Thursday, July 23, 2015

Crossing Paths with a Giant.... the Impact of Great People......Coach Bill Arnsparger

With John Combs & Coach Arnsparger after he spoke to our 2005 KY All Star Team. One of the greatest honors, ever, for our family, was when John Combs played the piano for Coach Arnsparger's funeral. 


30 years ago it was the summer of 1992. I was a first year head football coach at Paris HS. Stephanie and I had just been married that May. Our summer days were to get up and leave Lexington every morning and drive to Paris. I would work til dark and she would look for a house. I was replacing a very popular head coach and my former boss in Roger Gruneisen who had just become the head coach at our rival, Bourbon County HS.  We had around 25-29 kids in grades 9-12. To say I was on edge would be an understatement.

In late July/early August we were getting ready for the Greyhound Hall of Fame Banquet. Bill Arnsparger was in town and I got to meet him for the first time.  During those few days, he came by our fieldhouse and practices. I had the incredible opportunity to visit and talk with the greatest defensive coach of all time.   


I can't remember all that we talked about, but I do know this.... I was in a much better frame of mind after our time together. It was a couple things. One was that the way Coach Arnsparger treated others, he could inspire confidence. He certainly did that for me. The other thing it did for me was it reinforced how special it was to be a Paris Greyhound.  Coach Arnsparger being around our kids those few days helped all of us appreciate even more that we wore the orange and black.  For lack of a better term, the positive vibe he brought to the fieldhouse and our football program right before the season was a difference maker for all of us.  Bill Arnsparger was a Greyhound. We were Greyhounds. 


After a 1991 season of 2-8, the 1992 Greyhounds were 7-4.  We had some big victories with a team of mainly sophomores and juniors.  We had very good teams in 93 & 94 as well.


I can't imagine how the past 30 years would have gone without the start we had in 1992.  Coach Arnsparger was a huge part of helping me and our program believe we could do it. I think he had that kind of effect on most everyone that came into contact with him. 


In the summer of 1995, we were getting ready for a primarily defensive practice. I notice a car parked off to the side of Garrard Park. Paranoia is my best thing... I walk toward the car to see who is spying on us. As he emerged from the car, I said, "Hello Coach!" It was Coach and Mrs. Arnsparger!! Coach was kind enough to speak to our team before we began our work. He then watched our defensive practice that day. Here is the BEST defensive coach in the WORLD watching us practice defense... our fundamentals, reads, terminology, drills, etc. Forget about nerves for a ballgame, that was about as big as it gets when it comes to coaching.  But, what a GREAT experience for a young coaching staff and a HS football team! I will never forget that day and will always be thankful that it happened. 


Coach Arnsparger has gone on to be with His heavenly Father, who he loved and served on this earth. Hard to believe it has been seven years since he passed away. But, one thing that I am 100% sure of..... the positive impact and the way he touched the lives of others will live on and cannot be measured because of it's magnitude.


I thank God that I was one of those people that crossed paths with Coach Arnsparger.  Thank you coach and God Bless the Arnspargers.


Colossians 3:23 

The greatest book written on defense, by the great defensive football coach in the history of the game. 


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Made My Day!!!

I got a great surprise yesterday when I found out Jonathan Thomas, Erica, & Keshaun were going to be in Harrodsburg. I got to show them our Sports Complex and facilities. 

Jonathan played for me, we coached together, and he is the new head football coach at Mason County HS.  

It was cool getting a picture of Keshaun in the football office in front of the article naming his dad as the head coach at Mason County.  

Trosper & Keshaun had fun getting to play and hang out together again. 

I am very proud of Jonathan and am I so glad he is the guy that replaced me. He loves Royals football and those kids. He is doing a great job already running the program!



I like the article with Jonathan, Keshaun in his ragin royal, my 94 Paris seniors, and the Mercer Titan hat, all in the same picture. To me, this is all one big family!



Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Terrence Commodore , new position with EKU basketball

Congratulations to Terrence Commodore and his new position with EKU Men's basketball. In the fall of 2001, Terrence intercepted a pass at Fleming Co. to seal the first football region title in school history. Then that spring, he intercepted a pass against Montgomery County at the Fieldhouse to win the first basketball region championship in several years.  He is a champion on and off the floor/field.  Congrats T!


http://courtsidewithdannyweddle.blogspot.com/2015/07/terrence-commodore-named-director-of.html

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Corey Jett- NASA!

