Coaches Office with guest Coach Rick Bowie from WKU

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Coach David Buchanan coach Chuck Smith, two legendary high school
football coaches. This is the Coach's Office, a behind the

(00:33):
scenes look at Kentucky high school football.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Welcome to the Coach's Office, behind the scenes with Chuck
Smith and David Buchannon. And I want to talk a
little bit about our sponsor for this show. The sponsor
for our show tonight is the five S Fundraising is
run by Kelly wilkins Man.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
He does a great job. He's a go getter.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
If you're looking for these these cards, these spirit card
to raise some money, any kind of fundraising, he'd be
the guy that I would contact. He does a great
job and uh, he's going to make you some money.
This is our off season three, episode five.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Okay, I'm Chuck Smith.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
I'm joined by co host David Buchanan, our podcast editor,
flash back storyteller Mike Yoakam.

Speaker 3 (01:29):
Our YouTube version of this.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Podcast is at tacopt dot C, dot O, dot P
and if you hit uh, you know, like and subscribe,
it helps us out. It's free to do that. By
the way, Hey, what a show we have for you tonight.
It's a fantastic show.

Speaker 4 (01:47):
You know.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Our guest coach is going to be Rick Booie from
are the are the new Western Kentucky University's offensive coordinator
quarterback coach and and if you've been following you Western
Kentucky football under Tyson Hilton, they've had great success. A
little bit about coach Rick boy as I said before

(02:09):
we bring him on it. As I said, he is
Western Kentucky's new offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. In twenty
twenty four, he was at Abilene Christian University. He was
the offensive coordinator quarterback coach. He had one of the
top offenses at the FCS level for the first time ever,

(02:34):
they had a national ranking as a D one level program.
The United Athletic Conference Championship, he had a berth or
they earned a berth in the FCS playoffs and that
was for the first time and then they won their
first round game. So, man, what a great year he had.

(02:55):
Last year before.

Speaker 3 (02:57):
He came to.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
Christian, he was at Valdosta State and he was there
for two seasons. He was also the offensive coordinator and
quarterback coach. The twenty twenty three season there they were
twelve and two and they had a top ten nationally
or they were top ten nationally in passing yards per
game PA also at Houston in twenty nineteen and twenty twenty.

(03:26):
Before that, he was GA in twenty eighteen at West Virginia.
I think that was prior to you know, the guy
that we had on our podcast, Neil Brown. He was.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
He was prior to Neil Brown being there.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
Then he spent some time at the high school level too,
which our listeners are really going to be interested in
knowing that, you know, he he you know, cut his
teeth in the high school level.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
He was at.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
He was in the Baltimore area. It was at Saint
Francis Academy and then the Gilman School, uh was where
he coached some high school football at David. If you
want to bring one coach.

Speaker 4 (04:06):
Boo, Yes, I do, And and coach is gonna be
a wonderful guest I think for a couple of reasons.
First of all, he's a wonderful football coach and an
outstanding offensive mind. But the other thing too that uh
that really makes him an excellent guest for us right now.

(04:26):
He has learned how to navigate the current college football world.
He knows how to he knows how it works. He
knows how to navigate it. He's doing it at a
very high level. So I think we're going to give
some great insights from him that, you know. I just
I think I think he knows how to make it go. So, uh,

(04:48):
I'm gonna turn it over to Chuck and let him
get the first question. But Coach Booe, thank you so
much for joining us tonight. We're very We're very appreciative.

Speaker 5 (04:57):
Yeah, man, thanks so much for having me. I'm excited.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, A coach will start off with the first question.
This would be, you know, in terms of recruiting, you know,
and in today's world and everything, what are you guys
looking for in a high school coach or high school
recruit quarterback?

Speaker 5 (05:17):
Quarterback?

Speaker 6 (05:18):
Quarterback is in particular. I mean, I think, you know,
we certainly look for two things. I think it's sort
of an in I mean, you see, the guys, even
at the NFL level, a lot of it revolves around
fit and making sure that you have the right fit
for your program and the exciting thing about getting into
the college game. We didn't always have the opportunity to

(05:38):
do this, but but getting able to pick pick the
guy that you think fits what you do best. So
we kind of try to break it into two categories.
There's the measurables, which are really clear, and then there's
sort of the intangibles, but just sort of starting with
the measurables. Obviously the same stuff that everybody's going to
look for from like size, mobility, arm strength. I think
one key part is accuracy. I don't think enough people

(06:01):
recruit towards accuracy. That's something that I think can people
think that they can necessarily just grow and create kind
of the first step of evaluating quarterbacks in my opinion.
You just see a lot of verticals and big posts
and explosive plays down the field, and that's an important
part of the way we play offense, but also sort
of seeing.

Speaker 5 (06:21):
Those diverse diversity of throws.

Speaker 6 (06:24):
And you know, some sprint out, some of you extending
plays you want to skate and extend plays at times,
but also some in rhythm throws, which we would say
is you know, first second progression showing that they can
do it within the pocket as well, and that's some
some of those full progressional throws as well. But not
enough time I think is spent in the evaluating of

(06:45):
the intangibles for unique position and We talk about it
constantly as we get into the furstation of these prospects.

Speaker 5 (06:55):
You know, we want to see full game tape.

Speaker 6 (06:57):
We want to try to get out and see the
you know, very quarterbacks play, the final evaluations and you know,
so much can be found out about a quarterback when
you watch him play, and is he protecting the football?
You don't you don't see that in highlights, on whether
he's turning over a bunch, which are obviously things you
don't want to have, and then who is he on
the sideline?

