John Buchanan: Remembering 16 mm film and those gold helmets

Robert Allen Yankey & my Dad, 10-10-1969. Photo by Danville Advocate Messenger, Bill Vaught

John Buchanan: Remembering 16 mm film and those gold helmets

Of all the coaches who have influenced me in my lifetime, without a doubt the coach that had the biggest impact was never my coach, but he is my dad. My dad is John Buchanan and I continue to look up to him and want to be like him just as I did when I was a little guy.

My first memories of my dad coaching football are from his days at Lafayette in Lexington where he was an assistant. When I was four years old he became the head coach at Boyle County in Danville. One of my strongest memories was being with him in the equipment room one summer night when he passed out gear to his new team.

In 1967 and 1968, Boyle County did not win a football game. In 1969, my dad’s first season, the Rebels finished 9-1-1. My two strongest memories of that season are going to Greensburg for the first game and win of the season and the victory over Danville at Centre College’s Farris Stadium. To this day I carry a piece of the 16 mm film in my billfold and every now and then will put the old film on the projector and watch it like we did on Saturdays and Sundays on the living room wall.

In 1970 the Rebels were ranked among the top teams in Class A. But on September 25th, football was not real important anymore.  That morning, the day after the Rebels had won at Mercer County, their quarterback, Robert Allen Yankey, drowned in an accident on his family's farm. Only five years old, I was overwhelmed by the sadness and the tragedy of losing Robert Allen. He was a very good quarterback, a great person and very much like a son to my dad. I will always remember those gold helmets with the number “11” on all of them the remainder of the season -- like we wear our numbers on our helmet.

We all have events in our life that we never understand or can make sense of. For me, this one is at the top of the list.

The next three years at Boyle were tough ones. In 1974, my dad became the head football coach at Mercer County. His first two seasons were the first winning seasons in the history of the school.

In watching my dad all those years, on the sidelines, at practice, in the locker room, etc., I saw over and over again that people come first over winning or personal gain. He enjoyed football, but his players were the most important to him and he put their well being first every time.  When I would be concerned about recruiting kids to our football program, he would always tell me to treat the kids in my program right, and the rest will take care of itself. He is not what people think of as a “player’s coach," but without a doubt that is what drove him -- his players and what was best for them. Whenever he would talk about his friends and other coaches that he admired and respected, he always talked about how much that coach loved his kids and would do anything they could to help them.

The other thing about my dad that stands out is his toughness. I have seen him go through so many tough times and be successful in very tough situations. I’ve seen him keep going when his heart was broken beyond words. As I look back on it now, I understand better than ever that his toughness was driven by his love for his family and players, and his trust in God.

One of his best stories and life lessons was when he told me that he considered staying at Boyle, just to teach and coach the wrestling team when he was forced to resign as football coach. I asked him, “How would you walk in that building and look at those people every day?"

His response was, “They have to look at me every day.”

I’ve used that story many times to encourage my friends in coaching who felt like their back was to the wall and no one was on their side, and it has helped them to stay tough and strong when they felt like the walls were caving in.

When you grow up a coach's son, your dad’s words are always spinning between your ears, especially on a Friday night. His beliefs and philosophy are ingrained in you. The best example was in the 2003 semifinals at Highlands on the goal line. The play call was “Slot Left Sam, Dive Check.” As the slot went in motion, I realized Chris Lofton would be wide open on a slant route. But I immediately heard my dad’s voice in my head: “If you can’t run the ball in on the goal line, you don’t deserve to win!”

So, we still planned to run the ball. But, we got lucky -- we jumped offside. Now it is on the 7-yard line. I am off the hook. We called the slant route, and it went for a touchdown.  After the game, my dad says, “Why didn’t you throw the slant to Chris on the goal line -- he was wide open the play before?” I told him it was his fault and just shook my head as I shared with him what was going through my mind.

But that event got my attention. Twenty years from now when my kids hear my voice in their head, what will I be saying? I hope it will be worth hearing.

Rough start... what do we do now?

Normally I am not in the mood for a blogpost when we are struggling. Besides, when you are struggling, no one wants to hear how you operate. We only want to copy what we see working.

So... what do we do now?

We stay positive AND keep our standards high. We may TWEAK what we do, but we do not CHANGE.  If you continually change your offense, defense, & special teams, you never get good at anything. We will keep doing the things we know will work and have worked. We just have to keep getting better at what we do. We are moving in the right direction. We just have to work hard and with urgency to get where we want to be as fast as possible.

In 27 years as a head coach, we ALWAYS emerge from the tough times.... sooner or later.  I trust God, our staff, and players. The best is yet to come. 

Starting Year 27.... still growing and learning

This is my first blog post in a long time. I've been so consumed with doing on a daily basis what needs to be done, I have not felt much like writing and have not had much to say that was different.

But, I am pleased to report that after beginning July 10, I like where our team and program are right now.  We still have much to do, but I like the direction of our team and I do think our investment in building and improving our culture is paying off.  The best way to describe it, it seems like the players and coaches say more of the same things and the right things, more often.

