Peace & Wisdom....New Focus... Ready for 2021

Our family dog finds peace by listening to Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix & the Beatles

This may be the most anticipated New Year's Eve in my lifetime. Good grief we are all ready to see 2020 be over. 

COVID has forced us to recognize that we really don't have control of the circumstances in our lives that we thought we possessed. That has been a tough one for me. I like to plan and prepare, way ahead of schedule.

 This season, twice on a Thursday, after a practice, I told our guys..."I THINK we will play Team A tomorrow night, 7:30. It may be somebody else. It may be a different time. It may be Saturday. It may be a different opponent. We may not even have a game!"

While the calendar may be changing, we will certainly have challenges in the year ahead. My focus going forward. 

1- On the things I can control, I will do what is right and do the best I can. 

Viktor Frankl was a concentration camp survivor and is the author of Man's Search for Meaning. He makes it clear, we have little control over our circumstances. However,  NO ONE can take away the freedom we have to choose our response, our attitude, how we treat others, and our opportunity to serve others. 

2- I will pray daily and ask GOD for HIS peace & wisdom.

Ever have a problem to solve and you just can't figure it out?  Peace & Wisdom go hand and hand. Prayer and God's Word will lead you to the BEST solutions (Wisdom). Peace can come before the Wisdom (the knowledge that God will provide) or after (Problem solved!). The source of both is ultimately our Creator.

Everyday in 2021 we will have an opportunity to serve Christ and serve others.  

Happy New Year!

 

Assistant Coach Interview Questions- finding the good ones is getting tougher

There aren't many out there, but I was fortunate to interview an outstanding assistant coach candidate this morning!

Here are the interview questions we use. 

1- Why do you want to be a football coach at Mercer County HS?

 2- What coaches have been the biggest influence on you? Why? What did you take from that coach? 

3- If you are somewhere in town, and people begin to bad mouth the football staff and program, what is the loyal way to respond?

 4- Will your schedule allow you to be at all practices and workouts? ( Provide overall schedule and expectations) 

5- We want to practice fast. We also want to maximize efficiency in practice… very little standing around and watching, everyone involved, working and getting reps. Can you make your coaching style fit that philosophy? Can you coach on the run, make corrections as needed after practice, etc? 

6- We do a bunch of dirty and extra work. Washing uniforms, sweeping the locker-room, getting equipment put away…. Is that beneath you as a coach, or are you willing to help with the part of the job that is menial and outside of the spotlight?

 7- We do not cuss on the field (this is a work in progress). Can you handle that or do you think that cussing is necessary to get a player’s attention at times? If so, this will not be a good fit for you or us. 

8- We want our players to be corrected, pushed, and to become the best they can be. In doing so, we want this done in the most positive way possible. Can you be demanding AND positive as a coach? 

9- Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a football coach? 

10- Are you a big picture guy, detail guy, or combination of both? Explain.

If you have better questions, email me at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com. Today was a really busy day. The most important thing I did was the interview. There is no substitute for surrounding your kids with great men as their coaches and mentors. At the end of the day, that is really what we are all about. 

Merry Christmas!  🎄⛄

Victory in Christ.... How I will remember my Mom

 

1966, Alexandria Drive- Lexington, KY

Yesterday my Mom passed away. It was a joyous day because it ended decades of suffering. My Mom has fought severe mental illness  for many, many years. Ever since I was ten years old, I would pray that God would heal my Mom. The way that I wanted her to be healed, it never happened. 

I sure don't have all the answers. But, through my Mom's fight with mental illness, I  did witness God's strength and love.  I saw it in my Dad and the way he loved my Mom... no matter what she would say or do. No matter how sick she was.

I saw God's love and strength in their Sunday School Class, and their Pastors,  at Centenary United Methodist Church, in the way they supported my Mom and Dad when my Dad was fighting cancer.  

God's love and strength was alive and well in the Maysville Nursing Home. In December of 2018, my mom was placed under Hospice care. She lived two years after that! Unheard of. But, they loved her so much, and worked so hard to care for her, they kept her alive even though all indications were she would die in a matter of weeks. 

I will recognize Jesus when I get to heaven because He will look like Lynn & Steele Harmon. We moved to Danville in 1969. Steele was the football coach at Centre and my Dad was the coach at Boyle County. They became lifelong friends. During some of the rockiest times these past 50 years, Steele's friendship kept my Dad going. Lynn and Steele both went above and beyond to love my family through some of our toughest times. 

