I know most of you know that I have two boys, but the reality is that I have a whole bunch of boys. I coached Little League Baseball and Greater Midland Football for what seemed like a zillion years. I don't normally mention names in my writing but I am breaking my rule and naming names this time. These boys are about to graduate from High School and this is my tribute to them.
Jack Bolger, no question one of the best athletes that I ever coached, more than that, no player I ever coached has more drive. He has always brought a great sense of humor to the field to go along with a blue collar work ethic. He is a ruthless competitor with a big soft heart. As a coach for both football and baseball, this is the kid whose hands I put a game in.
Jake Malone, the most clutch player I ever coached, football or baseball. One of those kind of kids that if you could clone him so that you had an entire team of "Jake Malones" you could win any game anywhere. Great hands and unbelievable timing, I started calling him "Airborne" because he was always making a diving catch on forth and long or with two outs and the bases loaded. I doubt if the kid weighs 140 lbs. soaking wet, and they have him playing inside receiver on a 5A varsity football team. He can take a hit, hold onto the ball and jump back up and trot to the huddle.
Conner Wilbanks, the heart and soul of every team that he has played on. The kind of kid you love to work hard with and then sit and visit with after practice. He was always picking up his teammates and keeping everything in the dugout or on the bench at the perfect pitch. Conner became an inspiration to his teammates and coaches after the untimely death of his father, he became a poster child for perseverance. I cannot even see Conner without having a grin and a tear at the same time.
Tyler Tatum, he only played football for me but he likely has the most God given talent that I have ever seen in one kid's body. The first year he played for me he was built like a bowling ball but his feet were so quick he had the second fastest 40 time on the team. He really wanted to stay home and draw pictures of Dragon Ball Z, but once he got a taste of competition he became a monster. He may likely be the only athlete I have ever coached who will end up playing on Sundays.
Jerome Ellis, If there ever was a kid built and programed to be a football player, it is Jerome. He loves football and he loves to compete. Jerome was the 4x4 monster truck version of a running back, you are going to have to throw some big stuff down in front of him to stop him. Jerome is the kind of kid that could carry the ball on every play of every series. He is also the kind of kid that would block every down of every series and he would be as hard to handle in the last 25 seconds as he would be on the first play of the game.
Michael Napolis, from the very first time I saw him step on a football field, he has been the consummate team player. He just wants to play football, knock somebody down and make a tackle. Confident and self assured on the football field without being cocky. His confidence in himself and his teammates has inspired many a goal line stand.
Luke Slentz, a fiery competitor in anybody's book. A switch hitter since T-Ball, I have watched him hammer so many extra base hits, I think of him as "Automatic". His artistry with a fielder's mitt in the middle infield was so pleasing to my eye that I have long called it "candy". More than that, I have watched this young man overcome his struggle to be perfect every time and develop a maturity and acceptance for the failure that is so much a part of baseball and life.
I could go on all day about the kids that I have coached and the fun that it has been to coach them. I was as passionate about coaching as I am about music or horses. The young men that I had the honor of being associated with over the years have been my greatest teacher, I grew up a little more every time we practiced or played a game.
Not every kid I coached moved on to play football or baseball in high school, but most of them have moved on to success in life. I am amazed by the bonds that were built by these teams. Bonds so special, it is like a culture within a culture. Even as these boys play Varsity Football and Baseball, they still think of themselves as "Eagles", "Mad Dawgs", "Angels", "Diamond Backs", "Twins" and "Indians".
They now laugh about the days of Sophomore GMFL,T-Ball and Texas League and how much fun it was in the beginning, before there were critics and reporters, scouts and recruiters. In the end, they will always be "My Boys".
Jack Bolger, no question one of the best athletes that I ever coached, more than that, no player I ever coached has more drive. He has always brought a great sense of humor to the field to go along with a blue collar work ethic. He is a ruthless competitor with a big soft heart. As a coach for both football and baseball, this is the kid whose hands I put a game in.
Jake Malone, the most clutch player I ever coached, football or baseball. One of those kind of kids that if you could clone him so that you had an entire team of "Jake Malones" you could win any game anywhere. Great hands and unbelievable timing, I started calling him "Airborne" because he was always making a diving catch on forth and long or with two outs and the bases loaded. I doubt if the kid weighs 140 lbs. soaking wet, and they have him playing inside receiver on a 5A varsity football team. He can take a hit, hold onto the ball and jump back up and trot to the huddle.
Conner Wilbanks, the heart and soul of every team that he has played on. The kind of kid you love to work hard with and then sit and visit with after practice. He was always picking up his teammates and keeping everything in the dugout or on the bench at the perfect pitch. Conner became an inspiration to his teammates and coaches after the untimely death of his father, he became a poster child for perseverance. I cannot even see Conner without having a grin and a tear at the same time.
Tyler Tatum, he only played football for me but he likely has the most God given talent that I have ever seen in one kid's body. The first year he played for me he was built like a bowling ball but his feet were so quick he had the second fastest 40 time on the team. He really wanted to stay home and draw pictures of Dragon Ball Z, but once he got a taste of competition he became a monster. He may likely be the only athlete I have ever coached who will end up playing on Sundays.
Jerome Ellis, If there ever was a kid built and programed to be a football player, it is Jerome. He loves football and he loves to compete. Jerome was the 4x4 monster truck version of a running back, you are going to have to throw some big stuff down in front of him to stop him. Jerome is the kind of kid that could carry the ball on every play of every series. He is also the kind of kid that would block every down of every series and he would be as hard to handle in the last 25 seconds as he would be on the first play of the game.
Michael Napolis, from the very first time I saw him step on a football field, he has been the consummate team player. He just wants to play football, knock somebody down and make a tackle. Confident and self assured on the football field without being cocky. His confidence in himself and his teammates has inspired many a goal line stand.
Luke Slentz, a fiery competitor in anybody's book. A switch hitter since T-Ball, I have watched him hammer so many extra base hits, I think of him as "Automatic". His artistry with a fielder's mitt in the middle infield was so pleasing to my eye that I have long called it "candy". More than that, I have watched this young man overcome his struggle to be perfect every time and develop a maturity and acceptance for the failure that is so much a part of baseball and life.
I could go on all day about the kids that I have coached and the fun that it has been to coach them. I was as passionate about coaching as I am about music or horses. The young men that I had the honor of being associated with over the years have been my greatest teacher, I grew up a little more every time we practiced or played a game.
Not every kid I coached moved on to play football or baseball in high school, but most of them have moved on to success in life. I am amazed by the bonds that were built by these teams. Bonds so special, it is like a culture within a culture. Even as these boys play Varsity Football and Baseball, they still think of themselves as "Eagles", "Mad Dawgs", "Angels", "Diamond Backs", "Twins" and "Indians".
They now laugh about the days of Sophomore GMFL,T-Ball and Texas League and how much fun it was in the beginning, before there were critics and reporters, scouts and recruiters. In the end, they will always be "My Boys".
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