The Night That Made Me Crazy : September 12, 1986

Steph, Chris, me & Larry... "celebrating" the 1986 Mercer vs. Paris game

From Black Shoes & White Shoestrings (published November of 2014).

I tell people all the time, since I know I am crazy, I am fine. I worry about the people that are crazy and don’t know it. Well….not only do I know I am crazy, I can pinpoint the date that started me on the path that lead to where I am today. That date is September 12, 1986 and I was an assistant coach at Mercer. As you probably guessed, it was a Friday night. But, the surprise is that we WON on the night that started this madness. The final score was Mercer 13, Paris 9.

 

To understand how it came to be a life changing experience, you have to know some of the background information. Our Mercer team had just graduated the best class of football players in school history. 1986 was going to be a rebuilding year. On the night in question, we started four freshmen. We were fortunate to have won our first game versus Knott Central, but in week two, Anderson County had whipped us pretty good.  I wasn’t at the Anderson game because I was at Paris, scouting the Greyhounds.  Paris had been the preseason #1 team in Class A. They were still very good the night we played, but they were playing without their best player due to a broken arm. You probably know his name….Larry Harris. Yes, that Larry Harris that coaches here at Mason County on our staff and became one of my best friends.   His cousin, Lanie Fomas, was still playing for the Hounds. To this day, the fastest & quickest football players I ‘ve ever seen were Lanie and Joseph Jefferson, who would go on to play for the Colts.

 

The bottom line, when the Mercer Scotties rolled into Blanton Collier Stadium we were a huge underdog. Our AD predicted in school that day the final score would be 55-14. And, it got worse. We had two starters in a car wreck the day before. They were ok, but the doctor would not release them to play.  And, it got even worse. Ray Caton, our starting center and defensive lineman who played both ways, sprained his ankle in PE class on gameday. I used at least a roll and half of tape on his ankle when we arrived in Paris.  Our starting corner was already on one leg with a bad ankle. We were in big trouble.

 

The Paris Greyhounds were a dynasty, coached by a GREAT coach and man, Randy Reese.  The atmosphere in that stadium was indescribable. When it worked out that I got to be a small part of Greyhound football two years later, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life and one that means more to me than I can put into words.

 

The Greyhounds were a great wishbone option team. But, our kids did a super job of being disciplined and attacking their assignments. Chuck Smith and our head coach, Larry French, had done a great job getting our guys ready for this game and our kids were all over the Paris option game. Had they been able to pass the ball effectively, we would have been in trouble.

 

To start the 2^nd half, Coach French told our kicker to kick it anywhere but to Fomas. The kickoff hit Lanie in the chest. I don’t know how we tackled him, but we did.  We got to the 4^th quarter and still the score was 9-0. We somehow manage to score, and take the lead 13-9!  The Paris cheerleaders were asking themselves, “Mercer who?  Where is Mercer County?”  I know this for a fact because one of those cheerleaders (Stephanie) turned out to be my wife and the mother of our 3 children!

 

Finally on a 4^th down at the end of the 4^th  quarter, the Paris QB took off on a called pass play. We chased him out of bounds. The officials measured.  Paris had come up short. When Dennis Davis came to the sideline (our QB, one of my best friends, and currently the Mercer County superintendent) I put up my thumb and finger, about a quarter inch apart and said, “Was it this close?”  He said, “Coach, it was closer than that.”

 

That win lead to a district and region championship season, the first ever at Mercer County HS.  It was an incredible experience.

 

So….why did it make me crazy?   Because, since that game, my mindset on EVERY Friday night has been, IF THAT TEAM CAN WIN THAT GAME, THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN WIN TONIGHT.  When we don’t win, it is always tough to take and I immediately try to figure out what I should have done differently.

 

Jeff Reese (a sophomore Greyhound in 86), Randy’s son, has become a very good friend. I called him a couple years ago to tell him after teasing him about that game all these years, that I realized that game had ruined my life. His response was, “Good.”  I was exaggerating, but he knew what I meant.

 

Chris Haney was on that team as well and has become a very good friend in addition to Larry and Jeff. And, it is incredible to think Stephanie was cheering on the opposite sideline.  Although, I have to admit, I am not sure I like the idea that Emma may marry a COACH from the opposite sideline.  That thought alone is enough to make me even crazier!

The Three Monsters and one BEAST : When a Coach Changes Jobs

October 1995- Paris

I can't be sure, but I think I have seen them, all three, over the last three months. At a minimum.... feel pretty confident I saw Monster #1, twice. I really don't know for sure, but it looks like even if you make alot of money, those monsters are still there. 