My Mom's illness was incredibly difficult for her and our family. I didn't get the healing that I prayed for while she was on this earth. But, I did get to witness and experience, over and over again, God's unfailing love. And, today, my Mom is healed by the blood of Jesus Christ. The victory that was won yesterday, only Christ could win. She has eternal life. She is with my Dad. She is now more whole, happy, and herself than she has ever been. 

I could tell you some pretty awful stories about things my Mom did or she said. When I saw her on Thursday, the accumulation of hurt and illness was apparent in her face and her body. It was overwhelming. It was a burden that only Christ could bear. But, all that hurt and illness... that is NOT my Mom. 

When I was 4 years old, December of 1969, my Dad had just finished his first season at Boyle County. One Friday night after a basketball game, we had a Christmas party for my Dad's players and their girlfriends. I remember that night well. We might as well had the Green Bay Packers at the house. Those guys were my heroes.  I remember my Mom and Dad being so happy to have those kids in our home, the Christmas tree up, and my Mom in the kitchen making those Christmas cookies. I am not sure I ever remember my Mom & Dad happier than they were in that moment on Carrigan Drive in Danville. 

My Mom that night... that is EXACTLY how I will remember her. Stephanie told me today.... the way she was that night, that is who she WANTED to be. Today.... she is that person, but even better. 

The hurt, the ugliness, illness... sure, I know that all happened in the past. But, they will not define my Mom. I will choose to remember her at her best. I will choose to live in the knowledge that TODAY and for eternity, she is healed, well, happy, & with my Dad. 

God's timing is not our timing. But, nothing can overcome the love of Christ that lead Him to the cross. 

This Christmas, I will remember that December night, the kids in our home,  my Mom in that kitchen, making those cookies, and how happy she and my Dad were. I will thank God that He sent His Son, over 2,000 Christmases ago because He loves us.  All Praise, Honor & Glory to Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas! 

The Folder...Time Saver Tips....Finances & Responsibility

 This past Friday night our season ended against a very good CAL football team. As much as I wish we were still playing, I could not be prouder of our guys.  They worked, adjusted, and adapted to make 2020 a very successful football season. All of the KY HS football coaches and players did an extraordinary job to make fall football work in the middle of the 2020 Pandemic. I have never been more proud to be a KY HS Football Coach. 

Whenever the season ends, my "punishment" is to get out this folder, postgame:

Over the years, I usually start working, cleaning, etc. immediately after the game. There is no way I can go home and go to sleep.  In a step toward better mental health, this year I went home after the game. JCB & Caroline were here to watch Trosper play. They were leaving the next Saturday after lunch. Emma was home also. I don't want to be cleaning up after the season if my family is at the house... especially if they will not be there very long. Having my kids home has helped me understand better what is most important in those moments and forced me to make better decisions than when the kids were little.  It has been fun in 2020 because the kids come home to watch Trosper. That forces me to get home faster than I would in the  past. And, it did help in 2020 that we only lost twice. Trosper and his teammates played well.  Our team played some very good football this fall. Friday nights at the house after the game...most nights, we were celebrating a win. 

Due to Covid, we made a really good adjustment to our Monday meeting to turn in equipment. There was no meeting. We brought our guys in by class, separated by 30 minutes so that everyone would be staggered. They walked in the door for screening. After screening, they immediately went to the classroom and Coach Heasley instructed them how to vote for Captains and the council. After that, they went to the lockerroom to turn in gear and clean out their lockers. They had to be out of the building in less than 30 minutes.  They left out another entrance than the one they entered. It went great. Much smoother and faster. 

A couple timesaver tips for the young guys :

1- After you do the 2020 inventory ( I use an excel spreadsheet), make another copy of the same document and call it 2021InventoryPrep. In that document, make all of the numbers in gray instead of black. Go ahead and print it. Put it in the folder. When the 2021 season ends, you are ready to begin your inventory. You can see what you had last year at the end of the season, but since it is gray and not black, it is easy to write over it and document the new amount for each item as you inventory.

2- The "plenty" check mark. I use to count every single knee pad, thigh pad, etc. It was insane. If you look at an item that is relatively inexpensive and you have abundantly more than enough for the next season, don't count every item. Put a check mark in the column and keep on rolling. 

Also to the young coaches, and I cannot stress this enough, taking care of your football equipment is a huge responsibility. All of the coaches and student-athletes in your school are depending on you. If we don't take care of our stuff, we have to buy new stuff more frequently. That diverts money from other sports and those kids. I sure wish we had won on Friday, but I can tell you that Saturday morning, every single game jersey, all three sets (blue, white, red), was in the equipment room. The cost of a football helmet is going through the roof. Coaches Mike Johnson, Brian Rowland and Brian Sims made sure every single helmet made it to the equipment room.

