The Bounce Back Season of the 2005 Royals....It's All Day Baby!

We just got back from the beach. I always enjoy wearing this t-shirt for a week.  

This t-shirt was made by Spectrum Graphics, Jim & Julie Brown. They kept our players & coaches in great gear for 19 years. Their top employee..."Murph"... Mike Murphy. Awful good people... all 3.

2003 was the best team in school history at Mason County. In 2004, we still had some really good players, but we were super thin.

We opened the 2004 season in the Recreation Bowl with the 2003 2A State Finalist, Elizabethtown. They were loaded. DE/OL Brandon Deaderick (Alabama / New England Patriots), TE/DL Zipp Duncan (University of Kentucky), & QB Chris Todd (Auburn) were all seniors on that team. AJ French was another really good player and they had a stud RB as well. We actually scored first and held the lead in the early part of the game. We eventually lost 35-21, but it was one of the guttiest performances one of our teams has played in 30 years. 

Sundown @ the Recreation Bowl, a GREAT KY HS Football tradition

No one likes to lose, but we had played well enough versus an excellent team that we knew we had a ball club. 

The next week, disaster struck. Ty Sargent, one of our top leaders, our QB, and an excellent athlete, had a season ending injury. In that particular game, we battled back from a 3 TD deficit and won. But, that was our only win that season.

Our last game of 2004 was against Middletown, OH... yes, the Middies, Cris Carter was an alum, etc. Before Andre Amos played for the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes and defeated Miami, he played a HS football game at Mason County. When I put in the video the Saturday morning before we were to play the Middies, they looked great against many of the best teams in Cincinnati. And, we were 1-8. Our kids had hung in there and battled all season. I had to find a way to give them some hope. I doctored that video like you wouldn't believe so our guys wouldn't get discouraged.  That was the most cut up tape since the Watergate hearings.  It worked. Cody Pollitt came up to me before kick off that night and said, "I think we can get these guys." I agreed with him and felt great about our mindset. I think it was 10-0 at halftime.   One of the nicest things my father in law ever said to me, "If a guy walked into that stadium with 2 minutes to play in the 4th quarter, he would never dream that was a 1-9 team out there."  He was correct. Our kids busted their tails and I was very proud of their effort. 

I will always be thankful for the 2004 Royals. They hung in there and battled for each other. It was awful tough, but those kids got us through maybe the toughest stretch we had in 19 seasons at Mason County. I owe those guys and will always be appreciative of the young men that kept walking through that lockerroom door, day after day, week after week. 

1-9. Miserable. BUT.... one thing about a tough season, all of the bandwagon jumpers are GONE! All that are left are the kids that really care about football and each other. The same applies to the adults.  2003, alot of folks wanted to part of our program. A bunch of those folks disappeared in 2004. And, that was not all bad. 

That offseason was pretty intense. More than once, a guy that was working his tail off wanted to fight a guy that was loafing. I wouldn't let them fight and I would separate them. But, that level of accountability, although extremely uncomfortable at times, is special.  Ty Sargent was rehabbing and learning to live with a titanium rod in his leg. He worked like a mad man. His dedication and work ethic inspired his teammates.  We weren't just a family. We were a family that would pour our guts into our teammates and fight for each other. 

By the time we got to the preseason for 2005, our roster had thinned out. We had guys that could play, loved football, and cared about each other. 

You know what else happened.... Darius Miller... yes, THE Darius Miller, came out for football! How many high profile basketball guys come out for the football team after a 1-9 season?!?!?  That doesn't happen. But, that gives you an insight into Darius. He is a wonderful young man. Very unselfish. He was one of the finest blockers I ever coached in 30 seasons. It is not a coincidence, when he is on a basketball team, they win championships. 

Speaking of basketball, Mikah Turner went on to be a great 3 point shooter at Berea College. I would guess he is the leading scorer for all offensive tackles in the history of both sports. How does that happen... a great basketball player is an offensive tackle? Mikah's body changed. By the time I should have moved him to TE, we had to have him as an offensive tackle. He was too valuable in that spot. We didn't always use a TE. Mikah could not come off the field on either side of the ball. Again, I am talking about a very special young man. Incredibly unselfish and team first...ALL THE WAY. 