Most of the time, when a coach changes jobs, there are 3 monsters fighting in the coach's head and heart. 

Monster #1: The grief over leaving the previous job, most of all, the people and relationships. 

Monster #2: The excitement and anticipation of a new opportunity. 

Monster #3: The overwhelming amount of work that goes w/ starting over...day 1. 

JCB, me, Trosper, Larry Harris

Along with the 3 monsters, comes the moment my Dad always warned me about. Paris, Mason & Mercer, he told me, "At some point, you will ask yourself, 'What in the hell have I got myself into?' When that happens, don't worry about it. Just keep going. Keep working." 

For my Dad, those moments were when he came home from his first scrimmage at both Boyle and Mercer.  He was overwhelmed. But, both of those programs got much better and much faster than he would have anticipated in the moment. 

I can remember that moment, for me,  at all four places when it happened.  At Paris, it was in the weightroom (Lance Cordray was in there lifting) right after Mr. Goins had told me I was going to replace Coach Gruneisen, who was leaving for Bourbon Co. HS. As bad as I wanted to be a head coach, that was not a good day. At Mason, I was sitting in the office w/ Coach Hester, ordering equipment. At Mercer, it was walking up the sidewalk of the complex, looking over at the practice field... realizing that starting over after 19 years at one place, was going to be a workload like I couldn't imagine.  

At Anderson County, it was a year ago, today, April 11th. I had just got my keys. Without going into detail, the dang equipment room was a nightmare. A couple old coaches bailed me out. I called Sam Harp, a KY HS football legend who had been at Anderson. He is also incredibly well-organized and I knew he would have figured out how to make it work. He started laughing. I said, "I've got to put what's valuable in the equipment room and the rest in the laundry room." He said, yes, that is the only way to make it work. 

The other old coach that got me through that moment was my Dad. Although he is no longer alive, I could hear his words and hear him laughing at me. I could also hear him saying to me, simultaneously,  "You are nuts for jumping back into this" and "You are right where you need to be, doing what you were meant to do."

Back to these three monsters. For me, the day I left a program,  Monster #1 was by far the biggest.  The emotion of the ending is hard to put into the words. The relationships. The shared trials and triumphs. The collective accomplishments and disappointments. The sheer number of hours and days! When a shared mission that is pursued daily, with all you have in your heart, soul and guts comes to a sudden end...no words can do it justice. 

One of the positives about leaving Mercer without a job was that I only had to fight Monster #1. Taking the Anderson job meant that I only had to deal with two monsters. Amazing how much that helped both situations. 

Leaving Paris for Mason, and then Mason for Mercer...brutal. 

Ledger Independent: Interview from Office- The Day I resigned at Mason Co.

My former Pastor, Paul Gibson, told me once, "The bigger we love, the bigger the grief." Monster #1 is tough beyond words... but turns out....that is a great thing. 

Monster #3 can eat Monster #2. Monster #3 needs strict parameters. For Anderson County, this was improved. But here is the foundation of the : Transition Plan .

To me, only a fool would start a new job without a very clear, organized plan for day 1 and week 1, in addition to what must be done ASAP.

October, 2023- Anderson Co. 

So, which monster wins?  For me, they grow into one single BEAST.  That Beast only gets bigger every year. But, it is a GOOD BEAST!  This Beast becomes all the people you love, going back 55 years to my Dad's first team at Boyle. It grows into hundreds of stories... the people at ACHS are learning to avoid me or they are in for at least two stories per conversation.  The conversations and interactions with the players and the coaches on your team stir memories.... didn't this happen in 1994?  Is this the same conversation from 2003?  The Beast is so powerful, it reminds me on a daily basis of how incredibly blessed I am that I still get to do this.  When you are paying attention, you see God's love wrapped up in the totality of this good beast. But, as good as this beast is, it can also be exhausting and overwhelming. That is why I call it a Beast. But, it is a wonderful beast. I can tell you this.... I am going to keep it alive as long as I can. 

I really don't know, but I sort of think Coach Saban and Coach Cal may have felt the same way. 

*Nick Saban photo by David Carpenter

The "Time Machine", Deny the Ball Drills, Casey Kasem & the "Chuck Smith" of Basketball

#32 Alan Hendren, Joey Webb in the middle was good, I am #52, sweating alot

Most days, when I am at Anderson County HS, I get to walk through a time machine. And, most of the time, if I really think about where I am, I smile real big.

