New coach has great perspective
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
New McClain Tigers coach Brent Eaton can’t be all bad. I can’t profess to know the Coach Who Follows The Legend, but I will say this: I already like the guy. You know why? Because anyone who has the theme song of “The Dukes of Hazzard” on his ring tone can’t be all bad.
If I had a cell phone (I don’t), I’d either have Waylon, Willie or Bocephus on the ringer. If I knew how to program such gadgets (which I don’t).
This past Monday, HCP sports rocker Stephen Forsha called the new McClain coach. After leaving a voice message, Rockin’ Steve-O came back smiling. “What’s up?” I asked.
“Coach Eaton’s ring tone is from ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’” Stephen said.
“I like that coach,” I replied.
“The Dukes of Hazzard,” for those less enlightened, was a television classic (poetic liberties taken) from 1979-85. Tom Wopat and John Schneider were the lead actors, as Luke and Bo Duke, respectively. Denver Pyle, the great character actor of the 1960s and ’70s, played Uncle Jessie. Ben Jones was “Cooter.” (“Cooter” is a funny name, by the way.) Sorrell Booke was Boss Hogg. And, of course, Catherine Bach was the lovely and spirited Daisy Duke. (Roscoe and Enos are hardly worth mentioning.)
I will always maintain, however, that the show only enjoyed its modicum of success because of The Balladeer. That would be Waymore. Waylon Arnold “The Outlaw” Jennings, if you please.
The man who played bass guitar for Buddy Holly and would have died in a 1959 plane crash save for the fact that he gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight to the Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson. The man who recorded such C and W classics (no poetic liberties taken this time) as “If You Could Touch Her at All,” “I’ve Always Been Crazy,” and “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean.”
And now we have a local basketball coach who’s a bona fide Waylon Jennings fan? As John Wend would say “TOUCHDOWN, Tigers!” OK. I know. It’s basketball season. But you catch my drift. We used to say “catch my drift” back when Bo and Luke and Daisy were on TV with The Balladeer. Makin’ our way the only way we know how...
By the way, here’s one more reason to like the new Tigers coach. In a preseason interview with Stephen Forsha, Coach Eaton said: “The biggest thing I want from being a coach is that our kids learn life lessons. I want the kids to become solid, democratic citizens, because one day they will be our neighbors and community members as adults.”
You can’t ask for much more than that. Good luck, Coach. And best of luck to all the area teams for the 2009-10 season.
Thank you, Dr. Stout
There’s an often-repeated adage in sports – and in life – that you never want to follow the legend. You want to follow the person who followed the legend. In Ohio, it’s often referred to as the Earle Bruce Syndrome.
Bruce, of course, followed the legendary Woody Hayes as coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. (If you have to ask which sport, the analogy is already wasted.)
Coach Brent Eaton can likely reflect on this, somewhat. On the plus side, the adage proves false at about the same rate it holds true.
In another arena of local education, Southern State Community College President Dr. Sherry Stout knows very well what it’s like to “follow a legend.” In late 2006, Dr. Stout was selected by the SSCC Board of Trustees to succeed Dr. Larry Dukes as college president.
Dr. Dukes was and is held in the highest regard by his peers and his community. His service to the college and the five counties it serves was exemplary. Perhaps more importantly, his service began at a crucial, if not critical, point in the college’s history. Suffice it to say, Dr. Dukes helped SSCC overcome a few obstacles, particularly in the early years of his tenure.
Although her SSCC career predated Dr. Dukes’ arrival on campus, Dr. Stout was, in my opinion, very much a protégée of the former president.
And she was precisely the right person to follow in her former mentor’s footsteps.
With 34 years of service to Southern State, Dr. Stout attended her final board meeting as college president on Nov. 13. She thanked the college and the college thanks her. Her board gave her a standing ovation prior to her final president’s report.
Just before the Nov. 13 board meeting Dr. Stout was honored by the Ohio General Assembly. In a presentation from Rep. Danny Bubp, the president was given a framed certificate signed by Rep. Bubp, Rep. David Daniels and House Speaker Armond Budish. It reads: “Throughout your 34-year career at Southern State Community College, you have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to performing your duties and fulfilling your responsibilities with the utmost professionalism and competence. You have given willingly of your time, energy and abilities far beyond what was required or expected and have earned the respect and admiration of all those with whom you have worked. Although your expertise and guidance will be sorely missed, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have set an example worthy of emulation.”
The praise was well deserved. Dr. Stout has, indeed, given so much of her “time, energy and abilities” to Southern State Community College from 1975-2009. She has been an outstanding ambassador for the college, whether it’s been representing us before Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and our state lawmakers or at a local Rotary Club luncheon.
