If we had any "guts"....1985 National Championship @ Rupp

It was a Monday, probably around 5 pm,  and we were having dinner in Cowan (Centre College).  I was a sophomore that spring. The weather was perfect. While we were eating, our conversation was dominated by what would become a landmark event. 

The NCAA National Championship Game  was going to be played at Rupp that evening(April 1, 1985). Patrick Ewing, Coach John Thompson & the heavily favored Hoyas of Georgetown were going to take on the Villanova Wildcats, led by Coach Rollie Massimino & Ed Pickney. 

As the conversation continues, it just seems incredible to us that the game is going to be played less than 40 miles from where we are sitting. I look at my good friend, Chris Bowling, and say, in so many words, "If we had any 'guts", we would jump in the car, drive up there, find a way to get tickets, and watch that game!"

That statement from a 19 year old male, pretty much guarantees, "We are going to Lexington!" 

We sprint out of there and make arrangements to get to Lexington. Our quest for tickets is primarily in the outside area in front of and between Rupp & the Hyatt. The weather was great, the sun was shining, and the atmosphere was over the top. 

Finally, it looks like we may have found some tickets. 2 seats on the FRONT row of  upper arena! We begin negotiations to purchase these tickets. We are in the ball park, but the sellers think they can get more money than Chris and I have with us. We hang in there. We sort of didn't have a choice. All we had was what we had. And, for this event, we didn't have much. 

These sellers are getting edgy. They are not getting what they thought they could get or what they wanted. And, we all had to be careful because scalping tickets was illegal. It was exciting, stressful and a test of nerves. Strangely, it sort of felt like playing quarterback on a Friday night! It was chaotic, and I was having a blast. 

Every time I am in the Hyatt, I remember that night in 1985

Finally, maybe a minute before tip off, we reach an agreement. $50 each! What a phenomenal reward for hanging tough up to the bitter end. To complete the transaction, we go into the restroom of the Hyatt. It is wall to wall with people doing ticket transactions. We hand the guy our money. He barely looks at it. He hands me our purchase. I am just praying that I am really buying a ticket. When I finally get out in to the open, it really is a ticket for the front row of upper arena! We are going to the game!

We sprint to our seats and get there right as it starts. We saw an incredible basketball game. Villanova had to play virtually perfect to have a chance. They did that. Georgetown played well and they never went away.  In the final minute, the outcome was still in question. Could Villanova really continue to play the perfect game? Or, surely, Patrick Ewing and Georgetown were finally going to take the lead and win. How could they not win??

It turned out to be one of the biggest college basketball upsets ever. It was also an exceptionally well played game by both teams. That alone would make it historic. But, it was also the last college basketball game played without a shot clock.  I really don't think Villanova wins that game with a shot clock. 

Our seats. Front row, upper arena. Perfect view. Wow!! 

The next time a big opportunity presents itself, it might be worth it to gather up your "guts" and go for it. No question, April 1st, 1985, sitting in Cowan, we absolutely made the BEST decision. 

"Nobody's Gonna Come": Getting to work, TODAY

2021 Mercer County Titans

Saturday, April 4, 2015. I had just become the head coach at Mercer County HS. I asked to meet with Drew Davis and D Smith. I had coached Drew's Dad (Dennis) in HS and now he was my Boss as the Superintendent. D's Dad (Donald Wayne) had been a friend for a long time. We played HS football against each other when he was at Harrodsburg and I was at Mercer. 

Drew was going to be our Quarterback, as a senior. D was going to be our Tailback and a DB as a junior. I had never met them, but I felt like, "If I have got Dennis' and Donald Wayne's sons on my football team, those guys are going to be winners!" I was right. 

D Smith, 2016

As we discussed preparation for the 2015 season, I asked them, "Should we do a traditional spring practice in May, and an install in June? Or, do we make spring practice install and do a June mini camp?"

After that question, there was silence. They looked at each other and just stared. 

I said, "Guys, what's wrong?'

One of them said, "Coach, nobody's gonna come."

My response was, "Well, let's get to work and see what happens."

I got a couple lists. Guys that had played that said they were not playing. Guys that were not playing that were good athletes. I had meetings with a bunch of those guys. 

Fortunately, we made both spring practice and June, happen. Now, we were super thin. We only had 6 seniors and 30 total on the Varsity roster (grades 10 thru 12). We added two kickers in November... and that is a whole other story....thank goodness for those two young men (Garrett Dean & Nick McClain). 

And, the start was rough. We started 0-5. My Dad was dying and died after our first win. Two of our players lost their Dad during those 5 games. 

Then, this happened and I still am not sure what to think about it. After starting 0-4, one of our assistants walked in on Sunday and told me, "If Wayne County gets a running clock on us, I am quitting." My response was, let's get to work. 

As it turned out, we ended up winning 6 games in a row after the Wayne County loss*, which was good enough to win our district and a first round playoff game. Drew scored a TD in round 2 but the officials made a mistake, or we would have made it to the quarterfinals.

Drew Davis, 2015

By 2019, we were averaging 70 guys on the total roster, grades 9 thru 12. We were playing much better football and competing with and beating some of the best teams in Kentucky.

When things look hopeless, thinking is ok, but getting to WORK and doing what you already know how to do is what will move the needle. Once the work begins, you will see how to tweak and adjust going forward. But, thinking about how bad things are or how the ultimate results are going to be seemingly impossible to reach....WASTE OF TIME. 

2017 Quarterfinals

When you hit Monday, there may be a big mountain in your way. There is nothing wrong with that. Get to work. One day at a time. Whatever is the best you know to do in that moment, DO IT. Sure, you will tweak and adjust as you move forward. But, if we all wait until we know 100% what to do, we will never get started and get to work. 

Who knows... maybe someone will show up. 

2021, Southwestern's only losses were to Mercer & Frederick Douglass

*After the Wayne County loss, my OL Coach, a young Charlie Cox, approached Stephanie and wanted her to meet his fiancé, Chelsea. Stephanie said, "Charlie, do you want Chelsea to marry you?" He said, "Absolutely!" She said, "Then you need to keep her as far away from me as possible right now!"