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Backspin: Scott Norris, Lebanon 1978

Submitted photo Scott Norris, class of 1978, Lebanon High School, football, pictured above with daughter Lindsey,

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11:13 AM Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Scott Norris’ competitive fire was fueled as a two-way starter for the Lebanon Warrior football team from 1975-77.

The drive to compete has not vanished — he seeks to qualify for the United States Power Lifting Association Nationals in the bench press next year.

Varsity days

Norris played nose guard and offensive guard for Lebanon’s first Mid-Miami League championship team in 1975 and also for the school’s first undefeated team in 1977.

Twice, Norris was an all-league honoree and in 1976 he was named first team All-Southwest Ohio and honorable mention all-state.

But, the honor he holds in highest esteem was being chosen Most Valuable Player of the Lebanon squad.

“Winning MVP as a lineup is my most treasured award of my whole life because that was voted on by my teammates,” Norris said.

During his senior year, Lebanon’s defense gave up what is still a school record season low 13 points. One score came on a kickoff return, and the only time the Warrior defense surrendered a touchdown came in the season finale, during a 7-6 win at Edgewood.

“I’ll never forget that game,” Norris said. “They were just like us, very well-coached and a solid team. We brought our own bleachers over to Edgewood on a flatbed truck because their stadium wasn’t big enough for the crowd.

“There were probably only five thousand people there, but it was the biggest crowd I’d ever played in front of. When Edgewood scored first, it was deafening. I can’t imagine how loud it must be in front of a hundred thousand fans.”

Norris credited the Warriors’ success back then to a combination of talent and coaching.

“We had all played together or against each other in the youth system since fourth grade and we knew we were going to be good when we all came together” Norris said. “But coach (Jim) VanDeGrift’s system was so far advanced than anyone else’s during that day, that made us better.

“Coach VanDeGrift made it fun, with the games and contests he created to drive us. There was always an incentive out there to push us which made it fun.”

Norris played four years of college ball at Taylor University in Indiana, where he was twice named all-Hoosier-Buckeye Conference.

After graduating in 1982 with a degree in psychology, he moved to Azusa, Cal. (near Los Angeles) and got his master’s degree at Pacific University. There he got to see future NFL star Christian Okoye play football.

Today

Norris spent 13 years in California before moving back to Lebanon where he has been the program director at the Mental Health Recovery Center in Warren County.

— Scott Hayes, Staff Writer

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