ACHS has a pretty good size gym. But, in the winter of 1980, it looked humongous.   That winter was the last time my class in HS had much success in basketball. Our coach was the "Chuck Smith" of basketball, Greg Schepman.  

Coach Schepman & my HS basketball coach/7th grade science teacher, Gene Middleton*. 

I was a freshman at old Mercer County HS. Our 6th period class everyday was freshman basketball practice with Coach Schepman.   While I remember him making sure we knew our plays, most of our time was spent on two drills : 1) deny the ball; 2) box out/ blocking out to rebound.  The best news about both of those drills... they required very little athleticism and talent. They did require a great effort and doing exactly what Coach Schepman told you to do. That was perfect for me. I could check both those boxes. We were only in there for less than an hour, but he worked our tails off. He demanded a great effort and that we do exactly what he told us to do. I loved it. When we did not meet his standard, he let us know about it real quick. But, if you were pouring your guts into being the best you could be, he had a way of making you feel like he had respect for you.  If you had Coach Schepman's respect, that meant the world to me in those days and it still does today. I tried like crazy, everyday, to do a great job for him and meet that standard.  

Mercer County Freshman Basketball Team, Winter of 1979-1980

Even though I was the least talented player on the team, by the end of the season I was a starter... the only one who was not also on the JV team. I was not very good, but Coach Schepman and I got along great.  I would like to think I was his personality on the floor.  He knew he could get after me, push me and that I would respond well. He was right. I would run through a brick wall for Coach Schepman. 

Early in the year, Boyle, Danville and Harrodsburg all beat us pretty bad.  When we played them the 2nd time, we beat Boyle and Danville. Harrodsburg** barely beat us... and they were the best of the three... very good. We played Anderson twice, late in the season, and won both games. One was at Anderson. When I walked in that gym last spring, the first time in 43 years, I could not help but smile and remember how much fun we had that night. The only thing, the gym was not near as big as I remembered it.  I guess that is what getting old does to you. Had you asked me to rank gym sizes in 1980, the Bearcat gym would have been ranked only behind Rupp!

After my freshman year, basketball was a struggle. Coach Schepman was no longer my coach. I stunk as a sophomore. My junior year, we were awful, and I was the worst player on the team. I fouled out in less than a quarter my first varsity game. I loved my HS basketball coach, Gene Middleton. He was super to me. During that tough junior year, we had two meetings. In one, he started with, "David, I think we both know your game is football." Another meeting started with, "David, I think we both know basketball is not your game." He was right!  And, I appreciated the honesty and no BS. 

 The day of my last football game in HS, I went by to see Coach Middleton and tell him I was not going to play basketball my senior year. He was super to me as always and told me because I was a good boy, he would save me a uniform and I could come out later in the season. That meant alot to me and I never forgot that conversation. Ironically, just in the past year, I have realized missing that basketball season was a mistake. We were bad. I was worse. But, I still missed out on being on a team and all the experiences that go with it.  Most of the time, if your pride is making your decision, you are going to be wrong. I did not want to go from starting quarterback to the last guy on the bench of the basketball team. But, that would have been better than not being on the team. And, experiences that teach me humility are not always fun... but they can help me be a better person. 

Last weekend our coaches were riding together to the AFCA Convention in Nashville. We enjoyed hearing Casey Kasem countdown the top songs of 1970 (#80 thru #41), most of them were really good songs that I remember well. I explained to Coach Lucas Shouse, this website is a like a time machine: 

https://top40weekly.com/ 

For example, if I am at practice on our gamefield, and start thinking about being there with my Dad in September of 1971, I can go to this link and listen to the songs that were on the radio that week.  Very cool and I sure do enjoy being able to remember that moment so well. 

Here's a good one from the winter of 1980, that starts running through my mind when I walk through that gym with the Bearcat on the wall: Don't Do Me Like That- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Even cooler.... when I walk from the back hallway, through the gym, and through the gym doors.... I enter another time machine. But, I'll save that story for another time. 

In the meantime, I am thankful for that big gym, deny the ball drills, Casey Kasem and Coach Schepman. 

*In 7th grade science class, Coach Middleton & Coach Schepman would get me to pick college and NFL football games. We had a blast. 

** Keith Currens was a great basketball player at Harrodsburg High and is the same age as me. His son, Jesse, is my AD/Boss at Anderson County HS... super person and Boss....Chip off the old block, for sure.  I don't think Keith played in that 2nd freshman game in 1980, he was probably Varsity only by that time if not sooner. 

