Calvin Adkins
The Tarboro Vikings’ football team will write the final chapter of their banner championship season with a ring ceremony 7 p.m. Wednesday inside the Tarboro High School gym.
Fifty seven rings have been ordered for the players, coaches, and the football staff for their monumental feat of defeating Mountain Heritage 28-3 in the 2-A state championship Dec. 11 in Chapel Hill.
Even before winning the game some of the players talked about the possibility of getting rings. On Wednesday the moment of truth will arrive and the players are anxiously waiting.
“For a long time they’ve been asking when they were coming in and just recently I was able to give them an answer,” said Vikings Coach Jeff Craddock. “They are very excited. I get excited when I see that they are excited. We’re going to finally place some rings on their fingers.”
After winning the the 2-A title, the cry for rings by the players were plentiful. Without a line item in the school’s budget for the rings the coaching staff solicited funds from the community to finance the $15,000 bill.
During the initial stage of planning the fundraiser, the bill seemed to be astronomical. After a few days out in the community, Craddock was assured that he had the backing of the community.
Just recently Craddock said he received a phone call asking him how many rings did he need to complete paying for his order.
"I told him two and he asked how much it cost," Craddock said. "I told him the cost and he said, "The check is in the mail and he hung up the phone. He didn't tell me his name or anything.
"That's the kind of community support we've been getting. It has been awesome. Not a single person I've asked have said no. Some gave more than others but that's understandable. This fundraiser was a three tier effort between the community, Tarboro High and Tarboro High School Booster Club. We are grateful for their support."
Soliciting funds allowed Craddock, who is from Ohio and now in his eighth season as the Vikings' head coach, to mingle in the community like he never had before.
"I've got out and met people in the community who was been a part of Tarboro long before I got here," he said. "It gave me the chance to learn more about our community."
Craddock is inviting all the supporters to the ceremony. A 25-minute highlight reel and a short speech by Craddock will culminate the event. After the slideshow, each player, coaches and other staff members' names will be called for the acceptance of their rings that will be in a box. Members of the audience who sponsored rings will be asked to stand beside players. Once all the sponsors are situated beside the players, Craddock will order his players to open their boxes."
Each member of the team will also receive a 34-page magazine in commemoration of the championship season that was published by The Daily Southerner. The magazines can be purchased by the public at The Daily Southerner for $5 each.