A football program can't hide. You have to make money and you have to take care of your stuff. Every other sport is depending on you to do so. There is a big difference in replacing a tennis ball or a set of shoulder pads. We have a very small margin of error. We have to get it right. And, if you don't want that responsibility, you don't need to be a head football coach. 

So thankful our guys had a season. It was crazy, unpredictable & exhausting....  but it was 100 % worth it. 

Merry Christmas!

Scars.... going into what feels like the 60th week of 2020

 

When I was three years old, I was feeding my grandfather's bird dogs. He had them in a pen. The dog food was in a tin can.  Giving an indication of my inherent clumsiness and future lack of athleticism, I tripped in a hole that the dogs had dug in their pen. The result was that I cut my lip on the can of dog food.  It was a vertical cut, about an inch long. Pretty gruesome for a little guy. And, it is still a pretty good scar. 

Over the years I've come to really like that scar. I like to tell people I was a pirate before becoming a football coach... which is great because Emma loves pirates. I was once told by a doctor that a plastic surgeon could fix my scar. I said, "No Way!" I like the uniqueness of it. The scar is also a reminder that something bad can happen, but everything will be fine. 

The scar has become especially significant for 2020. It is a reminder to bite my lip. Sure, I can still say what I want to say. But, I need to say it in the right way and in the best way. And, sometimes, it really is best not to say anything at all. 

Believe it or not, we are going to get through this. When we do, I hope I have made my kids proud in how I responded to the challenges of 2020.  I hope that the words I've spoken and the things I've done have brought glory to God and helped others. 

As we go into the week, it is ok to bite your lip. Some times, it might even be the best thing. Have a great week!

The Healthy Purge... Leadership in the Toughest of Times

Leaders.... 2020 & Covid 19.... is this fun... or what?!?!

If you are in a position of leadership, there is a good chance that you have been blasted by now and even abandoned by some. Maybe even some you thought were good friends.

In 2003 at Mason County, we had a tremendous football team. In 2004, we were 1-9, not very good and it was very rough. We had to deal without a lot of dissension, anger and criticism. A bunch of dysfunction. Not all, but several of the bandwagon jumpers from 2003 were either gone or had decided that I stunk, we stunk, and we needed a new coach. 

During John Combs freshmen year and through the beginning of his sophomore year, we were in the middle of a seven game losing streak. It was rough. We had some of our best players quit. We had others that made poor decisons to remove themselves from the team... being part of a bad football team was not enough incentive to do what was right. One of the ironies of public education.... a good football program is a tremendous ally of the classroom teacher! Football provides leverage & accountability to get guys to do what is right so they can be part of the program.

So leaders.... if you have been blasted or abandoned, count it as a positive. People have exposed their character and the value they place on you and their relationship with you. Tough times are like a bright light.... not sure how much they change things, but they certainly expose what people really think about you. 

Now, those that have revealed themselves, don't be mean or ugly to them. Then, you are no better.  

But, be thankful...when things are tough and you need someone that you can count on, you already have a headstart on who those people are!  Because what is also revealing... who are those people that have continued to support you and have your back?  That doesn't mean they agree with you on every decision you make, but they do support you as a leader and a person. For most of us, there may not be many in that category. But, if you have a small handful, you are RICH. You are blessed. Be thankful for those people. They are special and God uses them to love, bless and help you!

Good grief, everyday seems tough right now. But, there has never been a better time in my life to serve, lead and love others.  The toughest of times don't change the character of God and how much He loves us. The Blessings are there. The good people that love others are there! Make sure we are those "good people". And, keep our eyes open so when we see those blessings and good people, we can praise God for them!

Coronavirus Lessons... Five, Six & Seven

I THINK the good news is that 2020 is halfway over. It has been a challenging year. Those challenges are also opportunities. More than any other year in my lifetime, we have had more opportunities for good and to make a positive impact on others and our community. Right now, everyday feels monumental.

My own personal battle right now is this.... to do a great job leading our football program through this time, and insuring that we are compliant with all guidelines, so that our workouts will continue. Our young men have thrived in these workouts. Their response has been outstanding.  The thought of me missing something or screwing something up, that would take away this opportunity for our kids, is devastating. My role... I have to get it right. As a staff and program, we have to get this right. Anything less is unacceptable. Everyday, seeing our guys work their tails off and enjoy being with their teammates... WOW! We MUST do all we can to insure our guys continue to have these opportunities.

To add to my blog post from April 4th, 2020...

