Chris Lofton Stories: Wings, Panthers, FTS and One Bloody Chin (Trosper's)

It could be the region tournament in the Fieldhouse, the finals at Rupp Arena, or even Putnam Stadium.... all of those places, Chris Lofton was HOME. 

Chris was a 1st Team All State WR at Mason County HS. It was so much fun coaching him. Hard to believe but 100% true... as great of a basketball player he is, he is an even better person.  A few good stories or info on Chris:

1- He kept me torn up that he was going to Fleming County. When he was little and we would do summer camps, we would divide up and play touch football at the end. He would always say, "We are the Panthers!"  I think even then, his sense of humor and how smart he is, he was just needling me to get me going. It worked.  In HS, he would do his conditioning test in June before leaving on his AAU circuit in July. I would give him a ride home. His house was on the Mason-Fleming line. Good grief I was shook. Thank goodness he stayed in blue and white!

Photo by theguru, BluegrassPreps

2- Knowing it was unusual for a high profile shooter to play HS football, I won't lie to you... as discreetly as I could do it, I tried hard to keep him happy.  Chris loves to eat. He would say, "Coach, what are we having during three a days?" My response would be, "What do you want?" That's what we got. We sunk some money into those meals.... but it paid off. He was a strong student. His Mom & Dad ran a tight ship. He loved the wings from Greg's Pizza. Occasionally, we would get wings for the guys that had all A's and B's... and I knew that would always include Chris, and he would like that. Whenever he would say to me, "Coach, when are we getting wings again?" My response would be , "Tomorrow!"

3- Usually Chris would miss some late July practices because of basketball. That was fine with me. I was always just glad that he came back and was playing football.  His first week back of his senior year, August, we are getting ready to play the defending state champs, Breathitt County, in the Recreation Bowl. Coach Ullery is working some other guys because Chris has not been there. We look awful. I get frustrated. Finally, I say, "Coach, can we put Chris in?  He is going to play against Breathitt." Coach Ullery points at him and puts him in at WR. C-Lo says to Coach Ullery, "It's ok coach. I just like to watch him yell at you."  :)

4- In the Rec Bowl that season, we played at 5 pm and it was hot. About middle of the 2nd quarter, Chris comes to me and says, "Am I going to rotate?" I said, "Yes. We are taking you out at halftime. When halftime is over, you are going back in."  

5- Chris shot basketball... EVERYDAY, including football season. That did not bother me at all. What Chris did, playing both basketball and football at a high level, is tough. It takes a high character guy to pull it off. Chris has ELITE character. I trusted him. He was a GREAT teammate. He was not going to get hurt during football season, shooting basketball, unless it was something crazy. Because he is such a good person, he knew getting hurt would let his teammates down. He loved those guys and wanted to do all he could to help them win championships.  Besides, I knew his dream was to play big time college basketball. My role was to HELP him reach that goal. Not interfere, fight him, be territorial, etc. That would be dumb and selfish. It would be wrong.  

6- One Christmas Eve, Dustin Grutza shows up at my house to get the key to the weightroom. I don't have it. C-Lo has it and he is lifting weights on Christmas Eve of his senior basketball season. He was addicted to the weightroom. His favorite lift was straight leg deadlift. He was a warrior when it came to bench, clean and squat. People have no idea how hard he worked in the weightroom and how physically strong he was. Many nights, especially in basketball, he was a man among boys.  Very few basketball players attacked the weightroom like he did. His HS basketball coach, Kelly Wells, was way ahead of his time. He put all his basketball kids in weightclass and told me to take care of it.  I was always so proud to watch our basketball guys. We were a strong, physical team that beat the snot out of many opponents. No one intimidated our guys. Our basketball kids were talented, but they were also hard-nosed and would fight you. 

7- FTS... Feed The Stud. Greg Nord was at U of L and was recruiting Chris to play football. When he came by that spring, I was working on our script for the Rec Bowl, and making sure that Chris was getting the ball, early and often in our first game. I had never heard that expression before, but Coach Nord used that phrase and it stuck.  From then on, that is what we called the plays that specifically went to Chris each week.  If anyone was jealous of Chris, they knew better than to show it. But, I really think that was rare. Everyone knew he was a great person, unselfish and a great player. 

