From the Coaches Bookshelf - Heartland Heros

The Smith Center (KS) Redmen became one of the most interesting high school football stories of recent years when they put together a 79-game unbeaten streak over six years before finally losing in last season’s Kansas 2-1A championship game. Author and New York Times reporter Joe Drape spent the 2008 season in Smith Center and documented the Redmen’s undefeated season and their sixth consecutive state title. In his book, Our Boys, now available in paperback, he paints a vivid portrait of the town, the team and their leader, Coach Roger Barta. “It’s a great day to be a Redman, isn’t it guys,” said Coach Barta. It was a statement rather than a question. It was 6:30 a.m., and before him were fifty-six bleary eyed high school students ready for the first practice of the season, and of the day. They would be coming back at 6:00 p.m. The freshmen sat on the cement