#5: Being right and what the majority believe are not always the same. In 1896, Plessy vs. Ferguson, the Supreme Court said that segregation was constitutional and therefore legal. ONE man said they were wrong. His name was John Marshall Harlan and he was the lone dissenting Supreme Court Justice after the decision.  It took the United States 58 years to acknowledge he was right! Can you imagine telling some of the smartest and brightest men in the world, "All of you are wrong, and I am right"?  The most social media "likes", the most clever reply, is not necessarily what is right. What people think of you RIGHT NOW... vastly overrated. As Aaron Hogue of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes says, we have an audience of ONE. Colossians 3:23

#6: Value, Practice & Develop Critical Thinking. We are overwhelmed with information right now. Don't accept it at face value. Choose your news sources wisely.  And, sometimes, take a break from mainstream media, mass media, social media, etc. You may need that break just for your mental health (yes, talking about myself). Do I need to tell you the news sources that I trust? No. Why?  You have a brain. You are smart. You don't need me telling you what to believe and who to believe.

Consider talking to people on the frontlines of a situation and get their take on what they are experiencing. And, don't be afraid to change your mind. Changing your opinion is not weakness... it is a sign of growth.  Bill Walsh, the great 49ers Coach, said that often.

#7: Develop a criteria for evaluating leadership. For me, this is not that tough. When I evaluate a leader, I go to the 10th chapter of John. Who leads by serving others?  Who will sacrifice for others? Who speaks the truth?  How does the leader treat those that disagree with him or her?  A couple red flags... who uses fear to lead or motivate?  Who uses division to lead or motivate?  Please... this is not a veiled message for you to vote for anyone specifically in November 2020 and beyond. Go back to #6! Getting this off my chest... I am so tired of others telling me what I must think, believe or say. The LAST thing I will do right now is to do the same to anyone who is kind enough to read my blog.

COVID 19 is real and it is dangerous. But, the way we choose to respond to it will have more bearing on our destiny than the illness in and of itself. According to God's word, we are made in His image. With His strength, guidance, and working together, we can absolutely navigate this time we are in.  We are intelligent. We can solve problems. We can use our brains. We can find solutions. And, we can glorify Him in the process.

Tomorrow morning when we get out of bed, let's glorify Him.

Attacking 2020 with lessons from 1982

Like all of us, I am really glad to see 2020 half way over. Good grief it has been a crazy year. If I can get the same mindset I had playing HS football in 1982, the second half of the year may not get me as torn up.

Playing HS football on Friday nights, in central KY was a great experience. I loved my teammates and our coach, Larry French. I wore a red helmet for Mercer County on Friday nights, just like my Dad's players wore when they played for him. It was an honor to play on the same field as the Horn brothers and so many others.

Harrodsburg HS was very good in 1982. Coach Johnson was always very nice to me, but those guys beat me to death between the white lines. 

There was a problem in 1982.... we weren't winning many games. Nine weeks in, our record was 1-8. But, I loved football and Friday Nights. How was that possible?

It was possible because each loss only lasted a few hours. During the game, I never thought about winning and losing. I just played. By Saturday morning, I was already excited about the next game, and, amazingly, convinced we would win the next one. So really, out of 119 hours awake through the week, I was only dealing with a loss for a couple hours. Now, that moment at the end of the game, and we had lost, was awful.  I've never been a good loser, and it has only gotten worse.  But, the rest of the week was getting excited about the next game  and playing football under the lights.

I wish I was like that as a coach. It is a lot tougher getting over a loss as a coach. I am not sure why. I wish I could get back to that mindset I had in 1982.

Classic Album from 1982

So, we have made it to July of 2020. I am focusing on the rest of the year. It's going to be good. We are going to expect to win. We are going to expect good things. We are going to be the best we can be.

Pretty cool to remember, after losing eight of nine games in 1982, we did win our last two games. I think it is safe to say, for most people, those wins were unexpected. But, it didn't surprise me. We kept working and practicing. We stayed focused on what was next. The rest of 2020, stay focused on what is next. Let's be the best we can be.

Friday Nights are great.... but the REAL reason we need HS Football

This story could have taken place at Mercer County, Mason County or Paris. And, similar stories have taken place at all three, certainly. So, time and place don't really matter.

Three young men on one of my football teams, representing three different ethnic groups, have a conversation. The topic is raw and is centered around ethnicity...  or what most people refer to as "race". So raw, I would rather leave that specific out.

These three guys have this conversation. There is resolution. There is education. There is understanding. There is gaining the perspective of someone from another ethnic group. In a very practical sense.... there is the prevention of something really bad happening.

