team if they play all really-really good teams can get beat up real quick before they get into the finals so I think some of the ups & downs of the season are a good progression to allow us to stay healthy, allow us to mend ourselves and then be ready for big games and I don't think that’s a bad thing.

EB) Coach can you give a little in site on our sectional & who will be the main contenders now that F.C. Has moved up to 2A and out of our sectional?

HK) The top 3 teams are North Central (Farmersburge), Attica & ourselves We open up with North Central @ there field in Farmersburge just south of Terre Haute, one of the interesting things about this match up is N.C. Head coach is one of my former players. So I new what he was going to do as far as structuring his system he's done a really nice job getting there kids to buy into it, they are ranked right with us in the state polls in the top 10, they are currently 7&0 and will play Linton Friday night for there conf. Championship also. They run wishbone offense & also spread it out and throw a little bit, and have a good athlete at Q.B. Again they are very well coached but there schedule is one of the weakest in state but they have won every game put in front of them and ya can't fault a team for doing that, there a very quality opponent to open up with sectional play it will be a good game between us, it is at there place there field is not sometimes in the best shape there is definitely a bit of home field advantage when it comes to knowing where the holes are at!

EB) Coach it seems everybody wants to knock off the Rockville Rox.

HK) That’s a good thing, what that actually means is that are opponents are envious of what we've accomplished. How hard we play & the winning record that we have including this year, we've had 8 straight winning seasons and if you look in Rox history on www.almanacsports.com there was one set of seasons the Rox had 3 straight winning seasons and a couple of years of back to back winning seasons, but never have the Rox put together 8 in a row. And that’s a tremendous testimony to the kids we have, we want to keep that thing going I think our younger kids are participating at a very high level   we try very hard to have adequate J.V. Games against quality opponents which a lot of schools in our conf. Are not doing. Playing good opponents makes our kids understand how hard they’re going to have to work to be a championship team!

EB) Coach Herb King the Alumni thank you for your time.

HK) My pleasure and again thank you to the Alumni for what they do.

Change Photo

Ed Batty

I should have known better than to post that picture where Maxie could get his hands on it! thanx Maxie

Change Photo

Ed Batty

The WRC Crown goes back up north as the Fountain Central Mustangs came to the Rox gridiron and played there game, results ROX 16 - Mustangs 26. The Mustangs game is a very methodical grind it out running game with alot of ball deception in there backfield and when you pack it in on them to stop the run they throw a few dinky type passes that are very effective. The Rox played about as good a first half as could be going out on top 16 - 13 at halftime but as good ball clubs do with good coaching the Mustangs went in at the 1/2, made there adjustments and came out the second half and shut the Rox offense down, but the Rox defense played a whale of a game trying to keep it close holding the Mustangs to 26 pnts, who are used to scoring in 50's & 60's per game!
F.C. had 15 1st downs, rushed the ball 50! times for 228 yards, was 4 for 11 passing for 48 yards & had 5 penalties for 50 yards. The Rox had 10 1st downs 15 for 31 passing for 231 yards and only 11 yards rushing on 21 carries.
The Rox played a very good (2A) football team tonight and gave them all they wanted. Now it's off to the sectional playoffs where we can say good riddance to the Mustangs as they go (2A) and we go (1A). The Rox came out of this hard hitting contest unscathed and will be at full strength for the playoffs injury wise. The kids played there hearts out and a 7 & 2 regular season ain't nothin to sneeze at.
On to North Central to start our playoff run, who by the way was getting trounced by Linton tonight last I heard in 4th Qrt. 56 to 6. Another great Rox Football regular season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eddie '72

Change Photo

Ronald Dean Paddock

Can anyone tell me who has been the Rox football coaches  from 1900 til present..??

Thanks!

Deano  '88

Change Photo

Ed Batty

ROX MOVE ON IN SECTIONAL PLAY!!!!!! ROX 56 -
T-Birds 40. This was a wacky football game,,, the T-birds had nothing for us and we scored on all our drives but two, but they scored 40 pnts? Well I don't often say officiating had anything to do with it but tonight it was horrid! the T-Birds took full advantage of it when they found out the officials would call defensive pass interference against the Rox for any ticky-tacky contact, and even when the ball wasn't catchable. So the T-Birds chucked it long all night the results a 1/2 dozen pass int. penalties against the Rox and 40 pnts for them. The proof in the pudding is they passed 47 times with only 17 completions couldn't run against the hard hitting Rox for anything but amassed 356 yrds offens.
A career night for sr. Q.B. Clint White with 11 for 17 for 213 yards passing, no int.'s and 4 TD's,,,plus rushing for 58 yards and a touch down. Jr. fullback/linebacker Robbie Foster power rushed for 118 yards and 2 TD's and caught the ball for 35 yards and a TD. I am telling you this kid will be puttin a severe hurtin on people next year as a senior. The Rox went 213 in air, 262 on ground with the help of Fresh. Ben Cunningham at tale back,,, total 475 yards of offense and actually played good defense although the score didn't reflect it. No such thing as a ugly win!!! in the stat column it's still a "W".
We travel next week to face the Covington Trojans in 2nd round sectional playoff action at there place, with a win there we should be at home for sectional championship the following week. It would be great fun to play at the Rox gridiron for the championship so wish us good luck against the rubber boy's.... eddie '72

