No 'I's, just 'W's for Xavier football team

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Xavier football coach Duane Schulte knows that some members of the local media poke fun at his team's seemingly well-rehearsed and cliched interview answers, and he's OK with that ribbing.

“We just want to keep doing our jobs,” is a favorite quote.

“The line blocked great and the scout team gave us great looks all week in practice,” is another.

Absolutely no bulletin board material will be provided by these guys. Braggadocio is not allowed.

Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes would be proud of the things these Saints say. Actually, they're part of the inspiration for Xavier's “team only” philosophy.

“We basically believe in the old maxim that nobody is above the team,” Schulte said. “It takes every individual to make a successful team.”

And a successful program. Xavier has made the playoffs six times in the last nine years, including a Class 4A state championship in 2006. The Saints (10-2) play top-ranked Iowa City High (12-0) in a 4A semifinal tonight at 7:15 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

This thing began in 1998 when Catholic schools LaSalle and Regis merged and has been built brick by brick, as they say. Or cliche by cliche.

“The one thing we tell our kids is when they talk to the media, tell them about everybody but yourself,” Schulte said.

“Freshman year,” said Xavier senior lineman Scott Goedken, when asked when “team, team, team” was first drilled into his head. “Even in eighth grade, before we came up to (high school football). It's all about the team. There's no one person can carry a team. You put it all together, everything should work out all right.”

The belief system filters down to the junior high level. Assistant coach David Sullivan has T-shirts made for all aspiring Xavier football players, with a different slogan yearly. The 2009 T-shirt read “It's about everybody but you.”

“You need your teammates,” said senior lineman Kyle Glynn. “Let somebody else make the play if you can't.”

Schulte grew up in a family of 11, which he said has been an influence on his coaching career. He credited his high school coach at LaSalle, Tom Kopatich, as well.

“He didn't give out a whole lot of compliments during the season,” Schulte said. “But after the season, he'd do everything he could to get you (accolades).”

Schulte will do the same. There is some all-state talent around, though probably not Division I college talent.

Xavier hasn't had a D-I recruit. Guess these Saints really do win as a team