So, why do these three guys have this conversation that would make most adults cringe?  They are teammates. They have sweat, bled, and competed together. They have experienced great joy on the field and disappointing heartbreak. They have been there for each other when one is fighting an injury. They have continued to workout and practice hard, when they don't feel like it, because they refuse to let down their teammates. They have a relationship that makes those conversations safe.

This is not a plea to get football back at all costs. Absolutely not. My hope is that we find a way to go to school, play athletics, AND most importantly protect the vulnerable.

It is to say that a football program reaps real rewards that go way beyond a Friday night. The same things that make football difficult are the things that make football great. Those difficulties, when attacked together, by a group of young men, build a unique bond that transcends ethnicity as well as socioeconomic barriers. And, football cannot be a GREAT experience without the difficulties that are part of the game. 

For the most part, if kids are in a lockerroom together and left alone, they work stuff out. They are fine.

Over the years, one of the most rewarding things for me as a coach, is when one of my players, when talking about one of his teammates, will say that teammate's attitudes on ethnicity changed for the better after four years in our program. The diversity in our lockerroom and on our staff contributed
 to that growth. When that happens, that is a game changer for that young man's life, for his own children in the future, and the community as a whole.

We started a breakfast program here in Mercer County Schools in the spring of 2019.  It gives our youngest students an opportunity to have positive experiences and interactions before their heads are filled with lies and hate in regards to ethnicity. Our guys love doing this. They understand how they are helping to build the future. The little kids are in awe of these HS football players. In a lifetime of being in public schools, these breakfasts have been one of the highlights and most effective programs, ever.

My Mom and Dad taught me right and wrong. They said all the right things. But, at the end of the day, my perspective on ethnicity came from the guys on my Dad's football teams at Boyle County HS in the early 70's.  Their character and the way the treated me, made it real easy, the rest of my life, to recognize lies, bigotry and falsehoods.

Trosper has told me, more or less, if the adults will just leave us alone, we'll be fine.  Kids still need their parents, grandparents, coaches, teachers, and mentors. But, I get the point he is trying to make and there is some truth to what he says.

At some point, those Friday night lights will be back on. Those lights are cutting through the darkness, both literally and figuratively.

The Two Man Sled & Blood Hill.... Slow Down... No Warning Required

Trosper got to hear a good story on his grandfather today.

Lee Glasscock was on my Dad's first team at Boyle in 1969. One day, Lee and Vaughn Bradley had been working all day in tobacco and were about to be late to practice. In making the trip from Perryville to Boyle County HS, they went flying by assistant coach, Morris Allen Stewart. They were driving way past the speed limit.

Lee says that they see everyone headed up to "Blood Hill" ....what was then the Rebel practice field and is now the site of the new Boyle County MS. Lee and Vaughn ran in the locker-room, got dressed, grabbed their helmets and sprinted to practice. They made it!

After the practice, my Dad says, "Lee and Vaughn.... I need to see you."

My Dad put them on the two man sled. They drove that sled from Blood Hill to Perryville Road. Then, they drove the sled back up to Blood Hill where they started. Probably about 300 + yards, one way.

When they got back to where they started, my Dad just told them, "When you come to practice, you need to do it slower. " 

He didn't yell at  them, preach at them, etc. That was it. They could leave.

My Dad wasn't big on warnings. You knew right from wrong and his expectation was to do what is right.

With the weekend coming up... make good decisions. If you don't, we may have to find us a two-man sled and make our way to Blood Hill.  :)

In the middle of a CRISIS.... don't miss your CALLING

My attitude has really struggled the past few weeks.  Most of my struggles can be traced back to selfishness, self-centeredness, and being stubborn.... I hate being told what to do.

1970 Boyle County Rebels, Robert Allen Yankey is #11
Those black jerseys were brand new. My Dad was crazy about them.

We had an athletic department meeting today by Google Meet. My Bosses (AD, Principal, & Superintendent) did a really good job. No one is enjoying our present circumstances, but when our meeting was over, I was very thankful that these guys are my bosses.

Anderson County at Boyle County, 1970

My Dad passed away almost five years ago. Probably to a fault, I really look up to him and put him on a pedestal. I love my Dad and I am very proud of him.  As I look back on his life and all of the things I remember about him, I really believe his finest moment, and the most important calling of his lifetime, was to be there for his players and take care of them when their Quarterback, Robert Allen Yankey drown the morning after a ballgame. If you follow my blog or read my book, you will know that story. Of all events in my lifetime, that one defined me more than any other. I have thought about Robert Allen everyday of my life since that happened on September 24, 1970.

