JCB is 21

Happy 21st Birthday to my son, John Combs Buchanan!

Photos by the Maysville Ledger Independent & Cheri Johnson

Excerpt from Black Shoes & White Shoestrings:

It’s a great experience, as a dad to get a good look at the man your son will become. For me, that first moment came the Friday night at Highlands in JCB’s sophomore year.  We had been 1-7 over the past 8 weeks, stretching from 2011 to 2012.  That night in Fort Thomas, we were facing one of the best programs in the nation. 

Early in the season, I had decided that I did not need to choose captains or weekly awards any more because my son was on the team. That job would go to our assistant coaches. Moments before we would take the field, our coaches told me our captains for the night & one of them was JCB.

It was ironic they picked him because he & I were both in the doghouse with his mom and the rest of the family that night. They were not at the game and had hit the wall with me and my preference for making a tough schedule.  I will admit I had made a mistake. The perfect storm had hit and the schedule had taken a toll on our team, players, coaches, and my family.

As we walked to midfield, I can’t describe the emotion of getting ready to face the challenge before us, together. That game had been talked about over and over again in our house during the past year.  It struck me as we walked out for the coin toss JCB’s poise, confidence, excitement, and eagerness to face the challenge.  He played very well and our kids did great. We didn’t win, but we played very hard and our kids were not intimated.  After the game, JCB talked at length about how much he had enjoyed the total experience of playing the Bluebirds on their turf. That was his first night of being the man that God has called him to be- I could not have been happier or more proud.

Old Coaches.... Help the Young Coaches

Billy & Boone Goldsmith after Boone's QB sneak on 4th & goal for a state title

This past Thursday after UK's practice,  Trosper & I invited our good friend, Coach Boone Goldsmith, to go eat lunch with us. Trying to help out a young guy, I bought him a cheddar burger at Charlie Brown's. He said he would have to get me a meal next time. I said, "No." I told him, "when you are an old coach like me, help out a young coach and buy him a meal."

Coach French & Coach Gruneisen bought me more than one meal. My first two years at Paris, most nights I ate a bowl of cereal or ramon noodles. On a good night, I ate a 99 cent pizza. When I started dating Stephanie, her mom would cook for us on Friday night. I would knock out the rest of the cornbread and butterscotch or chocolate pie around 10 pm. Her mom loved it. She had never seen anyone eat like me before. I sure can't eat like that now or I would be gaining weight like crazy.

Stephanie & her wonderful mom, Jan Trosper. I had the best mother in law, ever.

So.... old coaches.... we need these young guys. Our profession, these kids in our programs, need these young coaches. Buy them a meal and help them out. Young football coaches don't make much money.

Young guys.... when you are old like me, remember these thin times and help out a new, aspiring coach.

Now.... don't ask me about the cake that Jack Robertson got me for my birthday one year.  I need to keep this blog rated G. But, if you see Big Jack, make sure you ask him about it.

We may not make much money, but we do have alot of fun.

Another opportunity to learn- UK Spring Practice

This week Trosper and I were fortunate to attend two UK Wildcat spring practices.  I appreciate Coach John Schlarman making that possible for us this week. I have known him since he played for Coach Tom Duffy at Highlands back in 1992. John is an outstanding coach and person. He and the UK football staff are generous in allowing HS coaches access to their program during the spring.

Trosper has been a big fan of QB Walker Wood for a long time

Most days, it is a fight to get Trosper out of bed. But, to catch the early morning meetings and practices, he was willing to wake up at 4 am. He enjoyed those meetings and learned by hanging on to every word that Coach Gran and Coach Hinshaw shared during the video sessions.   What a great experience for a young quarterback.

As always when I watch a quality staff and program, it was a great time of learning for me. Again, I picked up some good special teams drills. As best as I could without getting in the way or asking too many questions, I was especially intrigued by the expansion of RPOs in the Wildcat offensive scheme.  We started messing around with RPOs at Mason County in 2012.  We are still ironing out many of the details. Coach Hinshaw and Coach Gran do a great job with the details and how they fit into their offensive system.

At both Centre & UK I was impressed with the demeanor of their players. They were polite, personable, and wonderful ambassadors for their programs & schools. As a head football coach, it is important to me that our guys represent our team well.  Centre & UK both hit a home run in that department.

I got to see Georgetown practice at the FCA clinic a couple Saturdays ago and was also impressed with their coaches, program, players & practice. Area football fans should be excited. 2017 will be a season of very strong college football in this area!

"We need you at Kick Off" and my only good off the field story from HS

Several of the guys in black & gold had been in Harrodsburg a few days earlier. September 24, 1982

Stephanie says I only have one good story from high school, but I have been able to get some mileage from it over the years.

One Saturday night in early September, 1982, myself and three friends went to see a movie in Danville. You may not remember Fast Times at Ridgemont High but I bet most of us old guys do remember Phoebe Cates.

After the movie, our driver decides he wants to meet a girl he saw in the theatre. We drive out to the bowling alley in Danville to find her. Our first time through the parking lot, a few of the guys out there yell stuff at us. Undeterred, my buddy continues in his quest. A few minutes later, we go back through the bowling alley. But, this time, about 8 car loads of guys jump in their vehicles to chase us. I knew it was serious when one of them passed us & did a donut at the intersection of Maple Avenue & Lexington Street.

