By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
DALLAS, Texas - It bursts in spurts and bubbles out suddenly for the football team at Northwestern-Miami (Fla.) High School.
It boils over when you least expect it, but it's honest and hot and real.
We saw and heard it several times Friday during a final walk-through practice at Southern Methodist University, site of today's Clash of Champions between the Bulls and nearby Southlake Carroll in a nationally televised game (ESPNU) pitting what most consider the top two prep teams in the country.
We first heard it from Northwestern star receiver, University of Miami-bound Aldarius Johnson who calmly portrayed his team as a family, one which has endured greatly since its coaching staff was fired in July amidst allegations of a sex scandal cover-up.
"We had father figures in our coaching staff last year but they were taken away," Johnson said. "We have new father figures who we listen to and respect.
"I tell you what. We've come too far to lose."
The new coach Billy Rolle, another cool head who is the only coach in Florida history to win state titles at two schools, likewise offered a big rosy picture story to defuse the state bragging rights debate.
"This isn't about representing Florida or representing Texas," he said. "This is about representing high school football.
"At the same time that doesn't mean during game time it won't be an all out war."
Then there was Northwestern's Alumni President Larry Williams, one of about 50 Floridians who showed up at SMU for the mid-day preparation.
He succinctly covered Northwestern's vast history not only of athletic prowess, which include current NFL players OT Vernon Carey (Dolphins), DB Torrie Cox (Buccaneers), RB Vernand Morency (Packers), LB Nate Webster (Broncos) and WR Antonio Bryant (49ers), but famous alumni who are now lawyers and doctors and politicians.
He noted how Northwestern alums would attend Saturday's game, from as far away as Alaska, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana.
"This is our Northwestern village and we take care of our young bulls," he said. "And quite honestly, we're all here to see a good (butt) whipping tomorrow."
Uh, how's that?
"I'll be perfectly candid, if we don't score 50 points I'll be awfully surprised," he said.
Excuse me?
"They wanted us to come out here and well, here we are. Get ready to get spanked."
Hmm.
Well, it's likely Williams won't be President of Northwestern's Politically Correct Public Speaking Club anytime soon, but his heat and passion might indeed reveal the true feelings of the "young" Bulls.
They're mad for having to travel.
They feel wrongly scorned for an isolated incident involving a player who's already graduated.
They have much to prove because for the first time in their high school football careers they are considered underdogs.
Carroll, on the other hand, is near home, soaking the limelight and basking in the good PR.
The Dragons (1-0) have won 49 straight games, 80 of 81 and three consecutive state Class 5A titles. They are ranked No. 1 in virtually every national poll, including MaxPreps.
Northwestern (2-0), the defending state 6A champ, winners of 17 straight, is No. 1 by ESPN.
The Bulls' season was almost cancelled after the previous coaching staff was fired and they had sign character clauses in order to participate.
"We've been through a lot and this moment couldn't come soon enough," said senior Marcus Forston, the country's top rated defensive lineman according to CSTV's Tom Lemming. "We're just going to let our pads do the talking."
That might lead to some loud licks.
But will it necessary translate to good all-around play?
Will the Bulls be too fired up and lose focus on assignments or coverages?
Rolle is hopeful they'll follow his lead. He led Northwestern (1998) and Killian-Miami (2004) to state titles.
"I'm pretty low key and I hope that's rubbed off on the kids," Rolle said. "I won't have to do much to get these guys motivated."
Being ranked No. 18 in maxpreps' computer rankings will certainly help in motivation.
"When we score 50 on them, you can input that information into your computer and watch it explode," Williams said.
The Northwestern faithful were hot when Carroll refused to leave the state to play this game.
"Their coach said that they didn't need to leave the state because the best football is in Texas," Northwestern Boosters' Financial Chairman Sidney Simpson said. "We'll see about that."
Simpson said as beautiful as SMU's Ford Field appears, its 32,000 seating capacity falls short.
"I guarantee if we played this game any where near Miami, even Atlanta, we would draw 60,000 fans," Simpson said. "Trust me, our fans bleed blue and gold."
Simpson had one more guarantee.
"No matter what," he said with dramatic pause. "(The Bulls) will find a way to prevail."
What do you think? E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@sfchronicle.com.
