There has long been a mantra about coaches turning young athletes into men and women.

It can happen naturally on the field in practice or game situations, but coaches of several programs showed their players what it looks like off the field when tragedy hit another community last week.

The city of Globe was hammered Friday by torrential rain and flooding that led to deaths, devastation and desperation. A state of emergency was declared for the city of Globe and Gila County.

Help was clearly needed.

Combs football assistant coach Fred Clare and Pima football head coach Josh Wilkins brought some of their players to Globe on Monday to do their part.  There were also people affiliated with Miami High, Globe’s rival, helping as well.

The gesture showed empathy, strength and an answer to the call for action.

“We try to teach our players that the lessons they learn playing football can be applied to their daily life,” Combs head coach Levi Hoaglund said. “Some of those lessons are about counting on each other for help and they were able to take action. I couldn’t be more proud that they answered the call.”

Clare backed those sentiments and took the time to talk to the players who joined him on Monday about the big picture and what it means to step up. He only had so many spots in the two vehicles they loaded into at 5 a.m., but everyone he asked said yes.

Combs football players were one of several sports programs to travel to Globe over the weekend in help with the clean up process after a devastating flood. (Photo courtesy of Fred Clare)“We saw what the community had to endure and deal with,” said Clare, who is the defensive back coach for Combs. “One thing about football is it takes a full team to be successful. You have to be able to rely on each other. This was a chance to take that mentality and apply it outward. They were able see the damage and suffering while doing something to help out.”

Wilkins and his players, the Pima girls volleyball team connected with the some of coaches, players and students of Globe High School to do their part. The Pima volleyball team played Globe on Sept. 12 and the Pima football team is scheduled to play at Globe on Friday.

They met at the Globe football field Monday after the 70-mile drive and headed toward to downtown, waded through mud and debris to help initiate the long recovery process ahead by chipping in by clearing out areas that needed the help.

"It was pretty humbling," Wilkins said. "It showed them to look out for the neighbors when you can. Yes, we are going to play them on Friday, but we can still help out when they are in need and going through something as difficult as this."

Some of the volleyball players washed antique dishes, while others worked their way through town moving displaced furniture and clearing out alleyways.

"It was great to see them work together in a different way," Wilkins said. "There was no complaining or anything. They were focused on what they needed to do and we did everything we could in the time we were there." 

Combs senior Sam Pearson said it was an easy decision to say yes based on the respect there is between coaches and players in the program.

“I look up to the coaches a lot and as role models,” Pearson said. “When our coaches find something important to them, or talk about things we need to do, I give it 100 percent of my attention and effort. I think we all think like that so we will go and do whatever needs to be done.”

So while most high school kids are sleeping in as long as possible now that fall break has started for some schools, they were driving the 64 miles from San Tan to Globe a little unsure what they were going to see or be asked to do.

After meeting with officials in nearby Miami, the group came across one of the businesses on Main St. in Globe that needed cleaning out. They spent four or five hours in this one spot on “bucket brigade” as they removed as much mud and grime out of the basement after the three feet of water on the ground level was pumped out. They were also able to give the owner some closure after finding the body of their deceased cat.

“It was really bad, and you couldn’t help but feel for them,” Globe senior outside linebacker Amarion Horrison said. “They worked so hard for what they have in this small town and it was taken away in a heartbeat.”

The coaches and players will get back to work this week, preparing for the rest of the year, but will do so with a new understanding of life, grateful for what they have and tighter knit as a team after doing an unselfish act of service.

“It was an eye opener for sure,” Pearson said. “Lives were changed in an instant. We stepped in and helped out. We are pretty blessed to have what we have. It’s something we can learn and take with us.

“You never know what adversity you might face, but when it happens you have to face it or if it happens to someone else, help out anyway you can.”