Speaker 5 (07:16):
What kind of teammate is he? So much evaluation happens
from the high school coach.

Speaker 6 (07:21):
You know, I've been to the high school coach for
six years, and you know, man, they tell you what
type kitty is, you better believe them, as nobody knows.

Speaker 5 (07:27):
That kid better than the high school coach.

Speaker 6 (07:30):
And I think expecting yourself to be able to fix
some of those things is a little bit aggressive at times,
and so listening to what they have to say, but
asking around the program as well, you know, who are
who is he to other people around the school? We
white kids that played a lot of ball. I think
game reps are really hard to replicate in any level. Similarly,

(07:50):
we want guys that preferably played a lot of sports.
You know, I think anytime you can have the ball
in your hand at the end of a game, that's
something that you can't replicate in any practice. And I
don't care what kind of ball it is or what
the game is, that's something that you got to have
that kind of intangible.

Speaker 5 (08:04):
At the quarterback position, we like winners.

Speaker 6 (08:07):
I think, no matter what your level is, we want
guys that have won high school games. And then I
think continuously asking the high school coach what kind of
leader is he, and just be you can't like what
football provides him, He's got to love it. So much
of playing the quarterback at a high level, regardless of
the position, is preparation, and we need them to be
studiers and love the game and seek information and seek coaching.

Speaker 5 (08:30):
That's such a big part of it.

Speaker 6 (08:31):
And then, you know, I think quarterbacks just one of
those rare spots in the game of football. But there
are other wearers, other places, but one of those rare
spots where the best, most talented player is not always
the same. And you know, finding enough time to really
dive into those intangibles because you know in quarterback, very
rarely you throw the ball as far as you can
unless you're losing. So we want to make sure that

(08:52):
we're with the football and decision making.

Speaker 4 (08:55):
You know, coach, your answer prompted two questions. One I
think will not be too tough. The other one if
you want to decline the answer, I'll understand because you
didn't see it coming. Portal where you could get a
guy that's got more snaps because he's played D three
played uh you know, juco h n Ai, So is

(09:16):
is that a factor? Now? A transfer portal is how
many more snaps as a guy had.

Speaker 5 (09:21):
At Western Kentucky, Which is all I can really speak to.

Speaker 6 (09:23):
Where we do feel like we can really dive into
the high school ranks with what coach Helton has created
in his time here, we really feel like we can
develop those type of players. And I and I just
think snaps are what you're looking for at any level.
You know, I think if you've got a three year
starter at the high school level, they're coming in with
four years of eligibility, that's an exciting possibility.

Speaker 5 (09:47):
And if you're if you're getting into.

Speaker 6 (09:48):
The transfer portal world, snaps are are something that we
look for. I mean, you know, we're gonna talk a
little bit about Maverick here in a bed. I would imagine,
you know, hopefully that that answers your question.

Speaker 4 (09:58):
You know, on social media about how el Kuyper says
the NFL doesn't know how to evaluate quarterbacks and they
haven't known for fifty years. Do you agree with mel Kiper?
What do you think?

Speaker 5 (10:10):
Well, I don't know about all that.

Speaker 6 (10:11):
I think I think there's some pretty smart people evaluating quarterbacks,
and you know, and that's not saying that that particularly
Mail is not, but I just mean, you know, I
think a lot has been made to that. I think
evaluating is a tough.

Speaker 5 (10:24):
Thing to do.

Speaker 6 (10:25):
I mean, you see people that spend millions and millions
and millions of dollars evaluating these players, to invest millions
and millions of dollars in them, and even then at
times they don't get it right. I think a lot
David has made, in my opinion, about fit, I think
so much of it. You can have a really great
player walk into a situation where it just wasn't a

(10:45):
great fit.

Speaker 5 (10:46):
For both sides and they're not successful.

Speaker 6 (10:48):
And that's where I think you see in college and
in the NFL, certain guys that just get a change
in scenery and then suddenly things click. You know, I
think some of that is a big part of this
as well. It's not necessarily good in a SE's to me,
it's just a.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
Little too simple, Coach, But can you tell a lot
from you know, you're obviously your your evaluation is real thorough,
but the good feel for uh, you know, it's in
tangibles through his personality and your conversations with him, as
as your recruiting murdous.

Speaker 6 (11:19):
Jopping all the right things and you think it's a
no doubt home run personality fit. And then that's where
you really got to call around to various people and
truly the people that you can trust in this business.
And then you know from their high school coaches and
the people that were around them to people just don't
really have the same vested interest at times and will
tell you the truth.

Speaker 5 (11:40):
But you know, I think I do a decent job
of it.

Speaker 6 (11:42):
I think Coach Helton is really good at it, uh,
sitting down young people and figuring it out. But I
would just say, you know, I think we do a
good job of that. I think I do a decent
job of that. But but I've been I've been wrong.

Speaker 4 (11:55):
Hey, So there's one thing about it, you know, Maverick mcivory,
you know you've got that. And so you guys are
coming to Western after a very successful season at Abilene Christian.
This is a new dynamic in college football. So if
you would, with our listeners, can you walk us through
how that transpired?

Speaker 5 (12:16):
Yeah, certainly.

Speaker 1 (12:17):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (12:17):
You know, I think it's one of those things that
a few years ago would be a bit unique.

Speaker 5 (12:21):
I think you see a little bit more of it now.

Speaker 6 (12:24):
I think at its core, it's still a game about relationships,
you know. And I think deep down we can we
can debate at any point the relationship between transactional and
transformational components.

Speaker 5 (12:38):
Of this game.

