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Will the streak end?
After 3 straight 0-10 seasons, Cotton Pickers coach Claude Bassett says this year is it

By Javier Becerra, Caller-Times

Caller-Times

   ROBSTOWN - After just one season at Robstown High School, head football coach Claude Bassett is prepared to witness something that hasn't happened in four seasons to the struggling program.
   "This is my 29th year coaching somewhere, and I'm constantly catching myself asking, 'Are you seeing this, or are you wishing this?' " Bassett said of the team's development. "I'm not saying I'm going to reserve the Alamodome, but I think we'll be in a lot more games a lot longer. And yes, I believe we will win."
   The last time Robstown recorded a victory in the program's record books was on Sept. 18, 1998, when the Cotton Pickers defeated Miller, 21-2, in a non-district game. Since then, Robstown has lost 37 straight games, the second worst streak in the state, including three consecutive 0-10 seasons.
   Bassett isn't the only one predicting a win for the Cotton Pickers this season.
   "I'll tell you who is going to be very much improved, and that's Robstown," Calallen coach Phil Danaher said. "I think (the win) will come a lot quicker than people think. I look for them to win some in district, too."
   The Cotton Pickers return enough personnel for it to happen.
   Building on offense
   Robstown has eight starters back on offense and seven on defense. Of those returning, most were juniors and sophomores when they took their first varsity snap last season.
   At the center of Robstown's resurgence is quarterback Eloy Herrera, the only Class 4A quarterback in the area to pass for more than 1,000 yards. Herrera spent the summer fine tuning his skills in the local 7-on-7 passing league, as well as extensive hours in the weight room to improve his arm strength.
   Graduation left the Cotton Pickers without leading receiver Tim Tipton, who caught 33 passes for 602 yards. However, Robstown returns two capable targets from a year ago.
   Tight end Mario Esquivel and receiver Bobby Vela combined for 330 yards. Coupled with their play in the passing league, Kingsville coach Richard Whitaker is also optimistic about Robstown's season.
   "Bassett and Robstown have done an outstanding job out there," Whitaker said. "They had a lot of kids involved in the offseason program and looked very
   impressive in 7-on-7. When you do things right, you can't help but get better."
   District changes
   The improvement is much needed now that Gregory-Portland and Rockport-Fulton
   have been added to Robstown's schedule.
   Bassett, however, wasn't pleased about seeing the Wildcats and Pirates move back into the district following realignment.
   "Some clear-thinking individual stuck G-P and R-F back in the district," Bassett said. "That's two more district games against tremendous opponents on top of having to play everybody else. We didn't need that.
   "On the other hand, that has motivated these kids."
   The Cotton Pickers appear more than ready.
   "I've been waiting for this season for a long time," said junior linebacker Roland Martinez. "We've got good speed and everybody plays hard. Now it's time to go out there, and people better watch out because we're going to be explosive. We just need to play right."
   Offensive tune-up
   Bassett has tweaked the offense in certain places in order to make sure that happens.
   Feeling that Juan Hinojosa wasn't utilized enough a year ago, Bassett said the junior running back now figures prominently in the system and finally has a backup in Adrian Torres.
   "They're not like the two Jenkins boys (brothers Deunta and Damarion) at Flour Bluff, but at least they'll be able to tell what numbers they're wearing when they go by," Bassett said.
   Bassett feels most positive about his linemen situation.
   Everyone returns on the defensive line, and because of adequate depth, the Cotton Pickers are able to field a separate unit for offense. The linemen also return stronger than what they were last season, with all bench pressing at least 275 pounds and five with a best of 300.
   Bassett said strength must also come from within, as it did midway through last season.
   Robstown was still scoreless three games into its 2001 schedule. The week after a 14-0 loss to Orange Grove, Robstown traveled to Laredo Cigarroa and lost by just eight points, 44-36.
   Bassett said the game against Orange Grove was a turning point for the Cotton Pickers.
   "It felt better losing 14-0 as opposed to 66-6," Bassett said referring to Robstown's previous four seasons. "I don't believe much in moral victories, but we had several last season, and that meant a lot. That was something to build on. How much we'll see."