For our Blue-White scrimmage that summer, we were barely able to split our very small squad into offensive & defensive units. Mikah Turner was on defense.  I can't remember who it was, but he had knocked the snot out of one of our best players the snap before. While the offense is in the huddle, trying to figure out what to do, Mikah is getting after them and let's them know what to expect. He tells them, "It's All Day Baby!" That was probably the most intense, physical, preseason scrimmage in 30 years as a head coach. Our guys really got after each other that day, and they set the tone for the entire season.  "It's All Day Baby!" became our battle cry and the kids had those t-shirts made. 

Mikah Turner in the 2004 Rec Bowl. I got to coach Brandon Deaderick in the 2005 KY-TN All Star game (we won 41-27). Brandon couldn't sleep one night and stayed up talking to me. He brought up Mikah. He said, "Who was #64? He was really good but he never shut up the whole night!"    :)

Our final preseason scrimmage was against Ryle, a very good 4A (biggest class in 2005) program. I did something I had never done before, and never did again.... I tried to "win" a scrimmage. We needed the confidence. I know I looked stupid, calling timeouts, calling plays to eat clock, etc. But, that night, that team, needed to WIN. I was never so happy to "win" a scrimmage in my life. And, it was a huge boost for our kids.  They walked off that field with alot more confidence than when we had started that evening. 

In 2005 we finally got a win in week 2. In week 3, we were huge underdogs to Fleming County's best team since at least 1996. Their QB was Jordan Fritz, tremendous player and winner. He had some studs around him as well.  In November, two points separated Fleming, Russell, and Newport. Russell went on to win the state title.  Chuck Hamilton was writing for the Ledger Independent and predicted the Panthers to kick our tail, which was a logical prediction that made alot of sense. Our guys played their guts out, and executed the game plan with minimal mistakes. We squeaked out a one TD win that was one of the best Friday nights, ever.  The Panthers had a ballclub and knew how to win. They didn't go away. It took everything we had to get that victory.

After that win, our guys really enjoyed themselves and it was like a huge cloud was lifted over our program. On one of those days that you love HS football, it was sunny, not a cloud in the sky, temperature around 70, and I was having a blast with the defensive line on the sled. I made the comment, "Guys, can you imagine anywhere that you could be right now, better than being right here with me and hitting this sled!?" Kyle Carpenter responded, "Yeah, on the beach with _______ _______'s Mom!" That quote has lived on for 17 years and I don't think we'll ever forget it!

Our two defensive interior guys were Carl Dearing and Kyle. Not real big guys, but had to start both ways against a very tough schedule.  They both did a good job for us. When watching film one time, Carl pulled on a play he was not suppose to pull. I asked him, "Where are you going Carl?"  He said, "Coach, I didn't see anyone to block so I was going to find somebody!"

Kyle, Mikah, & Carl.... STUDS

We had alot of momentum going into the Ashland game at Putnam Stadium. It was a big challenge but we had a great game plan. We saw an opportunity to block a punt. The kids did a super job and we blocked it! But, it was not enough and the Tomcats got us. 

2005 at Ashland
61- Richard Wells, 64-Mikah, 22-Ty, 42- Caleb Mullikin, 63- Carl, 59-Kyle
see if you can pick out which guy is Darius Miller.      :)

Our last regular season game was a loss to a very good Johnson Central team. Our guys played their guts out. Unfortunately, I made a big scheme mistake in prepping for that game and it really hurt our chances. I had to own that one after the game. It was not fun, but if I want the kids & assistants to be responsible, I have to do the same.  Johnson Central was better than we were, but I didn't help us. 

Our last Friday night was a first round playoff game at Rockcastle County who had an awful good team. They got us 20-19. That one was tough to take, but once again, our guys fought like mad men and played their guts out.  We were the only team to give them a game until the state champs, Lexington Catholic, defeated them the Friday after Thanksgiving. 

