High School Football Week 1 – Fair Grove Football

Fair Grove Football

Without a doubt one of the most successful football programs in southwest Missouri is located just a few miles north of Springfield; the Fair Grove Eagles.Just a few days ago, I had the pleasure of catching up with Head Football Coach Bill Voorhis to highlight the wonderful aspects of his football program. In this week’s edition, I will focus on the things in his program that made the biggest impression on me as to why they are cultivating success on the gridiron. Without a doubt there is no way that I would be able to accurately articulate all the wonderful aspects of Fair Grove football in this short piece, no doubt I am just highlighting the high-level topics of what Coach and I visited about. Let’s get to it! 

Fair Grove football eclipsed a challenge that they faced for nearly a decade in securing a district title last year. Not only did they secure the title, the pushed their success to just falling short of the state championship game. This feat was like removing a dark cloud that hung over the program and now the sun is shining, and the skies are clear overhead! With any successful program there is always more going on behind closed doors than what we get to experience or see on the field of play. Whether it is the early morning workouts, the uniqueness of the program, or the buy in from the community; it is what you do not always see that contributes to the specialness. 

For anyone who has raised a person, we all can relate to the difficulties of getting them up and running in the wee hours of the morning. Well, this is exactly what Fair Grove football does! Summer workouts started at 5:30 a.m. Why, one must ask. Because T.P.D that is why; Tough People Do. Fair Grove football will do the tough things as this is what is needed to be a champion, not just on the field but off. We can see the toughness on a 4^th and 1 or the fight for the extra yard while two linebackers are hanging off, again it is what you do not see. I witnessed this firsthand when I met with Coach Voorhis for the first time. The Missouri (pronounced ‘Misery’ in this case) heat and humidity was in full effect and schedules had to adapt. Instead of practicing at their normal practice time, they moved the practice to later in the day. Like most things this time of year, this causes a shift in many different areas for the program. Coach Voorhis made the shift for the team and still made the commitment he made to meeting with me even though the timeline was a pinch. Timelines are tight and he very well could have shelved the commitment to me and had an easier time but by leading from the front and being T.P.D, he made it happen and it is this type of gesture that is not lost on me. I am certain that just these two examples, 5:30 a.m. team workouts and adjusting but still meeting commitments through adversity, are just a scratch on the surface of T.P.D and where Fair Grove football leads the way. 

Fair Grove football has some uniqueness that sets a culture and the program apart from others. The football team’s introduction for their home games could possibly be one of the most electrifying entrances in all high school football, I can attest-it is a-must-see-live event. While the hyperlinked video is dated, the intensity of the intro is just as electric today, except now, they cap it off with a standing backflip. I appreciate Ozone capturing the backflip in the beginning of this video. Another uniqueness that Coach Voorhis has is the wall of valor. The wall of valor is a collection of military headshots of all the service members who played for Fair Grove and later went into the military. This is an amazing example of highlighting something within a program that is a higher calling to serving others, this is first class. Lastly, coach highlights that it is the continuity of the coaching staff and the ability to have been able to add additional coaches to his staff that contributes to the uniqueness of his program. This is rare for programs of their size. 

There is a common theme when it comes to Fair Grove football and that theme is community. When talking about why Fair Grove is a tough place to play it is because the whole community is there for the game. It is a feeling on the sideline that the whole town is supporting the team, and it is true, the house is packed! When Coach Voorhis responded to what is the single most important piece to developing a championship program, the answer is community. Their buy-in to the program, their support to the program, and the shuffling players to events for the program; none of this occurs without the community. With all the buy-in and support, what does the community get in return (not that there is any expectation of a return on their investment); they get players that help set up classrooms for the teachers first day back from summer break, they get high-five Friday’s where the players are opening car doors in the school drop off lines and high fiving elementary students or holding umbrellas for students in the rain, it is the reinvestment back into the community that supports the team. The community, as Coach Voorhis indicates, is second to none and contributes to their success year after year. 

An extension of the community is Fair Grove’s QB Club, a football specific booster. This is led by Stefanie Collinsworth, and with their leadership, the football program has been overwhelmingly blessed. Coach Voorhis specifically mentioned their magnificent work and their wonderful support as they have been able to provide the team with a new two-man sled, new uniforms, and new press box wrap. Providing these aspects to a football program elevates and enhances it. Coaches, community, and most importantly players can see that they are cared for, poured into, and that they are appreciated and loved. With these things being provided for the program, this continues to push the envelope forward. 

Fair Grove is going to continue to strive to dominate in what they do. They will be a program that does what T.P.D. and will hold their standard while pushing their program forward. To the community that supports the program and the coaches that lead it, you ought to be so proud of what you have, it is special. I am over the moon that I was provided with the opportunity to get a glimpse of the behind the scenes and to be able to highlight the success of the Fair Grove football program.