I don't believe God wanted Robert Allen to die. But, I do believe that God called my Dad to take care of those kids during a tragedy beyond words. And, as I look back on it, that time was when my Dad was more of who he was than any other time in my life. It wasn't enjoyable. It was beyond tough. But, God prepared my Dad to be that guy during that time.

After Robert Allen died, the Rebels all wore #11 on their helmets for the remainder of the season

I know all of us as football coaches are ready to get back to workouts and see our kids. We sure didn't sign up to do what we are doing now. But, don't lose sight of the fact that God has placed you in this role at a critical time. Let God use you to love your kids and their families. Be a source of encouragement and hope. Be a resource.... if kids or families need help right now, do your best to get them to the right places to get that help.

For any of us in a position of leadership, this time isn't fun, but God has called you to be His vessel right now, to love and care for others. He is asking me to do what is toughest of all for me... get my eyes off myself and on to others and their needs.

It's not fun right now, but we have purpose and service opportunities currently, possibly greater than any other time in our life.  My hope and prayer when we look back on this time is that we will be able to see how God was able to use us to help, serve and love others.

Strange how things turn out... I was 5 years old when Robert Allen died. At 55 years old, I talk to a couple of his teammates about once a week or more.  And, that is after having moved from Boyle County almost 50 years ago. Who knows what your calling will lead to... it may turn out to be one of the greatest and most fulfilling times of your life. Our circumstances won't define how we are remembered. Our response will be our legacy.   Let God use you so that your response will bring glory to HIM!

We REALLY NEED To WIN Tonight.....

It was September 25th, 2015. A rainy, Friday afternoon and we are getting ready to jump on the bus to head to Marion County. We were 0-5. Two of our young men had already lost their Father that season, one just the day before. My own Dad was dying and would pass away in less than a week, the following Thursday, 10/1.  Coach Brian Rowland, our DC walked in the office before we left.

 I said to him, "Coach, whatever happens tonight, we will handle it and be ok, but we REALLY need to win tonight."

Mercer at Marion, 2015 photo by Harrodsburg Herald

Fortunately we did win that night. In fact, we won 6 games in a row, and won our district that season. If we had not won, we would have been fine. But, I was very thankful for that victory.

In 1992, my first season at Paris HS, we were 1-1, getting ready to play our cross town rival, Bourbon County in week THREE.  We know their team well. The previous season, their head coach, Roger Gruneisen, was our head coach. We also know their  starting tailback. He had started practice with us that summer, but had transferred to Bourbon and was going to play against us. He had been our starting tailback the year before.

My bosses through the week made it a point to come to me several times and tell me, "Coach, you really need to win that game on Friday." I knew that already. Our players loved Coach Gruneisen. If we didn't win, there was a good chance several of our best guys would transfer because they loved Coach Gruneisen and here the Greyhounds were stuck with a rookie head coach. And, yes, it would be really tough for me to keep my job if we lost to the Colonels.

We won that game, 15-13. When it was over, Stephanie cried her eyes out in the bleachers. The stress on a newlywed couple, in her hometown, in a game we had to win, was monumental. That was without a doubt the most important game I'll ever coach in and I am thankful beyond words that we won.

But, if we had not won, we would have been fine. It might have turned out very different, but God would have provided. He always does.

In 1998, at Mason County, we were 1-6 in and getting our tails kicked in game 8. In 1998, Tates Creek was one of the best teams in the state and defeated Trinity THREE TOUCHDOWNS to reach the state championship game.  If you had told me in the 2nd quarter of game eight,  less than 3 years from tonight, the Royals will defeat a very good Tates Creek football team, I would have thought you were beyond crazy. Things can change, and change quickly.

Maysville Ledger Independent, 2001- Elden May, photo by Terry Prather

Our time at Mercer has been wonderful, but there have been a bunch of struggles, especially getting wins on the field. This past season, game THREE, we are winning late in the 4th quarter against Anderson County, and I notice that the score is 15-13. When I saw 15-13, my mind immediately went back to that Bourbon County game in 1992. I won't lie to you... for a very brief moment, the emotion of those memories and the connection was somewhat overwhelming.  If I told you that right then, God told me we would win that game, it would be a lie. But I can tell you what He did tell me on that sideline in Lawrenceburg...."I am right here and I am much bigger than this football game. Enjoy this moment."

Mercer vs. Anderson, 2019 photo by Arpan Dixit

We won that game 15-13. It was a great win for our team and community and huge step in the right direction for our program. But, if we had lost, that would not change who God is and how much He loves us.