Hindsight is 20/20, but I definitely underestimated the difference in being in the same program for 19 years versus starting all over. We are in year four at Mercer, and the best way I can describe it is that each day seems more "normal".  Or, we have more normal days each year, if that makes any sense.

On some very practical notes, our guys are definitely more comfortable running our stuff. We have been timing inside and outside drill and almost never use the same formation twice. We have very few plays, but have the capability to use hundreds of formations.  We continue to become more efficient in practice and running our offense.

Another difference is that my level of patience with our team has decreased. When I got the job at Mercer, our 2015 team was the most beat-down bunch of kids I had ever coached. I felt bad for them. We pushed them but I also knew I had to be smart in how I handled them. I knew getting use to me and how we practiced, our offense, etc. was a big adjustment for all of our kids and coaches. I am so proud of the 2015 team.  Those guys had very little confidence and we started 0-5, but they finished with six straight wins and a district title.

Now, we are in year 4. There are no excuses. Everyone knows what is expected and I have communicated this to our kids.  I still try not to be too over the top, but I don't have to bite my lip as much now.  And, I am definitely more comfortable coaching them. One huge positive is that our seniors are the first Titans in school history to have the same head coach for four years. 

Another tough thing for me, especially returning to my hometown, I am learning that I can say the right things and that is still important. But what makes the biggest difference is showing up everyday, DOING what is right, and doing the best I can.  Ultimately, trust must be earned, and it is a one day at a time process. I am not a patient person, so that part has been tough for me. But, there is no substitute for doing what is right and doing your best on a daily basis.... starting with caring about your players and coaches and what is best for them.

Champions win championships. If we can work and practice like champions, the success that we want will follow.

Staying connected.... Lombardi's Run to Daylight

My first favorite football team was Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers and their QB was my favorite player, Bart Starr. When Lombardi left the Packers, I became a Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings fan. But my earliest memories of football are the team with the gold helmets, like my Dad's Boyle County teams wore.

One of the ways I can stay connected to my love for the game of football is reading Vince Lombardi's RUN TO DAYLIGHT every summer.  It is the diary of a week from the 1962 season as they prepared to play the Detroit Lions.  I enjoy reading the names of great Packers and Lions as they prepared that week. Names like Herb Adderly, Jimmy Taylor, Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, Ron Kramer, Jerry Kramer, Fuzzy Thurston, Forrest Gregg, Will Wood, Alex Karras, Joe Schmidt, Night Train Lane, Milt Plum and many more.

Reading the book, you can imagine Lombardi saying the words on the pages. It allows the reader to see more of how  Lombardi interacted with his players and those around him. Yes, he was very tough. But, he also listened to others and was much more thoughtful in how he dealt with his players than the typical way that Lombardi is portrayed in popular culture. Bottom line, it is really cool to feel like you are having a conversation with Coach Lombardi.

I learn something new every time I read his book and it always makes me a better coach. What I learn would probably bore many people. And, writing about all of those insights would turn into plagiarism..... MOST of the pages in the book have either turned down corners or particular passages highlighted.

All of that is beneficial, but not the reason WHY I try to read it before every season.

Reading Run To Daylight keeps me connected to my original love of football.

When I was a little guy, I always wanted to be around my Dad's players at games and practices. Hard to believe now, but one of my best memories was after a Boyle win at Anderson County, I got to ride the bus home with the team.  My love of bus rides has diminished significantly.

I also watched every bit of college and pro football on TV. And, then, of course, would have to go outside to BE those guys that I had just watched with my Dad.

I enjoy being a head football coach.  But, there is a bunch of stuff that goes with the job that have very little to do with football. A bunch of that stuff is not fun either.   If I don't make a conscious effort to prevent it, that "stuff" gets bigger than the game of football and can take my focus off all the things I enjoy about football, our coaches, and especially being around our players. 

Just this morning, we had a scouting rep at our workout. He couldn't get over what a great indoor facility we have at Mercer. He was very impressed. It really struck me how much I take for granted and that I don't always appreciate we have an indoor football field with grass and lines!  If I were 5 years old, my Dad wouldn't be able to get me out of there!

Today is our last workout day until July 10th. I am excited about the season. Lombardi's book has reconnected me to a bunch of great memories of my Dad and first experiences with the game of football.... to the point that I can't imagine that I could ever walk away from coaching.  And as for me and Lombardi, at least I can say I like hamburgers and probably eat as many as he did. :)

Year 27.... still plenty of room for improvement...trying to get better everyday... Wes Neal

Each season, I try to review Wes Neal's HANDBOOK ON COACHING PERFECTION. My Dad had a copy of this book and it is a great resource for how to run a football program in a Christ-like way.