We finished 7-4. We weren't world beaters, but it was a huge improvement over 1-9 and we had played some excellent football in spots.  From 2005 until 2014, we only had one season under .500, and that was another year we were crippled with injuries. 

Often, being the head coach is not near as much fun as being a player or assistant coach. 2005 was the most FUN I ever had as a head coach.  That season was special.  We had been through so much together and had some big personalities on that team. 

Wish I could get that defensive line back on the sled, just one more time. If I could, I would tell them, "It's All Day Baby!" 

**Writing this on a Sunday night, the night I always go for a run before starting the week.  Sunday night, July 10, 2005 listened to this during my run: Sting- Brand New Day .

No team for 2022... tomorrow will definitely be a "Brand New Day" for me.  Hopefully will have a team for 2023. Whatever happens, will praise and thank God!

"Orange Blood is Thicker!" - Bill T. McConnell

Jeff Thompson, Coach Homer Goins, Bill T. McConnell

Thirty years ago this week, two-time state champion, Paris HS Head Football Coach, Roger Gruneisen, became the head football coach at Bourbon County HS. Paris decided to go with a rookie head coach, myself. Roger was an excellent football coach and had the best rapport with kids of any coach I've ever met. The day I became head coach at Paris and two days before Stephanie and I were going to get married, she received a phone call. The phone call said that if we wanted jobs when the two schools merged, we had to come now. If not, when Paris shut their doors, we were both unemployed. Things were looking awful rough for Paris City Schools & Greyhound football. But, we had Bill T. McConnell.

Bill T. had played on the state championship team for Homer Goins in 1973. As a real estate agent, he had continued to support Paris City Schools. His son, Scott, was going to be a sophomore on the 1992 Paris Greyhound football team. Bill T. was already a buzz saw, but he took it to another level. He helped get our field repaired. He worked to help us have the financial support we needed. He made it clear to anyone that asked that his sons would be Paris Greyhounds. There was no transfer option or talk in the McConnell house. His boys would all be Greyhounds. In 2022, I sure do appreciate that even more than I did at the time this was all going on. 

We played some good football in 1992 and the following years as well. Bill T. McConnell and his loyalty/devotion to Paris HS is a big reason we even had a team that season. He is a big reason that school has been able to stay open and field football teams over the past 40 years. 

Chris Garrison, Matt Eads, Josh Hudnall, Scott McConnell, Todd McConnell

At the end of Scott's senior year, I can't remember all the details, but I know that I made Bill T. mad. I wasn't sure what it was, but all of our emotions were raw and I left it alone. A few weeks later, he came to see me and shared why he was mad at me. Again, not sure of the details, but I know after we talked it all out, we were good. He never brought it up again and he treated me just as good as always, and continued to support our program just like Scott was still on the team. As much as anything, that made an impression on me and made me respect him even more. 

When we were getting ready to sell Ernie's house in Paris, we were trying to decide if we would go with Bill T. or Stephanie's cousin, David Kincer, a real estate agent in Lexington. As always, I was open with Bill T. with what we were thinking. I told him as much as I loved him, that "blood is thick." Typical Bill T., true to who he was in every sense of the word, responded, "Orange blood is thicker!"  He was right. We listed with both David and Bill T.  They both (and Todd McConnell) did a great job helping our family at an awful tough time. 

Bill T. passed away this morning. I love him and his family. All of us that love the orange and black owe him a debt we can't repay. But, I hope all of us will help to fill the void he is leaving, love those kids, and support the Paris Greyhounds. Most of all, love his family and express how much we appreciate that they shared him with the rest of us. 

Right now, I would imagine Bill T. is in heaven, shaking the left hand of Blanton Collier & Bill Arnsparger....you know the left hand because Coach Collier said it was closer to the heart. 

#HeresToCaptainGeorge

"Don't stay up too late. We've got a big day tomorrow."

photo by Harrodsburg Herald

 "Don't stay up too late. We've got a big day tomorrow."