Speaker 6 (12:39):
Uh, but it's at its heart, I still think it's
it's a it's a game that's built around relationships. I think, Uh,
you know, all of us have been around really high
quality players and coaches, and you know, I say it
all the time.

Speaker 5 (12:51):
I think, deep down, we get into coaching because.

Speaker 6 (12:52):
A part of us misses the locker room, and so
you missed that camaraderie, you know, and you missed that
relationship component of it, and you have it with your play,
you have it with your staff. You get it recruiting
with high school coaches, and I've always said that's sort
of the best part of the job. But you know,
for Maverick in particular, that's a relationship that certainly means
a lot to me.

Speaker 5 (13:09):
I've had a lot of players that I'm really close with.

Speaker 6 (13:13):
Maverick and I are very close, but a lot of
it is in that relationship between coach and player. You know,
I think he respects I think the hope that we
can get him to the places that he wants to be,
and that was a big part of that.

Speaker 5 (13:25):
I think it was just one of those weird deals where.

Speaker 6 (13:28):
After the success that we were able to have an
incredibly humbling season through a lot of hard work, through
a lot of great players, not just Maverick. You know,
Maverick came to us and said that he wanted to
have a chance to try to play at the highest
level that he originally was recruited to out of high
school out of the Texas area, and I think he
just had some bad luck in his first stint in

(13:51):
the FBS and then was able to come to a
CU and show a little bit about what he can do.
And then my when he said that, we fully supported that.
You know, we wanted him to go get that opportunity.
And then, you know, like I said, incredibly humbly, that
the same opportunity sort of started to show up for
me as well. And I think that's one of those

(14:11):
things that are really a hard decision. Really enjoyed my
time at ACU, and that's a place that you know,
gave me an opportunity like Valdosta did, and uh, you know,
each step of the way those are those are small
jumps in the level and I think for places to
see you as a possible addition to their staff and
to their football program.

Speaker 5 (14:30):
Again is a wildly awesome thing.

Speaker 6 (14:32):
But and you know, honestly, coach Helton identified Maverick is
somebody that he thought could could help him in the
transfer portal before my opportunity came about. But Maverick had
a lot of really great opportunities in the transfer portal,
as you'd imagine, giving the success that he had. And
then those opportunities started to show up for me as well.
And then when Coach Helton, uh, you know, reached out

(14:57):
to me, and then it turned in a little bit
more to a recruiting role. I think we both see
what Western Kentucky has done in the past. The offensive
success around here with coach Helton at the Helm is undeniable.

Speaker 5 (15:11):
In my opinion, It's unmatched anywhere.

Speaker 6 (15:13):
And I think the consistency of what he's been able
to do is kind of what drew us here. And
I think from an offensive perspective, given what Coach Helton's
been able to do here, kind of leading and during
quarterbacks and coordinators and and we both sort of identified
that and thought that coming here together was in the
best entrance of Maverick first and foremost, but then me
as well. I mean, like I said, I can't deny

(15:36):
that I still we could talk about nil and transport
all the world. I mean, relationships still matter. And so
I think you see young people that are willing to
walk away from certain scenarios that maybe some other people
don't understand, just because the relationships still are so important.

Speaker 3 (15:51):
Yeah, sound like to go get another go ahead, David.

Speaker 4 (15:54):
I I'm just I'm fascinated by all this. I'm fascinated
by but I also appreciate he says, you know, it
still gets back to relationships. I'm just I mean I think,
I mean, I thought this, and you're you're, you're, you're
a great guest for our listener. We get to see
a side of this that you know, we don't see
very often. Go ahead, chug not man, No.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
It's I says, you got me fired up to watch
Western Kentucky football this year.

Speaker 3 (16:20):
But hey, I coach. Uh, which here's here's the next question.

Speaker 2 (16:24):
But which defensive scheme do you find, you know, the
most challenging to prepare for, you know, beside the one
that has the best players.

Speaker 5 (16:33):
What is team What's.

Speaker 6 (16:36):
Yeah, I think that you touched on a little bit
of it there. Now first, I'm giving up the keys
here a little bit, you know what I mean. No,
I would just say that, uh, you know, I think
a part of it is just it's not necessarily any
particular scheme or shell or whatever that is. I mean,
every offense, every defense is gonna have weakness systematically.

Speaker 5 (16:53):
We always joke in.

Speaker 6 (16:54):
The at least in the college in our world have
done in high school, any college whoever gets the pen last.
You know what I mean, you go to these coaches
conventions and they're like, well, if you line up in this,
I'm gonna do this, and well I'm gonna do this,
and then you can.

Speaker 5 (17:05):
Go on and on and on and on.

Speaker 6 (17:06):
There's weaknesses and strength to everything, but I think it's
a little bit. I'd say there's sort of two things
that I think are really fun to go against. And
I think some of it first and foremost is like
from a from a two part perspective.

Speaker 5 (17:19):
It's like guys that really do a great job.

Speaker 6 (17:24):
Not everybody's gonna have the best eleven guys on the field,
and and sort of a subset of personnel grouping, like, so,
who are your best eleven guys I'll talk about.

Speaker 5 (17:31):
Here until I'm blueing the faces.

Speaker 6 (17:32):
Making sure they're on the field, but make sure they're
doing what they're best at is something that a lot
of offensive coaches get credit for, but I think the
best defensive coaches across.

Speaker 5 (17:41):
The country do a phenomenon.

Speaker 6 (17:43):
I mean, if you have an elite pass rusher, I'm
gonna try to formationally find him every point you know
and if you can make you to know where that
guy's gonna be, but also make sure he's going up
against the guy that we would rather not have. That
difficult that I think are really really fun to go
against because we spend.

