By Avi Zaleon Published 1:00 pm, Tuesday, September 23, 2014
The Port Neches-Groves Indians sat down for a team meeting Monday afternoon, like usual.
They had had a rough weekend. Friday night, junior starting receiver Jack Giblin emerged from a pile of players with a dislocated ankle facing the wrong way.
He was driven that night to Baptist Hospital and had surgery over the weekend, coach Brandon Faircloth said.
“I cried when I heard how bad it was,” said Faircloth, who added that he got the news in the third quarter against Tyler Chapel Hill.
Giblin is likely out for the season, but is welcome on the sidelines during games and at practice when able.
“He’ll continue to be a big part of this team,” Faircloth said.
So with the Giblin news still fresh, the Indians (2-1) gathered for their meeting.
Faircloth held up a pair of grey football pants with a purple and white stripe down the side and explained the history behind them.
He told his team that when PN-G won its first state championship in 1953, they did so in grey pants.
The team was excited about its new uniform addition, as they shuffled out of the meeting and into the locker room to change.
Waiting for them there was the second surprise –matching grey helmets that will debut Friday night against Baytown Lee (0-3) in PN-G’s district opener.
The pants and helmet will be paired with the usual home purple jerseys as an alternative to the usual white helmets.
“That’s the motto for any high school athlete; you look good, you play good,” senior running back Brant Halfin said. “We’re all pumped about the new uniforms and coach Faircloth did a good job of keeping it a secret.”
