(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 8)--When a visitor steps into Carl Poelker's office at the Melvin Price Convocation Center, it is easy to see all the familiar trappings of a collegiate football coach. An old VCR and television up against the far wall across from the desk. Photos of former players, coaching associates and family adorning the walls and book shelves. Awards and plaques recognizing conference, regional and national achievements placed around the office. The desktop computer loading game film for the Bearcats' next opponent.
Flash back to 17 years earlier, when Poelker and his brand-new McKendree College football coaching staff found themselves in a completely different setting upon their arrival to campus. Poelker says it is the perfect parallel to describe how things have progressed for the Bearcat program since that time back in December 1995.
“When we showed up, we didn't have desks, we didn't have telephones, we didn't even have a football,” said Poelker. “But (McKendree President) Dr. (James) Dennis had a vision for what this program could become, and we saw that vision, and I'm proud to say we helped that vision become a reality.”
On Saturday, Poelker and his staff will lay the final brick on the foundation of a program that was formed during that winter of 1995-96. Since that time, the McKendree program was built into a model of success and consistency at the NAIA level, and finds itself transforming to lay another solid foundation as the Bearcats enter NCAA Division II competition.
Over the past 17 years, Poelker and his staff have set the McKendree program on a course of success both on and off the football field. The numbers that the casual football fan can see certainly impressive. Since McKendree first took the field back in 1996, the Bearcats have averaged better than seven wins per season. The program captured seven Mid-States Football Association-Midwest League championships and reached the NAIA Football Championship Series nine times during that span.
In all, Poelker has coached 14 All-Americans and 70 All-Conference players. But it is the next set of numbers that are the ones that Poelker holds in even higher regard.
During that same time, McKendree University has produced 25 national Scholar-Athletes in the football program, along with 78 Academic All-Conference performers. The Bearcat football squad also had the first College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) Academic All-American in the school's history when Allen Walter earned the honor back in 2000.
“Those are the real victories in this program,” said Poelker. “They are the ones that make me realize we've done things the right way. These student-athletes have proven over and over that they are here to get a good education first, be good citizens and to get the chance to play football.”
That McKendree mix of football and academics came together over a fast-moving winter of 1995-96. Poelker came to McKendree following a highly-successful 14-year run as the head coach at Millikin University. From the time he first set foot on the McKendree campus, Poelker knew he had to get things moving quickly. But the first order of business was to put together a coaching staff from scratch.
“I got real lucky with putting that first staff together,” said Poelker. “Getting the full-time guys was the first priority. But from the start, bringing in (Jeff) Fisher, (Tim) Funk, (Matt) Gomric, Craig (Robertson) really helped us get going.”
Poelker also tapped local connections in adding veteran coaches Pete Hensel and Dean Renn to the coaching staff as part-time assistants.
“They added a lot of stability to our staff,” said Poelker. “Their experience was vital to what we were trying to accomplish, and in turn they were able to help the younger guys on our staff. It was a great mix.”
That first McKendree football coaching staff was housed in Wildy Hall. While it was not the usual setting for a group of coaches to be housed in the main administration building of a college or university, Poelker believed that it helped form a structure that the Bearcat staff still uses today.
“We had to get things going, but at the same time none of us had been through the process of building a program from the ground up,” said Poelker. “A lot of processes had to be put into place. We had to get to know the faculty and the staff to see how things worked, and tried to build on those processes. I think that once everybody got on the same page, everything seemed to take off from there.”
Even before Poelker was hired and the coaching staff was brought in, there was one very crucial piece of the puzzle already put into place. The first shell of the 1996 football schedule was already formed, and that served as the impetus to get things off the ground.
“We had that schedule set, which was big,” said Poelker. “We knew that there were a lot of factors that had to be taken care of between the time we came in and the first game, but we knew that on September 7 we had to be ready to play.”
Poelker and his newly-formed staff rolled up their sleeves and went to work on forming the first McKendree football team since 1951. Looking back at the process, Poelker was amazed by how they were able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time.
Yet in that time frame, the model of McKendree football player began to take shape, even though there were no actual football players on the campus at that time.
“We sat down and figured out what our market was going to be,” said Poelker. “First we wanted good students because of the academic rigor of the University. Then we wanted good citizens...guys that would represent our program and the school well. And then we wanted guys that could play football. We were totally committed to that philosophy then, and we are still committed to it today.”
Roughly 200 to 300 prospective football players visited the McKendree campus during that first recruiting season. Poelker says it was a common sight to see 15-20 recruits on campus on a Saturday.
