Henderson County’s Secret: The TVCC Cardinal football team is that good

TVCC President Dr. Jerry King, left, and Head Coach Brad Smiley celebrate the Cardinals winning the 2016 SWJCFC Championship at Bruce Field in Athens. (Michael V. Hannigan photo)

By Michael V. Hannigan

I have been lucky enough to cover the TVCC Cardinal football team at different times in my career and I’ve been on the sidelines for their games pretty regularly for the past four years.

From the first time I covered the Cards to last year’s C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl win, I have thought the same thing.

Henderson County doesn’t realize what a football treasure it has in Athens.

TVCC and the Southwest Junior College Football Conference is big time football. Turn on your favorite device any Saturday or Sunday in the fall and you will see former Cardinal players putting on a show for Division I college football and the NFL.

But first you get to see them live at Bruce Field for just $5 a ticket. Plus you get to see the national champion cheerleaders, the Cardinal Regiment band and the world-famous Cardettes.

Not only are the players the real deal, so is the team. Head Coach Brad Smiley has led the Cardinals to regular season and conference titles in seven of the last eight years.

If this sounds like a sales job, maybe it is … because I know a lot of football fans in Henderson County would love Cardinal football if they just knew about it.

These guys are that good.

Case in point, five former Cardinals found their way onto NFL rosters this spring, continuing to chase their dream of playing on Sundays. A dream other Cardinals have lived out.

The five include: Brandon Stewart (Chargers), Jomal Wiltz (Eagles), Jerod Evans (Eagles), D’Nerius Antione (Bears) and Jhaustin Thomas (Colts).

I am excited about the upcoming TVCC season, when the Cards will have home games against Pima Community College, Northeast Oklahoma A&M, Arkansas Baptist College, Tyler Junior College and Cisco College.

I hope you get excited about the season, too.