There will be one last retirement celebration for Dr. Stout, from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Central Campus in Hillsboro. If you cannot attend, you might consider sending an e-mail to Dr. Stout at: sstout@sscc.edu. I’m sure she would appreciate it, as we have appreciated her many years of service. Thanks, Sherry.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
If I had a cell phone (I don’t), I’d either have Waylon, Willie or Bocephus on the ringer. If I knew how to program such gadgets (which I don’t).
This past Monday, HCP sports rocker Stephen Forsha called the new McClain coach. After leaving a voice message, Rockin’ Steve-O came back smiling. “What’s up?” I asked.
“Coach Eaton’s ring tone is from ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’” Stephen said.
“I like that coach,” I replied.
“The Dukes of Hazzard,” for those less enlightened, was a television classic (poetic liberties taken) from 1979-85. Tom Wopat and John Schneider were the lead actors, as Luke and Bo Duke, respectively. Denver Pyle, the great character actor of the 1960s and ’70s, played Uncle Jessie. Ben Jones was “Cooter.” (“Cooter” is a funny name, by the way.) Sorrell Booke was Boss Hogg. And, of course, Catherine Bach was the lovely and spirited Daisy Duke. (Roscoe and Enos are hardly worth mentioning.)
I will always maintain, however, that the show only enjoyed its modicum of success because of The Balladeer. That would be Waymore. Waylon Arnold “The Outlaw” Jennings, if you please.
The man who played bass guitar for Buddy Holly and would have died in a 1959 plane crash save for the fact that he gave up his seat on the ill-fated flight to the Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson. The man who recorded such C and W classics (no poetic liberties taken this time) as “If You Could Touch Her at All,” “I’ve Always Been Crazy,” and “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean.”
And now we have a local basketball coach who’s a bona fide Waylon Jennings fan? As John Wend would say “TOUCHDOWN, Tigers!” OK. I know. It’s basketball season. But you catch my drift. We used to say “catch my drift” back when Bo and Luke and Daisy were on TV with The Balladeer. Makin’ our way the only way we know how...
By the way, here’s one more reason to like the new Tigers coach. In a preseason interview with Stephen Forsha, Coach Eaton said: “The biggest thing I want from being a coach is that our kids learn life lessons. I want the kids to become solid, democratic citizens, because one day they will be our neighbors and community members as adults.”
You can’t ask for much more than that. Good luck, Coach. And best of luck to all the area teams for the 2009-10 season.
Thank you, Dr. Stout
There’s an often-repeated adage in sports – and in life – that you never want to follow the legend. You want to follow the person who followed the legend. In Ohio, it’s often referred to as the Earle Bruce Syndrome.
Bruce, of course, followed the legendary Woody Hayes as coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. (If you have to ask which sport, the analogy is already wasted.)
Coach Brent Eaton can likely reflect on this, somewhat. On the plus side, the adage proves false at about the same rate it holds true.
In another arena of local education, Southern State Community College President Dr. Sherry Stout knows very well what it’s like to “follow a legend.” In late 2006, Dr. Stout was selected by the SSCC Board of Trustees to succeed Dr. Larry Dukes as college president.
Dr. Dukes was and is held in the highest regard by his peers and his community. His service to the college and the five counties it serves was exemplary. Perhaps more importantly, his service began at a crucial, if not critical, point in the college’s history. Suffice it to say, Dr. Dukes helped SSCC overcome a few obstacles, particularly in the early years of his tenure.
Although her SSCC career predated Dr. Dukes’ arrival on campus, Dr. Stout was, in my opinion, very much a protégée of the former president.
And she was precisely the right person to follow in her former mentor’s footsteps.
With 34 years of service to Southern State, Dr. Stout attended her final board meeting as college president on Nov. 13. She thanked the college and the college thanks her. Her board gave her a standing ovation prior to her final president’s report.
Just before the Nov. 13 board meeting Dr. Stout was honored by the Ohio General Assembly. In a presentation from Rep. Danny Bubp, the president was given a framed certificate signed by Rep. Bubp, Rep. David Daniels and House Speaker Armond Budish. It reads: “Throughout your 34-year career at Southern State Community College, you have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to performing your duties and fulfilling your responsibilities with the utmost professionalism and competence. You have given willingly of your time, energy and abilities far beyond what was required or expected and have earned the respect and admiration of all those with whom you have worked. Although your expertise and guidance will be sorely missed, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have set an example worthy of emulation.”
The praise was well deserved. Dr. Stout has, indeed, given so much of her “time, energy and abilities” to Southern State Community College from 1975-2009. She has been an outstanding ambassador for the college, whether it’s been representing us before Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and our state lawmakers or at a local Rotary Club luncheon.
There will be one last retirement celebration for Dr. Stout, from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Central Campus in Hillsboro. If you cannot attend, you might consider sending an e-mail to Dr. Stout at: sstout@sscc.edu. I’m sure she would appreciate it, as we have appreciated her many years of service. Thanks, Sherry.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]