The following was written in December 2010 for SASports.com Magazine. It never saw print, and I don’t think it was ever posted on the web site.
It’s a feature about Clinton Killough, then the quarterback of the MacArthur Brahmas, who were district champions in 2010; MacArthur advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the eventual state champion Steele Knights.
Read this, and you’ll see that Killough’s quick rise to head coach at UIW was absolutely no surprise.
A BRAHMA LEADING HIS HERD
It’s Monday afternoon, the first Monday after the regular football season has concluded. Many teams around the state are clearing out their locker rooms, coping with the end of their season.
Several teams, however, are enjoying another practice, in preparation for a playoff game. The reward for the hard work of getting to the playoffs is more hard work, more drills, more preparation.
The MacArthur Brahmas had enjoyed these extra practices only one in the last nine seasons. The seniors of the 2010 were eight graders in 2006, the last time MacArthur made the playoffs. Many of them have been on the varsity three seasons, and many of them have worked hard to reach this moment, a moment when not only is MacArthur in the playoffs, not only are they champions of one of the traditionally strongest districts in the state, but they appear as poised as any team in the region to play at Cowboys Stadium for a state championship.
And although many players have worked hard for this moment, surely none has prepared as thoroughly - physically, mentally, or emotionally - as quarterback Clinton Killough.
Killough looks the part of a high school student, if not a quarterback. At 5’10 and ½, he admits he’s not drawing interest from Big 12 schools despite his obvious skills and work ethic. He is clearly athletic, but is a slender way. At first glance, his features are boyish, until you see the thoughtfulness and determination in his eyes.
When he speaks, there is very little boyish about Killough. An occasional “you know” creeps into his speech, but it’s hardly noticed in he outlines his role on the team, their growth as a unit, his duties as a leader. His demeanor is serious; his answers often in paragraphs.
Maybe Big 12 schools aren’t interested in Killough, but it’s quickly apparent why Rice and Air Force are.
Killough took over at quarterback for MacArthur the beginning of his sophomore year. He quickly established himself as one of the headiest quarterbacks in the area, his poise and command drawing as many comments on his good decision making.
He still had some growing to do, however, as did his team. The 2010 Brahmas feature four third-year starters and 14 two-year starters, nine on offense. In 2008 and 2009, they took their lumps in the perennially strong 26-5A, finishing 5-5 and missing the playoffs each of the last two seasons.
The difference, according Killough, is not x’s and o’s, or physical maturity. “I think that in previous years, I think we knew we had the talent, but we didn’t really have success…at the end of last year, we had almost a sitdown, with ourselves as a team. We weren’t really a team in the past…We had a lot of talks….we told ourselves that at all costs, if no one gets a scholarship, if no one gets a touchdown, as long as we win games, and we show the state that we can make a run with the best of them, we’ll be happy. “
Killough knew bringing together a team would be a continuous effort. He’s put in the time, bringing together offensive and defensive players, varsity veterans and new players. (“I think that I have a duty. I have to; I have no excuse not to. “) The result has been cafeteria lunch tables full of football players, and nine or ten players in Brahma colors descending upon local gyms, lifting heights, building their muscles and their commitment to each other.
The rewards have been reaped on and off the field. MacArthur faced Madison the final week of the season for the 26-5A title, a rematch of 2009’s startling Brahma victory, a 34-30 win over a Madison team that was #2 in the state. In the fourth quarter of that game, Killough ran for a 53-yard touchdown and threw a game-winning 83-yard touchdown pass to David Eberwine with 52 seconds left.
The Wednesday before the 2010 rematch, Killough’s aunt died suddenly. “She was like a mother to me. It was a real shock. “
In the wake of the loss, Killough’s team building led to benefits off the field.
“I’ve never felt so happy or so proud to be a part of something. I got hugs from all my guys. Hugs, Letters, Facebooks comments, texts, just little things. I’ve had a bunch of guys walk into the funeral home. That’s special. That’s something that goes beyond. When you have something tragic like that happen, you’ve got a group of guys that put everything down for you, and that’s special. And that shows; look what success we’re having. “
Once the Madison game arrived, “I told them all week we had an angel on their shoulder, and to me it showed when (6’5, 230 pound Jace) Amaro, he leaped over that guy (on his way to a 73 yard touchdown), she put some wings on his back. He knew it. They had that written on their arms.”
Killough’s worked hard for his success, but he can’t talk about it long before naming people who’ve helped in along the way. He’ll name coaches past and present (“They helped me in ways that I couldn’t thank them for. It’s too hard to thank them for. They helped me to grow up and become a man”), players he saw play (“The ‘06 team (state semifinalists) - those guys were my heroes. I give them a high five, I’d to go home, I wouldn’t wash my hand for a week”), former teammates (“A big guy for me was Tyler Chambers. He was a real role model for me. “)
Mostly, he talks about his father, who played at Roosevelt. “He made sure my mechanics were sharp from a young age…most of all, he instilled in me to be unselfish.”
“I remember the days of watching Matt Esquivel and Johnathan Craig and of us just dreaming about our chances. Our shot for this. And after two years going by and us not even making the postseason, you kind of ask yourselves, is this dream ever going to come true? You get one shot left,…All selfishness goes away.”
“You just want it. You want it so bad, so don’t care how you get it.”
“As long as you’re doing it with guys you love, what’s wrong?”
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