Cottonwood benefactor built football program into success, only to be told to leave

Prep football » As grown-ups debate the booster’s deeds, former players have his back.

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"I wanted to give it to someone who appreciated it," Cate said. "They appreciated it very much."

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"It’s a travesty" » On the day Cate left, Cottonwood hired former Dixie State coach Greg Croshaw, who walked into a hurricane.

Croshaw inherited a talent-rich but low-depth roster with high expectations and an equipment shed with no footballs.

Despite a roster of all-stars, including Bateman, the Colts couldn’t win. An exit in the first round of the playoffs was the lasting legacy of a group that boasted seven Division I commits.

"It was definitely a shock," Bateman said. "We kept battling all year but just fell really short. You can’t really point a finger at anyone."

Not everyone shared that stand. Midseason, some parents went to the administration asking that Croshaw be fired.

Even those who believed the new coaching staff should be given a chance have issues with how the transition was handled.

"I like what Scott did. I don’t know why he did it, but I don’t see a lot of bad from it," said Fred Anderson, whose son is a junior.

Many are waiting to see how Croshaw and his staff respond to a fresh start and a full offseason, but several parents see an inevitable downward spiral for the program.

"It’s a travesty that the school district took advantage of a man’s generosity and then sent him packing," Johnson said. "The kids were the ones who got the short end of the stick, and that’s sad."

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