Alter High stalwarts share more than winning record

Now seniors, Three Codys are a big part of the Knights’ gridiron success this season.

Alter High School’s Three Codys — seniors (from left) Cody Taulbee, Cody Byers and Cody Conley — have helped the Knights football team to a 13-0 record, the state’s No. 1 ranking and a spot in the Division IV state semifinals.

Contributed photo by E.L. Hubbard Alter High School’s Three Codys — seniors (from left) Cody Taulbee, Cody Byers and Cody Conley — have helped the Knights football team to a 13-0 record, the state’s No. 1 ranking and a spot in the Division IV state semifinals.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 12:19 AM Saturday, November 28, 2009

KETTERING — For the first dozen or so years of his life, Cody Conley didn’t know anyone who shared his first name.

Then, in the sixth grade, he entered the Alter High School youth football program.

“All of a sudden there were three of us on the team,” said Conley, the Alter senior middle linebacker.

It’s been that way since. As seniors, Conley, running back Cody Taulbee and safety Cody Byers have comprised the team’s Three Codys trio that has helped the Knights reach the Division IV state semifinals for the second consecutive season.

The group is part of a senior class that faced plenty of pressure after the Knights won their first state title last season.

Since then, they’ve helped 13-0 Alter maintain its No. 1 state ranking and roll into a state semifinal with Coshocton (11-2) today, Nov. 28, at Hamilton Twp. High School.

“We get called Byers and Taulbee, and for some reason the coaches just call Cody Conley Cody,” Byers said.

He laughed.

“He might not like me saying this,” Byers said, “but if they yell Cody, it’s usually him.”

Taulbee and Byers have been friends since the first grade, and they thought it was unusual enough then that they shared the same name. Taulbee even remembers the first time he met Conley, even though he didn’t yet know him or realize they would both be aiding one of the best two-year Miami Valley prep football runs in history.

“I think it was fourth grade basketball, we were playing at Incarnation,” Taulbee said. “(Conley) and I were both the big men for our teams, and I heard some guy in the stands screaming, ‘Get him Cody, get him Cody.’ I couldn’t understand why this guy was yelling my name. Then we figured out later it was him.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.