During the Covid spring of 2020, I said that to Trosper every night when I would go to bed. I know often he would think I was nuts, but I always tried to have a purpose or mission for the next day. Something to look forward to. Sometimes, it might only mean that tomorrow we are going to High Mountain for a cheeseburger... but we had a PLAN to do something. Then, even after Covid, I kept saying that every night. I even said it last night.  Not sure why. Maybe just to help both of us focus on moving forward.

This Saturday, Trosper will graduate.  He also turns 19 the same day. He was NOT an accident, but he was a SURPRISE. During the 2002 football season, I came home one Sunday night and said to Stephanie, "You're not gonna believe the parent meeting I just had."  Her response was, "I think I can top your news." Trosper was on the way!

When he was little, we would play in the front yard.... over and over.... often until the sun went down... "PUNT or KICK." Punt meant I would throw him a high spiral that he would catch. Kick meant the ball was going to be end over end, high in the air.... like a kick off. When I coached him in HS, I always knew if I ever got in a bind and needed someone to catch a punt or kick, he could do it. 

Neal Pawsat & Trosper on a Friday night

He loved Mason County and the move to Mercer, initially, was awful tough. But, as time went on, he loved being a Titan. He loved his teammates, wearing the red and blue, and when the lights came on at Alvis Johnson Field. Some nights, his role was taking one snap at QB so that Kaelin Drakeford could catch his breath. Being a football junkie and a coach's kid, if we needed a long snapper, he could do it. If we needed a punter, he could fill the void.  I still regret never giving him a chance to drop kick an extra point because he could do it. 

Coaching him was a great experience. He was blessed to be surrounded by really good players and coaches. He played HS football in a town that loves Friday night HS football. Some of the best memories are he and I going down to AJ on a Thursday night as they were painting the field. But, there is still some relief in that time coming to an end. He put so much pressure on himself. He didn't want to let anybody down... and that list of "anybody" is a long list. Out of loyalty to me, his Dad was at the top of that list. I am happy for him that he and his teammates did so well. Those guys played some awful good football.

Some of my favorite football memories:

- his last game as a 7th grader, his groin and hamstring pulled off bone. It was extremely painful. He had to work like a mad man to even PLAY his 8th grade year. He was never 100%, but he played. 

- more than once, on a cold rainy night, spring of 2020, not even sure we will have a season, as the sun is going down, I am helping him in a workout in a field near our house. I have to wear gloves because he is burning up my hands. I understand that he has to throw the ball that hard....he is working to get stronger. Whether he believed it or not, he always worked like we would have a 2020 football season. He never took his foot off the gas. 

- after we beat CAL his junior year, as I am walking up the basement steps, I hear the whole family loudly cheering for Trosper as he walks in the kitchen door. Our family is very loyal to each other and everyone understood what that win meant to him. 

- we are on the 9 yard line, going in to score. He runs to the sideline and says to me, "Let me call it! Wyatt(our fullback) is going to score!" I don't know what to think but I let him call it. Sure enough, Wyatt Sanford is in the endzone, seconds later. He called a dive play with veer blocking!

- at Henry County, he is our punter and I call a fake. He shakes his head no. I call it again and make him run it. Scheme wise, he was right. But, I knew he and his teammates would make a play. Sure enough, he scrambles to his right. Riley Peavler is just past the marker on our sideline. Trosper puts it on a rope and we get a first down. 

- we didn't realize it at the time, but he broke his wrist on the first series of the round 1 playoff game versus DeSales. He played very well through the playoffs with a broken wrist. 

Last game at AJ with JCB & Coach Larry Harris, great family friend

I should have let him call more plays. He was his best on 3rd & long, 4th & long, and on the goalline. If I went with his call, we usually scored or got the first down. If I went against him, most of the time we were not successful. Probably my favorite play of all that he called, Triple Screen, 4th & long versus a very good Southwestern team. Jackson Peavler took that one to the house and we won, 22-21.

The football has been great, but what I am most proud of is that he is true to what he believes and what he knows his right. He is open about his faith and that number one is serving Jesus Christ. The kids in school that may struggle fitting in, he reaches out to them and includes them. 