One of my former players is living in Huntsvulle, Alabama, working for NASA! Corey Jett played WR at Mason County and was a part of the 2003 Region Championship team.

I asked him for details and got this reponse:



 I am in training currently but I will be overseeing and managing the flow of data up to the International Space Station and the flow of data back down to Earth. 



Congratulations Corey!




Sunday, July 5, 2015

Getting focused to start the season: A Yearly Ritual

Coaches-

I always like to start the season by reading a book through the preseason to help me focus on the coming season, what things are most important, and why I coach. The two books that I usually read are Vince Lombardi's Run to Daylight and Wes Neal's Handbook on Coaching Perfection.

Because it is about GREAT coaches, Black Shoes & White Shoestrings might be a book that would serve the same purpose for some coaches. Here is a description of the book:

This book was written by a HS football coach, who"s father was also a HS football coach. It is a collection of football and life lessons learned from a variety of coaches at the HS, collegiate, and professional level. Leadership, the RIGHT kind of leadership is also addressed through out the book.

Bill Arnsparger, Blanton Collier, Chuck Smith, Dale Mueller, Mike Archer, Bill Walsh, Ed Rall, Vince Lombardi, Larry French, Ivan McGlone, Alvis Johnson, Tony Dungy, Steele Harmon, Joe McDaniel, Raymond Webb, Tom Duffy, Sam Harp, ShaDon Brown, Corky Prater, Ted Purcell, Jack Eicher, Ray Graham, and Leon Hart are some of the coaches included in this book.

Boyle County Rebels, Highlands Bluebirds, Centre College Colonels, Mason County Royals, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Kentucky Wildcats, Paris Greyhounds, Danville Admirals, Ashland Tomcats, Russell Red Devils, Harrodsburg Hogs, Mercer County Scotties.

You can purchase this book with the buy button at the top of this blog. Enjoy the great game of football this season!

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July- Highlighting a former Marine, great person/coach: Bill Arnsparger

Happy 4th of July to everyone, but especially to the veterans, including many of those old coaches that served our nation in WW II. Coach Bill Arnsparger, a Paris, Ky native was  a Marine during WW II. His HS football coach was Blanton Collier. Coach Arnsparger coached the greatest defense in the history of the NFL, the No-Name Dolphins of the only undefeated Super Bowl Champions from Miami in 1972.

Besides being a great coach, Bill Arnsparger is a great man who serves others and puts the well-being of others ahead of himself. In 1992 when I became the head coach at Paris HS, he always made time for me and our program. I can never thank him enough for the kindness and help he gave me in those early years at Paris HS. Coach Arnsparger's ability as a coach, character, concern for others, and willingness to serve are second to none. Every accolade you could bestow on a wonderful human being, he deserves.

Here is an excerpt / AFM blog entry from Black Shoes & White Shoestrings on Coach Arnsparger:

Arnsparger: A Master at Deflecting Attention

Happy 4th of July to Coach Arnsparger, his wonderful family, and all the Veterans who served our nation!

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Dustin Grutza- still winning championships

http://www.maysville-online.com/news/local/local-business-to-be-featured-on-discovery-program/article_ac271858-379a-5269-a654-bf3331815e6c.html



Here is a great article on my former QB Dustin Grutza, and his new business, Craftforce, which will be featured on the Discovery Channel.

A little background on Dustin.....

In the summer of 1996, he showed up as one of about 9 kids at our first little kids camp at Mason County. As a sophomore starting his first game in 2001, he threw a TD pass on 4th down in overtime to defeat Tate's Creek in the season opener. He lead our team to two region championships, three state quarerfinal appearances and two state semifinal appearances in his three seasons as our starter. He lead the KY All Stars over Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, and went on to be a starter at the University of Cincinnati.

Dustin is mentioned several times in my book. He comes from a great family. He has always been a winner, and you can bet he will continue his championship ways in all he does. Congratulations Dustin!