8- One night, about 10 minutes before Chris & the Tennessee Volunteers are going to play Florida on TV, Trosper slips running up the steps and busts his chin wide open. Blood gushing everywhere. Stephanie looks at me and says, "Do we need to go to the ER & get stitches?' My response, "Chris will be on in ten minutes. I'll run to the drugstore, buy a butterfly bandage, and do it myself. " Chin looks great today! Trosper being the 3rd child and a male.... the story makes a little more sense. 

9- One summer, took JCB to a UT football camp. We are in their new indoor football/athletic complex. I look through a glass window and see portraits of two people... Pat Summitt & Chris!

10- Over the years, several KY HS football coaches have expressed to me their appreciation of Chris and that he played HS football.  He proved that you can be a great HS basketball player and play HS football. No one loves basketball more than Chris Lofton. But, he enjoyed football and he loved his teammates in the football lockerroom. 

There are more, but you get the idea. Chris Lofton was a great athlete, but even better person. I am sure I'll watch some basketball this March. And, I especially enjoy watching the Titans and Lady Titans. But, I have to admit, I got spoiled watching Chris. In my mind, the month of March will always belong to Chris Lofton. 

Photo by theguru, BluegrassPreps

Celebrating & Coping.... When We Lose Someone We Love Very Much

 Overwhelming. How else to describe it. Covid. Tragic accidents. Suicide.  Cancer. The list goes on. Never seen anything like it in my lifetime.   So many people are hurting because they have lost loved ones. 

I've had 5 and 1/2 years to recover from the loss of my Dad. Really no words to describe how much I loved him, the impact he had on me, and how much I depended on him, even up to the very end. I still find myself on Saturday mornings after a ballgame, starting to call him on my phone.  

A few days ago I walked in the house and Emma asked me what was wrong. I told her I was just really missing her grandfather. It still overwhelms me at certain times. 

My mom died just a few weeks ago. But, her suffering was so awful, it was a relief and I praised God that her days of anxiety and fear were over. The fact that she did not die in a mental institution was a miracle to be celebrated. Her passing was the end of an incredibly difficult journey.  I love my Mom very much and I am thankful beyond words that she is well and whole as you read these words. A miracle that only Christ could make happen. 

So... how in the world do we do this?  How do we keep going when our hearts are broken? I sure don't have all the answers, but here are some things that have helped me. I hope this can help others.

1- Praise God because I know I will see them again. I know this because of Jesus Christ.

2- Praise God in the details. When I am particularly sad and missing my Dad, I start remembering specific details about our times together. Over the past five years, I've walked across the wet field of grass in the rain, headed toward Commonwealth Stadium, to watch the Cats play Tennessee (November, 1973) many, many times. On that walk, I remember him talking about my great grandfather and that I need to pick a job based on what I love doing.... not what will make me the most money. I think that talk sealed the deal on coaching HS football. I have many more, but you get the idea. 

3- I praise God when I see my family and know that my Dad would be so proud and happy. With my Mom's mental illness, he endured much more than he ever let on.  There is no doubt in my mind that he did so to help me have the life I have now, and to have his family continue to grow and serve Christ. 

4- I talk to his old players whenever I can. Or his friends. Or guys he coached with and against.  Anyone that knew him. Anytime I visit with those guys, it feels like he is right there, even if just for a second. 

5- I talk to others about him. Tonight, Cole Lanter (Boyle player/good friend of Trosper's) got to hear my Dad's dream... when he was at Boyle, he wanted to build one stadium where the Fairgrounds are located that would be used by both Danville and Boyle. He thought it would be great for the entire community. Obviously, that didn't work out. But, I want to be like my Dad in that regard... I would rather dream big and things not work out, than dream little and yes, you got little. 

6- Look through old scrapbooks from when he coached. Read his words.

7- When I get up each morning, go out and be who I am... a follower of Jesus Christ and John Buchanan's son. That gives me a challenge each day to do my best, serve others, love others, and to have a GREAT attitude while I do it.

8-Look over at the field (our practice field/his old Mercer game field) and his old fieldhouse/lockerroom each day I go to the complex. That sidewalk is a time machine for me.  I know they're not there, but it sure FEELS like my Dad and Robert Allen are standing on that sideline, late at night after a game, or during practice. Sometimes, I do feel like he is laughing at me when I get frustrated.  That's a good thing because it feels like we are together on that field for a moment. 

