There were no delusions of grandeur. But optimism?
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You bet.
This fall, entering his 10th season with the program, coach Nick Kukuc understood the prevailing view of East Aurora football.
Go 40 seasons without making the playoffs, and it’s hard to argue with the naysayers. The battle has always been uphill.
Is perception reality?
It can be, and Friday night, the young coach made his perception turn into a reality with a 54-20 Upstate Eight Conference win over Fenton that clinched a playoff berth for East Aurora.
It’s a first for the Tomcats (6-3) since 1982. Kukuc, his staff, the entire team, family and friends learned Saturday they were the 22nd seed in the 32-team Class 8A bracket. They’ll travel Friday to 11th-seeded Belleville East (7-2) for a 6 p.m. first-round game.
Yes, that’s a long trip, but not as long as the journey has been for Kukuc and his players in getting a burden lifted from their collective shoulders.
“It’s going to be a new experience for a lot of people,” Kukuc said. “I was born in 1991, so in my lifetime, the Tomcats haven’t made it to the postseason.
“It’s a pretty cool experience to go through it with these guys who have worked so hard. Hopefully, this becomes the new standard.”
Kukuc, 32, who teaches physical education and oversees the athletic program’s weight room, is a former running back at Naperville Central and North Central College who looks like he could still play.
He will draw on his own experience to help prepare East Aurora for the next step after that long drive to the St. Louis area.
Kukuc played twice in the playoffs with Naperville Central.
“My junior year was against Lincoln-Way East, senior year against Mount Carmel,” he said.
One and done?
“Unfortunately, yes,” Kukuc said. “First-round teams that were pretty tough. It’s not going to feel real until it is because it’s a new experience.
“Over the last couple years, we’ve been getting used to the expectation and understanding that winning needs to be a learned culture and learned behavior.”
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East Aurora went 4-5 the year before the pandemic hit and 4-5 the past two seasons.
Teaching at East Aurora was his first job out of North Central College, where he ran for 3,730 yards in his career and still ranks third in program history.
“He’s been one of the best running backs here,” former NCC coach Jeff Thorne said. “He’s lightning fast and incredibly strong. He still loves the weight room.
“I’m not surprised at all he’s done this. Nick is in it for all the right reasons. He wanted to be a male role model for those kids.”
In his first four years at East Aurora, Kukuc worked on the staff of Kurt Becker, the former Chicago Bears offensive lineman and Tomcat alum. Six years ago, Kukuc was promoted to head coach at age 26.
“I was the offensive coordinator my second or third year,” Kukuc said. “This was my first job opportunity, and I took it. I’ve been in love with it ever since. It was a great opportunity.
“I was fortunate Kurt trusted me with a lot of duties. He put me in a position to be successful, allowing me to run practices, plan practices and help run meetings. He put a lot of faith in a young kid, and it’s something I’ll always be grateful for.”
Kukuc also was influenced by assistants like Brian Melvin, who’s now on the staff at Judson. And he’s at home being a part of the Tomcat family.
“As for East Aurora, I know from the outsider’s perspective, a lot of people don’t see the beauty that’s in it,” Kukuc said. “For me, it’s a strong sense of community — a lot of support with a lot of passionate people that really want to be great.”
His message has sunk in, according to senior quarterback Amado Martinez.
“Every week we come in we want to play like everybody is 0-0,” Martinez said. “We’re still on a mission in the postseason to go 1-0 every week and play like they took something from us.”
Optimism. It’s contagious.