"This isn't a football practice. It's an Ice Cream Social!"- Coach Larry French Stories

 

Mrs. Connie Christopher French, Christi, Steven & their wonderful family

John Combs got in the car with his Mom after MS football practice one day. He looked down at another team having a practice, and told his Mom, "That's not a practice. That's an ICE CREAM SOCIAL!" 

It didn't take long for Coach Larry French to influence young people and how they think/speak. John Combs had just spent a week with him being the manager for the East All Stars. JCB's number one job was to get Coach French his ice cream all week at lunch & dinner. And, it always went the same. Coach French would get his ice cream, look at it, look at JCB, and then say, "Is this all I get?" We wondered if John Combs was getting instructions from Mrs. Connie French all week.

Coach French was the DC for my Dad at Mercer between 1974 & 1977. They were across town from Harrodsburg High when Venus Meaux, Henry Parks, and Nick Yeast were players. One night, my Dad looks out on the field and says, 'Larry, we have 12 guys on defense." Coach French responded, "Coach, they have been out there the entire drive. We still can't stop them."

I was in the back seat for this one. We were opening up with Owen County, who was very good. The Cochran brothers were on the team, playing for their Dad, and were headed to the University of Kentucky on scholarship. We pull into a gas station in Owenton. My Dad is driving and Coach French is a passenger. Coach French rolls down the window & says, "We're with the Lexington Herald. When does Owen Co. scrimmage? We want to do a story on the Cochran brothers." I really don't remember what the guy said next, but I do remember the Cochran brothers were the difference and the Rebels won the opener. 

I loved Coach French. He was a groomsmen in our wedding. But, not every experience was fun. August of 1982, I am not playing well. He makes it very clear to me that I am not the starting quarterback. It made me mad, but he was right. He made me take my prep, focus & execution to another level. Our 2nd scrimmage was at Woodford County. We played much better. I played much better. That life lesson has helped me my entire life. If you don't like how things are, don't like the result or your circumstances, look at yourself in the mirror and invest in the endeavor until there is no doubt. 

In 1982, I was going to be the starting QB. In 79, 80 & 81, the Mercer QB was a lead blocker on our 28 Toss play. So, in practice, we run 28 Toss and try to get out in front to block. I get back to the huddle. Coach French tells me, "After you Toss the ball, you stand back here and cheer."

Another time in practice, it is a called pass play. No one is open. I tuck the ball and run the ball. I get back to the huddle. He says, "Did you feel the earth shaking under feet?" I say, "No sir." He says, "Then I don't want you to run the ball."

When I coached with him, one July night, we are going through the roster and assigning everyone a position on defense. I notice that everybody that is bad, he puts them at defensive end. Finally, I ask, "Is this how I ended up at Defensive End." He says yes. We were super thin in 1982. I was the defensive end to the offense's right, which is where most teams ran the ball. If I didn't know better, I would say every play Harrodsburg, Boyle, Lincoln & Estill(Winkler, Covey & Jones...very good) ran that season was off-tackle right at me. 

1982

I loved playing for Coach French. But, as soon as we would get the lead(which was rare), we were done throwing the ball. One night, we were  5 for 5 in the air, 198 yards and Alan Hendren caught 3 TD passes. We won18-13! I always wondered.... how many points could we have scored? But, I trusted my old coach. We did what he said. Now, we did have one tendency at Mercer County in 1982 that was 100%. If someone got hurt, the next play was going to be either 32 pass or Power 27 pass.  When Coach would walk the injured player off the field, I got us in the huddle, called the play, and we were at the LOS by the time he made it to the sideline. 

That Estill County team was good in 1982. They kicked our tails in the Choo Choo Bowl. I still remember this well.... as we are walking up the hill to our locker room, Coach French turns to me and says, "Go get that trophy." It was the runner up trophy for the bowl. Miserable. Coach French kept that dang trophy on his desk and had a name for it that I will not share here. But, he did say often, when we would have visitors, "See that trophy? We go that when David played,"

After the 1982 season, I am a senior in HS, and our Principal, Jim Gash, called me to his office. He asks me, "What is wrong with our football program?" I make it abundantly clear to him, Coach French is an excellent football coach. He is not the problem. I am pretty straight forward with him in regards to what needs to be fixed. He listens and the administration made the changes needed to get better. I don't care how good the coach is... you better have an administration that wants a program. The Mercer administration fixed the problem and it paid off, big time.  Over the years, I have had mixed feelings about a Principal calling in the quarterback for that type of conversation. But, Mr. Gash had a good relationship with my Dad. He also knew that I loved Coach French. Between my background as a coach's son and having just played four seasons in our program, maybe he thought I could help him figure it out. The final result was a good one.  Looking back on it, I am really glad we had that conversation. 

A great learning experience for me was going to scout with my Dad for Coach French when I was an assistant in 1986 & 1987. I invested alot of time in those scouting reports. Using black, blue, red & green ink, I would color code formations, down & distance, hash marks, etc. One particular time, walking into the office, very proud to turn in my scouting report, having reinvented the game of football,  with a huge smile on my face, anticipating wonder and awe at the greatest compilation of data he had ever seen, he threw my meticulous paperwork on the desk and said, "Where are your Dad's notes?"

