If the people of Exeter didn't appreciate Ball then, they certainly should now. Ball and his Blue Hawks will make their third straight appearance in the Division II championship game Saturday. Exeter beat last season when it won its first state championship since 1965. Exeter will enter Saturday's contest having won 15 consecutive games. Ball will wince if he reads this, but he has become one of the best high school coaches in the state.
Preparation is a big part it.
Ball watches more film than Gene Siskel. Those who know him best also say Ball has a tremendous ability to motivate. He knows what it takes to get me going, what it takes to get the guy next to me going. He pushes the right buttons. He works tremendously hard himself and he cares so much for everybody, so nobody's left out.