A Football Family

Like most moms, Joni Huebert has a favorite picture.

Joni’s is of her boys. Randy, her husband, who turned Aurora into the Class B football power. To his left, their oldest son Troy in his No. 3 Aurora Husky uniform after playing quarterback for his dad. And in the front, little Tobey, maybe a third or fourth grader – with his big brother’s number on his sweatshirt – who was the ball boy for the Huskies. It’s from the fall of 2006 or thereabouts.

But tonight, some eight years later, she would like to clone herself. For the Hueberts, Halloween 2014 might be something different. Father’s Day, maybe? Randy and Troy Huebert – on sidelines for Aurora and Central City – will coach playoff games 425 miles apart on the same night. Tonight. Randy and Tobey, who is not so little anymore, are in Scottsbluff where he might just try to catch another game winner like he did in the first round of the Class B playoffs last year. Troy will be in Ashland, taking his Bison on the field against undefeated Ashland-Greenwood.

This is a story of football and it’s a story of family.

***

Randy Huebert grew up in Henderson and out of college in 1984 he landed in Coleridge. Northeast Nebraska football power transitioning from 11-man football to 8-man. In four years, he lost in the playoffs to the state champions three times and won the Class D-2 title in 1987. Not a bad start for a young coach. He coached the 8-man All-Star Game in 1986. But, Randy Huebert was always looking to get better, make himself a better coach. So there were stops in Malvern, IA; Great Bend, KS and at Norfolk Senior High before the Huebert’s decided Aurora might make a good place to raise a family.

It was in Great Bend, “that Troy really got into football,” Randy said. “He was that kid who was into everything. He did football, basketball and golf in high school. I suppose by the time he was in first grade he was on the sideline being a ball boy for me.”

Troy would tell you the same thing.

“It feels like I’ve been doing football since I could walk,” Troy said. “I remember going to practice with dad in Great Bend all the time. Those high school kids gave me a hard time, but I looked up to them. They were great to me.”

When Troy was in fourth grade, the Huebert’s made Aurora home. It wasn’t long into his dad’s tenure there that he knew what his calling was going to be according to his dad. “I suppose he was in middle school,” Randy said, “and Joni asked him what he wanted to be when he got older. He said, ‘You know mom, I’m going to be a coach.’”

Time moves fast. The Huskies have missed the playoffs just once in Randy Huebert’s 16-year tenure at Aurora. While in middle school, Troy didn’t want to hang out with his middle school friends at the football games. “I wanted to be with my dad, and be on the sideline with him. I didn’t hang out with my friends at the football games.”

Over the next three years, Troy would play quarterback for his dad, graduating in 2007 from Aurora. The Huskies advanced to the quarterfinals his junior season and were ousted by Cozad during his senior year. While Troy was off at Hastings College, the Huskies won state titles in 2008 and 2009; Tobey was the ball boy. And, Troy still knew he wanted to coach.

Life moves full circle. Troy spent the 2011 season with his dad on the Aurora sideline during his student teaching semester. Troy coached current Nebraska quarterback Tyson Broekemeier and the Huskies lost a 14-13 heartbreaker in the quarterfinals. “That was awesome,” Troy said. “To be on the same staff with my dad was a great learning experience.”

Tobey put on his Husky uniform in 2012 and Troy got a job as a defensive quality control assistant for South Dakota State. When the chance opened up in Central City before the 2013 season, Troy jumped. “I wanted my own program,” Troy said. “I thought Central City would be a good fit. The staff has been great and the community has been very supportive.”

And, now, Randy and Troy Huebert have fun being father and son. And, helping each other win if they can.

“We talk a lot,” Randy said. “We were sitting on the couch together this weekend and Joni snapped a picture of us and sent it to Troy’s wife (Sara). The girls all joke about it.”

For his sake, Troy offered a little sympathy.

“I feel bad for my mom and my wife,” he said. “When we are together this time of year; we talk football.”

***

Thirty years ago, Randy Huebert began a coaching career that, when it’s finished, will have impacted too many lives to count. Three state championships, maybe more. What he’s most proud of, though, might be a kid who is catching passes for him on Friday night and another that will wear a headset 425 miles away.

“I suppose, my two sons always got the opposite of favoritism,” Randy said. “They always have to put in the extra effort, that extra time in the weight room. But, its special, too. You get to see your son be a part of a team and you want that team to be successful. And, I’m proud of what Troy has done. He’s got a great passion for football, he loves working with his kids.”

Troy Huebert’s coaching career has yet to end year two. It hurts that he can’t watch his brother play much, but there is an understanding. And he’s forever grateful of the man who taught him the ropes. And, you can bet that he’ll think of family tonight, too.

“It gives me the shivers (thinking about Friday night),” Troy said. “I always feel bad that I haven’t got to watch Tobey play more. But, we all got to see each other last week because we played on Thursday and they played on Friday. That was fun. But, it’s special right now, too.

“I wanted to be my dad; I idolized him. Everything he did, I did. I try to take every little piece of what he has done and put it in at Central City. It’s a very special time. I’m doing what I always wanted to do.”

And, if they both were to somehow win in the first round of the playoffs? Who knows, maybe Friday will be a completely different holiday. Christmas.