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Ewing football, after wrestling legend Ted DiBiase's motivational speech, rolls over rival

Posted: Sep 16th 2015 By: Chuck Langerman

Anthony Herold, a Ewing assistant football coach, presented head coach coach Drew Besler with a novel idea for a motivational speaker before their opening night showdown with Lawrence in the Colonial Valley Conference rivalry last Friday.

It was not a football player, not a former Ewing standout and not even a person from the Ewing area that was suggested. Instead it was requested that Besler bring in a friend of Herold's father?s, legendary professional wrestler Ted DiBiase, known as the "Million Dollar Man."

Besler did not hesitate a second and DiBiase spoke to the Ewing team just after its pre-game meal two hours before the game. By all accounts, DiBiase was a huge success and the WWE Hall of Famer?s words of wisdom got the entire team jacked up to play in its season opener.

?Anthony (Herold) came in one day last year with the Million Dollar Man (championship) belt over his shoulders and I said to him, 'What the heck are you doing with that?' ? Besler said. ?He told me then it was Ted DiBiase?s and that he?d given it to him. It was pretty big, heavy and all gold. Then Anthony asked me if Ted was ever in town could he bring him in to fire up the guys. Thinking it would never happen, I said yes.

?So when he approached with the idea a few weeks ago, I said 'Yeah, great bring him in.' I was curious as to what his message would be, but he came in and talked about adversity and how there?s going to be times in your life when there are people who are going to hold you back and that you need to do your best to be the best version of yourself and push forward."

His message included overcoming issues related to underage drinking.

?A lot of the kids related to the problems he had growing up,? Besler said. ?I was so proud of our kids. They were respectful, energetic and when he spoke you could hear a pin drop. It couldn?t have gone any better and afterwards all of our players wanted to shake his hand and get pictures with him. It was fantastic.?

After listening to DiBiase?s words, the Devils came out on fire in jumping out to a 14-0 first quarter lead on their way to a 41-18 victory. It marked the Devils' first win over their rivals in at least 14 years.

?I told Drew he (DiBiase) was coming to town and asked if he wanted me to see if he?d come speak to the team,? said Herold, who got the Million Dollar Man belt as a Christmas gift two years ago. ?My dad (John) asked Ted if it would be OK and we set it up and Drew agreed to let him come in to speak.

?My dad became friends with DiBiase back in the 80?s through a mutual friend and he?s been a close friend to the family ever since.?

?Ted spoke for about 30 minutes and he was outstanding. Our kids were all amped up to go out and have a good season. His message definitely carried over onto the field because our kids came out sky high ready to play and went out and played great right from the start of the game.?