All-State football: Time at Hobart led Brad Calip into coaching

“We had the wishbone going on, but they ran it better,” Brad Calip, then the quarterback at Hobart, said. “It was a knockdown, drag-out kind of a game, but we came out on top.”

Calip led Hobart to a 28-21 win in that game, then to a state championship a week later with a win over Morris, 35-7.

Calip was later honored as The Oklahoman's Back of the Year.

In observance of the 100th edition of The Oklahoman's All-State football team later this month, the newspaper is recognizing players from the previous 99 teams.

Hobart's offense was dominated by the Calips that season.

Brad accounted for 2,147 yards of total offense, brother Bryant was the team's top running back and cousin Neal played tight end.

That time at Hobart under coach Mike York planted the seeds of a coaching career in all three.

“I was under great leadership with coach York,” Brad said. “He's a guy that was a mentor and a father figure and he taught me to do the right thing.

“When you're a small-towner in Hobart, you can either play sports and guide yourself in the right direction or you can go the other way. I learned so much there.”