My point, I believe our best days are ahead of us. But, WHATEVER is ahead of us, we can handle it and we will handle it great. Our God is too big and He is always present. He is bigger than the Coronavirus. Of course we need to be smart, cautious & protect the most vulnerable, but fear is becoming way too fashionable. Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. never let fear stop them. Fear is not who we are as a nation.

We have great times ahead of us. We have tough times ahead of us. And, HE will be with us, every step of the way. And, nothing we face will ever be as big as our God. Praise Him!

Hebrews 13:8

God Doesn't make Junk- Our Value during the Coronavirus

When I was growing up, we attended Centenary United Methodist Church in Danville, KY.  For 19 years when I would leave my Sunday School class on the 2nd floor, hanging over the stairs was a huge banner, "God Doesn't Make Junk."  My best guess is some Methodist hippies back in the 60's made that banner. I am thankful I saw that almost every Sunday from 1969 through 1988.

For many of us, we define ourselves by what we do and what we accomplish. Some times, we can define ourselves based on how much other people value us, or their opinion of us.

God's Word says we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and He put us together inside of our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). According to Psalm 139:14, we are fearfully & wonderfully made by God, and that His creations are wonderful or marvelous. When you read those words that is God's opinion of YOU.  That is His value of you. And, He values you and me so much, He sent His Son to pay for our sins.

If my self worth comes from being a football coach, I am in big trouble right now.  Sure, I try to keep our football family connected during this time. But, the number of football workouts & practices  since March 11th... ZERO.  My value doesn't come from a football, my job, or my paycheck. My value comes from WHO created me.... and You.

And, that person you see that maybe you think you are better than they are.... their value comes from the same place as your value and it is the same.

And, what is even better...since we are created in God's image, we CAN solve the problems we are facing right now. We are capable. We are far from hopeless.

Over the years, during some of the toughest times, I have had to remember that banner hanging up that I would see every Sunday.  I can't put into words how thankful I am for that repetitive visual that I needed and would help me for my entire lifetime. 

Don't ever forget.....


GOD DOESN'T MAKE JUNK.

Cautious but not Fearful.... Attack the Week!

I am very blessed at Mercer County HS for many reasons. A big one is that my Athletic Director and Assistant Head Football Coach is Donald Smith. Coach Smith is also Pastor Smith of Centennial Baptist Church here in Harrodsburg.  Over the past several weeks, I have heard him say, more than once, "Be cautious but not fearful!" Amen... Coach AND Pastor Smith!

My bosses, Spencer Tatum (Principal), Donald Smith (AD), Dennis Davis (Superintendent)

Over the years, people have tried to use fear to manipulate me.  When that happens, it is a big red flag and a sure indication that something is up... and it is not good.

The first example that comes to mind was the Thursday before Stephanie and I were to get married in May of 1992. The day before, the Paris HS football coach & very good friend, Roger Gruneisen,  had accepted the head football position at Bourbon County HS.  Our Paris kids loved Coach Gruneisen! I wasn't sure we would have a team. But, when he left, I was offered and accepted the head football position at Paris HS... which was a dream come true.... just not the circumstances that I had wanted.

Stephanie had been hired to replace Mrs. Kenney Roseberry at Paris HS to teach English and all of the extra duties that went with that position. On this Thursday, we are one day away from our rehearsal dinner and two days away from our wedding. In fact, Coach Gruneisen was in our wedding!

May 30, 1992

That Thursday morning, I am in the football fieldhouse collecting my thoughts, thinking through everything that has transpired, and putting together a plan for Greyhound football. Stephanie calls me on the football office phone. She has just talked to her mom, who was a librarian in Bourbon County Schools and had a message for us. The message was that if Stephanie and I go to Bourbon County, NOW , we will have teaching & coaching jobs. But, if we wait, and the Paris City Schools close, we will not have jobs.

We discuss it over the phone, and we both are pretty adamant that we want to be Greyhounds and stay at Paris. Even though the circumstances were very difficult.... was I really going to give up being the head football coach of the tradition rich Paris Greyhounds? No way. We chose to stay and without a doubt, it was a great decision.

Another example comes from a faculty meeting at Mason County HS. Our central office staff was not real happy with the HS faculty. During the meeting that day in our library, a central office administrator told us that due to a new state policy, everyone in the building could be fired if they did not get what they wanted...and that in some schools, that had already happened.

I raised my hand and asked the question, "What school has fired all their faculty?"  To make a long story short, after a series of back and forth questions and responses, this administrator could not give me one example.

We need to be smart & thoughtful right now, but not scared. Cautious, but not fearful!

Have a great week!