It's best when no one see's it coming: The end of being the Head Football Coach at a program

 

1/14/22 Trosper talking to the incoming freshmen

Wednesday (1/10/24), at 9:14 pm, my good friend and former DC, William Harris, sent me this tweet and the following message: "Reminds me of you, work as the HC until the moment he isn't! Just like you. That day is still etched in my brain."

So, why is that the best way to leave?  Why are you going a million miles an hour until the moment you are no longer the head coach?

January 20, 2022 (Thursday) was my last day as the head football coach in my hometown.  There are certainly obstacles when you coach where you grew up, but never equate easy with good. It was an absolutely great experience.  

A decision like this.... it can take weeks, or even months, to work through the details in regards to... is it best for the program that there be a change, and if so... when?

This is how those last few days went....

By January 13th, I had become fairly certain my time had come to an end as the HFC at MCSHS. On January 14th, we had the absolute BEST Recruit Night we ever had at either Mason or Mercer. It was a packed house of incoming freshmen with both talent and excitement in regards to Titan Football. Both the kids and their families were fired up. Without a doubt, it was one of the very best nights I ever experienced as a football coach.  I knew my clock was probably about to run out. And, that made me enjoy it even more. Maybe the term "bittersweet" is on target. 

1/14/22 Packed House @ Recruit Night

As a professional courtesy, I told both my Superintendent and AD on the 18th that I was going to resign, after brief meetings with them individually. And, I sure do appreciate both of them keeping that to themselves until the moment I told the coaches and team. That was best for the program and selfishly, I really was able to enjoy my last two days as the  HFC at Mercer County HS. I was going to resign on the 19th(after a workout), but my AD asked me to wait until our team meal that we had scheduled for the 20th so I honored his request. 

On January 19th, our Perfection Workout was excellent. Our coaches and kids worked their tails off. It was a great day. By this time, I knew 100% this was my last day to coach our kids and be with our coaches. Once again, bittersweet is the best word to describe it.  Man, I had a great day. WE (much more important) had a great day. The kids had a blast. The coaches were in their element and doing what they loved to do. Everyone was excited about what we were doing and the 2022 season.  That was EXACTLY the way it should have been. 

The evening of January 20, we had schedule a team meal and leadership meeting at the Olde Bus Station. Ironically, our leadership talk that evening was to come from WILLIAM HARRIS. William was super.  After William was done, I talked to the team. In summary, my message was that, "The Team Always Comes First. And, right now, what is best for the team, is a new head football coach." 

1/20/2022, William Harris speaking to the team

So, what are the advantages of working like a mad man up until the second you are no longer the head football coach? Why keep it quiet when you realize what is about to happen?

1) It is the right thing to do. If you are in a role, you give it your all... for the team, community, coaches, etc.  There is never an acceptable length of time to coast. There is never an acceptable time to make it about yourself and not the team. 

2) No one, including the head coach, is bigger than the team or the program. The Titans needed to have a great recruit night. We did. The program needed to have a great workout on 1/19. We did. The team comes first. Nobody needs to be walking around, thinking about if the head coach is going to leave, etc. That is a distraction that is never ok. 

3) I was selfish! I wanted to ENJOY my last days coaching those kids and being with those coaches. That last recruit night and that last Perfection Workout were two of the best days, EVER, in a lifetime of HS football. I will never forget those days and I will always be thankful for them.  If I had let my intentions leak out, it would have been miserable. But, I got to watch, up close and personal, a group of players and coaches, go about their business, at a pretty high level. They were excited and full of energy. What that meant to me in those moments....no words can do it justice. 

A bunch of us, for decades, have watched Nick Saban to learn from him.  Coaches are the biggest group of thieves you will ever meet... we steal and copy everything! And, even when it comes to walking away from a program that you have poured your heart, soul & guts into, once again, Coach Saban is on target.  Best wishes Coach, and THANK YOU!

1/23/22 Anna Weaber & Laci McGinnis made our facility PERFECT for the next coach

The Coaches Office: Behind the Scenes of HS Football w/ Chuck Smith & David Buchanan: Season 2 Episode Menu

1: Philip Haywood-Best Stadiums- 3-4 - Roy Walton

2: Justin Haddix- Mike Holcomb- Choosing Starters- Preventing Injuries

3: Mark Spader- Kevin Wallace- Weekly Inseason Plan- Dressing Freshmen for Varsity

4: Mike Engler- Northern KY vs. Central KY - Clinic vs. College/HS Staff Visits- Build vs. Maintain

5: Craig Yeast- Alvis Johnson- Hal Mumme & Air Raid- HS Coach Role in Recruiting

6: Dudley Hilton- Navigating Open Week- Building A Program in the Current Climate