Change Photo

Ed Batty

ROX move on to Another sectional finals defeating Covington tonight 40 to 14. When I say another it is because the Rox have been in the last 7 out of 8 sectional finals and this years Senior class football players have been in 4 in a row!!! No era in Rox football history can claim that.
Tonight we had a well rounded offensive attack with Sr. Clint White throwing for 106 yards on 7 for 11 ,,no int's. & 2 TD's. And we rushed for 236 yards the balk of that by Jr. fullback Robbie Foster & Fresh. tailback Ben Cunningham W/ Clint rushing for 43 himself. The Trojans where sitting on Sr. Cody Jeffries tonight with good reason as He is at the top of the list in (1A) football this year as a receiver, so Clint went to Jr. Joel Wittenmyer for 3 receptions for 70 yards and 2 TD's. The Rox solid defense gave up a total of 217 yards against a hope-full Trojans squad but it takes more than hope to win games in the play-offs. Last I heard at this message time was that N.V. was up on Cloverdale 30 to 12. This would put the two long time WRC. Conf. foes,"Rockville Rox & North Vermillion Falcons" at our place for the sectional championship next Friday night! As Coach King said tonight, " it's time for us to kick down the door and win one". Goooooo BIG BLUE.......Eddie '72

Change Photo

Ed Batty

A good Rox football season comes to an abrupt overtime loss to North Vermillion... 20 to 27. A vastly improved Falcon team came in here tonight riding a mini winning streak and you could tell by the onset they knew they could play with the Rox. This was a punch-counter punch type of game with the Rox holding on with a defensive stop of the Falcons inside the 5yd. line stopping the go ahead score as time ran out forcing the overtime. N.V. got the ball 1st in overtime and promptly scored and kicked an extra point, then the Rox got there offensive possession and fumbled on the 1st play from scrimmage with a Falcon recovery. Game Over! It was a fun and exciting season, but a tough way to go out if your a Senior especially knowing that if you'd won there would have been a Regional game at home next Friday, but instead the North Vermillion Falcons earned there regional at there home field next week.
here's hoping that my weekly football post brought some of you alittle closer to home in some way.. Sincerely Ed Batty '72

Change Photo

Max Higgs

ED,

Thanks for your great reporting on Rox football again this year.  You bring great perspective to the games and we all appreciate your efforts to keep us informed.  The Rox did have a great year even if it ended with a loss to a team we had beaten earlier in the season. 

I am really excited for Rox football in the future with the inaugural year of the Youth Football program in Rockville this year.

Thanks again buddy.....

Max

Change Photo

Mary Jane Allbright Evens

Ed,

Thank you for your recounts of the football games.  I appreciate all the work and time you have devoted to do this for us that can not get to the games. 

Mary Jane

Change Photo

Steve Forrest

 10 November, 1775  -  Happy Birthday United States Marine Corp                                                            "The wonderful love of a beautiful  maid.  The love of a staunch true man.  The love of a baby, unafraid.  Have existed since time began.  But the greatest of loves, the quintessence of loves, even greater than that of mother.  Is the tender, passionate, infinite love of one drunken Marine for another."  -  General Louis H. Wilson    SEMPER FIDELIS 

Change Photo

Steve Forrest

 "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen.  Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!"  -  Eleanor Roosevelt 

Change Photo

Ed Batty

Football food for thought,,,ok I know most of you are tired of this old man posting about football, but this a could have been, should have been, post. North Vermillion 8,,, Indy Secenia (Catholic) 35. The Falcons giving credit where credit do played there best against a stacked deck, Indy coming in with 61 players, NV. with 27 and 5 out with injuries. The results, much closer than I would have thought.
Butt if and could if had happened and the Rox had brought there (A) game against N.V. and Secina which both they where capable of beating there would have been a first ever semi state football game at the Rox gridiron.
That is something the outgoing football seniors will have a life time to remember... Like all old players we all can remember the one that got away, the one that haunts us even to this day , 30 40 ,50 years ago, if you played you know what I mean. If only the young could know what we know!!! Eddie 1972

Change Photo

Ed Batty

Maxie check the west coast obits,,, can't believe we haven't heard anything outa Steve lately!               Eddie '72

Change Photo

Mary Catherine Barnes Overpeck

Really glad to read that Nina Nelson Alexander, along with Jim Jerome, has been chosen to be inducted into the Rockville Hall of Fame.  Phil, Bill and Max certainly made a  wise choice. 

