2003 was a big year for new Madison East football coach Jeremy Thornton.
A first-team selection to the Big 8 all-conference team that season as a quarterback, Thornton led the Purgolders to an 8-1 record his senior year.
Thornton, a 2004 graduate of Madison East, believes a family-first mentality is the first step in returning East to those heights.
"We're a family," Thornton said when asked about what players might step up for a team that doesn't bring back anyone who made an all-conference list in past seasons. "We are a family, and will always be that now and forever."
Madison East has won seven games in the past three seasons, or one fewer than Thornton led East to in his senior year 14 years ago.
"I truly feel that together, my team and I will change the culture at Madison East," said Thornton.
Coach Thornton said taking the position was an easy decision, citing the fact he was an alum and that there is plenty of opportunity at Madison East:
Thornton is excited to get to work building the Madison East football program:
This will be the second season that Madison East will play at Breese Stevens, so for Coach Thornton, what is he expecting from that arrangement?
Madison East played well in Thornton's day. Is Coach Thornton using that for a model of what he will do with the program under his direction?
A full preview of Madison East football will be released prior to August 17
Photo: Jeremy Thornton