Speaker 5 (18:03):
All this time making sure that that doesn't happen. So
if you can, if you can kind of one up
us on that, it makes it fun. And then that's
one answer. But I think the other thing that that's
kind of fun to go again. So those that do.

Speaker 6 (18:13):
Uh, multiplicity and kind of at the last second. You know,
we spend so much time prepping quarterbacks. We call it
programming like an iPad. We program our quarterbacks for looks
and particular things that they're going to see and when
you can shift and change that at the last second.
I think it just dubs us down a little bit.
We pick things that are good versus everything and makes
it a little bit harder to game plan.

Speaker 5 (18:35):
You know, home runs on a whiteboard.

Speaker 4 (18:39):
Yeah that is a good Hey, all right, so coach,
I've been through this, you know, three times in myself.
So I'm I wish and new Hey coaches or New
O City they take over. What advice would you give
them in regard to installing a brand new offense? What

(19:00):
factors are most critical to teaching everyone in the offense
and creating by ind and are there some practical tips
you can get for teaching an entire staff and players,
a new scheme, mean, the plays, formation concepts, just just
through that. What what's the best way to do an
offensive install if you take over?

Speaker 6 (19:22):
This would be my third time doing that, you know
what I mean, at three different places and you really
learn along the way.

Speaker 5 (19:30):
So this will be my third time.

Speaker 6 (19:32):
I guess this will be my fourth season as a
play caller and an offensive coordinator, but my third time
installing it to a new staff and a new group
of players I brought. I think I got like five
things that come to mind, but above all, just what
a great opportunity, right, I mean, when you get a
fresh set, a new roster, a new coaching staff, it

(19:52):
really is a great opportunity to examine.

Speaker 5 (19:54):
I'll talk about that here in the second.

Speaker 6 (19:56):
I think the first thing I would say is you
got to do your homework when you get that job
on your own roster, h knowing you know, where are
the players that have had success, Because if you can't
adapt who you are offensively to your players, you're.

Speaker 5 (20:10):
Not going to be very successful.

Speaker 6 (20:11):
So you know, every time I've gotten to a new spot, obviously,
fan bases are incredibly passionate, and that's one of the
best parts of the job.

Speaker 5 (20:18):
But there's a lot of questions you know, whatever it is,
and who are going to be.

Speaker 6 (20:21):
On offense, And the quickest answer is, I just don't
know yet, you know what I mean. I mean, at
this time of year, going after completing spring practice, we've
got a decent feel of who our best guys are.
But again not just who's your best personnel grouping? Well
what's your best personnel grouping best at? You know, and
so making sure that those type of schemes are there.
So that's the first thing. Mold whatever you and your

(20:44):
staff believe in schematically to whoever your players are all
the time. That's, without a doubt the most important thing.
And if you can't adapt, you're not going to be
as successful. It doesn't matter what we know, it's a
player's game that always will be.

Speaker 5 (20:55):
And make sure that they're doing with their best at
That's that's the first thing.

Speaker 4 (20:58):
I think.

Speaker 6 (20:59):
The second thing is being very intentional with your language.
You know, I think these kids are they want to
learn this stuff. They love football, right, and so when
you get in there, I have welcomed and appreciated players
that ask the question, why you know, hey, coach, why
do we call.

Speaker 5 (21:16):
It this, you know what I mean.

Speaker 6 (21:18):
And if you can find synonymous language for the similarities
of your offense, so that you're not just picking and
choosing random words that you think sound like cool football
plays or that you hurt on Twitter or whatever it is.

Speaker 5 (21:32):
You know, like, be very.

Speaker 6 (21:33):
Intentional, and when you have that time, I welcome the
question why you know? And sometimes I always don't the
worst answer I can give you sort of the genesis
of this thing. But it all stems from something, right.
We always joke like we're not rocket scientists. It's got
to make sense to us coaches too. There's a reason
why it's called what it's called, and where it came
from and how it got into our offense. So be
very intentional with your language, and then make sure everything

(21:56):
fits right like it make sure it fits into families.
You're game should sound the same, right, your protections should
sound the same, Your concept should all fit into families
in my opinion of some kind. And spend time on
what you're calling things, because above all, the why of
why it fits should really fit a little bit like
a puzzle piece.

Speaker 5 (22:17):
And I think that's a really important opportunity.

Speaker 6 (22:19):
And I think a new job kind of gives you
that opportunity, right And I say this all the time.
I mean, like you don't have to call it what
you called it before, you know what I mean, like
as the adults relearn it and make it make more sense, right, Like,
and then have the wherewithal the look in the mirror
critically and say, I really thought this game was really good.

Speaker 5 (22:40):
For us two stops ago.

Speaker 7 (22:42):
Right.

Speaker 6 (22:42):
So like at Valdosta we had things we were really
good at. Then maybe in Abilene they weren't as successful.
I don't have to bring those things with me to
Western Kentucky, right, And so walking away and being critical
from the things that are losing success and then the
things along the way that you've implemented that are successful
major more in those things. A new opportunity at a
new school with the new staff is a blessed because

(23:03):
it really does allow you to look and look.

Speaker 5 (23:05):
And be critical and the things that you want to
be best at.

Speaker 6 (23:08):
I think, thirdly, be really diligent on coaching your coaches first,
you know what I mean, I think everybody is really
really really.

Speaker 5 (23:16):
Good coaches at the high school level.

Speaker 6 (23:19):
You know, if you're doing at the high school level,
there's a really basic understanding of the game that's still
very very elite.

Speaker 5 (23:25):
And being really diligent with coaching your coaches. I mean,
I coach the quarterbacks here.

