Sunday, November 15, 2009

TO FRIENDS GONE ON
Life's evening sun is sinking low
A few more days & I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done
In the land beyond the setting sun

As I thunder toward life's finish line I've been reflecting some. The Lord sure blessed me !

Jesus allowed me to coach with & against some of the best of our time. Here is a salute to some who have gone on.

John Hooper - one of the smartest coaches of all time . Hooper dominated Tennessee high school football in the 60's . In 16 years Hooper lost only 28 games at Brownsville. Hooper was most professional in his methods, no cussing & ranting.

Jack Cain - another West Tennessee great. Cain won the State at Humboldt in 1978 but was best known for his Covington years. A cocky little Dude who always delivered.

Richard Ross - lead JCM in their glory years. A model of consistency winning big every year. Ross attended Grove high school in Paris after Hooper. Ross was always calm during the storm.

Richard Brock - Mr Baseball. Brock knew the rule book better than the guys who wrote it. He was an outstanding student of the game. Brock was precise in the way things were done. Aways tapping his pipe on his hand while making pitching changes or baiting the umps.

James Armstrong - old Humes quarterback , his coach was Rube Boyce , his center was Red West, & some kid named Elvis hung around practice . James marched to the beat of a different drummer . Armstrong won games with unusal means & methods James was a true North Memphis Guy. George Klein was a member of james ' group.

Leland Smith - Samurai Coach . Smith was a very intelligent man ,a delibrate decision- maker & a master of phyisical defensive football. I coached with Leland for 7 years in high school & college. We lost 12 times in our time together. We studied the teachings of Sun Tzu & pondered the mystery of life. Leland loved his players more than any other coach I have known. He was an Idealist & i still miss him.
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There are so many more; Robert Randolph, Rube Boyce, Ollie Smith, Lionel Jones, Hosea Alexander, Johnny Johnson, Sonny Winters. The list goes on & on.




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