During my years at Harding, and one year at Lipscomb, I had the privilege to coach football at Harding Academy and David Lipscomb for the JV and Middle School teams.When I was a freshman in college, I had a close bond with the 7th graders I coached at Harding Academy as it was their first year playing football and my first year coaching. Through our time together over the next three years, we lost only 1 game piling up a 23-1 record. My senior year of college, they moved on to the varsity team where they won a state title. I was, and remain very proud of them. I still hear from a few of them from time to time.
My first year out of Harding, I took a few classes at Lipscomb University and had the opportunity to coach at my Alma Matter, David Lipscomb. Once again with my first year coaching at a school, I was involved with the 7th grade program. We had a crew of what I would lovingly call "misfits" who were playing their first season of football. For a vast majority of those kids, it would not be their last.
We only went 2-2* in our short time together, with one big asterisks beside our loss to Goodpasture. The same year David Lipscomb High School, with which I was minimally involved, won the State title. Instead of taking a spot in the booth or the sidelines during the game, I sat with the 7th grade team to keep a promise I had made to them. They asked me 1,000 questions about some of the Lipscomb legends I had played with during my time, what plays were being called on the field, and if they too could one day win a championship.
About winning a championship, I told them, "Work hard. Trust Coach Mac and the others coaches, and believe in each other. If you do those things, you're gonna have that chance. I promise." I would be surprised if so many as one of those kids remembers what I said.
I remember it because one the kids had told me just a few weeks before that he didn't want to play football past 8th grade. Right before I headed to the locker room to celebrate with the varsity team, that player stopped me and said, "Coach Cam, I want to keep playing football now. Thanks." I was glad he decided to stick with it. A week later, I headed off to Oklahoma. I have only seen them a handful of times since.
Yesterday, almost five years to the day after that 2002 State Championship game, those boys fulfilled their dream of winning their own State Title.
They had been to the Championship Game the past two seasons, but had lost in heartbreaking fashion in both tries. Coach Mac, Coach Taylor, Coach Tillman, and others have done an outstanding job coaching these kids, and they have reaped the rewards of their hard work and time spent under those amazing men. They had reaped rewards long before they won a single game, as they remained steadfast and classy throughout their time at Lipscomb, and no one should expect any less from a Glenn McCadams coached team.
The player who didn't want to play any more football five years ago, Zach Lehmer, is the player on the right kissing the trophy. I am very, very proud of those young men. This senior class graduated winning 3 Region Championships, 1 State Championship, and piled up a Lipscomb record 40-5 record over three seasons.
I'm not taking credit in the least for their triumphs. It is always good to see the kids you care about succeed in any capacity. I was hoping to be back in Nashville by now, coaching again, but life had led us to where we are today.
I long for the day when I can coach again and begin a new bond with a new bunch of kids, and I hope I can be there for their successes one day too. I'm just thankful to have been in only a very small part of these Champions' journey. I hope their success continues beyond the gridiron, and well down the road.
Boys, I'm proud of you. Go Mustangs!
The Headline in Memphis:
Mitchell Cries Foul After Controversial Move By Officials in the Final Seconds
Allegedly, the "controversial" move by the referee was picking up the ball to re-spot it as the final seconds ticked off the clock. It caused an uproar that ended in some post-game "extracurriculars" on the field with some Mitchell players assaulting Lipscomb starters, and spilled-over into the parking lot where threats were made by Mitchell fans who displayed weapons to add validity to their posturing. Because of that, the Memphis Police Department and State Troopers had to be called-out to J.P. Freeman Field to secure the premises, protect the Lipscomb bus, and escort the DL caravan to I-40 (Those are some facts conspicuously left out of the column).
Additionally, the ending of the article in the Tennessean is different than the Appeal's. You be the judge if the editing in the two papers makes a difference on the story's angle.
Below the Commercial Appeal article, in the comments section, are some claims made by Mitchell supporters, quickly responded to by Mustang supporters, including this graduate.
As you will see, the discussion strayed well off-topic from the game, but remained pertinent to the root of the problem.
I really, really hope you come back here to discuss whatever you wish; ask a few questions, make some observations, and give some criticisms of anything and anyone you wish. This is a topic on which I crave discussion. I ask you to oblige me.
Here's an excerpt from Tuesday34's writing:
Black school loses...out comes the race card. It is sadly predictable.
Go ahead and send the TSSAA your concerns, but don't be too surprised when you don't hear back from them for accusing Glenn McCadams and David Lipscomb of fixing a game....in Memphis, no less.
I remember walking off the field with the State Championship Trophy after shutting-out Memphis Mitchell 28-0, and having some Mitchell fans scream at us, saying we were "cheaters" and that we "got lucky."
I have a feeling "legitimacy" would have been granted to those labels by some if the game had been any closer, or if Mitchell had posted any more than negative twenty yards of total offense. The only reason that bit of history remains pertinent is the reality behind the mindset.
Those who make those kinds of claims (as Mickavelli has) likely do so in their low income job, in a poor housing district, lamenting all the times they got screwed in their life.
"Losers make excuses. Winners go home with the prom queen."- Sean Connery in "The Rock"