"Orange Blood is Thicker!" - Bill T. McConnell

Jeff Thompson, Coach Homer Goins, Bill T. McConnell

Thirty years ago this week, two-time state champion, Paris HS Head Football Coach, Roger Gruneisen, became the head football coach at Bourbon County HS. Paris decided to go with a rookie head coach, myself. Roger was an excellent football coach and had the best rapport with kids of any coach I've ever met. The day I became head coach at Paris and two days before Stephanie and I were going to get married, she received a phone call. The phone call said that if we wanted jobs when the two schools merged, we had to come now. If not, when Paris shut their doors, we were both unemployed. Things were looking awful rough for Paris City Schools & Greyhound football. But, we had Bill T. McConnell.

Bill T. had played on the state championship team for Homer Goins in 1973. As a real estate agent, he had continued to support Paris City Schools. His son, Scott, was going to be a sophomore on the 1992 Paris Greyhound football team. Bill T. was already a buzz saw, but he took it to another level. He helped get our field repaired. He worked to help us have the financial support we needed. He made it clear to anyone that asked that his sons would be Paris Greyhounds. There was no transfer option or talk in the McConnell house. His boys would all be Greyhounds. In 2022, I sure do appreciate that even more than I did at the time this was all going on. 

We played some good football in 1992 and the following years as well. Bill T. McConnell and his loyalty/devotion to Paris HS is a big reason we even had a team that season. He is a big reason that school has been able to stay open and field football teams over the past 40 years. 

Chris Garrison, Matt Eads, Josh Hudnall, Scott McConnell, Todd McConnell

At the end of Scott's senior year, I can't remember all the details, but I know that I made Bill T. mad. I wasn't sure what it was, but all of our emotions were raw and I left it alone. A few weeks later, he came to see me and shared why he was mad at me. Again, not sure of the details, but I know after we talked it all out, we were good. He never brought it up again and he treated me just as good as always, and continued to support our program just like Scott was still on the team. As much as anything, that made an impression on me and made me respect him even more. 

When we were getting ready to sell Ernie's house in Paris, we were trying to decide if we would go with Bill T. or Stephanie's cousin, David Kincer, a real estate agent in Lexington. As always, I was open with Bill T. with what we were thinking. I told him as much as I loved him, that "blood is thick." Typical Bill T., true to who he was in every sense of the word, responded, "Orange blood is thicker!"  He was right. We listed with both David and Bill T.  They both (and Todd McConnell) did a great job helping our family at an awful tough time. 

Bill T. passed away this morning. I love him and his family. All of us that love the orange and black owe him a debt we can't repay. But, I hope all of us will help to fill the void he is leaving, love those kids, and support the Paris Greyhounds. Most of all, love his family and express how much we appreciate that they shared him with the rest of us. 

Right now, I would imagine Bill T. is in heaven, shaking the left hand of Blanton Collier & Bill Arnsparger....you know the left hand because Coach Collier said it was closer to the heart. 

#HeresToCaptainGeorge

"Don't stay up too late. We've got a big day tomorrow."

photo by Harrodsburg Herald

 "Don't stay up too late. We've got a big day tomorrow."

During the Covid spring of 2020, I said that to Trosper every night when I would go to bed. I know often he would think I was nuts, but I always tried to have a purpose or mission for the next day. Something to look forward to. Sometimes, it might only mean that tomorrow we are going to High Mountain for a cheeseburger... but we had a PLAN to do something. Then, even after Covid, I kept saying that every night. I even said it last night.  Not sure why. Maybe just to help both of us focus on moving forward.

This Saturday, Trosper will graduate.  He also turns 19 the same day. He was NOT an accident, but he was a SURPRISE. During the 2002 football season, I came home one Sunday night and said to Stephanie, "You're not gonna believe the parent meeting I just had."  Her response was, "I think I can top your news." Trosper was on the way!

When he was little, we would play in the front yard.... over and over.... often until the sun went down... "PUNT or KICK." Punt meant I would throw him a high spiral that he would catch. Kick meant the ball was going to be end over end, high in the air.... like a kick off. When I coached him in HS, I always knew if I ever got in a bind and needed someone to catch a punt or kick, he could do it. 

Neal Pawsat & Trosper on a Friday night

He loved Mason County and the move to Mercer, initially, was awful tough. But, as time went on, he loved being a Titan. He loved his teammates, wearing the red and blue, and when the lights came on at Alvis Johnson Field. Some nights, his role was taking one snap at QB so that Kaelin Drakeford could catch his breath. Being a football junkie and a coach's kid, if we needed a long snapper, he could do it. If we needed a punter, he could fill the void.  I still regret never giving him a chance to drop kick an extra point because he could do it. 

