The face and book on the surge that is the Montrose High School football program, Casebier is the undisputed Chief Indian. But this week, in particular, it gets personal for the colorful, fiery head coach.
"The memories flood my mind, instantly," said Casebier, who began his prep coaching career at Durango High after playing four years at Fort Lewis College. "But losing to Durango is not an option for me, either ... ever."
 FILE MHS players celebrate with head coach Todd Casebier after the Indian's dramatic 30-24 overtime win over the Wheatridge Farmers in Lakewood in 2007. (William Woody / Daily Press File) Advertisement |
So, around 7 p.m. Friday, forgive Casebier if he refrains from reflecting for a few hours on the preppy San Juan Mountains town where it all began, including his Durango wedding day with wife, Patty, and the birthplace of their oldest, son Drew. Extended family in Durango -- three generations worth -- will be on hold for a bit as Casebier directs his Indians toward their annual pilgrimage: the SWL title. Not a co-title, but the whole enchilada, thank you.
After his college career was through, Casebier knew what he was destined to do. And coaching with the Demons also had its fringe benefits.
Patty Putnam, the oldest twin daughter of the Demons' offensive coordinator, caught his eye early on.
"My mom saw what was happening," said Patty, Casebier's wife now of 18 years. "She let me know I would have no life in the fall, ever, if I married him.
"Of course, she was smiling ... She knew I was going to."
After seven years and seven playoff appearances, Casebier then became the top prospect to replace legendary Demons coach Brian Hester, who had become the school's new principal. But the official offer never came. At least, not before Casebier's alma mater, Palisade, came calling first. It's coach, Joe Rammuno, had just been plucked by Mesa State after winning four straight Class 3A state titles.
The call had a heavy hand on the other end. It was Lou Rollenhagen, Casebier's high school football coach and Palisade's new principal.
"It was time, and Todd was ready," said Rollenhagen, who judges talent well. He'd hired Rammuno 12 years earlier out of Wyoming. "I remember being in a meeting of administrators that spring (1998), and one was from Durango. Todd's name came up quickly, and I didn't hesitate to tell her that we were going to hire Todd.
"She said, we're going to make an offer to him, too ... Well, they jacked around too long. And the rest is history."
Both literally and figuratively.
Casebier has been the thorn in Durango's football side since, having beaten the Demons all four tries with Palisade before matching that feat now at Montrose. Friday night has the banquet table set buffet-style. This marks the Demons' first playoff appearance since Casebier left the fold there in 1997.
Moreover, and though Casebier is reluctant to comment much on it, Durango came calling again two years ago. Fortunately for Montrose, Casebier and family had long settled in. In a strange twist, home had become all things Montrose.
"He'd of built the same power in Durango long ago," Rollenhagen said. "Heck, he'd do that wherever he'd go.
"But make no bones about it. Montrose is home for the Casebiers."
And the rest, once again, is history.
The Indians, 5-35 (.125) in the four years before Casebier arrived, are now 42-14 (.750) since. Now considered a perennial Top 5 program statewide, the Indians are looking to bust down the door that has been locked at the quarterfinals since Casebier has elevated it to higher ground.
"People have found it hard to believe we're not rooted here for long-term, thinking Todd is out chasing the next star," said Patty, the District Assessment Co-ordinator for Montrose County Schools. "I mean, it was tough enough leaving Palisade to come here.
"We pretty-much promised the kids that this was it. Montrose would be home for a long time. It still is. It gets better and better all the time."
From the cradle of coaches where he was honed, Casebier has learned one thing, in particular, when it comes to football success: You can't go at it alone.
"My staff and the commitment to work by these kids is the backbone of all of our success," said Casebier, 43. "I have eight coaches on staff that have been with me all five years here. That kind of loyalty makes me feel like we can accomplish anything.
"And the kids here ... there may not be too many of them. But the ones who are 'all in' are as special as you'll find on the Front Range or anywhere else."
In Casebier's second year at Montrose, a new coach stumbled into town by the name of Jim Scarry. With teaching credential in hand and a wife (Ann) desiring to live in Colorado, he was willing to move out of the head coaching ranks he'd weaved through several successful stints in Florida for the quieter life.
A quieter life still with football, of course.
Football was there before Scarry was born. His father, Michael "Mo" Scarry, coached defensive linemen for the Miami Dolphins from 1970-87. Included in that run was an undefeated season -- the only one in NFL history -- for the 1972-73 Super Bowl-champions under the legendary Don Shula.
"I've seen every walk and manor of coach at every level across this country," said the 54-year-old Scarry, now a fourth-year social studies teacher and line coach under Casebier at MHS. "And Todd is right there in a special class.
"He's organized and he inspires. He demands discipline and he believes in strong families. I know now that the Good Lord just plucked me out and drug me cross-country to work for him."
The whole staff is, well, family like that.
"He challenges this generation of kid so strong and in a straight-up fashion," continued Scarry. "And I'm from the school that believes a work ethic has been lost a bit with this day and age in general.
"But not here, and not within Montrose football. Hard work, no excuses and just flat toughing-it-out are cornerstones here."
Necessary recipes for football success, all, if you reside in Montrose.
When the playoffs start next week, the Indians are assured of three things: A nice seeding, a first-round home game and just knowing that they will have a smaller enrollment -- much smaller -- than every 4A (1,250-1,650 students) opponent they will face.
In fact, with just under 1,300 students, Montrose is more than dwarfed in its own league by Durango (1,525) and all three of the Grand Junction schools (between 1,900 and 2,000 students each).
"Football so often is a game of numbers and attrition," Casebier said. "It's violent. It does not favor the weak or the small.
"So we fight for that. We out-work opponents. We lift weights most of the year. We attend camps. We demand the best they have in and out of class and around this community ... And we build a family."
It's worked.
And it's been demanding on Casebier, who, unlike his field presence, seeks solace where he can find it around family off the football field. That's tough, considering Drew quarterbacks the freshman team and daughter Katie, 11, is an up-and-coming volleyball talent.
When Casebier really needs to get away, he hunts.
His buck and bull shot earlier this fall are two of the nicer ones he's ever bagged.
"When he hunts, he really re-charges his batteries," Patty said.
And then he unleashes that newfound energy on opponents, one at a time, all-comers.
"More than the kill, it's being out there in simplicity, with the weather cooling and the colors changing," Casebier said. "It just brings everything meaningful in life back into focus again."
With that, Montrose High School football remains in very capable hands.
DBG 28 wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:58 AM: