by Steve Dunford

Former NFL defensive end Anthony Hargrove has been recently hired as the new head coach for the Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Bearcats next season.

Hargrove after recovering a fumble in the New Orleans Saints Championship season. (Sports Illustrated photo)

Hargrove was the defensive coordinator last season for the Bearcats.  He takes over for the reigns from long time Bearcat Coach Josh McCurren.

Hargrove was a third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2004.  He owns a Super Bowl ring from Super Bowl LXVI, as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

He spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Dallas Cowboys.

Hargrove was defensive coordinator last season, and started a program at the lower levels.  It will be a rebuilding project as the Bearcats finished 0-9, and had continuous clock in each game except with Vienna-Goreville.

Hargrove has a pair of sophomores to build around on the offensive side of the ball, which saw some varsity action as freshmen last year.  Bryce Pratt, who will likely be the starting QB, played the three spot on the hardwood for the Christopher Bearcats, and was the starting third baseman for the Z-R-C Tornadoes this spring.

Pratt will likely be throwing to WR Gabe Motsinger.  He  was the seventh man for coach Eric Stallman in basketball for Christopher, and was a utility infielder and was a reliable man out of the bullpen for Z-R-C.

This spring Hargrove was a frequent speaker at several High School sports banquets across Southern Illinois.

Hargrove was always fired up on the sidelines at the same time very positive, last season, as I watched several C-Z-R games last fall.  Here is something that will always stick out in my mind.

The Bearcats were down 62-6 to the Fairfield Mules at the start of the fourth quarter.  C-Z-R picked up their first three and out on the season.  Hargrove was on the sidelines going nuts in a good way, along with the rest of the stats.

On the other side of the ball the Cats were deep into Mule territory.  The players were fired up, the coaching staff was fired up, and the faithful that were left at Spann Field were fired up.

The clock ran out deep into the Fairfield red zone.  C-Z-R was overmatched last season in a very tough Black Diamond conference.   As loud as it was under the Friday Night Lights in a blowout was one of the greatest things I ever witnessed in sports at any level.

I look forward to talking to coach Hargrove in the future.  He will be the first one I try to interview when two-a-day practices start.  As always with any coach, your team comes first and talking to a sports reporter comes second.

I would like to give a shout out to Josh McCurren.  He was always accessible last season, as well as Brian Beery, Bob Pankey, and John Shadowens.

It will be a privilege to cover Coach Hargrove and the Bearcats during a program that will be on the upswing the next few years.