9- Thank God that I had a great Dad. I would rather have a great Dad and he is no longer here, than have an awful Dad and he is still here. 

10 - I remember them the way I choose to remember them, especially my Mom. Her mental illness... that was not her.  When I think of my Mom, she is her best. And...that is who she is NOW. Praise God.

11- Listen to old music... what he enjoyed and also what would be on the radio when I was with him and was growing up.

12- All of this... do it ONE DAY AT A TIME. When I think of a lifetime without my Dad, no way. But, TODAY, I can do this. I will get up tomorrow, and do it again. 

I hope this can help someone. 

Praise God... He gave us the people we love, He will never abandon us, and He has given us the ultimate & eternal victory in Christ Jesus. 

30 Years... Still Working to Improve: An Old Coach Learning From the Best & Brightest Young Coaches

Coach Gruneisen with our 2018 Freshman Team

Paranoia is my best thing.  Professional issue of the day is that I am getting old. I don't want to get outdated. I don't want what we do in our football program to be behind the curve and not the best possible across the board for our kids. And, old or not, I still want to be the absolute best football coach that I can be. There is still more for me to learn and much that I can do better. 

Brandon Smith before he lead our KY All Stars to a 2 TD victory over TN.

Last February, I drove to Bowling Green to meet with Coach Brandon Smith, one of the finest young coaches in the state. Yesterday morning I met with our strength coach at Mercer County, Josh Painter, another outstanding young football coach. Strength is moving toward POWER... strength AND speed. Josh has us changing with the times and I am glad. We use and have Tsunami Bars. Love them and GREAT for our kids! I couldn't spell Tsunami four years ago. 

Coach Josh Painter with our Titans

After meeting with Josh yesterday, I drove to Covington Catholic to meet with Coach Eddie Eviston, another outstanding young KY HS Football Coach. It was also good because Trosper got a chance to throw with some of the CovCath guys while we met. 

Coach Eddie Eviston w/ his Cov Cath Team

All three of those guys played for outstanding coaches : Brandon (his Dad, Chuck) ; Josh ( his Dad, Doug) ; Eddie (Bob Schneider-NewCath & Bill Cronin- Georgetown). 

I appreciate these young guys helping an old coach. I learned alot. I am a better coach because of those meetings. And, found out maybe I am not THAT old. Many of the things we are doing.... we need to keep doing those. 

But, old coaches.... seek out those young guys and listen. 

And, while I am at it.....young guys.... don't get your feelings hurt when the old coach doesn't implement your idea. That doesn't mean he isn't listening. It very well may mean he has 10-20 prior experiences and he learned the hard way... we need to do it the way we are currently doing it. 

When I was a young assistant coach at Paris HS, I made a suggestion to Coach Gruneisen in regards to some adjustments that I thought would help our defense. After listening, he said, "I don't want to do that." End of discussion, and that was fine with me. I understood he was the head coach. I am not sure that would go over as well in the 21st century. But, my Dad was a head football coach. I understand.... at the end of the day, the tough decisions are on him, and he will face the consequences for those decisions more than anyone else in our program. 

In closing....if you schedule South Warren (Brandon Smith) or Covington Catholic (Eddie Eviston), be ready. Those guys will have their teams ready to play. 

Reese Smith of WVU Football in our Athletic Complex w/ Tsunami Bar

Peace & Wisdom....New Focus... Ready for 2021

Our family dog finds peace by listening to Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix & the Beatles

This may be the most anticipated New Year's Eve in my lifetime. Good grief we are all ready to see 2020 be over. 

COVID has forced us to recognize that we really don't have control of the circumstances in our lives that we thought we possessed. That has been a tough one for me. I like to plan and prepare, way ahead of schedule.

 This season, twice on a Thursday, after a practice, I told our guys..."I THINK we will play Team A tomorrow night, 7:30. It may be somebody else. It may be a different time. It may be Saturday. It may be a different opponent. We may not even have a game!"

While the calendar may be changing, we will certainly have challenges in the year ahead. My focus going forward. 

1- On the things I can control, I will do what is right and do the best I can. 

Viktor Frankl was a concentration camp survivor and is the author of Man's Search for Meaning. He makes it clear, we have little control over our circumstances. However,  NO ONE can take away the freedom we have to choose our response, our attitude, how we treat others, and our opportunity to serve others. 

