GLEN DALE – If Rick Goodrich hadn’t opted to be a teacher and football coach, he would have likely been a successful architect.

The former Bridgeport High grid and track great is in the midst of his third major football rebuilding project. After deftly raising his alma mater and Cambridge High from football rubble, Goodrich is now in the fourth year of weaving his renaissance magic at John Marshall.

The Monarchs are just 1-1 heading into tonight’s game against Bellaire, but the current season harbors much optimism. So much so, the Monarch Nation is talking playoffs.

John Marshall welcomes back a veteran crew from last year’s 5-5 team, a short missed field goal from a sixth win and a berth in the post-season party.

Goodrich’s charges opened the season with a key win at University before stubbing their toes to Mountain Ridge. JM plays host to Bellaire tonight. The week two loss may play out as a small speed bump in a season filled with success. These Monarchs are primed for winning, fully indoctrinated into Goodrich’s physical and ground-pounding style.

“We have the chance for a nice season, but Bellaire will be no easy test,” Goodrich noted. “I feel we are on the verge of getting this program to where we want it.”

Goodrich has been down this rebuilding road twice before. Each time, he quickly changed the school’s football fortunes.

The former Otterbein standout assumed control at Bridgeport in 1995. He inherited a program that won just four of its last 30 games.

Goodrich led the Dogs to an 8-2 mark in his initial season followed by a 9-1 campaign and a state playoff berth. Bridgeport also pocketed a cherished win over rival Martins Ferry, a rare commodity in the series.

Many in the Bridgeport community believe that football season went a long way in gaining passage of a school levy for a district mired in red ink.

His success at Bridgeport proved a springboard to bigger pastures, as Cambridge High came calling in 1999.

“It was tough to leave your home school, but I was looking to coach at a bigger school and higher level,” he said. “I also did not want to relocate, so Cambridge was an ideal fit.”

It also reaffirmed his ability to transform losers into winners. The Bobcats were the punching bags in the ECOL at the time of Goodrich’s arrival, going 2-18 the two seasons prior.

His Guernsey County tenure lasted 13 years. During that span, Goodrich’s ‘Cats went 78-55, earning the school its first-ever state playoff berth, an achievement he replicated on two more occasions.

He also guided Cambridge to a pair of ECOL crowns and the only undefeated season in Bobcat grid annals. Goodrich elevated the program to a near equal footing with heavyweights Dover and New Philadelphia.

Goodrich is Cambridge High’s all-time winningest grid coach.

The 53-year-old didn’t experience an immediate turnaround in Marshall County, replacing Dan Wilson at the helm. His first squad went 2-8, doubling the win total in year two and barely missing the playoffs last fall.

That has set the stage for what Monarch partisans believe can be a banner campaign.

So, what is Goodrich’s recipe for successful program restoration? He admits to having no magic wand.

“We have been able to quickly increase the number of players in our program which is an obvious benefit. The year before I arrived, John Marshall dressed 29 players; our first year, we pumped that number up to 51,” Goodrich said. “This year, we are dressing 60 varsity players and 32 freshmen, and we have a full JV schedule and a frosh schedule.

“We also place great emphasis on our weight and conditioning program. With our type of offense, we must be strong,” he added. “Our kids believe in the weight room. It’s also a great way to build camaraderie.”

But numbers and pumping iron are only a part of his plan. Goodrich is a big believer in taking his case to the people.

“When you take over a losing program, you have to sell yourself to the players, parents, school and community. You are changing a culture. Everyone needs to buy in,” Goodrich said. “Also, your players need to know you truly care about them. I sincerely care about the kids who play for me. I relish the long-lasting relationships we develop between coaches and players.

“Our job as coaches is to make our kids feel important. We want every player to contribute in some fashion,” he continued. “To be successful as a coach, it is not so much X’s & O’s, but rather kids buying into you and having them run through a wall for you.”

It’s a plan which has paid dividends, three times over.

“I am very happy with the progress we are making here,” Goodrich said. “We are getting more and more kids out, and we have an outstanding freshmen class. The future is getting brighter and brighter with our football program.”

BUBBA’S BITS

BEALLSVILLE UPDATE: The Blue Devils prevailed Saturday in their reserve home game against Barnesville. Next up for Beallsville is a tough road test against 3-0 Lucas tonight. That is followed by a road trip to Chalker.

LINSLY IS a quality football team this year with a meat-grinder of a schedule. After acid tests against Martins Ferry and Kiski in the first two weeks, the Cadets now face Ohio Division VII power Mogadore. Down the road, Linsly must tackle Columbus Bishop Ready, Wheeling Central, Columbus DeSales and Magnolia. The Cadets’ final record will not be a true barometer of how good they really are.

RIVER IS enjoying a sparkling 3-0 start, fresh off its win over Monroe Central. The Pilots, however, are right back in the frying pan, facing powerful Magnolia tonight. It is tough emotionally to face your two biggest rivals in successive weeks.

THE VOLUNTEERS of Tennessee reaffirmed Saturday that they are not yet ready to be taken as a serious SEC power. The Vols let a 17-0 lead slip away against Oklahoma in front of 100,000 fans in Knoxville.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com