7: Steve Stonebraker- Randy Reese- Building in a Rural Community- Discipline- MS Governance

8: Leon Hart- Roy Kidd- Turf vs. Grass- Situational Football

9: Brock Roberts- Program Building (21st century)- Youth (Inhouse vs. Travel)- MS & Frosh HFC

10: Joe Morris- Mayfield v. Tilghman- Tony Franklin- Leadership & Relationships- Call Sheet Essentials

11: Roger Gruneisen- Confusion Defense- Trinity- Jim Kennedy- Bob Redman- NFL/College/HS PAT

12: Eddie James- Weightroom Essentials- KY HS Football 6 Classes

13: Eddie Eviston- Neal Pawsat- Georgetown Set- Homer Smith- Hiring a HFC- Heroes

14: Nick Baisch- Kevin Wallace- Finding a HFC Job- Playoff Prep

15: Kurt Hines- CA v. NH HS 🏈- Boyd Epley- Response to Illegal Recruiting- Nutrition

16: Chad Griffin- "1-0" - LHSAA ( Select & Non-Select)- Mark Perry- Super Teams

17: State Title Coaches- Chris McNamee- Hunter Cantwell- Jay Cobb- The Freshman QB- The Drive

Taxslayer Gator Bowl: Greg McGarity- John Showalter- Kirby Smart- Fran Tarkenton- Christmas

Flashback Collection: Mac being Mac!

The Coaches Office: Behind the Scenes of HS Football w/ Chuck Smith & David Buchanan: Season 2 Soundtrack

Get Ready- Rare Earth

Go Down Gamblin'- Blood, Sweat & Tears

On Our Own- Bobby Brown

Don't Look Back- Boston

September- Earth, Wind & Fire

Enter Sandman- Metallica

Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo- Rick Derringer

Stand By Me- Ben E. King

Go All The Way- The Raspberries

Long Train Running- The Doobie Brothers

Bargain- The Who

Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding- Elton John

No Crime- Babyface

Dazz- Brick

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide- ZZ Top

A dark hallway at Mason County HS: Shedding Light

 

Mason Co. HS, around 9:30 pm, 12/8/2023

We were in Maysville this weekend and I got to attend the Mason County - Green County basketball game, which was a  GREAT game. I could do several blogs just on the people I got to see and visit this weekend (attended MCO Gala on Thursday; got to visit w/ JCB, Caroline and John Parker). It's a wonder Stephanie ever got me out of town.  

When the game was over Friday night, I decided to do what I would do after basketball games for 19 years... walk out through the main hallway of the school and right past my old classroom(in the infamous Hall 2*) to my vehicle in the back parking lot. 

As I turned the corner & looked down that hallway... 

"How could those 19 years be over?" 

"What great memories!"

"The people, the moments, the experiences were incredible."

"Man, we sure had some big challenges in building a football program!"

"If I could go back and do it all over again, I absolutely would."

I sure do miss Maysville, that HS, and those wonderful people. 

But, guess what...tomorrow...Monday, I get to walk into the hallways of Anderson County High School! In a very short time...already, I love this place. My bosses are super. Like this hallway, there are a bunch of adults that love kids. The kids I am coaching are working to be their best and fine young men. Also, guess what... we sure do have some big challenges in building our football program. For all of the above, I am very thankful.  I can't wait to get out of bed and drive to Anderson County HS in the morning.  Walking into ACHS feels like walking in to 1969, 1982, 1988, 1996 & 2015... all rolled into one great place. 

What a blessing. 

And, I sure did love walking the hallways of Paris HS and Mercer County HS as well. 

For ALL of us walking into  a school building tomorrow.... soak it up and enjoy every second of it.

There are a bunch of things I don't understand, but right now, these verses come to mind:

Hebrews 13:8

James 1:17

I would guess my days of walking into a HS are dwindling pretty quickly. While I've got em, I am sure going to make the most of them and enjoy every second. I hope everyone else does the same. 

*Hall 2:

Where Cheri Johnson, Shawn Thompson, Seth Faulkner & Mary Grosser taught some mean math lessons back in the day.

Where Dr. Sean Jackson met his bride, Becky ( I was in the classroom between them... match made in HALL 2... don't get me started on PLC w/ those two)

Dr. Serial Killer (Chad Stanfield) packs the house with his grisly lesson plans.

Home of Mrs. Porter's daycare where Allison Walker Biggs & Shannon Barnett Roberts spoiled JCB rotten.