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WEIRTON — As the clocked ticked down Friday night at Jimmy Carey Stadium, Weirton Madonna coach Bob Kramer could be seen smiling, joking and congratulating his players and assistant coaches on a job well done. The Blue Dons had plenty of reasons to celebrate as a 48-0 victory against Tucker County set up a West Virginia Class A semifinal between Weirton Madonna and Wheeling Central next week. The victory also gave Kramer his 100th triumph at the Hancock County school, something that wasn’t lost in the shuffle of the postgame celebration. The milestone was announced by the public address announcer as the final gun sounded. And later, after Kramer spoke to his team in the end zone, the team presented Kramer with a sign marking the event with the signatures of all the players on it. It was a special moment for the 68-year-old coach, who has been in the profession at a variety of levels for nearly 35 years. “I’ve told the players before that I’ve never gone out and won a game in my life,’’ Kramer said with his gift in hand. “I get credit, but they’re the ones that have to go out and execute and do what we tell them to do. I’ve had a lot of good people help me and a lot of good kids who have stuck it out and played hard.’’ No more so than it Kramer’s first season as Blue Dons coach in 1998. “A lot of people forget about those days with 15 kids,’’ Kramer remembered. “But with the size of the school we have we always seem to get a good number of kids out and that’s a good thing.’’ It took Kramer a few seasons to get the program in the direction he wanted it to go. But once he did, more kids started signing up to play. And at the same time, the victories started increasing. “When I first got this job it was all new to me,’’ Kramer said. “I’d been a head coach at the junior high level for 18 years, but never at the high school level. “It’s just been beyond my wildest dreams what we’ve built here. All I wanted to do was win one game that first season.’’ In 12 seasons, Kramer has a record of 100-32. That includes two appearances in the state title game (2004, 08) and a plethora of playoff appearances, Coach of the Year honors, and conference titles. Kramer might get lost in the shuffle for some when it comes to talking about the top coaches in the Ohio Valley. But as his players see it, Madonna wouldn’t be where it is without Kramer. “Coach is pretty low key, but he is always calling a great game,’’ junior Connor Arlia said. “If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have any of these victories and without coach Kramer, Madonna wouldn’t be where it is today. “’Coach is great in practice ... always stressing things over and over. He might yell a little bit, but he’s a good guy. Coach cares about his kids more than anything.’’ Quarterback Max Nogay agreed. “He’s firm, but relaxed,’’ Nogay said. “It’s fun to be on this team and be part of coach Kramer’s 100th victory.’’ Any talk about success by Kramer always leads to his assistant coaches, without whom Kramer said success wouldn’t happen. That group, plus the coaches at the Junior Dons level, are what makes the Madonna program successful year in and year out, Kramer said. “We have a lot of fun and we work well together,’’ Kramer said of his fellow coaches. “As long as my coaches come back, I’ll keep coming back because they are a great group of people to be around.” For Kramer, coaching keeps him young at heart. “I love the school, I love the kids, and the administration has been very supportive,’’ Kramer said. “There will come a time when I’ll have to hang it up. But as long as I’m physically able and still enjoy it, I’ll be back.’’ Up next for the Blue Dons will be a date against Wheeling Central at Jimmy Carey Stadium. The last time the two teams met was for the Class A title in 2004. “It means a lot to play them (at home),’’ Kramer said. “It’s a big thing for the kids. We’re just happy to be playing again next week and it’s nice to be at home.’’ Kramer expects to see another strong Maroon Knights squad. “Obviously, they are very well-coached and well-disciplined,’’ Kramer said. “It will be a heckuva ball game.’’ About the only thing Kramer hasn’t done is win a state title. But he won’t let a state title, or lack of one, change the way he feels about his career. “I want it for the kids, basically,’’ he said. “If it happens, fine. If it doesn’t, well, that’s the way things were meant to be. “Everything I’ve accomplished to this point is beyond my wildest expectations. I never thought I’d be a coach at the high school level and I have to thank Madonna for giving me the opportunity.’’ There’s no doubt Kramer would trade in his 100th victory sign in for one that said 102. “It’s more important for me to get No. 12 this season,’’ he said laughing.

 

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