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.