History Lesson: Reconfigured Bucs still had enough to win state title

From the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, Verne Pottinger had a powerhouse at Belvidere High School. From 1983 through 1993, Belvidere won fewer than nine games in a season just twice. The 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1992 teams all won more than 10. In 1993, the school finally broke through, storming to a Class 5A title with a perfect 14-0 record.

In 1994, Belvidere made the playoffs, but fell to Class 4A and rolled to another state title. Considering the Bucs were going against smaller schools, it wasn't a surprise. What was a surprise is that there actually was a considerable amount of drama in 1994 because a large number of players that were being counted on didn't play ... for a variety of reasons.

Pottinger, who left Belvidere to finish his coaching career in Wisconsin, talks about the hurdles the team had to overcome in this edition of History Lessons.