It has been 50 years since Dean last donned our school colors of green and gold and shook the ground—not literally, but figuratively—with his feet, pounding on the soft green grass of our netted battlefield.
The Destiny of ’72 players gathered in Utah last month to celebrate their accomplishments, a franchise that still reverberates with Utah football glory over the decades.
No one gave Kearns High School a chance to win its first 4A title in state history. The school was only six years old at the time. Surrounded by traditional off-grid power plants in the Salt Lake Valley, Cairns is an impoverished cousin to the western part of Greater Salt Lake City.
A two-lane highway – 4700 south – provides daily commutes to Cairns.
As late as 1972, Kearns still felt isolated from a growing population and expanding business.
Football teams don’t care that the sports world despises them as underdogs before the start of the season. Dean is the only “named” player from the state on the list.
But legendary coach Frank Kleikas, who has less than five years to live, rolled the dice and set up a triple-line offense. It’s a brilliant move that maximizes the talents of a stubborn senior quarterback, a rough running back quarterback, someone who can get off the leash for 1,000 yards, and an exciting receiver.
Klekas and his staff were way ahead of their time – they didn’t prepare based on the strengths and weaknesses of other teams. They focused on the strengths and weaknesses of our team, and I don’t recall any sense of awe from the Cougars, whether they faced the No. 1 team or another team.
My closest contact with the players was in the shower after practice. My job is handing out towels.
The coach, sometimes Kleikas, sometimes the assistant coach pressured me to give each player only a towel. But when the coach wasn’t around, sweaty, grass-covered fighters—especially adults—leaned over to me, asking for two or three towels. This is a complex problem that I have never solved.
The odyssey I started in late May with a sincere and determined effort to earn the jersey ended with the state trophy, which many pundits over the years considered the biggest postseason disappointment in Utah history.
Last month, the surviving gladiators came together again for a heartfelt conversation. I didn’t manage to do it, but I’m sure some of their once strong legs are now limp. Hair that was once dark brown, red, or blonde has faded in the storms of life. They got married, started a business, had children, now they wear royal bags and are proud of the title of “grandfather”.
On championship day, Kearns beat Provo, who was supported by future BYU and Houston Oilers quarterback Gifford Nelson, as well as several other future college talent.
But it happens. It happens. There was a time and place when a group of young people and coaches came together to make the impossible possible.
I wanted to develop this idea later, but I’m just amazed when I think about the sporting possibilities that Bartlesville has experienced over the last quarter of a century.
These blockbuster games are a testament to Bartlesville’s major league talent in its organizers, administrators, tireless staff, dedication to the community, and those who dream big dreams and find a way to make them come true.
With a summary like that, who knows what other events in the future will capture the imagination and inspire some of the brightest and most capable minds in Bartlesville.
Post time: Dec-08-2022