Speaker 6 (23:29):
I love coaching the quarterbacks, and I coordinate the offense,
but I can't be in every single position room, and
every single coach wants to be successful.

Speaker 5 (23:39):
And there's so much.

Speaker 6 (23:40):
Buy in from the minute you walk into that room
because you know we're all in this thing together, we're
all trying.

Speaker 5 (23:44):
To win football games. But being diligent and instructing them
the way you want it to sound.

Speaker 6 (23:48):
Because if we go out to practice, I called something X,
and then I'm not clear enough on that it needs
to be called X. When I pull a receiver or
a tight end aside and I say, what were you
thinking on that insert route here?

Speaker 5 (24:02):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 6 (24:02):
And they didn't hear it called the same thing. There's
going to be confusion out there on the grass, and
we really want to avoid that where possible. I think
that's a big, big part. And being intentional about what
you install win. So your question was, you know, why
do you install what you install? Be very intentional, like
if you have a day one install, be selective with
what you're picking into that it should have some sort
of match to the other things on that day, you know,

(24:25):
make sure your play actions match your runs. One big
thing for me is, like you always want to in college,
the pads don't come on till day three, right, So
like I don't really want pullers until day three, you
know what I mean. I don't think that you get
the same collision component of little things like that.

Speaker 5 (24:42):
Be diligent about what you're installing when and.

Speaker 6 (24:44):
Why for your gap schemes and and and beyond, and
then that's a big part of it. I think have
a teaching progression would be my fourth thing, you know,
I think being diligent with the diversity in which young
people learn. My first job was actually at a K
through twelve school. I taught fourth grade and that was

(25:07):
a humbling experience going in. So I just wanted to
coach the varsity football team. I was a D three player,
not a very good one at that and I was
really gung ho about going into my alma mater at
the time and coaching this varsity football team that had
had success. And when you go in, they're like, all right,
I'm ready to teach too, and they're like, Yeah, why
don't you try fourth grade. That's one of those moments
where you're like, you don't really know what you're looking into.

(25:28):
I think with that said, like that was one of
the biggest blessings I had. I mean, you can teach
adding and subtracting fractions to fourth graders. You can teach
you how to go through a progression to a quarterback,
you know what I mean. There's just a different level
of buy in on that than a spelling test. And
so that was a really big blessing for me. I mean,
I wouldn't change my start for anything. And so like
having handouts and note opportunities that match the film and

(25:51):
being selected on the film that you're showing of getting
them up out of their chair for in meeting walkthroughs
and such like that, and then board, you know, give
them the chalk, let them get on the board and
draw it out. There's so much frustrating for me, you know,
Chuck and David, like when you end an install and
say everybody got it, the kids are gonna say, yes,

(26:13):
it's way.

Speaker 5 (26:13):
Better when you can get them in performance opportunities.

Speaker 6 (26:16):
To show what you understand because and then I really
you said this before, like the ability to do this
at multiple stops, Like my first time coordinating, you make
a ton of mistakes.

Speaker 5 (26:27):
It's inevitable, you know, And I look back on it.

Speaker 6 (26:30):
One of the things that I did a poor job
of was my first year of coordinating, like you know,
was right eyed and bushy tail, and I had all
these great football plays, right and then you get you
go through the year and we were we had some
success offensive, but we didn't really have a subculture, something
that you can break down on, something that you talk about,
whatever it is, and it's super essential that it fits
underneath the overarching umbrella of what the head coach's culture is.

(26:54):
It's got a match in some kind. So you got
to be flexible with that because if it doesn't match
the head coaches philosophy, you're not going to win.

Speaker 5 (27:00):
And that's the only thing that matters.

Speaker 6 (27:02):
But having something that those kids can rally around, whether
it's something you break down on, whatever, it is really
important in my opinion.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
A real players coach. I really like it. That was great,
Really going to have fun for you.

Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah, And I appreciate the detail and that answer. You
put a lot of thought into that. I mean everything
you got going on. Thank you very much for giving
that to our listeners. That that right, there's worth the episode.
That's excellent.

Speaker 2 (27:31):
Hey, Rick, one more question for you.

Speaker 3 (27:33):
It's it's, uh, you know, in today's h landscape.

Speaker 2 (27:37):
Of the n I L and all this college you know,
uh transfer portals and all this other stuff. What what's
your reaction uh to the to the University of Tennessee's
head coach Josh Heichel's recent decision, you know, really on
turning this quarterback loose, I guess over the nil stuff,

(27:58):
and you know that's that's kind of event. Was a big,
pretty big thing because you know, the it's really indefferent.
I mean, it's really I guess that's the first time
something like that has happened, you know, with with.

Speaker 3 (28:11):
All of this stuff that goes on in college football.

Speaker 2 (28:14):
Now you got to.

Speaker 5 (28:15):
That, yeah, certainly.

Speaker 6 (28:17):
I mean, you know, I joked before, I feel pretty
lucky to able to install an offense three times at
three different places. I've never been ahead football coach, and
how many head football coaches have been through sort of
what we're going through with this monment, you know what
I mean.

Speaker 5 (28:32):
So I think we're all kind of figuring this thing
out as we go.

Speaker 6 (28:37):
You know, I talked a little bit about you know,
there is forever that balance between transformational and the transactional
component that quite literally transactionally has now entered our game.

Speaker 5 (28:49):
And with that it's really hard to deny it.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
You know.

Speaker 5 (28:52):
I do believe relationships still can win.

