Written for Success

It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. - John Wooden

In 2002, Once There Were Giants: How Tiny Hebron Won the Illinois State Basketball Championship and the Hearts of Fans Forever by Scott Johnson and Julie Kistler was published in honor of the 50 years since Hebron won the single-class state championship. The book introduced a new generation of basketball fans to a team who defied all the odds through team work and dedication to become heroes in the state’s greatest high school basketball success story. Most importantly, it brought forth in great detail all of the paths leading to and away from the championship title run in 1952, including the personal stories of the basketball program, coaches, and players that years later would make all the difference.  

As we know in sports, it's the little things that make big things possible.

In March 2012 and ten years after the release of the book, hundreds gathered at Alden-Hebron High School to celebrate the 60th anniversary reunion of the state championship. Although the players did not know what they had accomplished at the time of their victory, they undoubtedly would come to realize how special their achievement and team were to the sport and their community. From the thousands that greeted them along the caravan route back to McHenry County after their monumental win, to the thousands that they have met over the last sixty years, their defeat of powerhouse Quincy (enrollment 1,035 in 3 grades) to become the first district school and the smallest school (98 enrollment) to win the single-class title is one for the ages and will never be duplicated again.  Even the largest of accomplishments can happen to the smallest of schools.

The players were introduced to the crowd in Alden-Hebron's Tigard Gymnasium and shortly thereafter, they shared personal stories about the memorable season and answered dozens of questions from those in attendance.  It was amazing the amount of minute detail the players still remember today when telling each story, including the score during a specific possession or what a coach said in the locker room.

As quick as the players answered each question, they were just as quick to give recognition and praise to their coach, Russ Ahearn, who developed an instilled in his players the value of sacrificing personal glory for the common goal.  Although gone, his dedication, bond, and passion will never be forgotten by his players.



60th anniversary reunion  - March 2012

From left to right: Bill Schulz, Paul Judson, & Phil Judson

Coach Ahearn may have been a man of short stature (he stood 5’6’’), but he rose above most coaches due to his work ethic, preparation, communication, and philosophy. Many times during the reunion celebration the Hebron players spoke proudly of Ahearn’s knowledge of the game and pointed out how he was ahead of his time, especially in the psychological aspect of the game, and how he concentrated on the small things. 

Coach Russ Ahearn

Phil Judson talked to the fact that Ahearn knew that they needed a good schedule in the 1950-51 and 1951-52 seasons. This meant no more games against smaller schools and blow-out victories. Since Ahearn was also the Athletic Director, he scheduled his team to play larger schools and play on the road in larger gymnasiums in preparation for the state playoffs and it's electric atmosphere. Ahearn needed to get his players to believe in themselves by building self-esteem rather than undermining it. Therefore, tiny Hebron played the likes of Joliet Township, Riverside Brookfield, Lake Forest, Marengo and Harvard. Road games consisted of Oak Park, Waukegan, Barrington and Belvidere that had much larger enrollment. Ahearn also took his Giants to the Kankakee Holiday Tournament where they beat South Shore of Chicago, Kankakee, and Danville.  

Player jerseys and warm-up top for the 1951-52 Season

1952 State Championship trophy and pictures

Paul Judson reminisced about coach Ahearn walking into the locker room before the start of the 1952 District Tournament in Richmond.  Ahearn briefly spoke to the team and before he left, he wrote the number 11 on the board, circled it and then instructed the team to, "win the next 11 games and you win the state title.” After he stated those memorable words, he walked out of the room. Sometimes the smallest amount of words of inspiration can leave the biggest impression.

It is also known that coach Ahearn had strict discipline with his team throughout the season. Players were handed a list with fourteen points on how to conduct themselves at all times.  In his Instructions To The Team, Ahearn informed each player that they do not have to go out for basketball, but if they decide to, he expected them to follow his instruction in order to have as good as team as possible. 

His instructions included everything from getting at least nine hours of sleep, being a gentleman, not tolerating tobacco or alcohol to being on time to practice, hustle at all times, treat opponents and officials courteously, but play to win.  Instruction #14 summed it up - if you don’t follow these thirteen points at anytime during the season, please turn in your suit. Let somebody else have it and root for the team – we’ll think more of you.

Great coaches continually challenge their athletes to do better and push their limits. One way great coaches inspire their athletes to believe in themselves is by continually putting them in situations which challenge their limiting beliefs. Ahearn pushed his team outside of their comfort zone, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and then helped them discover that they can do better than they first believed they could.

This holds no truer than Ahearn's development of Bill Schulz.

Alden-Hebron High School

Alden and Hebron schools consolidated in 1948, the same year that Russ Ahearn was introduced as the school’s new basketball coach and principal. When he rounded a corner on the first day of school, he bumped into a lanky fourteen year old eighth grader from Alden named Bill Schulz.  Seeing this new kid's height as an opportunity, Ahearn asked Bill to take gym class since he had never played basketball before. Shortly afterwards, Ahearn asked Bill to join the basketball team, but only after getting permission from his father, since he had farm chores to attend to.  Ahearn would work with Bill in gym class and during practice, honing his skills to make him a basketball player. Working on the small things to get better was a challenge that both coach and player were up for and would later pay off.

Within 5 years, Hebron would defeat Quincy 64-59 in overtime to win the coveted 1952 state championship. The 6-11 junior Bill Schulz would lead the team in scoring with 24 points. 