At this point, we are getting back to Harrodsburg as fast as we can. We make it to Beaumont Plaza and all the guys that have chased us, circle their vehicles behind what use to be Long John Silvers.  We are in good shape now, because we have the numbers. In particular, we have Woody Holt & the Elliott brothers. Woody became my brother in law, great friend, & a wonderful uncle for my kids. Woody rides his motorcycle into the circled cars and says. "I hear you want to fight some boys from Harrodsburg. I'm from Harrodsburg!" Our visitors began to get back in their cars. Many of the guys in the cars turned out to be some of my friends from Boyle County. They told me later that a KNEE came to the door of one of their cars. That would have been one of the Elliott brothers.

Gradually, I began to realize many of these guys were my friends from when I went to Boyle County and also from going to Centenary in Danville. John Key( a good friend, played football for Boyle) told me just a few weeks ago, he didn't realize until I yelled his name that he was not going to get his "tail" kicked.  John, and several of those guys and many my friends, would return for our game when the Rebels would play at Mercer, just a few days later.  Todd Bryant was with those guys also that night and now we are both at Mercer together.

It ended very well, with everyone standing around talking. My buddy that wanted to meet the girl, yes, he was talking to her while the rest of us tried to sort out the mess that almost got started.  And, as you might have guessed, AFTER everything had calmed down, we had several more that were ready to fight if needed... bless their hearts.

The first time I shared this story with my team was on a Thursday, in the locker room, before we played at Rowan County in 2010. In 2009, we had beat Rowan in a close game at home. They had everyone back, expecting to have a GREAT team, and had made arrangements to get our 2010 game televised. No one plans on televising a game they will lose. They had scored 71 points the week before on Fleming and they were foaming at the mouth to get us.

I told our guys that we needed them at Kickoff from the very beginning, like Woody Holt. Woody stuck his nose in there for us when we needed him the most, right at the beginning. That night in Harrodsburg, we had a lot of guys ready to fight, AFTER Woody and the Elliott brothers had put out the fire. I have seen a lot of football players like that over the years. AFTER the game is determined, they are ready to be the heroes. But, when the bullets are flying early, they want no part of it!

Our team doesn't really need guys for after the outcome is determined. We need guys that will fight and play hard from the opening kick off. You can win championships with those guys.

I will give my 2010 team credit. Those guys played their tails off and played one of the best football games we played at Mason in my 19 years there. It was a wild dogfight from the beginning and our guys answered the bell and won that televised game by two touchdowns.

I don't advocate violence & fighting. Usually there is a better solution and I am glad things worked out for us that night in September of 1982. But, I am thankful for Woody Holt & the Elliott brothers. And, those old Phoebe Cates movies are still pretty good.

Leadership Building Block #6

https://twitter.com/ChiefSmoke10/status/848932956332797952

Bermuda- magic grass for a football field

Yes! Our Bermuda grass is coming back! Bermuda is the most low maintenance/cheapest, uniform playing surface you can have. It is highly likely no reseeding will be required. The biggest issue is spring frost. We have our irrigation set for each morning to protect the grass. If we are smart, we have the best surface at the cheapest possible price. Yes, I get fired up about Bermuda grass and football fields. When my kids were growing up, for entertainment we would drive out to check the grass. And, yes, I am cheap and don't like to spend money.

Two Years as a Titan

Trosper in his first game as a Titan, September 2015

Two years ago today, April 2nd, we made the decision to leave Mason County after 19 years and return to my hometown, Harrodsburg, to coach the football Titans at Mercer County. 

It was a tough time and a great time all at once. It seemed a little overwhelming when we jumped into it. But, because of great staff, players, bosses and a wonderful family, we have been able to make substantial progress in two years time. I am very proud of how far we have come to this point, but also realize we have a long way to go.

I miss my Mason County family, but I talk to those guys several times a week. I am very proud of them. It also confirms for me that it was time to move on and get out of their way.  Those guys have done a great job with those kids and program.  I enjoy hearing about what they are doing and it means a lot to me when they still call and get my thoughts. I also call to get their thoughts.  Those guys know their stuff and are very good at what they do. 

I drove over 6,000 miles from the time I took the job at Mercer until we finally moved in July. I am really glad I am not facing that travel this spring.  It makes me tired just thinking about that. 

The weather turned out to be a foreshadowing of the trials ahead. When I called to accept the job, we were in the middle of a hail storm in Maysville. The night of the press conference, there were tornado warnings around Harrodsburg.  I had no idea that we were facing an 0-5 start and that my Dad, who was not even sick when I took the job, would die of cancer in almost exactly 6 months.  Or, that two of my players would also lose their father. But, as a program, staff, family & team, we took care of each other.  God's hand and protection continue to be present. 

One of the constants for me in 25 years as a head coach is that we have had success because I always choose to hitch my wagon to great people. The bottom line in all of this.... THANK YOU to my players, staff, family & bosses that made this work and continue the effort required to make Titan Football the best it can be.