Speaker 6 (28:54):
But there is this this undeniable and we don't want
to hide from it. Right it's an adapter. Situation is
never going back, and we agree. I certainly agree with
the direction in which this is going. You but the
case study is certainly unique, and I think in my opinion,
whether we like to admit it or not, like any

(29:14):
sort of profession, I think if if somebody thinks that
they're not being valued in any area, they have the
right to go ask and dispute that, and then in turn,
the leaders of that organization have the ability to wonder
if that valuation is what they had in mind, you know.
And so I can't help but think that in that situation. Again,

(29:36):
I don't really know the details of the situation. I
don't know if anybody does, because we weren't in the building,
so it's hard to speculate too much. But I just
think that in those moments, you value, you know, to
the extent of not only what you think a player
or a coach or whatever it is is worth, but
whether you have that to provide. And so I don't
know what that looks like behind closed doors at that place,

(29:59):
but ultimately it's a right player, right price if you
want to be purely transactional, and then you fill in
with the transformational approach of development and all the other
stuff that goes into it. In that case, I think
quite clearly there was a disconnect on what they thought
the value of those services.

Speaker 4 (30:17):
Yeah, yep, answer, Yeah, I tell you what I like
because I just I just think you've got a really
good handle on all this, coach, I really do, And
I think, you know, even though I'm just a high
school coach, the way you talk about it, you're not overwhelmed,
and it's not impossible. You've you got a good grasp

(30:38):
of it.

Speaker 5 (30:38):
You got to enjoy the challenge, you know what I mean.
I think it's stimulating. I think it's this. It's this,
you know.

Speaker 6 (30:44):
I think those that adapt to this the best are
going to have the great opportunity to really thrive over
the next couple of years.

Speaker 4 (30:49):
You know.

Speaker 6 (30:50):
I mean, you got to enjoy the challenge. I'll tell
you this, and I'm not just coach Helton is really really,
really really good at this. Really, I think we have
a distinct advantage here, Wes, you can tuck. I mean,
any head coach that's going into a seventh season is
a serious ascent. You know, there's not a lot that
he hasn't seen and been through his head football coach.
So just having that support from the top, I think

(31:11):
you got to run towards it, not away from it,
and realize that that we're not going back and enjoy
sort of the stimulating challengeable.

Speaker 4 (31:19):
Well, hey, you've got a wonderful guest, coach. I sure
do appreciate you.

Speaker 5 (31:23):
Yeah, I appreciate the time. This was fun.

Speaker 2 (31:26):
Thank you, Rick. We appreciate you, buddy.

Speaker 5 (31:28):
Yeah again, no Hilltoppers, great job times.

Speaker 2 (31:32):
All right, David, into the next segment, we're going to
go with the tough topic and again it's from Mark Centers.
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association Filall twenty three, which
is the Limitation of Seasons, covers pages seventeen to twenty three,

(31:54):
and that's all football between seventeen and twenty three and
the other sports have minimum limitations, especially in regards to
practice time. You know, is it overkilled to have so
many regulations when football.

Speaker 3 (32:10):
As compared to the other sports, or is it justified?

Speaker 2 (32:15):
What do you think?

Speaker 4 (32:17):
Well, you know, how much is too much? That's debatable,
But in the big picture it is justified. Uh. There's
a lot more that can go wrong playing football than
a lot of those other activities. And you know, I
love telling this story. When London High School is going

(32:38):
to start a football program, my grandmother told them all said,
if you don't get go out and get a real
coach job, you can and will not be playing football.
You know, just there's just too much that can go
wrong and you better ask somebody in charge. So, you know,
I think it's justified. I don't always like it. I

(32:59):
get frush strated. I think that a lot of times
that the parameters put on experienced coaches goes back to
you know, maybe a mistake a coach made, or what
they fear the younger coaches will do, you know, So

(33:20):
I'll get frustrated with that. But in the big picture,
I understand why there's more regulations for football because it
is a contact sport. And you know, the only other
thing that I would say that I sort of wonder
a little bit about. You know, we continue to have
more restrictions as far as heat and practice in preseason

(33:42):
practice and all that, but we still pretty much open
up the same time of year, and I just I
don't know, sometimes I think that's a little contradictory because
you know, we sure can't practice. And I'm not saying
that we should be. Okay, we're not acclivated like we
were twenty and thirty years ago, So I'm not saying

(34:03):
that we don't need to have these things. But I
just think that there's a little bit of a contradiction
of we've got all these restrictions, but we're still going
to pretty much open up, you know, the third weekend
of August, and it's gonna be hot and humid, you're
playing in a bowl game, You're playing at five o'clock
on turf. I just I don't know that that really

(34:26):
fits with the restrictions we've got into preseason. So I
guess in the big picture, I'm going to say I
think the additional regulations for football, I think a lot
of it is justified.

Speaker 2 (34:40):
Well, the restrictions are to allow get you prepared to
be able to do that and open up early and
play at five o'clock on turf.

Speaker 3 (34:50):
We don't agree with that part, but we agree with
everything else.

Speaker 2 (34:53):
And because football obviously has an increased risk of injury,
especially with the head and and had trauma like you know,
like concussions, and for safety, uh, they implement these rules
around contact you know, limits, practice lengths and acclamation period

(35:15):
Other sports typically don't have they're not they don't have involvement,
uh with that physical contact like that. So the rules
that are in place, you know, are are there to
protect the student.

Speaker 3 (35:27):
Athletes and and and but.

Speaker 2 (35:29):
The you know, the detail the redundance of it are
probably c y a you know, cover your you know,
cover your ass. You know that's probably what you know,
cover your rear end is probably you know why you
get so much redundant, but it's it's.