From there, the staff began to shape the first roster with players that would arrive on campus in the summer of 1996. There was no spring practice that first year, Poelker noted, because an open meeting to invite current McKendree students to join the program only yielded eight people.
According to Poelker, marketing research was conducted prior to the addition of football at McKendree, which projected that a new staff could bring 60 student-athletes to campus. But Poelker and his staff had bigger visions, and they made those visions become reality as nearly 120 players reported for the first camp that summer.
Poelker also credits Pete Hensel, who served as the Bearcats' de facto equipment manager that first season, for getting the most of the budget money allocated for locating and purchasing equipment, uniforms and all the other necessities in creating a football program.
“Pete drew on his experiences as an athletic director and really did a great job,” said Poelker. “He was very shrewd in his purchases and got the most out of every dollar. While the money allocated was closer to what the marketing research folks believed, we were able to outfit close to 120 football players and were only over budget by about $120.”
From there, the Bearcats set about the task of practicing and getting ready for that first season and first game. While some of the necessities weren't quite ready yet, things were moving along -- the completion of the locker rooms and football field among others. But Poelker knew that his new players could adapt to any situation.
“They're football players. They were used to playing and adapting to changing situations,” said Poelker. “At first guys had to dress in the dorms and kickers didn't get to kick at a goal post until the Friday of the first game, but not once did they complain. These guys knew they were building something special, and they were glad to be a part of it.”
Poelker called it a “pioneer spirit” that permeated throughout that 1996 squad. “These were a bunch of guys that were on a mission. They knew they were under a microscope -- with the faculty, the community and others. They wanted to help build something that they could look back on years later and say they were part of something special. And that group will always have a special place in my heart, and in the heart of McKendree.”
When September 7 rolled around, the Bearcats were ready and took the field at Lindenwood. The Bearcats put up a strong effort and nearly rallied before dropping a 35-27 decision. That 1996 team posted a 3-5 record but laid the foundation for what was to come. McKendree surprised nearly everyone the following year, going 8-2 on the year and earning the first-ever playoff berth in the school's history.
The Bearcat program became part of the MSFA in 1998 and excelled during its 13 years as a league member. During that time, McKendree enjoyed a great deal of success at the national level as well, earning five consecutive post-season appearances at one point. All along the way, Poelker feels that Bearcat tradition was being built and maintained by its student-athletes.
“Those early years were key,” said Poelker. “When that first senior class finished up (in 1999), they charged the next group with continuing to build onto the foundation they had put down. Then it became a cycle, where the torch was passed as the boys who entered the program as freshman grew up to be men by the time they left. It's a tradition that I'm really proud of, that they came up with this together.”
While McKendree football fans can debate their favorite game or favorite season, Poelker refuses to single out any particular games. Every game that is played holds special meaning to him, and specific moments that are not necessarily visible to the average fan.
“Each one of the games, each one of the classes means something different to me,” said Poelker. “I can go back and pick up defining moments from each year that shaped how I will remember a team. From that first team, I will always remember that pioneer spirit and how we went through everything for the first time together. That second team battled against the odds and made the playoffs. There are frozen moments, events and occasions that helped make every season special. That's the great thing about this game, and about the young men that we have had here at McKendree.”
When talking about the 2012 Bearcat football team, he is quick to point out such a moment.
“I don't think I've been prouder of a football team than the one we have here right now,” said Poelker. “The expectations of moving into (NCAA) Division II were high, different probably than any other we've experienced. But these guys just kept after it and didn't give up. I really think this team -- and this coaching staff -- came of age last week (against Central State). That was great to see. That's what makes coaching fun.”
As he prepares for his final game, Poelker seems filled with same pride for the McKendree program as he holds with his family, which includes his wife Peg, five children and 19 grandchildren. And one final time on Saturday, Poelker will say a prayer to himself that he has said throughout his career.
“That's the one ritual I can say I've had throughout the years,” said Poelker. “I say to myself, 'Dear God, please don't make winning more important than these young men out here today.' The wins and losses are never more important than helping to shape the lives of these men. This is just a game, and if it becomes all about the wins and the losses, then we haven't done our jobs as coaches, as teachers, as parents. I care about these guys, and we have to give them the right tools to succeed in life.”
For the last 31 years as a head coach -- and for more than 40 years in the coaching profession, Carl Poelker has combined his talents as a coach, a teacher and a parent to leave a long and lasting impression not only at McKendree, but in the world of college football.
