Passion for winning runs deep with Hicks

Coach Lawrence Brookins knew he had a good one more than three years ago.

It wasn't because the player was faster than most of the rest. It certainly wasn't because he was a physical specimen -- he wasn't.

What exactly did Brookins see?

Tears.

Not crybaby or crocodile tears. No, they were the tears of a competitor. Painful, hurtful tears.

Central's freshman team had just lost its only game of the season, and the defeat was not sitting well with a youngster named Monroe Hicks.

"Roe was in tears. He was so frustrated and mad about not winning that game and didn't care if anyone saw him crying," Brookins recalled. "It made a big impression on a lot of people. Several folks, including myself had never seen him do that."

The game made an impression on Hicks, who remembers a valiant effort end a touchdown short against Poplar Bluff.

"It was the first time I really went out there and played and loved the game and lost," Hicks said.

Brookins, in his first year as head coach at the time, remembers the message that streamed with the tears.

"I made the comment, 'Hey guys, that's a winner right there. He wants to win so bad he can taste it. He's going to be a good player here one of these days. I hope there's three or four others of you in the group that take it that serious, too.'"

A prophet label could almost go alongside Brookins' title of coach, except for one thing.

The freshman turned out be a lot more than just good. He turned out to be an all-state star, the heart and soul of the Tigers.

Also the Southeast Missourian player of the year.

"Ever since I met the kid he wanted to be one of the best," Brookins said. "Anything less than that, he's really not happy with."

At 10-2, Central finished with its best record in years and reached the Class 4 quarterfinals for the third straight year. The Tigers' 9-1 regular-season record was a reversal of Hicks' freshman year when the varsity team went 1-9 in Bookins' first year.

Hicks' impact on the Tigers was monumental.

He rushed for 1,569 yards, hauled in 32 passes for 558 yards, scored 27 touchdowns and intercepted five passes.

Wherever there was a pigskin, Hicks was not far away. He ran back kickoffs, was a sure-handed punt returner and also helped the Tiger special teams cover both.

Central's No. 28 was just a chauffeur's license away from being the ultimate player.

"He did everything but drive the bus," Brookins noted.

But to quantify Hicks in numbers is an injustice. How do you measure leadership, inspiration, work ethic and undying will to win?

"He's always positive in every situation. We could have beat the Rams if it was up to him," Central senior safety Kenneth Lowe said. "He has a lot of faith in people."

Lowe said Hicks, his best friend, talked him into playing football this year when he was considered not returning. He did more than talk, too. The pair trained together by running hills together on the Southeast Missouri State University campus this summer.

Lowe said Hicks was there to push him in the weight room, encouraging him all the way. He imparted the knowledge of an all-state safety to Lowe, who ended up starting all but one game at free safety.

"I owe a lot to him," Lowe said.

Crunch time was Monroe time

Hicks averaged 175 yards a game in total offense for the Tigers despite often being smothered by defenses. There were games where he served as a decoy, helping his teammates have big games and, more importantly, helping the Tigers win. But at playoff time, Central rode his legs and utilized his calming presence he brought to a big game.

With their season on the line in the quarterfinals against Eureka, the Tigers, trailing 21-14, turned to Hicks on a fourth-and-1 play. Hicks was all but tackled behind the line but somehow broke free, headed outside and turned on the burners for a 30-yard gain. Five plays later he scored the game-tying touchdown.

Later it was Hicks, who had 26 carries on offense, imploring his teammates on defense not to give up hope in the final minutes.

"Monroe, there's a big heart in that boy," said Central center Darren Neels. "At school, at the weight room, at the practice field, on game night, he's really something else to have on the team. There was nothing else like it."

And it all comes in Monroe style.

"He's not the type of guy who's going to make speeches in front of his teammates," Brookins said. "He'll say a couple of quick comments about whatever is eating at him or whatever he thinks they might need to hear to get going, but as far as giving you a long, drawn-out speech, that's not his style of leadership. His style is, 'Hey, I'm going 100 mph today, and if you want to go with me, you better keep up.'"

Muscles cast in iron

Hicks' biggest contribution may have come from a work ethic that will land a photo of his sculpted physique on the wall in the Tiger weight room. It will be the first such picture, honoring a player who did not miss a day of weight lifting or off-season training in three years. In fact, Brookins often had to ask his star player to back off. It's a rare problem Brookins has encountered just twice in his 26 years of coaching.

While Hicks is not imposing at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, he bench presses 270 pounds, squats 375 and runs a 4.5 in the 40.

"If you really just want to seen an athlete work, there's no better way than just watch him day by day," Tiger quarterback Mitch Craft said. "With the talent he's got, you see the guy and think maybe he could take a day off, but he never does. He tries to get better every day.

"He has a fire that won't quit and won't burn out."

A change of heart

The fire may be the result of a difficult journey.

"There definitely was no silver spoon when he came into the world," Brookins said.

It was a life that spent time in a foster home, often lacked parental direction and was oriented toward the streets. It was a future begging to be fumbled. But just like on the field in heavy traffic, Hicks has emerged remarkably sure-handed and relatively unscathed.

"Where I grew up I didn't have that much," Hicks said. "I use that all as motivation."

He now aspires to be a role model with thoughts of coaching and working with children someday. He plans to ride football as far as it will take him. He will play in college somewhere next year, but he's not certain where.

He wants to be remembered at Central as not just an athlete, but a happy, playful guy with a sense of humor.

But don't forget the tears.

"When I play, I'm in the game," Hicks said. "Jokes aside, I take everything seriously. Everything about football is real serious to me. When you lose it hurts. But that's what you want to be as a football player."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124