I hate to hit you over the head media but, those Spartans are 15-4 over a two year period, tied for fourth with the best record, and 16-4 since the players bought into to a return to power. The media appears to still be in yesteryear. Southeast Knights are 0-8 and I think if they win their final game they may be ranked. Creighton Prep and Millard North can get away with losing two and three games respectively and still be ranked high because they are Omaha. It's all about the Omaha schools and let's not forget that Coach Andy Means, Millard South coach, said a year ago that he wanted nothing to do with Lincoln East or Kearney again. East had an easy schedule they say but, Grand Island, North Platte, Columbus, Lincoln Northeast, and Lincoln Southwest are knocking at the door of the top ten. East has played their schedule and did what was asked of them. The Spartans are a team of destiny and purpose. Kind of like the old Husker teams.

Trust me, it's nice the media has stayed away because it allows our players to concentrate and basically the polls are one person's opinion. The coaches or a panel do not represent the polls so they mean nothing. Not a single paper or online site gave the Spartans a chance against the Silverhawks. Channel 8 and 11 nightly sports news showed Southwest highlights and touchdowns. Oh, and by-the-way the Spartans won. They already taped the highlights in preparation that Southwest would win. Last year, the media jumped on the bandwagon and came out and jinxed the Spartans prior to the Silverhawk game. The Gatorade Player of the Year last year received a lot of the East credit and based on the Norfolk playoff game, was justified receiving the credit. But, ask Jim Ebke if he could do it by himself and his answer would be no and he knew what returned for the Spartans. Why else would he be excited to travel over 200 miles on consecutive weeks to watch his friends extend what his 2007 class had started. To the Spartans advantage we have again proved that the defense continued to dominate this year.

The purpose of this article is not to plead with the media to rank us, but maybe to give a respectful opinion that maybe the media doesn't know much about the Spartans heart, desire or maybe even destiny. That maybe the five games the Spartans have won are more powerful than luck. Many Spartan battles have been won in the late minutes of the game, but the playoffs will determine the rankings on the field. Play hard Spartans and the dreams, goals and rewards will follow you. Rewards after the games and after the season are meaningful. Rewards prior to a season are only media hype which usually means trouble and nothing.

Union Bank Poll

1. Kearney (8-0)
2. Omaha Central (7-1) 
3. Millard West (7-1)
4. Millard South (6-2)
5. Millard North (6-1)
6. Omaha North (7-1)
7. Bellevue West (6-2)
8. Lincoln East (7-1)
9. Omaha Creighton Prep (5-3)
10. Omaha Westside (6-2)

Lincoln Journal Poll

1. Kearney (8-0)
2. Millard South (6-2) 
3. Omaha Central (7-1)
4. Millard West (7-1)
5. Millard North (6-1)
6. Omaha North (7-1)
7. Bellevue West (6-2)
8. Grand Island (7-1)
9. Lincoln East (7-1)
10. Creighton Prep (5-3)

Games below prove state is wide open on any given night.