Road trip with the Regals

Iowa City Regina Coach Marv Cook was surprised by the way the Regals approached game days when he took over the program more than six years ago.

Cook, a former University of Iowa and NFL all-pro tight end, admitted he was excitable and adrenaline made sleep nearly impossible the night before games. It was a contrast to the calm and relaxed demeanor the Regals showed leading up to game time, flipping a switch to focused and intense when it mattered.

The attitude was on display when the top-ranked Regals travelled to Wilton, facing what turned out to be their most important regular-season contest. Regina's 45-27 win was the 49th straight, closing in on the Class 1A District 6 title and clinching a playoff berth for a chance at a fourth straight state title.

"Usually, it's more relaxed," Cook said. "These kids have played so many competitive games, in soccer, baseball and others, that they learn (how to get ready)."

The team doesn't travel extravagantly. Two yellow school busses are used with a truck pulling a small trailer with equipment. Players toss their shoulder pads, helmets and bags in the trailer before boarding at 4:30 p.m. The varsity mainly fills one bus with the junior varsity on the second.

Cook is the final one on the varsity bus and Doug Vollstadt, the team's regular driver who teaches first grade at the school and father of former Regina standout, Jacob Vollstadt, fires up the engine and pulls out at 4:40.

Collective Soul's "Shine" played as the trip begins, but mainly falls on deaf ears. Players already began to close their eyes or wear their own headphones. Two small clusters had quiet conversations, while their head coach stares out the front window with a no non-sense look on his face. He is all-business, like his team, as the loud noise of a rattling bus on the open road and air rushing past opened windows drowns out the music.

It was just about the only sound on the bus. Players rested their heads on the seat in front of them, trying to focus or conserve energy before the big challenge.  Senior Riley Dixon said many are processing their assignments and visualizing the game plan. Linebackers think about their reads and running backs concentrate on the holes they will look to hit.

"Coach Cook and Coach (Jason) Dumont always say when you sit down that's when you start getting focused," Dixon said. "Just getting mentally prepared."

The players are far from being wound tight. They have made these trips before and have come out on top of most, especially when more was at stake. Cook said there is no formal procedure. He wants them to be comfortable and look respectful. He has adjusted to a different mentality.

"It was frustrating when I first got the job," Cook said. "I couldn't sleep the night before. I'd be all jacked up and sick to my stomach. They'd be sleeping, and 10 minutes before the game they can turn it on."

The system works as the Regals amassed 415 rushing yards against Wilton, including 280 from Dixon. He also had three touchdowns, including a 34-yard score to cap the team's opening drive.

Junior quarterback Drew Cook, the coach's son, is facing the aisle, huddled with two or three teammates, staring at someone's smart phone. The weather was perfect, including a clear sky and bright sunshine that illuminated senior Elliot Halsch, who sat upright in the back seat as the bus approached Wilton.

The only words the head coach spoke, calling for a player, who was on the other bus. He turned forward again as the bus turned down a gravel road, bouncing the bus even more and appearing to move a large yellow water tower on the right that is adorned with "Wilton" in blue letters.

They have arrived at 5:17, providing a little less than two hours before kickoff, with Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" in the background. Marv Cook steps right off without instruction. The players file off the bus one-by-one, exchanging a "Thank you" for "You're welcome. Good luck." with Vollstadt.

Senior lineman Mike Sehl returns to the bus, to grab what is left in his orange G2 bottle, joining the players grabbing their equipment and heading to the locker room.

The locker room is too small to accommodate all 65 Regina players so they get ready in shifts. The varsity players go first. They placed their pants on and emerged on small grass patch outside the door. Players lined up to be taped or finished lacing up their cleats and putting on pads.

They mingle a bit after Dumont called for linebackers, reviewing some schemes and assignments.

Junior varsity players strolled to the locker room and were met by Marv Cook's instructions to wait 10 minutes for others to come out because the locker rooms were too small. One player missed the warning and started to enter. Senior Julian Martinez snapped at the player to reinforce Marv Cook's words, turning the kid away.

Music began to blare from the Wilton locker room, which is also at the school building. The country and rock combination gets louder as some Wilton players come out for the walk to the field. They passed by the huddled Regals with making eye-contact, even though many of the Regina players looking intently as they head to the field.

The switch starts to get flipped. Senior linebacker Casey Beaver yelled to someone, "What time is it?" He was likely indicative of the Regals anticipation to take the field. Dumont gave the call for special teams to take the field.

With about 20 minutes to go, the rest of the team takes the field in two lines side-by-side. Dixon welcomed them with hand slaps to players on each side as they jog to spots for warmups.

They are all business, building a 38-7 lead. Wilton, ranked fourth at the time, battled back for three touchdowns in the final quarter, but it didn't cloud the accomplishment. Marv Cook, Riley Dixon and Nick Phillips, whose 91-yard kickoff return gave Regina a 14-7 lead and served as a key momentum shift, talk to media.

After interviews, they joined their teammates in the locker room to get ready for the ride home.

The team is treated to sub sandwiches by Regina supporters. They climbed aboard with food in-hand as the Solon-Marion game continued on the radio. The clamoring on the bus consists of Solon's big lead and the fact that Iowa City High beat Iowa City West. They are football players, who love the game. Those games don't impact them now, but they still follow prep football closely.

Marv Cook grabbed the intercom as the bus passed West Branch, where he was a multi-sport prep athlete. He had a message to his players, promoting his hometown, which is still important to him.

"Guys, we are passing West Branch, Iowa," said Marv Cook, noting it is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, the only U.S. President from Iowa. "Look out the window and you will notice the curvature of the earth. The sky is bluer. We are on top of the World."

He added, "It's also home to the Little Rose Bowl, which some of the state's greatest athletes graced, including one, Marv Cook. ... (the house number on) Maple Street, tours will be offered at the home of Marv Cook.

"Players chuckled after the announcement.

The mood is a lot lighter on the way home. More laughs and conversations echo in the bus as it rolls down the dark highway. Dixon, who loudly asked for any extra sandwiches from his teammates, said the rides back are more laid back and fun.. A little more goofing around occurs.

"You won't see a lot of (messing) around on the bus from us," Dixon said about the ride to a game. "After the game, you will for sure. Especially after a big game like that."

The bus finally reaches Regina about 10:45 with players thanking Vollstadt one more time. A six-hour adventure ended with another district title in reach, a 7-0 record and a date with another postseason. The trip is more than that, however, allowing the Regals to bond and enjoy camaraderie that helps them be successful.

"That's the main priority having fun with your brothers and make it a good time," Dixon said. "Ultimately, you're trying to accomplish a goal for the whole Regina community."