BELLAIRE — John Durdines resuscitated a football program on life support at Bishop Donahue.

He did it masterfully for 15 seasons, taking it to OVAC championship levels before the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston closed the doors on the school last winter.

Now the highly-respected coach has signed on to undertake an even more challenging task. Durdines accepted the head football coaching position at St. John Central this past Tuesday.

The Fighting Irish have a great football tradition. Unfortunately, the Green grid program has been out of business for the past two falls.

Why? Not enough of players.

The school has experienced a major bottoming out of enrollment, dropping to this year’s total of 28 students in grades 9-12.

Durdines is no stranger to low grid numbers. He took over the Bishop Donahue program in 2002 sporting a robust total of 14 gridders.

The Bishop Donahue rosters continued to grow through his tenure, resulting in winning at an impressive rate. Despite some lean early years, Durdines compiled a sparkling 90-69 record there, posting winning seasons in 11 of the final 12 years, including five West Virginia state playoff appearances.

His coaching prowess has earned him wide-ranging respect. So much so, after the diocese pulled the plug on Donahue, Durdines was wooed by at least two Eastern Ohio high schools to fill head coaching vacancies.

He opted to remain loyal to the Bishops until the end.

With Bishop Donahue’s fate now terminally sealed, Durdines felt St. John’s provided the ideal opportunity for him to return to the sidelines in a head coaching capacity. He did help out with Weir this past fall on a limited basis.

“St. John’s is the perfect transition. It is the ideal landing spot. I want to be there,” Durdines said. “I have always had a great respect for the school and the football program at St. John’s.”

While getting a high school football program up and running next year at SJC is a formidable task, it is one the Wheeling Park grad relishes.

“I think varsity football is feasible next year at St. John’s. That is what I am planning on,” Durdines said. “We will obviously be inexperienced but we have had several schools already looking to play next season.”

One of the first orders of business is putting a staff together, one that is already in the makings. Several of his BD coaches are on board with possibly another aide or two with Fighting Irish pedigrees.

With a great facility and a quality staff in place, filling out a roster is the elephant in the room at this juncture. But Durdines has worked wonders with minimal numbers in the past.

There are a few boys in the high school already interested in suiting up for Durdines this fall. The hopes are further buoyed by a large and football-minded collection of boys in St. John’s feeder grade schools.

Those numbers have already made it possible for the high school to bring back boys’ basketball for next winter after a one-year hiatus.

Hoop candidates are plentiful and a head coach will be named soon.

Not to be overlooked is the character in the man. Durdines has earned respect from foes and fans alike. His players love playing for him.

I would venture to say he will be a magnet for incoming freshmen who may have originally planned to go elsewhere. Having a chance to play immediately and for a class coach are two great incentives.

“I believe in making it fun for the players while creating an environment for them and the team to be successful,” Durdines said.

“I listen to my players. If they have a good idea or suggestion we will use it.

“I respect my players but I don’t make them respect me,” he added.

“Rather, I work to earn their respect, and I believe I did. We will do the same at St. John’s. I am very excited about this opportunity.”

BUBBA’S BITS

JIM CRUTCHFIELD is amazing. After building West Liberty into a national power on the NCAA Division II level, Crutchfield has remarkably turned around a down-trodden program at Nova Southeastern in no time. The Sharks were 6-20 last now and are a sparkling 8-1 this season.

JOHN MARHSALL grad Kristin Lewicki scored her first professional goal in the National Women’s Hockey League. The 2016-17 Division III

Player of the Year at Adrian College (Mich.) is a rookie with the

Buffalo Beauts. She scored last Sunday against the Metropolitan

Riveters. Lewicki had two shots on goal.

TIM McCABE is not just a football standout at Wheeling Central.

The all-state lineman is also an accomplished national anthem singer

as he has demonstrated at more than one Maroon Knight hoop game this

season.

MAGNOLIA HIGH’s archery team is boasting impressive numbers. The

Blue Eagles have 33 archers on their squad.

THE STEELERS host the Patriots today in the most-anticipated NFL

game of the season. If the Black & Gold want to get back to the Super

Bowl this February a win is a must, as it averts a playoff trip to

New England. Pittsburgh’s defense can be a little shaky, but the

Steelers are playing with a passionate sense of purpose, triggered by

the injury to star LB Ryan Shazier. A crazed crowd will only add

further fuel to the Steeler inferno. I like the Steelers in a

shootout, 31-28.

WILL GRIER opting to return to WVU is no surprise after the way

the season ended for the talented QB. With Grier back under center,

the Mountaineers will be co-favorites with Oklahoma to win the Big 12

title.

ELIJAH BELL ended a stellar sophomore season at North Carolina A&T

Saturday in the Celebration Bowl. The former Wheeling Park all-stater

landed