Coaching him was a great experience. He was blessed to be surrounded by really good players and coaches. He played HS football in a town that loves Friday night HS football. Some of the best memories are he and I going down to AJ on a Thursday night as they were painting the field. But, there is still some relief in that time coming to an end. He put so much pressure on himself. He didn't want to let anybody down... and that list of "anybody" is a long list. Out of loyalty to me, his Dad was at the top of that list. I am happy for him that he and his teammates did so well. Those guys played some awful good football.

Some of my favorite football memories:

- his last game as a 7th grader, his groin and hamstring pulled off bone. It was extremely painful. He had to work like a mad man to even PLAY his 8th grade year. He was never 100%, but he played. 

- more than once, on a cold rainy night, spring of 2020, not even sure we will have a season, as the sun is going down, I am helping him in a workout in a field near our house. I have to wear gloves because he is burning up my hands. I understand that he has to throw the ball that hard....he is working to get stronger. Whether he believed it or not, he always worked like we would have a 2020 football season. He never took his foot off the gas. 

- after we beat CAL his junior year, as I am walking up the basement steps, I hear the whole family loudly cheering for Trosper as he walks in the kitchen door. Our family is very loyal to each other and everyone understood what that win meant to him. 

- we are on the 9 yard line, going in to score. He runs to the sideline and says to me, "Let me call it! Wyatt(our fullback) is going to score!" I don't know what to think but I let him call it. Sure enough, Wyatt Sanford is in the endzone, seconds later. He called a dive play with veer blocking!

- at Henry County, he is our punter and I call a fake. He shakes his head no. I call it again and make him run it. Scheme wise, he was right. But, I knew he and his teammates would make a play. Sure enough, he scrambles to his right. Riley Peavler is just past the marker on our sideline. Trosper puts it on a rope and we get a first down. 

- we didn't realize it at the time, but he broke his wrist on the first series of the round 1 playoff game versus DeSales. He played very well through the playoffs with a broken wrist. 

Last game at AJ with JCB & Coach Larry Harris, great family friend

I should have let him call more plays. He was his best on 3rd & long, 4th & long, and on the goalline. If I went with his call, we usually scored or got the first down. If I went against him, most of the time we were not successful. Probably my favorite play of all that he called, Triple Screen, 4th & long versus a very good Southwestern team. Jackson Peavler took that one to the house and we won, 22-21.

The football has been great, but what I am most proud of is that he is true to what he believes and what he knows his right. He is open about his faith and that number one is serving Jesus Christ. The kids in school that may struggle fitting in, he reaches out to them and includes them. 

One of the reasons we stayed in Maysville for nineteen years is we wanted our kids to have healthy attitudes in regards to ethnicity. I am not really sure, but I think alot of that is the history and tradition of the Underground Railroad. All three of our kids will speak up when they see or hear ignorance. Trosper has stepped on some toes over the years, and I am glad that he has done so. The second semester of his senior year, he and some of his friends put together a weekly news show for our high school. Trosper made sure every news show included music from Pastor T.L. Barrett & the Youth for Christ Choir. Some times he is subtle, some times he is over the top, but I am confident that fighting ignorance and racism will be a big part of who he is as an adult. 

My Dad use to tell my Mom, "These kids are really not OURS. It is our job to raise them, but they belong to God." Well, Trosper may be moving on to bigger and better things, but I am sure thankful  that God let me raise him and coach him on Friday nights. I got a front row seat to watch my son play quarterback in my hometown on Friday nights, wearing the same number I wore, 40 years ago.  He and his teammates did a super job and AJ is the BEST place to play HS football.  It was an incredible joy and experience that will always mean more to me than I can put in to words.

To God, my family, his teammates, his coaches, my bosses, this community.... I say.... THANK YOU. 

I Shall Wear A Crown- · Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir

Building A Confident Football Team: Details in the Preparation and Weekly Practice Plan

This week, Coach Alex Harrell (@CoachAHarrell11) asked some excellent questions in regards to preparation and making sure everything, as much as possible, is included in a week's worth of practice. He's definitely a guy worth following that can lead coaches to innovative and insightful solutions.

Inside Drill in the Dark, must be Wednesday morning

1-How much time do you use on situational football? Do you incorporate it into group/team? Do you hit the same situations each week? Do you give certain situations more love certain weeks?

