Bob Crable is a symbol of Moeller's glory days. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        There is no need to explain the Moeller High School football tradition to the new head coach. He has lived it.

        Bob Crable, captain and co-MVP of the Crusaders' 1977 national championship team and a member of the school's Hall of Fame, was announced Wednesday as the fourth football coach in Moeller history.

        Crable, 41, was a two-time All-American linebacker at Notre Dame and went on to play seven years with the New York Jets. He has been an assistant coach and religion teacher at Moeller since 1992.

        “This has been a dream of mine for many years,” Crable said. “I can't picture myself anywhere else.

        “I've never agonized over anything like I've agonized over this, probably because it's so near and dear to my heart. I wanted it so desperately.”

        Crable replaces Steve Klonne, who resigned in May after 19 years as Crusaders head coach and became an assistant at McNicholas. Klonne, 55, had been asked by Moeller officials to resign, effective at the end of the 2001 season. Klonne said he'd coach one more year, then changed his mind.

        Klonne's teams went 169-48 and won state titles in 1982 and '85. Last season, Moeller finished 9-2.

        When co-athletic director Dick Beerman introduced Crable at Wednesday's news conference, he referred to him as “one of our favorite sons.”

        “He's just a tremendous fit for us,” Beerman said. “He brings instant credibility in the eyes of the students. ... We wanted a take-charge guy. We have no concern for the X's and O's of it. Our concern is getting a little stronger control of our program. We were beginning to get a little fractured in terms of our consensus of direction.

        “There isn't one of us comfortable with having to make the move we did. Steve Klonne has been very classy. It's been a very, very tough stretch. There's not a person in this school who doesn't think the world of that man.”

        Beerman said 25-30 coaches applied for the job. A seven-person committee narrowed the field to eight. Beerman; co-athletic director Barry Borman; principal Daniel Ledford; and Carl Kremer, dean of students and boys basketball coach, interviewed four finalists.

        “Moeller High School has been very special to me,” Crable said. “I'm not going to be someone who comes in here and flips this thing upside-down. Moeller High School is not about Gerry Faust. Moeller High School is not about Ted Bacigalupo or Steve Klonne, and it's not going to be about Bob Crable. Moeller High School and Moeller football (are) about tradition. And I view myself pretty much as the carrier of the torch.”

        Faust started Moeller's program in 1963. His teams went 174-17-2 in 18 years and established the school as a national power before Faust left to become Notre Dame head coach. Bacigalupo coached the Crusaders to a 12-1 record in 1981 before resigning. Klonne, then a Moeller assistant, took over.

        Now it's Crable's turn. He said he will focus on fundamentals, technique and discipline.

        “I truly do not believe that this job is about winning and losing,” Crable said. “It's about creating that structure for leadership, what kids I truly believe are looking for in life. And as you provide that, the wins and losses come.”

        Rick Keller, a 1978 Moeller graduate, former player and a member of the school's alumni association board, attended Wednesday's announcement and is pleased with the hiring.

        “Certainly the pressure is going to be very heavy,” Keller said. “He's replacing a guy that had a lot of success. I think Bob knows that going in. Bob was part of the Moeller tradition that started in the late '70s. He knows what that tradition's all about.”

Sports Stories

Crable takes Moeller torch SULLIVAN: Another challenge for Tiger Memorial always memorable to Woods Local golfer aims to follow Woods' lead Course opens at River's Bend Bonds continues HR assault Olympics bid due on Friday Hamilton baseball team faces experienced foe Hamilton sets sights on softball championship State baseball schedule State softball schedule State track schedule Kentucky tennis tournament preview N.Ky. baseball highlights N.Ky. baseball schedule N.Ky. softball highlights Ouzts still 1 shy of 4,000 victories Top Ohio prep QB chooses Ohio State

Reds end month in dis-May
Cubs 3, Reds 1
Kremchek says he underestimated Griffey's injury
Griffey, Harnisch improved
Elder grad fills in for Reyes
Update on other injured Reds
Sosa's homer keeps Cubs rolling
Reds box, runs
Scott arrives at Bengals' workouts
Injury forces Pickens' retirement
Xavier adds final assistant coach