NEW BREMEN, Ohio — In the small town of New Bremen, about 55 miles north of Dayton, the tradition of football has become part of the community. And this year- the high school is celebrating 50 years of football as they head to the state championship for just the second time. 

50 years ago, football hit the community of New Bremen for the first time. And for Burt Fiser, it was the first year he started as head basketball coach at the high school, adding athletic director just a few years later.

“Those early years there was an excitement about the program but there was an education process that had to take place too," Fiser said. "A lot of people were learning about the game just as our players were learning about the game.”

But it took nearly all 50 of those years to get to where this program is today. Former football coach Howard Overman coached the team from 1993 until 2004.

Howard Overman reminisces on his days as football head coach at New Bremen (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)

“It finally evolved after being here awhile and showing that you care for the kids," Overman said. "You coach them the right way and kids come out and fortunately you get good athletes and that always helps.”

One of Overman’s most successful seasons was as a regional runner-up in 2004. He’s happy to see the success the team has found over the last few years.

“I obviously envy it because that’s something you put a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to that point," Overman said. "Our teams never made it, and it wasn’t because of lack of effort.”

But the success of football and other sports- like volleyball, which just won its third state championship- has brought this small community of 3,000 together.

New Bremen won the girls' volleyball state championship this year (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)

“People turn out here to support these kids and the essence of it is that it makes the school still the center of everything we do," Fiser said.

“The community really rallies around football," Overman said. "It’s hard to explain, but football does bring you together. But fortunately, here at New Bremen the past few years, we’ve had success in other sports too and everybody comes out.”

Now as Overman and Fiser’s time in athletics here at New Bremen is over, they say they still feel proud of the Cardinals' current success and are hopeful for the next 50 years.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve done," Fiser said. "I’m humbled in having just a small, small, small, really small part of it.”

“I’ve got grandkids here and one's a manager right now and one's five and they see it and they’re wearing the jerseys and I think success breeds success," Overman said. "The younger ones hopefully see it that it doesn’t just come to you, you got to work for it. And these kids have worked for it.”