A Lasting Legacy

So, today we had a retirement reception for our football coach, Coach Jones. Due to an interesting hiring situation, the new coach's name is ALSO Coach Jones. Hence the names, Old Coach Jones and New Coach Jones. None of this blog is a comparison to New Coach Jones, it just meant to be a few thoughts on OCJ.

7 players in the NFL
10 yrs straight of playoffs
1 State Championship
2 South State Championships
Tons of kids on football scholarships at various colleges
23 years of coaching
17 years of head coaching

Yet, no one today discussed football or wins. Instead, people mentioned integrity, loyalty, honesty, dependability, a love for his players and students, and character. They discussed what an impact OCJ has had on the community by teaching the players to become honest, productive members of the community. This is a man who could teach classes on how to be a man, a dad, a teacher, and a coach.

In my opinion, there are not words to describe the impact he has had over those 23 years and there is no way to count the students he has impacted. He has impacted my life. He has truly left a lasting legacy at our school. I can only hope I impact lives the way he has. He has developed a winning program with honesty and integrity. He rarely gets mad. He is always respectful.

So, OCJ, whatever you do in life, where ever you go, your heart belongs to us. We love you and will miss you very much at GCHS. Good luck in everything you do.

Learning From Kids

So, most everyone knows I have been to lots of the kiddos baseball games. They lost last night and are out of it now. However, we made it into the quarterfinals, so they were one of the four best teams in the state. It was heartbreaking to see them lose. They are such good kids. Some of the boys were crying a little bit, which is totally ok in my opinion. They were just so disappointed. Region and Area Champs, but they wanted to do more.  The senior players were most upset. They knew it was going to be the last home game, so it was emotional already. It was the last game. They gave played 4 back to back 3 game series. They have had to travel for 2 of them. They have had senior awards nights, top 20 banquets, and other stuff to be at. I know they are exhausted.

There is another student, a physically handicapped student, who has attended almost all of the home baseball games. He loves baseball, and he loves talking with the senior players afterward. Even with the boys being as upset as they were, the seniors still got together and signed a baseball for Derrick. They had already gotten him a jersey. I know part of them wanted to just get in their trucks and leave last night. They are disciplined kids though, and they have huge hearts. They got together, signed the ball, gave it to Derrick and posed for pictures. (Red eyes and all) I think it says a lot about the character that they have.

So, for these boys, these senior boys- Mason, Dayton, Andrew, Derick E., Tyler H., Tyler C., Jason...you all are wonderful people. You are going to do great things in life. You have been wonderful examples and leaders of the school, classroom, community, and on the baseball field. You have represented George County High School well. Thank you to all of you. I can't wait to see what is in store for you. We are definitely going to miss you. You have left a lasting impression on the students and teammates younger than you. They will grow into great leaders because of you.

I think we could all take a lesson from kids.  Remember, Once A Rebel, Always a Rebel!

Toomer's For Tuscaloosa

I just want to take a second and thank Holly Hart and all of the other people who were part of organizing Toomer's for Tuscalooa. While the title is dedicated to Tuscaloosa, this awesome group has been helping people all over the state. Just to set things straight, though, this is people helping people. This is not any government agency or anything along those lines. They saw and need, and they developed a plan to help.

I am truly amazed. Auburn and Alabama football players working side by side. The band members from Auburn and Alabama working side by side. Fans of both schools working side by side. People have driven from MANY states who aren't a fan of either school, just saw a need and wanted to help. I will mention specifically, Samaritan's Purse. I have worked with them through Key Club. Also, my very good friend told me how much SP helped her after her home was destroyed by Katrina. I know there are other states that need help, too. I hope the Red Cross and SP are doing so. I do know that a truck was leaving TFT headed for Mississippi.

Folks are going to need help for a long time. I thank everyone who has already done so.

If you want to help, there are many ways:

http://www.toomersfortuscaloosa.com

http://www.toomers4tuscaloosa.com/


http://www.sweethomefund.com/

http://www.redcross.org

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php

I have collected donations and helped the Semmes for Pratt City group. However, I am still trying to spread the word as well. If you have fb, check out the Toomers for Tuscaloosa page on FB, a true picture of community in action.


Mark 12:31
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

What is WRONG With People????

So, seriously. What is wrong with people? I know the answer; the problem is Satan! I was reading the paper this evening. We have this horrid section of the newspaper called 'Sound Off.' People with very little good to say call in and say outrageous things. There is a regular section and a sports section. I know that the opinions may not be that of the newspaper, but I think when they print something, even if it is some person's phoned in complaint, the newspaper is responsible for what is printed.

The sports one contained one person's call in about a particular sports figure, calling him a 'horrible excuse for a human being.' Not everyone has to like him, and everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions. I think the people who drove from Florida to loot people in Alabama and Mississippi- THEY have done HORRIBLE things. The sports figure may be a polarizing figure, but I think it is unfair and rather cruel to call him a horrible excuse for a human being. The media wanted to be furious when someone poisoned the trees, but they will still print things that stir up hate. I have debated calling the newspaper all evening. I would hope that I would want to defend a person, even if I weren't a fan. Does that make any sense? I would hope so, anyway.

There are so many other things going on in the world that are bigger than we are. Love or hate sports figures or other famous people, they are still humans. They have a mother and a father. Some of them even have younger siblings who are still young and very impressionable. They have friends. Some have kids. I wish people would think twice before some things were said. If it isn't really that important, DON'T SAY IT!

Be ye kind, one to another.

United

It has been a long week in Alabama. Don't get me wrong, there are other states in need. Mississippi, Georgia, Tennesee, and Virginia were also affected. I spent some time Saturday working at a shoe collection. The only time I saw this kind of mass destruction in places I have friends, family, and places I love was after Hurricane Katrina. The difference for me was 1) I had no electricity after Katrina, so I was unable to see any type of coverage. I could only listen on the radio 2) I had to phyiscally clear our own property so I didn't have a lot of time to really ponder it.

I have felt compelled to help. I think others have as well. A rather large group of people who call Alabama home really stepped up to the plate. If you look on facebook, the group Toomers for Tuscaloosa is organizing a HUGE effort to provide relief and assistance. They have another website up and running, but I think the address is in the process of being changed. I don't know about anyone else, but it really turns me off when I hear Red Cross or other officials say, 'Donate money! We don't need anything else.' I get it, I do. However, not everyone has extra cash. Also, folks like to see immediate results when they want to help. This group is finding needs directly and trying to help. For instance, yesterday, they asked for large sized clothes. People really only had what they had on when the tornado hit. When places offered help, there wasn't really anything but small clothes. So, the group set out to find clothes. They did. They asked for help finding showers, then shower trucks showed up.

I don't have family in Tuscaloosa. I do have family in Calhoun County, which was hit pretty hard. My aunt's home and 'stuff' is in Cahaba Heights, which was also damaged pretty badly. All of my family has been accounted for, thank God. The widespread destruction from Smithville (?) , Mississippi all the way to Virginia is staggering.  It is really more than anyone can bear.

The majority of the help getting to Alabama for the time being is not government led. It is people-led, which is the way we have accompished things in this country. Neighors helping neighbors, and in this case, rivals who have become brothers in arms.

I just wanted to write for a little bit. I have a lot of my heart, and it is tough to articulate it the way I want to, but I thought I'd least get some of it out. There is more work to be done. More love, more stuff, more prayers are needed.
Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done.