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