Tag Archives: sports

Thank you Coach Strode.

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I attended a celebration of life this past weekend for my head football coach in high school, Gene Strode.

The stories shared by his children and friends still swells my heart. He was such a great father, husband, coach and man. He cast a living and lifelong impression on thousands.

It is fitting that he returned to farming upon his retirement.

I say that because he spent his entire career planting the seeds of potential, performance and passion within his players, assistants, kids, friends and community. He could see in others what they could not yet see in themselves, until they blossomed. And being the farmer that he was, he nurtured a continuing, healthy and prolific growth throughout the season of his life.

He was careful to eradicate the weeds we grew by acting out of character. Minimized the manure we told our ourselves and tried to sell others. Watered us just right with praise, affirmation and discipline.

He radiated genuine, fatherly guidance and love to all that came his way. That is what made us grow so upright and strong. To this day, and to a lasting extent, we are who we are because we were all raised the same way by Coach.

A farmer of men.

Even though it has been close to fifty years, I could still feel all of that and then some when me and some of my teammates huddled this past Sunday. We did some truly great things together. Cause he saw it in us.

Then cube that sensation when all of us huddled together, as one, for Coach.

Every fall, he grew us to be his bumper crop.

And every fall since, there hasn’t been a season gone by that I don’t feel his presence in my life. Whether it is the weeding, an awareness of an overabundance of fertilizer, or his way of watering us for growth, his radiance remains.

Now I get to walk those fields too.

For he taught me to be a farmer.

My true vocation.

Thank you Coach Strode.

In the best field ever.

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Daily writing prompt
Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.
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There are three in all honesty.

Back in the day, I wore low cut, screw on, imported kangaroo hide cleats. Very soft. Cannot recall the make to be honest. Maybe Adidas? Wearing them, I was blessed to play in one of the oldest highschool football rivalries in Illinois, dating back to the 40’s, for the Old Oaken Bucket. No, I wasn’t playing in the 40’s. Sure feels like it now though.

Then onto college ball. These size 12’s may have even been my carry overs from high school. They felt like gloves on the tootsies. I wore them far beyond their shelf life. Copious amounts of tape had to be applied as they neared retirement. Huh. Sounds familiar.

This trot to the line of scrimmage was on a Saturday afternoon in what was then called the Knox Bowl, in Galesburg. It was an offensive series during our upset win over Monmouth to regain the vaunted Bronze Turkey. A battle regarded as one of the oldest college football rivalries west of the Alleghenies. Perfect timing for Thanksgiving break.

Here they are one last time before the start of my final season playing, ever, in 1980.

Then as life moved on, and kids came into my life, I had the opportunity to coach them all in soccer, baseball, softball and football. I stayed in my field after coaching my sons and have been there ever since. Youth, highschool, a year of college, then back to high school. As you can tell, a little more support was needed to keep this old horse moving.

And now that my days wearing my low cut, screw on, imported kangaroo hide cleats have caught up to me, my field shoes these days are more of the low cut, slide on, fabric of the day, extra cushy variety.

My field has grown since those days as a Red Devil and Siwash.

I still manage to put on the whistle for the best three months of the year, now in Jackson.

But I also coach those with diverse abilities in an effort to find their field of life too.

No whistle needed there.

Just lots of patience.

Love.

And hugs.

In the best field ever.

Oh, where Ray and the Girl Scout leader have it out.

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Daily writing prompt
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
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I am a football guy. I have learned to enjoy watching soccer with my brother-in-law or even when he is not around. I like baseball especially around the playoffs. But in essence, I am a football guy.

I played in highschool and college. Have the gait to prove it. I have coached it about a quarter century, youth, highschool and college. Watching games with my best friend is an activity I truly look forward to. It is our mutual connection.

But as far as making it the central facet of viewing pleasure, it has now been relegated to background noise. Like “Everybody loves Raymond” or “Fixer Upper”, it can just run in the background until some play, uncomfortable family matter or demolition catches my attention.

The game has become the mechanism for many things not football. To the point that the players are an after thought. Playing Sunday then Thursday? I thought Monday to Sunday was bad enough. Add to that all of the betting sprinkled in all around it. The questions of a coach or player on the field before, in the middle or at the end of a game.

Playing surfaces that last but create non-contact injuries, tears and breaks. Now college football has NIL and transfer portals so that you can truly make it about yourself – not the men that are busting ass for YOU in the same locker room.

Football was the greatest game ever invented.

What you – singular and plural – accomplished on that field was all about what you – singular and plural – devoted yourselves to the other nine or so months of the year. Leaving it all out there all twelve months for the guy next to you. Serving them so all could achieve.

Now?

The greatest cash cow ever invented.

Nothing like I remember it.

But thank God, I always will.

Wait, what is this one?

Oh, where Ray and the Girl Scout leader have it out.