Speaker 3 (35:45):
Probably a good thing, you know, personally speaking.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
You know, at first, when I was a young, younger coach, uh,
I felt like it was kind of insulting to me
as a coach because I just felt like, I'm not
going to do I'm not going to have unnecessary contact
and a risk injuring you know, the very players that
I need to win games, you know, so you know,

(36:13):
why are you you know, or or keep them in
the heat, you know, without water risking losing players, you
know before a game.

Speaker 5 (36:20):
You know, I.

Speaker 3 (36:22):
Felt that it was kind of insulting, But I get
why they do it.

Speaker 2 (36:27):
I think again, I think it's to cover their the
rear end and and and make sure it's clear and
and you know what the what what the rules and
regulations are. But you know, you're coming A lot of
this is coming from a player, uh, you know, I
came from the generation of players that you know, taking
a water break during practice was considered a weakness. I

(36:49):
don't know, I don't know if you go back that
far a lot, but I go back that far it
was consider it was considered a weakness, you know, And
and you know that was kind of the culture, you know,
was it was.

Speaker 1 (37:00):
It was.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
It's kind of crazy when you think about it. I mean,
you know, our our water break was, you know, we'd
go over on the line and take a knee and
the and the coach would come with a water hose
and he just walked down the sideline with that water
hose moving uh, you know the whole time, and you
were just moving your head trying of trying to get

(37:21):
as much water as you could. And and then on
rainy days, if there's a puddle of water, man, you
would fall on that.

Speaker 3 (37:29):
You'd fallen this water up trying to get next to
the water break. Hey, if you come from.

Speaker 2 (37:35):
That generation, give me a thumbs up on this uh
on this podcast. There, that's the that's the generation I
came from. So yeah, but I got to understand, I understand.
I don't I don't think that I agree with you.
I don't think it's I think it's necessary.

Speaker 4 (37:53):
Yeah. Hey, we we got a cup of quick kick
one out that old metal cooler and coach French had
so I think we drank. I think half the time
when we had the want to break. It was a
rush break. But we were glad to get it. So.
But but a couple other things before we close out here.

(38:13):
I want to mention this the flood victims in pie Full,
Paris and Frankfurt. I don't want to bring in Anderson County.
The city of Larsburg came through big time for meals.
You know, Matt does our historical segment. He needed some help.
I tell you what, Larsburg is a wonderful town and
I just just want to thank everybody that helped the

(38:36):
Frankfurt victims. And then also if there's any of our
listeners you want to help these programs that are involved,
reach out to us and uh, we'll get you in
touch with those coaches. So anything else you want to
say on the on the flood victims and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (38:53):
No, you did a good job that.

Speaker 4 (38:55):
David, Well, well, hey, and I you know you when
you and I talked about this. You know the coaches
that are listening out there and your seniors that are
getting ready to graduate. This is something that I started,
and I'll tell you what. I'll just tell you it

(39:15):
didn't get a very good start. But I had a
senior one day. It was at Paris High School and
he got really mad at me in the spring and
he said, he said, you don't care anything about it
since football and I really mentally had moved on to
the next season. And I'll tell you it was. His
name was David Billman. I remember it, and it really

(39:39):
got my attention. And so one of the things that
I started at that point is every spring I'll give
like an evotional book. But I'll get all my seniors
a gift and I write them a little note in it,
and I find him in the hallway and I give
it to him. And you know, I mean just sort
of my personality. Sometimes I a little emotional because I

(40:01):
really appreciate these guys that I get to coach and
I'm very thankful for them, and uh, you know, I
just want to share that because, uh, you know, other
guys are head coaches out there. I think sometimes it
is a little awkward in the spring and and I
just it's been a really good thing that I've enjoyed

(40:22):
and make sure that I have one really good positive
interaction with those guys before they walk out the door.
And uh, that you coached and they show up at
six am for practices, and especially, I tell you what
it Anderson work has been so hard. I mean, these
kids have hung in there and battled and battled, and uh,

(40:47):
I just I just wanted to share that because you'd
have discussed it.

Speaker 3 (40:53):
Great idea. I wish I would have thought of that.

Speaker 2 (40:55):
I wish I wish i'd have known you did that
I would have started It's because because it's really a
great idea. It's I mean because sometimes, uh, you know,
once your season ends and you start the screen semester
and you're working on the next next year's team, it's
not like you don't care about them anymore.

Speaker 4 (41:18):
Are you you're.

Speaker 2 (41:20):
Mad at them or anything like that. That just you
you get to kind of get lost in the shuffle.
And I think giving them a gift departing gift like you,
like you did and do, I think that's just a
I mean, that's a great idea. I would seriously, I'm serious.

Speaker 3 (41:34):
As I could be.

Speaker 2 (41:35):
I wish I would have known them or thought of it,
because I would have done it myself. Great idea.

Speaker 4 (41:41):
Well, hey, I appreciate you saying that, and I'm sure
I've learned a lot from you, and uh, you know,
and I hope, I hope our listeners that coach, you
know what, if this can help them navigate something a
little better. Uh, I mean, I hope they can use it.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
I think it will.

Speaker 4 (41:59):
Well, Hey, I appreciate it. Ay. Our Our next episode
is gonna be Thursday. We're gonna kick off. Season four
was kicking off on Thursday, August twenty first, Yes, August
twenty first, at seven thirty and We're really excited about that. So, uh,
you know, I can't believe we're starting season four of

(42:21):
this thing. But man, I really enjoyed it. And uh,
you know, as we've as we've shared, we're really trying
to do a good job for our listeners and uh
and we're gonna we're gonna seating them. Four is gonna
be our best wall. It'll be our best one.