Because of the violent nature of  football, my Dad asked my grandmother in the 1950's... "Can you be a Christian and be a football coach?"  Fortunately there have been hundreds of GREAT examples to prove that yes, Christians can coach football. But, it is also an insight into some coaching methods that are not consistent with being a follower of Christ. From some perspectives, Wes Neal's book would be considered radical. I am ok with being radical , especially for the right reasons!

This year and for the first time ever as a head coach, I prepared a questionnaire modeled after the one in his book. I have modified it to fit into a public school. I don't hide my faith, but I also believe God wants me to obey the law.  I also know that my actions and how I treat others are the most effective and appropriate way to share the Good News in a public school setting.

In 2018, part of the reason for this questionnaire is very practical. Already in June, I have talked to several coaches that will have fewer players than they expected this season. That is true for us at Mercer County as well. This questionnaire will be a concrete way that myself and our staff will be able to make a better connection to our kids and improve our relationships with our players. 

Going into year 27, I need to be especially vigilante in evaluating everything I do as a head coach. We don't want our approach to become stale. We want our kids to get better everyday. The head coach needs to get better everyday as well!

Scout Team QB Part 2- Andre Turner, Chris Hull, Sparky, and the Tooth

Andre Turner- #64, 2003 Recreation Bowl
Photo by Terry Prather of the Maysville Ledger Independent
It was a tradition/ honor at Mason County for really good players to wear #64

Andre Turner is in the conversation of the very best football players I've coached, ever, as an assistant or head coach.  He played defensive end and offensive guard at an extremely high level. He could run well, very strong, coachable, and tremendous motor..... a very physical football player. 

In 2003, we had an outstanding football team. Exceptional. Once again, I was the scout team quarterback.  One day in practice, we are running the reverse and I am about to hand the ball to Chris Hull (also a good football player) as a scout team wide receiver. I didn't know it, but Chris sees that Andre is about to drill him. Andre is doing exactly what he was coached to do..."trail as deep as the deepest back" when flow goes away from you. One reason we played it that way was to stop the reverse. 

Chris decides, and I don't blame him, "I would rather run into Coach Buchanan than Andre." I agree completely. Andre once cracked a teammate's sternum in practice, with his bare forearm. I wouldn't want to run into Andre either. The only problem was that Chris hit me square in the mouth with his helmet and knocked out one of my front teeth. 

Well... no one is bigger than the team and that certainly applies to a tooth.  We move practice down 20 + yards and continue to practice. I ask some of the guys in the back to look for my tooth while I continue as the scout team QB.  They find my tooth. I ask one of them to go in the football office, call Stephanie, and ask her to call our great friend and awesome dentist... Sparky McDowell.  She does and Sparky sends back instructions.... get the tooth in milk and come see me after practice. 

Sparky does his magic and gets the tooth back in. But, unfortunately a few months later, John Combs and I are wrestling at the house and he knocks it out again.  Stephanie put an end to that and Sparky once again made the repair.

Finally, the tooth disappeared for good in a potato skin at DeSha's. We had the blue-white scrimmage the next day so I had to go to practice before I could get it fixed. Josh Harris(also in the conversation of best ever for me to coach) use to get his game face on about Tuesday every week. But, that Friday morning, that may have been the biggest smile I ever got out of him when he saw his coach and that tooth missing in the huddle for the first time.

That afternoon, Sparky BUILT me a new tooth in his office. The man is the Rembrandt of dentistry.  He did such a good job, no one can tell which tooth was fake and which one is real. 

After that, I wore a mouthpiece when I ran the scout team. Next time you see me, try to guess which tooth is fake. Bet you can't tell. 

I'm still trying to catch my breath...THE HIT.... November 2000

2000 Mason County Royals were the EKC Champs & these guys made all conference:
Wade Cloyd, Matt Gilbert, Mitchell Thomas, Nathan Myrick, Harry Lewis (player of the year), Adam Zeigler, Bryan Purcell & Justin Merrill

Today I was in Maysville visiting my Mom and saw a bunch of good people, including Justin Merrill in Pasquales. Justin started at outside linebacker for us on a very good Mason County team in 2000.  He went on to play football at Union College, get his degree, and then became a member of the Maysville Police Department.

I am very proud of Justin but there is one memory of him that stands out more than the others. In November of that season we were getting ready for a playoff game. I was running scout team quarterback and Shawn Thompson, our defensive coordinator had called a stunt to blitz Justin on a pass rush.

Normally, you don't destroy the scout team QB, especially if it is a coach and he is not wearing any pads. Justin takes off on his blitz, plants his facemask in my chest and flattens me on the practice field. I hit the ground so hard it took my breath... which is much more painful when that happens AND you do it from landing on your back!

When I finally could speak, I said to Justin, "What were you doing? Thinking?" He said something like, I don't know coach.... I just went... I wasn't even thinking about it.  The kids and coaches were stunned but you couldn't help but laugh!

As it turned out, I got up and finished practice running the scout team. But, to this day, I make sure if Justin Merrill is around, I know exactly where he is and I keep my eyes on him!   :)