Coach French was super to me, but just like the scouting story, I am not sure I ever grew past 8 years old in his eyes. The summer of 1987, we are prepping for Harrodsburg. By far, their best pass play is the wing coming all the way across the field. Our scout team killed us with it all summer. It had me torn all to pieces. Coach French ignored me. Half time of game one, they have hurt us with the wing pass. He turns to my Dad and says, "How do we stop this wing pass?" We coached the 1998 All Stars together when Chuck Smith was the head coach for Kentucky.  Coach French made it clear, it was my job to make sure his cones and practice equipment was ready everyday. And, of course, I didn't argue. 

Also that summer, he and Coach Johnson had a battle trying to hide their scrimmages. Coach French won that battle. I won't say he lied, but he bent the truth so bad it was unrecognizable. The Harrodsburg staff was waiting for us out by 127. We slipped out Bohon Road to Willisburg to go scrimmage North Bullitt. We knew Harrodsburg would scrimmage the night of the KHSAA rules meeting. Coach French told me to skip the meeting and go scout the Hogs. The longest walk of my life was down that hill and Coach Johnson stared a hole through me. I thought I was dead. Coach Johnson was a tremendous competitor on the field. But, I am not sure there was a kinder man or anyone more willing help someone than Alvis & Rosetta Johnson. The Mercer - Harrodsburg rivalry was intense. But, Coach Johnson & Coach French had a lot of respect for each other and that grew through the years. 

No one loved to get video in the middle of the week more than Coach French. I think it was a Wednesday. We all load up in the car, after practice, and head to John Nochta's house in Lexington to get a video. Steven is with us. We are starving. Coach French is in the house talking to Coach Nochta. Finally, out of frustration, I say, "Coach French, get your butt out here so we can go get something to eat!" We get to his house. Steven is in his room, and yells out, "Mom, get your butt in here!" Coach tells Mrs. French, "You can thank David for that."

1987- carried off the field by Chris Slone & Brian Sims
photo by Larry Vaught

In 1987, we are getting to play the Danville Admirals, and they are really good. In 1986 & 1987, we were pretty good and had reached the point that most Friday nights, we felt really good that we were going to find a way to win. When I get to the office, I tell him, "Coach, I don't feel good about this one." He said, "David, just be glad you are not playing Quarterback tonight." That Danville team went on to win a state title. 

By 2005, I got to be the head coach of the Kentucky All Stars. And, of course, I had to have him on the staff. My Dad was also, thanks to the kindness of Jimmie Reed. As you can imagine, Coach French was not really sold an 8 year old could be the head coach of that team. One time in particular, I got really frustrated with him and said, "Would you put on your Coach's shirt??!!" He responded, "If things get bad, I am headed to the bleachers!" We won that game 41-27. 

Over the years, it became fun when Coach French would change jobs. One of my favorites, I got a call from Pulaski Southwestern while I am teaching at Mason County. I knew the guy on the other end of the phone, very well. He says, "Do you think Coach French would be interested in our job? Will you call him and ask him for us?" I agree to do so. But, on the surface, I am thinking, "There is no way he is going to leave Boyle." So, I call him and ask him, "Coach, I just got a call from Southwestern. They want you to be their head coach. Are you interested?" He says "David, any time a job opens up and they call us, aren't we ALWAYS interested?" Sure enough.... he became the head football coach at Pulaski Southwestern.

A few Decembers later, the rumor begins to spread that Coach French is headed to Middlesboro. I call him and ask, "Coach, Are you going to Middlesboro?" He says, "Well, David, I have been to Middlesboro. I can tell you how to get there if you need to go there." That was the Christmas that Stephanie said, "Tell NORAD, no one cares where Santa is. All we want to know is, 'WHERE IS COACH FRENCH?' "

Another time, the rumor was that I am leaving Mason and headed to Mercer. Coach French calls me from his office at Boyle County. He has Jeff Hester and Chris Mason with him. He says, "David, are you taking the Mercer job?" Lying, I say, "Yes. And, at Sundown, Coach Johnson and I are going to meet you, Hester & Mason at the Boyle County-Mercer County line." He responds, "You and Alvis are fine. But, don't bring Becky (my little sister)! I am scared of Becky!"

A few weeks before he became the head coach at Boyle, he called me. "David, I want the Boyle job. But, I heard you want it. If you want it, I am not going to pursue it." To make a long story short, I told Coach French, that he needed to go after that job. But, that was Coach French being who he was everyday of his life.... thinking of others ahead of himself. And, especially for his players. There is nothing he would not do to help a young man that played for him. 

381 wins. 2 state titles. 48 Years as a Head Coach.

Lives changed / impacted for the better... more than you can count. 

Colossians 3:23 

Thank you Coach. 

Who knows, maybe in heaven, we can have an Ice Cream Social, AFTER we run ONE MORE PLAY.