Retired jerseys from 1952 starters & Howie Judson

Without the book, Once There Were Giants, many basketball fans may never had known the Hebron story, especially the challenges the team and coaching staff overcame to reach the tournament's pinnacle. Many of coach Russ Ahearn’s personal stories and notes that appear across the pages may still be stored away, never to be found by his daughter for years to come. Many may not have known that during the 1949-50 and 1951-52 seasons, the Green Giants won eighty-five games, while losing only eight.  Many may not have known that Hebron would be ranked at the top of the Associated Press poll the majority of the season, but they were still seen as underdogs in the finals.  Additionally, many may not have known that in 1951-52, the Hebron varsity squad had only six players on its roster and all five starters would get Division I scholarships to play basketball, making their story even more special.

Without the undertaking of the book, many of the player's personal stories may never have been put to paper and made public, including the mention of a note of recommendations given to Bill Schulz by coach Russ Ahearn. A note, although frayed, that he still carries in his wallet today. 

It was this hidden gem that I spoke to Bill about in the days following the 60 year reunion celebration.  To Bill, the list of recommendation is just that, a list. But, I think most basketball fans and basketball historians would feel quite differently.

Bill Schulz standing tall in the middle

In the spring of 1951, following Bill Schulz's sophomore season when the Green Giants finished 26-2, coach Ahearn worked on a plan to improve Bill's skillset as a big man.

Bill recalled coach approaching him in the hallway in the spring of 1951 and asked if they could talk about next year.  During the conversation, coach Ahearn gave Bill a list torn from one his spiral notebooks and asked him to review it, which Bill didn’t think twice about doing. 

Contained on the sheet titled, Recommendations for Bill Schulz, was a list of twenty-two recommendations to follow, which stressed drills, proper conditioning, and diet. Ahearn led with the important remark, "the very minimum if he wants to become a polished ball player by Nov. 1951."

Below is the full list of recommendations:

Recommendations for Bill Schulz 

The very minimum if he wants to become a polished ball player by Nov. 1951

1.  Jump Rope --5 minutes per day -- jump on toes.

2.  50 pushups --  done on fingers -- 10 at a time.

3.  100 jumping jacks -- 20 at a time --for coordination.

4.  Drag dribble -- 5 minutes for footwork.

5.  Ball handling -- ball around body between legs.

6.  Rebound for 5 minutes with rim covered.

7.  Shoot like a forward from side & in front.  2 handed high (kiss style).

8.  Right and left pivot shots -- 5 minutes

9.  Get down and take starts like a sprinter, say to yourself on your mark, get set, go, & see how fast you can get away -- Run at top speed for about 50 yards -- 10 times a day -- 3 or 4 sprints at a time.

10. Hang around our regulars from last year -- Paul Judson, Phil Judson, & Don Wilbrandt, Bill Thayer &

       Ken Spooner -- Learn to think the way they do -- adopt their splendid habits.

11. Continue to be a splendid gentleman & win the sportsmanship award when you are a senior or junior.

12. Do not imitate any players of the past -- They are individuals -- so are you -- Be yourself & help your

       brothers to learn the game.

13. Shoot an unlimited time every day -- Be a scorer.

14. Squeeze a ball in either hand.

15. Matching exercise with another center -- 5 minutes

16. Come up to the gymnasium and day this summer & shoot in the gym or any evening from 6:30 on.

17. Eat good solid foods.

18. Convince your brother that he'll be a good player when he is a junior & senior.

19. Start drive/step with either foot -- take big step back & shoot.

20. Observe all training rules.

21. Get a lot of sleep.

22. Set your scoring aim at a 20 point average next year.

                                                      Mr. Ahearn -- Coach


Page 1 - Recommendations of Bill Schulz

The list of recommendations had a big effect on Bill in the early years; therefore, he made an effort to follow through with each item because he wanted to improve as a player and teammate. Due to his daily chores on the farm, adhering to all recommendations would be challenging.

The list also speaks volumes as to what type of teacher and coach Ahearn was because it was carefully thought out. The front page was written in blue or black pen but portions of the back page were written in both pencil and red ink;  therefore, Ahearn must have gathered his thoughts over a period of time about what recommendations would be most important to Bill's improvement and development as a player. 

Page 2 - Notes in different color

Upon receiving the note of recommendations, Bill first put it in his locker but later folded it and put it in his wallet.  Bill knows that he was carrying it in the Fall of 1951, because he pulled the list from his wallet and recorded the note "Ford is left handed" while scouting the McHenry center early in 1951-52 season. Having the piece of paper in his wallet also made it convenient to capture an important thought.

The list had an effect on Bill during the 1951-52 season and several years following but until 2002, the list was somewhat forgotten.  Bill said, “it was there because it was there”.  He is not superstitious, it’s just that the list had been there for so many years, why remove it? The list was briefly mentioned in the Once There Were Giants book, which has resulted in fans asking to see it from time-to-time.  As a result, portions of the list have become illegible but not to worry, Bill made copies in 2002 so the information would never be lost. 

If not asked to show it, he removes it from his wallet every March.  He carefully unfolds the paper made up of eight tiny squares from the creases, reads the list, relives the successes since receiving it, and then carefully folds it and puts it back in his wallet.

I asked if he had plans to donate it to one of the basketball Hall of Fame museums in Illinois since it is a part of the Hebron story, but Bill honestly responded,  “I have never thought about it.”
 

Bill being asked if he still had the note in his wallet

Bill talking about the note of recommendations

I personally feel that the list is representative of the Hebron story.  It's about working on the little things to excel.  It's about being a team on and off the court. It's about taking care of body and mind to put yourself in the best position to win. But most important, it's about seeing potential in not only one player, but an entire team.

The list may have been folded and forgotten for many years but the coach's words and his pupil’s preparation and determination to win will never be forgotten.  The list symbolizes the “little things” that coaches should instruct and players should take to heart. 

Work on the little things, and big things are sure to come. 
 
That's an important note that all basketball players should carry with them.

 

1952 State Champs