2- I will pray daily and ask GOD for HIS peace & wisdom.

Ever have a problem to solve and you just can't figure it out?  Peace & Wisdom go hand and hand. Prayer and God's Word will lead you to the BEST solutions (Wisdom). Peace can come before the Wisdom (the knowledge that God will provide) or after (Problem solved!). The source of both is ultimately our Creator.

Everyday in 2021 we will have an opportunity to serve Christ and serve others.  

Happy New Year!

 

Assistant Coach Interview Questions- finding the good ones is getting tougher

There aren't many out there, but I was fortunate to interview an outstanding assistant coach candidate this morning!

Here are the interview questions we use. 

1- Why do you want to be a football coach at Mercer County HS?

 2- What coaches have been the biggest influence on you? Why? What did you take from that coach? 

3- If you are somewhere in town, and people begin to bad mouth the football staff and program, what is the loyal way to respond?

 4- Will your schedule allow you to be at all practices and workouts? ( Provide overall schedule and expectations) 

5- We want to practice fast. We also want to maximize efficiency in practice… very little standing around and watching, everyone involved, working and getting reps. Can you make your coaching style fit that philosophy? Can you coach on the run, make corrections as needed after practice, etc? 

6- We do a bunch of dirty and extra work. Washing uniforms, sweeping the locker-room, getting equipment put away…. Is that beneath you as a coach, or are you willing to help with the part of the job that is menial and outside of the spotlight?

 7- We do not cuss on the field (this is a work in progress). Can you handle that or do you think that cussing is necessary to get a player’s attention at times? If so, this will not be a good fit for you or us. 

8- We want our players to be corrected, pushed, and to become the best they can be. In doing so, we want this done in the most positive way possible. Can you be demanding AND positive as a coach? 

9- Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a football coach? 

10- Are you a big picture guy, detail guy, or combination of both? Explain.

If you have better questions, email me at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com. Today was a really busy day. The most important thing I did was the interview. There is no substitute for surrounding your kids with great men as their coaches and mentors. At the end of the day, that is really what we are all about. 

Merry Christmas!  🎄⛄

Victory in Christ.... How I will remember my Mom

 

1966, Alexandria Drive- Lexington, KY

Yesterday my Mom passed away. It was a joyous day because it ended decades of suffering. My Mom has fought severe mental illness  for many, many years. Ever since I was ten years old, I would pray that God would heal my Mom. The way that I wanted her to be healed, it never happened. 

I sure don't have all the answers. But, through my Mom's fight with mental illness, I  did witness God's strength and love.  I saw it in my Dad and the way he loved my Mom... no matter what she would say or do. No matter how sick she was.

I saw God's love and strength in their Sunday School Class, and their Pastors,  at Centenary United Methodist Church, in the way they supported my Mom and Dad when my Dad was fighting cancer.  

God's love and strength was alive and well in the Maysville Nursing Home. In December of 2018, my mom was placed under Hospice care. She lived two years after that! Unheard of. But, they loved her so much, and worked so hard to care for her, they kept her alive even though all indications were she would die in a matter of weeks. 

I will recognize Jesus when I get to heaven because He will look like Lynn & Steele Harmon. We moved to Danville in 1969. Steele was the football coach at Centre and my Dad was the coach at Boyle County. They became lifelong friends. During some of the rockiest times these past 50 years, Steele's friendship kept my Dad going. Lynn and Steele both went above and beyond to love my family through some of our toughest times. 

My Mom's illness was incredibly difficult for her and our family. I didn't get the healing that I prayed for while she was on this earth. But, I did get to witness and experience, over and over again, God's unfailing love. And, today, my Mom is healed by the blood of Jesus Christ. The victory that was won yesterday, only Christ could win. She has eternal life. She is with my Dad. She is now more whole, happy, and herself than she has ever been. 

I could tell you some pretty awful stories about things my Mom did or she said. When I saw her on Thursday, the accumulation of hurt and illness was apparent in her face and her body. It was overwhelming. It was a burden that only Christ could bear. But, all that hurt and illness... that is NOT my Mom. 

