Best Of The Best Nc’S Offensive Linemen Know If You Want Into ‘The Pack’ You Need To Work Hard, Follow Rules

They don’t get publicity, the pats on the back.

That’s for quarterbacks, running backs or the guy who makes the sacks.

Unless you go to North Central.

The Indians’ offensive line rejoices in its triumphs. It finds satisfaction in a key block, a good read on a blitz. There’s pure joy in driving defenders to fits.

Meet “The Pack.”

Coach Wes Hobbs calls it a secret society. And in a way, it is.

Pack members live by strict rules.

Show your face a minute late to practice and it’s 100 yards of bear crawls, those uncomfortable things where you’re on all fours and walking with your hands.

Show up two minutes late, and it’s another 100 yards.

Ouch.

These guys learn fast. They aren’t the biggest linemen in the league, but they make up for it with hard work.

The Pack expects dedication, on the football field and in the classroom.

It has its own secret code - this year it’s STD - that no one else knows until the end of the season. Last year’s was CDA, for character, dedication and attitude.

The linemen have their own meetings after each practice. They have their own special shirts.

“The shirts say `No one will beat us by outworking us,”’ said Chris Stewart, one of three senior Pack leaders. “It’s something we try and make true.”

Stewart, Justin Hare and Jim McCollum are in charge.

They are seniors and captains, and what they say pretty much goes.

There are no Pack initiations. You get in by invitation.

“We just want the best of the best,” Hare said.

Once players show they are Pack-worthy, they receive a typewritten copy of The Pack’s goals. And their T-shirt.

It’s easy to see who is committed by who works out hard during the offseason, Hare said.

They met at 7 a.m. every Monday during the summer, ran almost every day and lifted weights together three days a week.

“We see it, we could tell they had the Pack in them, that they could do it. It’s a pretty serious thing.”

Reserves and junior varsity players are accepted. After all, someone has to carry on The Pack tradition.

“It’s going to be a legacy now around NC,” McCollum said.

Is junior Jason Wederspahn prepared to continue that legacy?

“Of course,” he said in a tone that showed he considered it his duty.

Pack membership is up this year.

“More people are catching on to The Pack beliefs and want to be a part of it,” Hare said.

Around school, people know about The Pack.

The group gets together once a month away from the football field for golf, a meal or a movie.

“It’s a tight-knit group,” Hobbs said. “The majority of our leadership comes from our offensive line. They have done a lot of hard work. Three of our four captains are offensive linemen so that speaks for itself.”

The Pack has had its rough times this fall. North Central lost its first two games of the ‘99 season, a 31-13 season-opening setback to Shadle Park and a narrow 13-12 loss to CV.

The Indians bounced back with a big 34-7 win over Mt. Spokane in Week 3 and played a non-league game last week, losing 14-7 to Kent-Meridian. They play at East Valley at 7 p.m. Friday.

“We had a couple loose strings,” Hare said. “We used the Shadle game to tie us together again and the CV game to get us going. Hopefully we’re on the right track.”

The camaraderie of the offensive line helps keep them headed in that direction.

“We don’t get much of anything, newspaper articles or MVP of the game,” Hare said. “But this is how we congratulate ourselves. Everybody wants to be a ball carrier and score a touchdown. You don’t get much of that on the line.”