Small Schools, Big Time Programs

For years, Smith Center, Kansas’ (population 1,700) claim to fame was that it’s located in the geographic center of the United States. Now, high school football has put the town on the map. The Smith Center Redmen gained national attention in 2007 when, in the middle of an eventual 79-game winning streak, they had an 11-game run where they outscored their opponents a combined 706-0. In one memorable game, they scored 72 points – in the first quarter. While they eventually lost in last season’s Kansas 2-1A state championship, their spectacular run became the subject of a bestselling book, Our Boys, by New York Times writer Joe Drape. The book puts great emphasis on the coaching principles of Head Coach Roger Barta. Barta might just be the dean of small school coaches. Last season, he won his 300th career game and has brought eight state titles to the little town in the heartland.