When I was 4 years old, December of 1969, my Dad had just finished his first season at Boyle County. One Friday night after a basketball game, we had a Christmas party for my Dad's players and their girlfriends. I remember that night well. We might as well had the Green Bay Packers at the house. Those guys were my heroes.  I remember my Mom and Dad being so happy to have those kids in our home, the Christmas tree up, and my Mom in the kitchen making those Christmas cookies. I am not sure I ever remember my Mom & Dad happier than they were in that moment on Carrigan Drive in Danville. 

My Mom that night... that is EXACTLY how I will remember her. Stephanie told me today.... the way she was that night, that is who she WANTED to be. Today.... she is that person, but even better. 

The hurt, the ugliness, illness... sure, I know that all happened in the past. But, they will not define my Mom. I will choose to remember her at her best. I will choose to live in the knowledge that TODAY and for eternity, she is healed, well, happy, & with my Dad. 

God's timing is not our timing. But, nothing can overcome the love of Christ that lead Him to the cross. 

This Christmas, I will remember that December night, the kids in our home,  my Mom in that kitchen, making those cookies, and how happy she and my Dad were. I will thank God that He sent His Son, over 2,000 Christmases ago because He loves us.  All Praise, Honor & Glory to Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas! 

The Folder...Time Saver Tips....Finances & Responsibility

 This past Friday night our season ended against a very good CAL football team. As much as I wish we were still playing, I could not be prouder of our guys.  They worked, adjusted, and adapted to make 2020 a very successful football season. All of the KY HS football coaches and players did an extraordinary job to make fall football work in the middle of the 2020 Pandemic. I have never been more proud to be a KY HS Football Coach. 

Whenever the season ends, my "punishment" is to get out this folder, postgame:

Over the years, I usually start working, cleaning, etc. immediately after the game. There is no way I can go home and go to sleep.  In a step toward better mental health, this year I went home after the game. JCB & Caroline were here to watch Trosper play. They were leaving the next Saturday after lunch. Emma was home also. I don't want to be cleaning up after the season if my family is at the house... especially if they will not be there very long. Having my kids home has helped me understand better what is most important in those moments and forced me to make better decisions than when the kids were little.  It has been fun in 2020 because the kids come home to watch Trosper. That forces me to get home faster than I would in the  past. And, it did help in 2020 that we only lost twice. Trosper and his teammates played well.  Our team played some very good football this fall. Friday nights at the house after the game...most nights, we were celebrating a win. 

Due to Covid, we made a really good adjustment to our Monday meeting to turn in equipment. There was no meeting. We brought our guys in by class, separated by 30 minutes so that everyone would be staggered. They walked in the door for screening. After screening, they immediately went to the classroom and Coach Heasley instructed them how to vote for Captains and the council. After that, they went to the lockerroom to turn in gear and clean out their lockers. They had to be out of the building in less than 30 minutes.  They left out another entrance than the one they entered. It went great. Much smoother and faster. 

A couple timesaver tips for the young guys :

1- After you do the 2020 inventory ( I use an excel spreadsheet), make another copy of the same document and call it 2021InventoryPrep. In that document, make all of the numbers in gray instead of black. Go ahead and print it. Put it in the folder. When the 2021 season ends, you are ready to begin your inventory. You can see what you had last year at the end of the season, but since it is gray and not black, it is easy to write over it and document the new amount for each item as you inventory.

2- The "plenty" check mark. I use to count every single knee pad, thigh pad, etc. It was insane. If you look at an item that is relatively inexpensive and you have abundantly more than enough for the next season, don't count every item. Put a check mark in the column and keep on rolling. 

Also to the young coaches, and I cannot stress this enough, taking care of your football equipment is a huge responsibility. All of the coaches and student-athletes in your school are depending on you. If we don't take care of our stuff, we have to buy new stuff more frequently. That diverts money from other sports and those kids. I sure wish we had won on Friday, but I can tell you that Saturday morning, every single game jersey, all three sets (blue, white, red), was in the equipment room. The cost of a football helmet is going through the roof. Coaches Mike Johnson, Brian Rowland and Brian Sims made sure every single helmet made it to the equipment room.

A football program can't hide. You have to make money and you have to take care of your stuff. Every other sport is depending on you to do so. There is a big difference in replacing a tennis ball or a set of shoulder pads. We have a very small margin of error. We have to get it right. And, if you don't want that responsibility, you don't need to be a head football coach. 

So thankful our guys had a season. It was crazy, unpredictable & exhausting....  but it was 100 % worth it. 

Merry Christmas!