Facing the music much more important than wins and losses
Tuesday, December 6, 2005
By RICH STEVENS - Charleston Daily Mail

WHEELING -- Facing the music is part of life.

So, when Nitro running back Josh Culbertson had his third fumble and second lost fumble during overtime of Saturday's Class AAA football championship game against Morgantown, he could have hid in the locker room.

The fumble helped the Mohigans win their 28th consecutive game, second straight state championship and fourth in six years.

Morgantown won the game 27-24 in the first overtime Class AAA title game since Capital's 15-14 win over Wheeling Park in 1991.

There are no interview rules at the high school level.

If a 17-year-old kid who just fumbled doesn't want to speak with the media, he doesn't have to do it.

If Culbertson wanted to hide in the locker room, I'm sure his teammates and coaches would have understood.

Same with wide receiver Chris Fulmer, who had a pass interference penalty called on him on 3rd-and-4 that gave Morgantown a first down on the Nitro 9 and led to the Mohigans' second touchdown and a 17-14 lead.

"I respect their call," Fulmer said. "It was a close call that could've gone either way."

Through all the yards, touchdowns, accolades, records and applause that Culbertson experienced through a star-studded four-year career, no moment during his career has helped him grow up more.

Not the fumble, mind you. The way he handled it ... by facing the music.

"I just fumbled," Culbertson said, humbly, and with tears welling in his eyes. "I didn't expect it. That's football."

I have dealt with athletes who refused to speak with the media after a tough loss.

Fortunately, more often than not the athletes have stood up to the scrutiny and answered any and all questions.

Quite frankly, I expect when high school athletes do poorly, they should be prepared for the scrutiny. That doesn't mean I'm surprised when they don't stand in front of tape recorders and the bright lights of television cameras.

It just means I'm more pleased when they answer the call.

Culbertson finished with 223 yards rushing on 32 carries, returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown and had a 69-yard touchdown run. In his four-year career -- he had only one carry for 5 yards as a freshman -- Culbertson ran for 7,856 yards on 911 carries and 111 touchdowns.

All that will be remembered from the classic 2005 state championship game is the crucial fumble to end the game in overtime, and that's a shame.

By the way, what did Culbertson say about all the great things he's done during his career?

"I'm just so proud of my team," Culbertson said. "Without them I'd be nothing. I'm just real thankful for them."

· Morgantown Coach John Bowers said Saturday's game was the best game he's ever been a part of ... and that speaks volumes.

He's been a coach -- assistant or head coach -- during all of Morgantown's state championship teams since the 2000 season (four total) and also was a member of Brooke High's 1990 team which won the Class AAA title, 14-7 over Mount View at Laidley Field.