Bridgeport Coach John Cole is not the first person to man the sidelines at Bridgeport High School to use the phrase “life lessons” when it comes to the sport he coaches. After talking to him not quite a week after the Indians’ season came to an end, I am hoping it is a tradition that sticks around for generations.

 

Even though I have regular conversations with Cole, what we discuss is not necessarily what I anticipate hearing when asking questions. Such was the case this past week when discussing the end of the season due to the color-coded State Department of Education map that came on a week ago yesterday.

 

After talking about the bizarre nature of things, of which we will get to shortly, I asked Cole what stuck out most about a scenario that ended poorly for a whole lot of football teams in the state. What I got was a lesson in what coaching was all about.

 

“I want to make sure they heard the message as a result of what happened, with the first being we weren’t the only ones in that situation (last Saturday),” said Cole. “I told them it was okay to be upset, have emotions and experience the negativity, but don’t feel singled out.

 

“After that, it was important to let them know that what we preach with football being a life lesson sport is real. This was a life lesson,” Cole continued. “I know it was a tough lesson for all of those kids to go through, but I can assure you it won’t be the toughest of their lives. I hope, and believe, they will grow from this.”

 

Do not mistake Cole’s thought process of him shrugging off what happened. Far from it.

 

“The whole thing was upsetting,” said Cole. “Considering the work everyone put in how could it not be upsetting? We felt what others had already been through, and we were feeling in a different way what other sports went through (in March).”

 

It was back in March when the girls state basketball tournament was stopped, and the boys never got started. It was in March when spring sports practices never began, and the seasons never came to fruition. All of that, in the face of an ongoing pandemic, let Cole know what was possible.

 

“Those prior events going back to March prepared you a little bit because you knew it was a possibility. Still, when it happens to you it’s different simply because it’s you,” said Cole. “Knowing it was possible sure didn’t make it any easier for the seniors. The disappointment was greater than the shock because we had already dealt with multiple cancelations throughout the season and we saw the virus ramping up again.”

 

The end, as strange as it was, did not top the Indians being able to advance by way of a COVID-19-related forfeit on Nov. 21 against Martinsburg. On that day, the Indians found themselves sitting at a park and ride outside of Cheat Lake waiting for the state’s color-coded map to come out to see if they would be playing in the panhandle.

 

“This was bizarre but sitting there waiting to see if we needed to call for buses off of the interstate was the most bizarre thing about a season that’s been bizarre,” said Cole.

 

The most recent situation where Bridgeport and Cabell Midland’s semifinal game was scratched, and the state declared South Charleston the Class AAA champion did produce a first in Cole’s career. The season did not end on the football field. It did not end with a decisive win or loss.

 

“We weren’t gathered to see the map,” said Cole. “As a player or a coach, the end of the season never came in front of a computer.”

 

While Cole said media reports and others believed the season was officially over at 5 p.m., he said that was not necessarily the case. He said the actual finality of things took place a few hours later, after 8 p.m.

 

“The (WVSSAC) executive board met that night at 7 p.m. so I was holding out hope. That’s why I didn’t message the team on our Hudl (computer application),” said Cole. “I told one parent until we know 100 percent, I won’t send a message out. I was holding on to that hope because I had no other choice. I was hoping something could be ironed out in that executive meeting.”

 

The word came around 8:45 p.m. Cole said he heard it first from “The Voice of the Indians” Travis Jones and then followed up with BHS Principal Matt DeMotto to confirm that it was officially over. By 9 p.m., Cole had messaged his team and let them know the next step was wrapping things up.

 

“We finalized the season (Thursday) when we turned in our equipment,” said Cole. “That I guess is the final act, but the last day of the season, waiting more than three hours to find out, was really annoying. I imagine I wasn’t the only one.”

 

When asked if Cole was aware the WVSSAC named Bridgeport as the runner-up, he laughed and said, “yeah, we were told.” As for a celebration for the “runner-up,” Cole is not expecting it.

 

“I will be glad to celebrate these seniors and this team but celebrating a runner-up finish as a school is not my call. I think it’s pretty safe to say everyone involved would rather our finish have been determined on the field whether it was against Martinsburg or Cabell Midland,” said Cole. “I don’t know if there will be much celebrating for a runner-up position here at Bridgeport. That has never been what we aim for no matter the circumstances.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo showing the Bridgeport seniors and second photo of Coach John Cole by Ben Queen Photography. Third photo shows J.T. Muller diving for extra yardage, while Cam Cole looks to gain yardage as J.D. Love leads the way in the next picture. In the fifth photo, Devin Hill blows up a play from his defensive tackle spot. Bottom photo shows the Bridgeport offensive line. Final four photos by Karey Kirkpatrick.