A Tallahassee tribute to coaches who steer us in sport of life
Do you have a favorite childhood coach? I bet they pushed you into doing something you didn’t know you could do or taught you some solid life lessons. Coach Tim Ashcroft and Coach Bruce Irwin from my high school experiences at Maclay come to mind.
I didn’t actually play baseball for Ashcroft, but he taught me how to drive (driver education) and he coached me in the first year of JV football; killer. I didn’t play football for Coach Irwin in the regular season either, he only coached me on trips abroad in ‘travel’ football on exchange trips to Germany and England.
That required a special talent to accompany a team and the cheerleaders two weeks at a time. Neither Interpol nor the US Embassy were ever appointed coaches. I also remember (and thank) the dozens of baseball, soccer, tennis, and swimming coaches who helped me, a very non-athletic kid, stay focused, get some exercise, and find some joy in these activities , while I was growing up.
Coaching of volunteers and professionals
Do you now use a coach for life, business or training?
Coaches are part of the backbone of our society and coaching has popped up a lot in conversation lately. I was at a meeting with my old friend JR Long a few days ago and we were talking about a project and the conversation revolved around volunteer trainers (which he has done many times). Then we started discussing the fans and parents we all see yelling at, swearing at and insulting coaches, players and referees at sporting events for children and adults alike.
There’s nothing worse than watching one of those maniacs on the sidelines get in people’s faces at a child’s game. With a few exceptions (an injured youth, debris on the field, etc.) these people are a taint on the spirit of sportsmanship as these referees and coaches are volunteers who are helping our youth and deserve better.
When it comes to paid professionals, things get grayer. The fan that yelled at Coach Jimbo Fisher a few years ago after the game on TV in Tallahassee comes to mind. Who is to blame? Why did Jimbo hire? He is said to be the overpaid pro. More on Jimbo later.
celebrity trainer
I was texting my buddy Andy Fink the other day about the death of football coach Mike Leach (rest in peace you legendary and hilarious icon). Andy suggested I write a column about coaching. So here we are, thank you Mr. Fink. College coaches may remind you of a drunk uncle, a creepy family friend, a cool cousin, a best friend, or a worst enemy, but here in the South there’s no doubt they’re one thing, celebrities.
The regular media follows their actions like TMZ Hollywood guys.
Remember when Jimbo threw his Christmas tree into the street two weeks before Christmas, a sure sign he was leaving for Texas A&M? It made the front page here. The same applies to the following legends such as Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden.
Man, oh man, did I pick a perfect time to go to the University of Florida from 1992-1997. Watching Spurrier crush the competition during that time (6 SEC championships, 5 SEC Coach of the Year and a national title) while dropping Zinger was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in esports.
When the Auburn dorm had a fire engine, he added emphatically, “It was a real shame, a lot of books were burned, some of them weren’t even colored in.”
My good friends, the LaFace family (Ron Sr., Chris and Ron Jr., and my college friend Erin) and I put the icing on the cake of this era. During my freshman year in 1996, we attended the National Championship game in New Orleans against the legendary Bobby Bowden and FSU in the rematch of the century.
The battle of words between these two legends was better than any TV show or movie, Coach Bowden was top notch too, nothing but love for these two gentlemen. Aside from all the banter we loved as fans, they were influencing young men for the better every day.
Just ask any former FSU or UF player who had the honor of playing for them.
Thanks to a special life coach
Also, growing up, I had to have Coach Bear Bryant in the conversation. He was a friend of my grandparents’ family a long time ago. My grandmother was roommates with Mrs. Bryant in the Alpha Gam house at the University of Alabama. He was spoken of often and with reverence in our home. When he died in 1982, the flag at my middle school (Houston Academy) was at half-mast. He was the best at his craft. Complete legend.
We all rely on our coaches, (mostly) cheer on our coaches, and we’re all asked to be coaches at times. The sport of life requires everyone to put on their coach’s hat and whistle once in a while. It also requires you to listen and be coachable at other times.
With the bumps, bruises, heartaches, smiles, wins and triumphs that each year brings us, I hope you say thank you as a coach. I hope you become one too for someone who needs it. I also hope you’re not the person yelling at her on the sidelines.
To wrap up today, I want to say a big thank you to one of my favorite people on this planet, one of my best friends, Quinn Toulon.
I’ve been going to soccer games with Quinn since 1992 and he never, ever complains about anything, the guy is a top coach of tailgate and life and a pleasure to call him a friend.
This column is inspired by him and his positive energy. I send love and respect to him and his wife Traylor; and also to every coach out there who inspires their team and families as we all go through life together.
Blake Dowling is CEO of Aegis Business Technologies and can be reached at [email protected].