For anyone really into detail, the headline on this blog is the same as the blog covering the same subject in 2020. As one might imagine, it is because the same principles apply – this is as big a reason as any Bridgeport High School wins on the football field.

 

The person it is about is different. Those principles, well, they will not be changing anytime soon if the coach has anything to say about it – no matter who the coach is.

 

Former Coach John Cole knows all about it. First-year head Coach Tyler Phares, in his fourth year with the Indians, knows all about it too. It is one of those intangibles that has been in place for a long time and it only in recent years has been officially recognized.

 

That playoff streak? Probably not still going without it. The non-losing record streak? Yeah, that one may not be around either.

 

Two Friday ago, on Oct. 30 to be exact in the BHS game with Musselman, the entire Bridgeport High School football team lined up on the sidelines with members of the coaching staff. Phares was then joined just on the field by Dick and Susan Steadman.

 

Phares and the Steadman’s were there to present the annual Talon Steadman Heart Award. The honor does not go to the team’s best player. It does not go to the fastest or the one with the most potential.

 

It goes to the one that best represents the sacrifice made for the betterment of team – often in the face of anonymity on the practice fields. It reflects the style and workmanship of former Indian Talon Steadman.

 

Talon Steadman died in August of 2009. He was killed at the age of 16 in an automobile accident and was a proud member of the Bridgeport High School football team.

 

Steadman, Phares, and past coaches have said, Steadman was not the biggest kid. He was not the fastest. He was, however, as determined as anyone and the player that always volunteered to help when the coaches needed something – or someone – to do something.

 

He was team first and never a “me kid” when on the field. Cole during his time as head coach said repeatedly after presenting this award each year that it is this type of contribution that makes the program work as much as anything else. Phares echoed that this past week that it is as important to present the honor for what players like the one honored two Fridays ago do for the program as it is to keep Talon Steadman’s memory alive.

 

The attitude has been around the program for more than a half a century now. The only sad part is Steadman’s passing put a name and an award on it.

 

Still, there was happiness in the Musselman contest when Gooch Holbert announced the winner over the public address system. The name was one Phares, and the rest of the staff, were thrilled to announce – junior Dylan Hinzman.

 

“The award honors a young man I’ve heard plenty about and it focuses on the expectations we have, which are pretty simple, and one of those expectations is to give it your all while practicing as I’ve been told Talon did,” said Phares. “We have a bunch of kids, practically all of them, that meet those criteria. The thing with Dylan is he just stood out more than everyone else, which is not easy to do.”

 

Hinzman is a middle linebacker and blocking back who has seen snaps this year. He sees most of them with the junior varsity as well as on special teams. Where he makes a difference is on the scout team in practice each week.

 

“He’s just a constant, particularly playing middle linebacker on the scout team. Here’s a kid getting hit bigger players, the wings, the fullback, and just getting back up and going again,” said Phares. “He sets our defense … His value to our success this year is extremely high.”

 

Success is plentifully once again at BHS. Another winning season. Another playoff appearance. And now, another Talon Steadman award winner.

 

“Talon was your consummate team player. He did what you wanted, what you needed and stepped up to volunteer every time we needed someone to volunteer,” said Phares. “The award represents Talon being willing to anything to help the program win. It’s such an important part of this program’s motto, its creed, and a reason why we’ve been able to be successful. Dylan Hinzman is another one of those reasons.”

 

Editor's Note: Dylan Hinzman is congratulated by Coach Tyler Phares in the top photo, while Dick Steadman puts the Talon Steadman Award on Hinzman in the second photo as his wife Susan looks on. Bottom photo shows the group posing for a photo after the formal presentation. Photos by Joe LaRocca.