40 years after LD Bell played for a state title, resurgent Blue Raiders off to 5-0 start
The year was 1982.
Ronald Reagan was in office, a gallon of gas cost you $1.30 and Physical by Olivia Newton-John was the No. 1 single. Oh, and L.D. Bell football played for a state championship.
A lot has changed since then, and we’re not just talking about who’s in the White House or how much gas is these days, but Bell football has seen better days.
The Blue Raiders haven’t had a winning season since 2013.
They have gone 15-65 during the previous eight seasons.
But in his second season at the helm, head coach TJ Dibble and a resurgent Bell team are 5-0. It’s the best start for Bell since 2012 when the team won its first six games.
Bell defeated Crowley, 21-17, on Friday night.
“I have to give credit to last year’s senior class,” Dibble said. “We didn’t win a bunch of football games, but they worked tirelessly. We ended up winning two of final three games and that set the foundation for our success this year. They have worked really hard and I’m very proud of our kids.
“They have done everything we ask them to do and it’s paid off. It’s exciting for Bell and the community continues to support us.”
Dibble took the job in February of 2021 after spending four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Arlington. The move to Bell was special because it was his first job as a head coach.
But it was much more closer to the heart.
Dibble graduated from Bell in 2000 and his father, Richard Dibble, was an offensive line coach on that 1982 state team.
“I am so proud of the leadership and choices he has made,” Richard Dibble said. “He has made me so proud.”
His brother, Jason, is also on staff at Bell and helps coach the cornerbacks and is a team consultant.
Dibble’s parents also live a mile away from the high school.
“This has been my dream job,” Dibble said. “I have had family ties with the Bell community for a long time. I’ve lived here for 20 years, my children go to HEB ISD, my wife works in HEB ISD, so to have this opportunity to coach my alma mater, but to also be around this high school and community, it’s special.”
By the numbers
Bell is 2-0 in District 3-6A. The Blue Raiders won 56-0 in the opener against Chisholm Trail.
Senior quarterback Landen Garcia completed 10 of 12 passes and threw two touchdowns to seniors Jalen David and Gracien Anto. Senior running back Roderick Hale rushed 11 times for 152 yards and scored four touchdowns.
Against Crowley, Anto scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and the defense made two crucial stops late to seal the win.
Through four weeks, the Blue Raiders have scored 197 points. By comparison, the team scored all but 134 points in 10 games last season. They’ve also beaten Dallas Bishop Lynch (65-21), Irving MacArthur (45-16) and Arlington Sam Houston (10-7).
“This start for not only our school, but for the entire community has been exciting because it has been such a long time since we’ve had a start like this,” senior Colton Panther said. “The feeling of winning and having a winning environment in our program is something I’ll never take for granted.”
Panther is the starting center and a team captain.
“We knew as a program this season was going to be different,” he said. “Our preparation throughout spring football last year and summer dedication put us at the point we’re at now.
“Our goal as a program at the beginning of this season was to make the playoffs. It’s been a really long time since that has been achieved. It would be an unforgettable moment for our entire HEB community to see us succeed.”
Bell, No. 8 in the latest Class 6A area rankings, hasn’t scored 50 points twice in a season since 2013. It hasn’t scored 60 since 2012.
“I can’t pick one kid, but the biggest growth from last year is on offense,” Dibble said. “Dan Wilkinson my offensive coordinator has done a great job for our program. The ability to move the football consistently and our physicality plus our weapons on that side of the ball has given us the biggest jump.”
Defensively, Bell is led by senior 3-star edge rusher Trey Wilson, a member of the Star-Telegram Top 100. He also has the most tackles in the Fort Worth-area.
Wilson, also a team captain, was named Class 6A statewide player of the week in Week 3 after having 24 tackles against Sam Houston.
“People talk about physically genetic freaks of nature and Trey is one of those kids,” Dibble said. “When you watch him on film, his size and athleticism jump off the page. But he’s also become a leader for our program. It’s not just his measureables, but he shows up to work everyday and he’s humble, and wants to the team to be successful.”
Added Wilson, “Our start has given our community hope and it’s changed the standard as well as the culture of our program. We’re [undefeated] because we’ve learned to work together and not point fingers even when the game has been on the line.”
1982 team
Bell, which ran the Wing-T offense 40 years ago, lost to Beaumont West Brook, 21-10, in the Class 5A state championship at the Astrodome in Houston.
Tim Edwards was the head coach.
The Blue Raiders, which featured four running backs over or close to 1,000 yards rushing that season, beat Grand Prairie (30-3), Fort Worth Western Hills (23-7) and San Angelo Central (28-6) in the playoffs.
In the state quarterfinals, they met longtime rival Euless Trinity and won on penetrations. Then they beat Dallas Carter 21-13 in the semifinals.
They had met Trinity earlier that season for the district title. Both teams were 9-0 at the time and played at Texas Stadium with 32,000 people in attendance.
“I remember the boys turning into men and how the community came together to support the Blue Raiders,” Richard Dibble said.
One of their flankers that year was senior Mike Fielder, who is now the HEB ISD athletic director.
“Our brotherhood stands out to me,” said Fielder, who has been in the role for the last 15 years. “We were very close and a tight knit group. That was by design. Our coaches instilled a sense of team and unity.”
During Bell’s game against Chisholm Trail, the program honored and recognized that 40-year anniversary team at halftime. Former players, coaches, cheerleaders, teachers and band members were in attendance.
They showed old clips, brought out trophies and the honorees got to watch the game from just behind the end zone.
“It felt like we had played our last game a few years ago, not 40 years. That’s mind boggling to me,” Fielder said. “But it was like we picked up right where we left off. It was a great time catching up.”
Added Wilson, “It’s extremely motivating. It illustrates how great of a football team we can be if we do the little things right and work as a team. A winning season for Bell would mean that we’re back in business and it would prove not only to HEB but for our football team that we’re capable of being a great team.”
Dibble was only 1 in 1982, but was on the field when Bell played against West Brook.
“Life is funny. It’s come full circle. TJ was standing on the floor at the Astrodome and now he’s coaching this team,” Fielder said.
“It’s a special community. I’m proud to have been a part of that moment because they set the standard to make this place special,” Dibble said. “For us, playoffs was our goal at the start of the season. It’s been 10 years since Bell has made it. These kids are awesome. They’ve earned their success and they’ll continue to earn it.
“The playoffs would be a big deal for HEB ISD and this side of the community. These kids want to leave a legacy behind and be known as the group that reignited this football program.”
This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 7:50 AM.
