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AUSTIN -- The 1983 Snook basketball team walked on to the Erwin Center basketball court like they owned the place.
In many ways, they still do.
The Blue Jays were honored 25 years after winning their sixth straight state title at a halftime ceremony Saturday during the Class A Division I championship.
In 1983, Class A had no divisions except the one dividing Snook from the rest of the state. The players and coaches on the '83 squad were carrying a legacy that extended into the next season and a seventh consecutive state championship.
"We've always had as our goal to be the best that we can be and not to settle for anything less than that," said Donnie Victorick, who coached Snook to five of the seven championships, including the 1983 title. "I was fortunate enough to take over a program that was unique in that I had coached these kids in junior high. They are a group of champions, fierce competitors. They never want to accept anything but the best, and second place is never good enough for them."
Snook took the court with Dimmitt, the 3A championship team in 1983. The two schools are more than one-time title winners, combining for 36 trips to the state tournament.
Their on-court introductions Saturday included 32 of a possible 38 players from the two title-winning squads of '83.
"Out of the two teams, only six people missed," Victorick said. "That's tremendous representation."
During the ceremony, Joel Almanza held back the 2008 state champion Thorndale Bulldogs as they waited to return to the court. The man, whose official Erwin Center title is "host," has welcomed state tournament teams into the arena for 25 years. He was in place for a portion of Snook's record championship run and knows the Blue Jays well.
"That's Snook, and they dominated," Almanza told the Bulldogs in the hall as Snook's former players walked onto the court.
The Blue Jays' introductions brought conversation and knowing nods from the morning crowd. Basketball fans across the state may not know the school's mascot, but they know the name "Snook" goes hand-in-hand with basketball success.
A quarter-century after Snook's 76-40 victory over Nacogdoches Central Heights, the 1983 Blue Jays celebrated the way they always have, as a team and as friends.
"I'm not talking to the media any more," joked Darin Benford, who was a junior when he led Snook with 23 points in the championship game. He had predicted a state championship that year, drawing the ire of his coach.
"I don't think [Victorick] wanted it in the paper at the time," said Benford, whose teammates responding with teasing taunts. "That gave everybody the ability to say, 'OK, let's go ahead and knock them out of this thing. Snook ain't going to make it this year.'"
But Snook did, not losing to a Class A team over a 35-5 season.
In the two state tournament games, Benford had a combined 40 points and 12 rebounds. He made the all-tournament team alongside teammates Johnny (Clint) Thomas and Anthony Stringfellow.
"At the end of the season when we won the state championship, I went to Mr. Victorick and said, Oh, thank God," Benford said. "The next year I kept my mouth shut."
Snook teams have won a record 23 games as the UIL Boys Basketball State Championships. No other school has won more than 16.
Snook's Thomas, who was a senior in 1983, won eight games at the state tournament. He scored a total of 34 points and grabbed 25 rebounds at the state tournament in '83.
"If you asked us what we were going to do in basketball, nobody said we were going to go to state," Thomas said. "We were going to win state, and that was it. It wasn't getting there. It was win state."
With the honorees from Dimmitt joining Snook's, the line of former state champions stretched from one baseline to the other.
"We still want to play those guys," said Thomas of the Dimmitt team. "They were undefeated."
The still-trim Thomas looked like he might have a few moves left for a matchup with the former 3A champions.
"I think maybe I schooled all of these guys when they were young," Thomas laughed. "It's mostly family. I enjoyed playing with these guys. It was fun."
Other former Snook players remembered the fun they had playing basketball 25 years ago.
"We didn't know how good we were," Darryl Young said. "We grew up playing ball together. It was something we did on a daily basis. We knew each other's strengths and weaknesses."
Said Wesley Jackson: "We didn't really worry about who scored. We had a lot of great scorers on this team, but we all played as one unit and didn't worry about who had the most points. I never lost in this building. It was a good accomplishment back then, but look at what we are blessed with today. We were taught to do well and everybody is doing that today. We were champions on the floor, and now we're champions off the floor."
Their connection as teammates is still alive, too.
"These guys still stay in touch with one another," Victorick said. "They are in contact with me and come by the house, or they give me a phone call. The rewards come today for what they worked so hard for 25 years ago."
And that championship bond still matters.
"Oh, yes, it does," Victorick said, tears welling in his eyes.
When UIL director Bill Farney introduced Snook to the crowd, his words were simple.
"Donnie said that this is just a good bunch of people with great character," Farney announced over the public address system.
The Snook players enjoyed the recognition from the crowd but enjoyed their family reunion even more.
Said Jackson: "We thank God for letting us get back with health and strength."
And with respect for each other and the game.
After all, they are Snook.
Here are the members of the 1983 Snook Blue Jay basketball team that attended the ceremony:
Head coach Donnie Victorick -- the retired administrator is a district director and chairman of the board for the SPJST (Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas), lives in Snook (2 children).
Assistant coach Harold McClung -- the retired teacher now lives in Hillsboro (2 children).
Assistant coach Don Royder -- an EMS training manager who lives in Snook (2 children).
Forward Darin Benford -- retired from the United States Navy, he is now a deputy constable living in Bryan (2 children).
Guard Terrance Cole -- works for Amazon.com and lives in Dallas (4 children).
Guard Robert Carter (deceased) -- was represented by his son, Ryan Carter (2 children).
Guard Wesley Jackson -- Quality control inspector for Interstate southwest, he lives in Navasota (2 children).
Forward Anthony Stringfellow -- works for Halliburton Energy Services, living in Bryan (2 children)
Center Johnny (Clint) Thomas -- works in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice program and lives in Bryan (3 children).
Forward Walter L. Thomas, Sr. -- a jailer at Minale River Raymond Jail, he lives in Cremora, Va. (5 children).
Forward Anthony Waller -- self-employed and living in Bryan (1 child).
Forward Johnny Washington -- a 17-year police officer for the City of Austin, living in Round Rock (3 children).
Guard Lawrence Wilson -- U.S. Naval Officer currently living in Suffolk, Va. (3 children)
Forward Darryl Young -- a rehab case manager in College Station. (4 children)
Manager Darnell Boulden -- record center specialist at Iron Mountain in Houston.
Manager Vernon Moore -- a customer service representative in Bryan (2 children).
• David Campbell's e-mail address is david.campbell@theeagle.com.
