Each Friday this season, Adam Clindaniel has attached a red towel stitched with a 3 to his uniform pants.
For the South Central senior, it's not just something he uses to wipe his hands.
The towel dates back to 1984, when another Clindaniel, Adam's dad Monte, was a senior for the Satellites, also sporting the same digit.
"It means a lot to me," Adam said. "I love football. (My dad)'s a good guy to listen to. I take in all his advice. He tells me to enjoy it while I'm here. (High school) goes by fast. Take it all in."
A receiver-free safety, Monte Clindaniel still holds five S.C. records. Adam first played football in sixth grade and continued through junior high before breaking his right arm and collar bone in separate injuries as an eighth-grader.
That prompted him to sit out his freshman season. He returned as a sophomore and started at defensive tackle, helping the Satellites win their first sectional title under Jeff Karras.
"I heard (Karras) was pretty good. We had a lot of seniors. We had a pretty good team and I wanted to be a part of it," Clindaniel said. "My dad really wanted me to play. It was kind of a learning year."
S.C. went 4-6 under Mel Hay in 2011. Dan Klimczak is Clindaniel's third coach in as many seasons, four counting Bob Foster, who was let go before the first game.
"As a team, going through it, it's hard," Clindaniel said. "Every coach is different. We've been through a lot in the off-season, but we just wanted to win. We completely turned it around from last year."
Clindaniel went through his own transition as well, dropping 30 pounds to 185 through working out and a healthier diet, i.e. less fast food.
"I put on the most weight the year I didn't play," he said. "Last year, I wasn't in too good of shape. I cramped up in a lot of games. I've had no problems this year. (Being lighter) helped me create more separation and get off blocks. I believe this is the best year I've had in football."
At tight end, Clindaniel has 15 catches for 263 yards. At defensive end, he has six tackles for losses and seven sacks.
"He's really done an excellent job on both sides of the ball," Klimczak said. "He brings us another dimension offensively. He's a big, strong pass-catching tight end who can beat defensive backs deep. He's athletic. He can go up and get the ball. A lot of times, we're running behind him. He really sets the edge for the Sturdy brothers to get a lot of their yards. Defensively, he's a great run stopper and an excellent pass rusher who makes big plays when necessary."
Clindaniel likes that Klimczak throws more, but isn't adverse to putting his pads on somebody either.
"I like blocking. The Sturdys are good friends, so I'm happy to block for them," he said. "I love defense. I'll do whatever it takes for us to be successful. If we win, that's fine with me."
South Central takes a 7-2 mark into tonight's Class A Sectional 33 opener at Whiting. The 9-0 Oilers handed the Satellites their first loss, 40-6 in week four.
"It's a whole new season," Clindaniel said. "The first time we played, it wasn't really our team. We're going to come out completely different."
The legacy of the towel and 3 won't end with Adam's last game. Next season, both will be passed on to his brother Jacob, a freshman.
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