By Maurice Patton
SPRING HILL — Brian Coleman’s got a really big team.
And after their 28-7 win over Oak Ridge in the Class 5A BlueCross Bowl state championship game three months ago, the Summit Spartans needed some really big rings.
Mission accomplished.
A total of 70 players, plus coaches, were presented rings and managers received pendants commemorating the Spartans’ title season during a ceremony Thursday night at the school’s gymnasium.
And while the recipients knew they were receiving some jewelry, they had no idea what it would look like prior to the presentation.
“Nobody’s seen them except me,” Coleman said prior to the event. “I want everybody to be surprised.”
They were – pleasantly so.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be this big,” junior quarterback Destin Wade said. “It looks really good. I’ll wear it a couple of times, but I’ll definitely be putting it in my room somewhere.”
“It’s really exciting,” senior cornerback/receiver Konata Werts added. “All the hard work paid off. (The surprise) made it even better. Coach Coleman did a great job.”
The smiles made it all worthwhile for Coleman.
“They put in the work, they deserve it,” he said. “We borrowed one from (Christ Presbyterian Academy) and passed it around during the pregame meal before we went to Henry County. We told ’em, ‘this is what you’re playing for, this is what your future can be’. It’s pretty awesome.
“I think they’re happy. They’re smiling. That’s all that matters.”
Photos by Vanessa Beach / SM-Tn Sports