John 16:33

Cliff Nobles, The Horse and Earning that Moment on a HS Football Field

I went for a run last night and Cliff Nobles' THE HORSE came on. I can listen to that over and over again. That was a pep band classic for a HS football or basketball game in the early 70's. Still, every time I hear it, I think of that goalline stand our guys had at Paris in the 2nd round of the playoffs in November of 1994. 

We had a handful of really good players, but only dressed about 27 that night. Our opponent was a very good NewCath team coached by Bob Schneider.  The day before, our practice stunk to the point that I thought our guys had given up on the season and saw little hope of winning. Thankfully, I could not have been more wrong. 

Our defensive coordinator was Phillip Burbage and our goalline defense had seven guys up front.... we struggled to even have seven big guys on our team! But, the good thing about it was that some of those big guys got a chance to get on the field.

So, 4th and goal inside of the one yard line, Paris, KY, Blanton Collier Stadium, November playoff game, the Greyhound Band is playing "The Horse"...loud...our big guys play great! They don't allow any movement on the LOS. Our LB's are able to come over the top and stop the play. Our guys make the stop and celebrate. As soon as it happened, I was especially happy for our big guys. They didn't get the spotlight too often. But, here they were, on a tradition rich field, the band is playing "The Horse" the crowd is cheering.... this is their moment!

Some of those big guys usually didn't get much recognition. Some didn't get a whole lot of playing time, even though they never missed a practice or a workout. But, in this moment, their hard work and dedication paid off. 

Most of the time, the guys that hang in there for all four years, they have their moment. Some will start and play a bunch. Some will just play a little, but usually, they all have their time. And, when they do, it is great to see it. 

The Horse- Cliff Nobles

Coronavirus Lessons....One, Two, Three & Four

This has sure been a different time. Our life on earth is so short, we don't have a huge frame of reference for comparison.  For almost all of us, the magnitude of the event makes it new...and seemingly overwhelming.  One thing is certain, the last few weeks have been revealing. As often it works out, much has been learned the hard way. Here are some lessons for me from the past month.

#1: I am embarrassed at my selfishness and stubbornness.  My attitude has not been great when I can't do what I want to do. I have a mixed record, at best, when it comes to taking orders. To be a good citizen and because of the reasons, I am taking those orders. But, in doing so, my attitude is not what it should be. The story goes that in the battle for Scotland's independence, after the battle was won, the Buchanans continued to chase the English just because they wanted to kill more of them. Hopefully we have evolved somewhat.... but I certainly understand that spirit!

 I REALLY want to workout with our players, see my students at school, see our coaches.... I can keep going, and I know everyone else can as well.

#2: Whatever you can get done early, do it. One thing that has paid off is getting things done early. As soon as the season was over, we sent our helmets for reconditioning. We also ordered all of our equipment and we have received everything already. We do spring football as soon as possible. We only got three days, but at least we got those three days. Many schools didn't get any days. As more restrictions are added each day for our safety, anything that needs to be done over the next few weeks, we need to get done now. The time may come that we can get little to nothing accomplished. This event has reinforced for me to get as much work done ahead of time as possible. Much of this goes back to Bill Walsh's Finding the Winning Edge.  The more prep and planning you can do ahead of the performance, the better you will perform.

In regards to my head football coaching job now, I am focused on staying connected to our football family and preparing for the preseason and season. Looking forward helps.  We will come out of this and when we do, I need to be ready to do a great job for our players, coaches and program.

#3: Much of what I took for granted, was great. Sure, I enjoyed school, practice, workouts, my coaches, going to eat at a local restaurant with family & friends, going to church, visiting other coaches and programs, clinics, going across state lines (Gatlinburg, Gulf Shores, Moyers (southern Ohio)), seeing my mom, seeing my father-in-law, etc. But, not like I should have. Wow. The simple things in life are much more a blessing than we realize. God is so good to us, but we are often so busy we miss seeing those blessings. I know I will pay closer attention going forward.... I already am. 

#4: God made us to serve others, and when doing so, we are happiest. By far, the best my attitude has been through this entire ordeal has been when having an opportunity to help & encourage others... even in very small and simple ways. I function best when the news is off. The news is dragging you down... turn it off. Open your Bible.  Try to reach out, check on, and encourage others. Bryan McKenzie with FCA Football has been doing Zoom Conferences for football coaches. Those have been a blessing and an encouragement. 

None of this is earth shattering. But, this event has definitely been an opportunity to hit the reset button and to re-evaluate my relationship with Christ and others. 

Stay safe and know that our best days are ahead of us. 

Psalm 34:1

Hebrews 13:8