Speaker 2 (42:37):
I'm really I'm really fired to Ford and Kate Waite,
David and you know, Hey, don't forget our sponsor for
this show, the Five F's and Kelly Wilkins for they
sponsored our show.

Speaker 3 (42:51):
We appreciate that, but he's somebody to look into it.

Speaker 2 (42:54):
Somebody had to contact about fundraising and I think you
really should do that, and we appreciate him sponsoring the show.
Don't forget to.

Speaker 4 (43:03):
Max Hey before you do, Mac, I want to mention
something about Kelly the potential sponsors. Vince Kelly has sponsored
our podcast. He's picked up the following schools Boyle County, Bowling,
Green Franklin County, Mead County, South Arne, Greenwood, Central, Hardin,

(43:25):
Grant County, Mason County, Henderson County, Owensborough and he already
had Sky County in Anderson County, So I just want
to put in that plug there. You know, Kelly's movement
right now, But these are this is all business that
Kelly has picked up since he started sponsoring our podcast.
So if there's other potential sponsors out there that want

(43:48):
access to the best high school football coaches in Kentucky
and really I think across the country, we would love
to include you as a sponsor in being part of
our ship.

Speaker 3 (44:00):
Yes, sir, I agree, and Kate thank him enough.

Speaker 2 (44:04):
And again, if you're a high school out there looking
for a way to raise some money, Kelly would be
the guy being getting in contact with right now.

Speaker 3 (44:14):
Don't forget Mac's historical.

Speaker 7 (44:16):
Segment, Sports and in particular, high school sports are woven
into the fabric of Americana. High school sports are part
of the DNA of communities across the country, and that
is certainly true in Kentucky. Fans know the stories of
the big names, but there are many names and many

(44:37):
stories that have been lost to history. This series highlights
those forgotten heroes. Welcome to this edition of Forgotten Heroes.
I'm your host, Mack Yoakum. Long before Sidney McLoughlin, Laverne
and Messiah Russell put Kentucky on the hurdle map. A
man who hailed from the Commonwealth dominated the hurdles. A

(45:01):
man who actually made the record setting times of today possible.
Percy Beard was born in nineteen o eight in the
small town of Hardensburg, Kentucky. Prior to high school, Percy
and his family moved to the tiny Alabama town of Greensboro.
It was in Greensboro where Percy Beard became a hurdling phenom.

(45:25):
In addition to dominating on the track, he also excelled
in the classroom and in his community. In the nineteen twenties,
mosquitoes were causing a spread of malaria and other illnesses
across the state of Alabama, Greensboro included. Young Percy Beard
took it upon himself to lead the mosquito eradication efforts

(45:46):
to keep his town safe. He graduated with honors and
had an appointment to the Naval Academy of Annapolis. He
opted not to go to the Naval Academy and instead
went to Alabama Polytechnic Institute now known as Auburn University,
where he majored in engineering. On the track Percy Beard

(46:08):
ran roughshot over the competition. His senior season, he never
lost a single high hurdle race in the classroom. He
became the first Auburn athlete to be named valedictorian of
the senior class, graduating with one of the highest averages
ever in the engineering school. Following graduation, Percy Beard continued

(46:31):
to run for the New York Athletic Club on the
AAU circuit. In nineteen thirty one, he set the world
record when he ran the one hundred and twenty yard
high hurdles in fourteen point two seconds. He tied his
own record in nineteen thirty four. He held the world
record from nineteen thirty one until nineteen thirty seven. He

(46:55):
was a seven time AAU national champion in the high hurdles.
From nineteen thirty one to nineteen thirty four, he set
five world records. This was in the days before the
NCAA and AAU championships were the ultimate titles. He was
selected for the Olympic team in nineteen thirty two, and

(47:16):
he claimed the silver medal in the Olympics, having been
beaten by his longtime friend and rival George Sailing. The
Olympics would be the last time the two longtime rivals
would run against each other, as Sailing was killed in
a car accident just six months after the Olympics. When
his competitive running career ended in nineteen thirty seven, Percy

(47:39):
Beard went into coaching. From nineteen thirty seven to nineteen
sixty four, he was the head track coach at the
University of Florida. He is considered the father of Gator
track and field. He coached many SEC champions, with over
thirty in his last five years alone. He started the

(48:00):
Florida Relays, which became one of the country's top meets.
He led the Gators to two SEC titles and was
runner up four times. In nineteen fifty nine, he used
his engineering degree to revolutionize track and field. At the time,
the track and field world was looking for an alternative

(48:22):
to the old cinder tracks. In honor of the twentieth
anniversary of the Florida Relays, Percy Beard put his engineering
degree to work and he invented the first all weather track.

Speaker 4 (48:36):
It was an.

Speaker 7 (48:36):
Asphalt grasstech surface. The surface remained in place at the
Florida Track Stadium until nineteen ninety one, when it was
replaced with a rubberized surface. He is also credited with
inventing the brushed cement shot and discuss ring. Thanks to
Percy Beard's innovations, track performances and performances in the throws

(49:00):
improved dramatically. Percy Beard retired in nineteen seventy three as
the University of Florida Assistant Athletic Director. He is in
the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, the United
States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame,
the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, and the

(49:20):
Gators have honored him by naming their track complex the
Percy Beard Track, from the tiny town of Hardensburg, Kentucky,
to the top of the Track and Field World. Percy
Beard passed away in March nineteen ninety. Join us next
time for another episode of Forgotten Heroes. You can find

(49:43):
Forgotten Heroes at most podcast outlets, so

Speaker 3 (50:05):
Step to ad