When Nina was the Prosecuting Attorney for Vermillion County she was a dynamic force to be reckoned with.  She most likely still is. 

When she retired, she went to Las Vegas to visit her brother, John, and I told her I bet that she ended up being a show girl on the strip!  She would wear 4 inch high heels, and the gigantic head dress, and not much else!!

Change Photo

Steve Forrest

Ed Batty, Old Pal, No they haven't gotten rid of me yet, though some have tried!  Matter of fact I just finished a 2 mile walk in the rain in 47 degree weather.  And this is sunny Southern California, that's just not right!  I'm thinking about moving to Florida, no cold winters and no Socialist Governor or Legislature and all those long-legged beach bunnies!  On a more somber note it's terrible what has happened to Peyton Manning and our Indy Colts, a real tragedy.  Cupcakes Schumacher mentioned to me that you were working on the hue of blue for the RHS color scheme and its correct hue.  I gave my input awhile back.  It must not have resonated with Nurse Hot Lips!  It was great to see you and your wife back in Hoosier Town, hope to see you next July.  I'll leave with a little humorous verse:  There are only three kinds of Irish men who can't understand women  --    young men, old men and men of middle age.

Change Photo

Ed Batty

Maxie fantastic job with Rox basketball to site. glad you where able to collaborate with coach Mahurin and offer this to Alumni... Look for Rox Boy's to go long way this season! I don't know much about round ball, but I do know physical toughness, I was at the South Putnam game and our boy's didn't back off nor let it affect there game, it was a bruising basketball game.

                                            Happy Holidays to all Alumni

                                                          Eddie '1972

Change Photo

Max Higgs

So everyone has been asking what this country boy is doing in retirement.  Here I am:

Change Photo

Max Higgs

Update on Coach Liddle 1/17/12 12:50am:

Max, Bettieann sentme a progress report on Coach:
8:34pm (Illinois time) 
Putting Coach back together right now, 7+ hrs, did at least 6 maybe more bypasses. Little issue with some leakage when they first took him off machine, but they went back in and fixed everything and we should be hearing from the doctor within the hour. Praising the Lord and thankful for all your prayers. 
Love you all
Bettieann
Things are looking better but Coach is not out of the woods. Keep Coach in your prayers. Harry L

Change Photo

Max Higgs

Coach Liddle Update: 1-17-12 5:05pm

I have two e-mails from Bettieann:

10:43am Daughter just told Coach "remember when you ran your players until they threw up - this is pay back". Thought they would enjoy hearing that one.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

10:28am Calm enough - took breathing tube out, eating ice chips, did well on balloon, (in/out) but we just mentioned to nurse any BB games and Coach said NO so he can hear us!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad it is over and he is on way to recovery. He had shared w/me that he would love to be w/ Jesus but not ready to leave family. We are thrilled to have him. You don't know how much all the love and prayers have meant to Coach and family. Love to all. Bettieann Just came to do breathing exercises w/him - doesn't want to stay awake. 

Things are looking better. Keep Coach in your prayers. Harry L

Harry Lang

I did not get an update on Coach Liddle yesterday but Bettieann sent one this morning.

Harry Lang

Harry Lang

Harry Lang

I e-mailed Bettieann today (Sunday, 01-22).  Here is her reply:

Change Photo

Max Higgs

Update On Coach Liddle.......

I did not hear from the Bettieann yesterday. I did hear from the Liddle household today. I am very happy to tell you that Coach is progressing very well. As explained to me, “Everyday is a better day”. Since the pain medicine is starting to wear off, Coach is up and moving, carrying on good conversations and has started reading again (one of his real passions). Coach was the one that made the decision that the pain medicines had to go. What a surprise – Coach telling people (Doctors) what he is and is not going to do. Those of us that know Coach probably don’t understand where that came from – NOT. It sounds to me like the Coach that we all knew and feared is starting to make his way back. That was great to hear!
Please keep the cards and letters coming as they truly are appreciated. Keep Coach in our prayers. 
Harry L

Change Photo

Max Higgs

Update on Coach Liddle......

I hadn't heard form the Liddle family since my last update. I just got an up date this morning. Coach is doing really super: walking up to twice a day, showering and shaving and has been released to do pretty much what he thinks he can do (of course there are limits). He said he runs out of gas pretty quickly - when he gets tired he is done. Coach is very positive about his recovery. The doctor said he was 5-7 weeks from being released. Coach is still sleeping in a recliner but thinks sleeping in the bed is going to happen pretty soon. If I heard right, they did seven bypasses. Doctor said that they should last 12-15 years. He still appreciates the cards and letters (he said that he has gotten alot from Rockville) but is not up to alot of phone calls yet. Coach was very gratefull for all that you all have done for him and asked me to relay his gratitude.

Things are looking really good but keep Coach in our prayers.

Harry L