Offense: Situational scripted into Inside/Outside Drill- M, T, W Defense: Team T & W Thursday- scripted game and review all… offense coming out of EZ, last play, etc.

Cold weather and practice before daylight is the best of all

2-How much time each week are you using for special teams? Do you keep the schedule consistent (ex. PAT on Wednesday)?

Always first period of practice: MON- Punt Block/Return TUE- Punt, KO, KOR, FG WED- PAT Block, PAT, FG THUR- Scripted game, review & old school specialty period… punters, kickers, snappers, returners, etc. In preseason that is EVERYDAY.

A couple of my Dad's old players (Monty Wilkerson & Lee Glasscock),
wondering if their coach's son knows what he is doing

3-How much group work (7on7, Inside Run, Box vs Blitz, etc) are you doing each week? Do you try hitting it every day? Want more or less?

Offensive Inside/Perimeter Drill - 3 days (situational scripted here) Defensive Perimeter/Front:Schemes- 2 days Team Defense 3rd/4th down- 2 days Goal line O/D- 1 day plus Thursday Scripted game on Thursday to make sure everything is on track.

Practice all you want, no answer for Harrodsburg HS great, Henry Parks

As HS football coaches, we don't always have alot of control over the level of talent on our team, the quality of our facilities, and even access to those facilities. We have some control over the quality of our staff, but it can take time to build a great staff.

One thing that is equal across the board.... we all have seven, 24 hour days in a week. Our best competition is really ourselves, "how can we make our teams the best that they can possibly be? " That is a question we must ask and answer everyday. Foundations are great and necessary. There also should be an evolutionary part of our programs.... we should constantly tweak and seek ways to do what we do, better than we have ever done them before.

After 30 years as a head football coach & over 50 years of being around HS football, have had a long time to evaluate and improve what we do. You need help improving what you do in your program,  send me an email at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com. Have already done some consulting work since resigning as a HFC in January. Hope to find a job and team for 2023. In the meantime, would enjoy working with some other coaches to help them and their program. At a minimum, you can help your team be the best that it can be!

#FindAWayToWin

Loved coaching old #10, Tyler Black

Small Details.... Big Solutions

I've enjoyed following some very insightful football coaches on twitter. They ask the RIGHT questions.  Those questions have lead to some thoughts that hopefully could help some young assistants and head football coaches as they prep for the 2022. 

Also, it is important to remember, most of these details and solutions come from the toughest losses. Solving big problems often comes from renewed focus and very specific details. 

Mercer Staff, 2022 Recruit Night

1-There is no substitute for hiring good coaches. 

Over the years as a HFC, really cool…Hire a young assistant & give him a baseline of drills & techniques. Watch him grow & reach the point that he has far surpassed the HFC in regards to knowledge & the tools/plan to get the job done. Becomes huge asset to program. #Gamechanger

(response to @CoachTManes)

Mason Staff, 2014 Picture Day

2- What’s the best way to develop a players ability to catch the football?

Got this from Howard Schnellenberger: 1)Look 2) Reach 3)Catch 4)Tuck Also had 5 minute period a week (starting QB & top 4 WR's)...reviewed every base route on air & did push ups for every incompletion. # of pushups: Preseason-1 Inseason- 2 District-3 Postseason-4

(response to @CoachNewsome63)

Would also add.... build in tons of reps and as many as possible in the offseason. Sort of like the 10,000 hour rule... but 10,000 REPS is a gamechanger for players and programs. The more reps you can front load before the preseason begins, the better.

Trosper & Reese Smith (WVU), January of 2021

3-Coaching a High School Routes on Air Period during spring ball is the equivalent of a HS math teacher teaching AP Calculus to seniors and Freshmen Algebra at the same time!!!!

This has been a good answer for us when we start back in the summer... group 1(potential starters) goes first. Group 2(everyone else) goes immediately after group 1 & runs the exact same route from the exact same set. 1's get great review. Group 2 gets great teaching/example.

(response to @coachhick)

Jordan Gilbert, All State WR, New Head Coach for Mason Co. Lady Royals Basketball

After 30 years as a head football coach & over 50 years of being around HS football, have had a bunch of problems to solve. You need help solving your problems, send me an email at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com. Have already done some consulting work since resigning as a HFC in January. Hope to find a job and team for 2023. In the meantime, would enjoy working with some other coaches to help them and their program. The silver lining.... the toughest problems lead to the best solutions and ultimately WINNING. At a minimum, you can help your team be the best that it can be!

#FindAWayToWin

My Dad & the 1970 Boyle County Rebels