One of the reasons we stayed in Maysville for nineteen years is we wanted our kids to have healthy attitudes in regards to ethnicity. I am not really sure, but I think alot of that is the history and tradition of the Underground Railroad. All three of our kids will speak up when they see or hear ignorance. Trosper has stepped on some toes over the years, and I am glad that he has done so. The second semester of his senior year, he and some of his friends put together a weekly news show for our high school. Trosper made sure every news show included music from Pastor T.L. Barrett & the Youth for Christ Choir. Some times he is subtle, some times he is over the top, but I am confident that fighting ignorance and racism will be a big part of who he is as an adult. 

My Dad use to tell my Mom, "These kids are really not OURS. It is our job to raise them, but they belong to God." Well, Trosper may be moving on to bigger and better things, but I am sure thankful  that God let me raise him and coach him on Friday nights. I got a front row seat to watch my son play quarterback in my hometown on Friday nights, wearing the same number I wore, 40 years ago.  He and his teammates did a super job and AJ is the BEST place to play HS football.  It was an incredible joy and experience that will always mean more to me than I can put in to words.

To God, my family, his teammates, his coaches, my bosses, this community.... I say.... THANK YOU. 

I Shall Wear A Crown- · Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir

Building A Confident Football Team: Details in the Preparation and Weekly Practice Plan

This week, Coach Alex Harrell (@CoachAHarrell11) asked some excellent questions in regards to preparation and making sure everything, as much as possible, is included in a week's worth of practice. He's definitely a guy worth following that can lead coaches to innovative and insightful solutions.

Inside Drill in the Dark, must be Wednesday morning

1-How much time do you use on situational football? Do you incorporate it into group/team? Do you hit the same situations each week? Do you give certain situations more love certain weeks?

Offense: Situational scripted into Inside/Outside Drill- M, T, W Defense: Team T & W Thursday- scripted game and review all… offense coming out of EZ, last play, etc.

Cold weather and practice before daylight is the best of all

2-How much time each week are you using for special teams? Do you keep the schedule consistent (ex. PAT on Wednesday)?

Always first period of practice: MON- Punt Block/Return TUE- Punt, KO, KOR, FG WED- PAT Block, PAT, FG THUR- Scripted game, review & old school specialty period… punters, kickers, snappers, returners, etc. In preseason that is EVERYDAY.

A couple of my Dad's old players (Monty Wilkerson & Lee Glasscock),
wondering if their coach's son knows what he is doing

3-How much group work (7on7, Inside Run, Box vs Blitz, etc) are you doing each week? Do you try hitting it every day? Want more or less?

Offensive Inside/Perimeter Drill - 3 days (situational scripted here) Defensive Perimeter/Front:Schemes- 2 days Team Defense 3rd/4th down- 2 days Goal line O/D- 1 day plus Thursday Scripted game on Thursday to make sure everything is on track.

Practice all you want, no answer for Harrodsburg HS great, Henry Parks

As HS football coaches, we don't always have alot of control over the level of talent on our team, the quality of our facilities, and even access to those facilities. We have some control over the quality of our staff, but it can take time to build a great staff.

One thing that is equal across the board.... we all have seven, 24 hour days in a week. Our best competition is really ourselves, "how can we make our teams the best that they can possibly be? " That is a question we must ask and answer everyday. Foundations are great and necessary. There also should be an evolutionary part of our programs.... we should constantly tweak and seek ways to do what we do, better than we have ever done them before.

After 30 years as a head football coach & over 50 years of being around HS football, have had a long time to evaluate and improve what we do. You need help improving what you do in your program,  send me an email at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com. Have already done some consulting work since resigning as a HFC in January. Hope to find a job and team for 2023. In the meantime, would enjoy working with some other coaches to help them and their program. At a minimum, you can help your team be the best that it can be!

#FindAWayToWin

Loved coaching old #10, Tyler Black

Small Details.... Big Solutions

I've enjoyed following some very insightful football coaches on twitter. They ask the RIGHT questions.  Those questions have lead to some thoughts that hopefully could help some young assistants and head football coaches as they prep for the 2022. 

Also, it is important to remember, most of these details and solutions come from the toughest losses. Solving big problems often comes from renewed focus and very specific details. 

Mercer Staff, 2022 Recruit Night

1-There is no substitute for hiring good coaches. 

Over the years as a HFC, really cool…Hire a young assistant & give him a baseline of drills & techniques. Watch him grow & reach the point that he has far surpassed the HFC in regards to knowledge & the tools/plan to get the job done. Becomes huge asset to program. #Gamechanger

(response to @CoachTManes)

Mason Staff, 2014 Picture Day

2- What’s the best way to develop a players ability to catch the football?

Got this from Howard Schnellenberger: 1)Look 2) Reach 3)Catch 4)Tuck Also had 5 minute period a week (starting QB & top 4 WR's)...reviewed every base route on air & did push ups for every incompletion. # of pushups: Preseason-1 Inseason- 2 District-3 Postseason-4

(response to @CoachNewsome63)

Would also add.... build in tons of reps and as many as possible in the offseason. Sort of like the 10,000 hour rule... but 10,000 REPS is a gamechanger for players and programs. The more reps you can front load before the preseason begins, the better.

Trosper & Reese Smith (WVU), January of 2021

3-Coaching a High School Routes on Air Period during spring ball is the equivalent of a HS math teacher teaching AP Calculus to seniors and Freshmen Algebra at the same time!!!!

This has been a good answer for us when we start back in the summer... group 1(potential starters) goes first. Group 2(everyone else) goes immediately after group 1 & runs the exact same route from the exact same set. 1's get great review. Group 2 gets great teaching/example.

(response to @coachhick)

Jordan Gilbert, All State WR, New Head Coach for Mason Co. Lady Royals Basketball

After 30 years as a head football coach & over 50 years of being around HS football, have had a bunch of problems to solve. You need help solving your problems, send me an email at coachdavidbuchanan@gmail.com. Have already done some consulting work since resigning as a HFC in January. Hope to find a job and team for 2023. In the meantime, would enjoy working with some other coaches to help them and their program. The silver lining.... the toughest problems lead to the best solutions and ultimately WINNING. At a minimum, you can help your team be the best that it can be!

#FindAWayToWin

My Dad & the 1970 Boyle County Rebels

The Last Saturday Morning 16 mm Film Run to Lexington

Ready for the trip to Lexington

For a second, I thought about taking US 68, smoking a cigar, and keeping the windows rolled up, just to recreate EXACTLY what it was like. 

Dickie Mays (old #65) in the middle of Trosper & his grandson, Avery

When I was growing up, Saturday mornings after a ballgame, we would drive to Royal Film Company in Lexington and pick up our 16 mm film from the night before. Those rides were always more fun after a victory. 

This morning was my last ever Saturday morning 16 mm film run to Lexington. I took a bunch of old 16 mm film to be digitized. After the process is completed, the plan is to create a private youtube channel and share it with the old players in those films. 

Lee Glasscock, old #84 (2022 & 1969)

Lee Glasscock was kind enough to bring those to me Wednesday at school. The film is from 1969 thru the early 70's at Boyle County HS. Mr. Mills gave the film to my Dad and Lee in 1990. They were at the 20 year reunion for the class of 1970. My Dad's first Boyle team was 1969 and Lee was a senior. 

While I was making the drive to Lexington, my good friend Chuck Smith called me. There aren't many guys that would understand the significance of what I was doing this morning, but Chuck is definitely one of the few that would get it. It was fun talking about the old days. Those games would go by fast and the games on film were short. They rarely threw the ball and spent much of the game clock in the huddle.  Alot of Chuck's Boyle videos are not real long either, but that is because his teams had a bunch of running clocks. Good grief they were good. 

Boyle lost one game in 1969. It was to Stanford HS. No one in black and gold wants to watch that one. We'll pass that one on to Mr. Patriot, Jonathan Smith. He loves Stanford and Lincoln County football, and has a long history with the programs in his hometown. 

I took the Parkway to Lexington, but I did drive back home on US 68. No cigar, but a bunch of great memories of the best Dad a guy could have. 

Mixed Emotions: Real, Part of Life, the Right Mindset

This past week I got to watch part of my first game at Mason County. We played at Bath County and it was the fall of 1996. In 30 years, I am not sure I ever had a team more excited to play a game than those guys were that evening. It was like they had finally figured out how to prepare and play the game of football and they could not wait to see what was going to happen.  They knew they were going to play well and they couldn't wait for kick off. It made an impression on me and was one of the best nights, ever.

As I watched that game this past week, I also remembered the other emotions of that night. My old Paris team was playing their first game that same night. I had been a Greyhound for eight years. I had an uneasy feeling about not being with them that night.  I had two strong emotions rolling at the same time.... excited to be a Royal and to watch those kids in blue, but really missing my Paris guys and thinking about them and how their first game would go. 

Mixed emotions are actually a big part of life. When we are younger parents, our life is chaotic, stressful and busy. But, for me, all three of my kids little & under the same roof... that was a great time that went by way too fast.  

I really wish I had a football team right now. But, the extra time with my family, especially with Trosper who only has a few weeks of HS left, I am thankful for that blessing. 

And, as much as I want a team to coach, NOW, would I give up anything from the past 30 years as a head football coach, or a lifetime of HS football going back to being a little kid with my Dad's teams.... ABSOLUTELY NOT. 

It meant the world to me that I got to be the head football coach in my hometown. I miss my kids and my coaches. But, I am also thankful that all of our work these past seven years left our program in great shape for a community, school and kids, I love.  I may not like my current circumstances, but I can sleep at night because I know the effort we poured into this program and how far Titan football came during that time.  To see the program now and where things are... absolutely wonderful. 

Some of my former players, coaches, and good friends are in awful tough leadership spots right now. Some of those spots are life and death.  Some of those leadership roles have taken a toll on them mentally, emotionally and physically. I hate it for them because I love them so much. But, the other side of the coin.... these guys are GREAT leaders and high character people! Is there anyone better than they are for these tough jobs and tall tasks?   No. I wish they didn't have to endure the trials and tough times. But, I also have to understand they are carrying out God's mission for their life. And, at the end of the day, there is no better place to be than right in the middle of who God has called you to be!

Good grief I miss my Dad. I can still get emotional missing him, often. But, you know what is much bigger than missing him... I had a GREAT Dad.  Everyday, he impacts my life, my character, who I am, how I treat others, and especially how I serve God. Often in the toughest times and toughest decisions, I can hear his voice and anticipate his thoughts and advice.  Would I rather have my Dad alive, but it not be John Buchanan.... ABSOLUTELY NOT. 

My Mom's mental illness was brutal. It took a huge toll on our family, especially my poor Dad. I won't lie to you, if I could take her mental illness away and it had never happened, I would do that. But, one day I was meeting with a player who was telling me about the mental illness of one of his parents. He told me, "there is no way you will understand what I am talking about or can relate to this." I told him, "What you are describing to me, on a scale of one to ten is about a 3 or 4. My Mom was a 9 and a 1/2!"  His jaw hit the floor.  The relief in his face was incredible. He had finally met someone who had walked in his shoes. From that time on, he had someone to talk to who understood his life and all the hurt, pain & dysfunction that goes with mental illness. 

Being happy is good. Joy is better. You can be happy with mixed emotions, often. You can experience joy and gratitude, all of the time, with mixed emotions. We don't always choose our circumstances. But, we certainly choose our mindset. 

I was wearing orange & black in September of 1989, teaching history at Paris HS and making the daily walk to Garrard Park for football practice.... where were you?   I mean...  you do know that song, don't you? 

If you want to get an idea of what a Roger Gruneisen Thursday post-practice talk looked like.. basically an old rock and roll guy being who he is.... watch this video:  

Mixed Emotions: Rolling Stones, Billboard Top 40 September 1989

Working for Roger was pretty cool. Like having Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger as your Boss. 

Mixed Emotions are a very real part of life.... just ask the Rolling Stones...      😎