Thanks, everyone, for all the emails, posts, txts, and condolences. It really helps.
Being unable to attend Friday's banquet and Hall of Fame installations, please let me post a portion of what I may have said had I been able to have be there:
Wayne - What a deserved honoree. You are a credit to your profession and faith, and I am proud to call you friend. I am humbled to have been asked by you to have been your Asst. Coach. Had I been able to know for sure I would be given the time off to properly coach beside you, it would have been my honor to have done so. Congratulations, Wayne!
Kevin - As you can imagine, there's a bit of a lump in the ol' throat as I come to the realization that I am not able to participate -- again -- in one of those 'once in a lifetime' moments. My regrets on not being able to lead the proceedings in your's and Wayne's honor and behalf.
Little did you know that the guy your AD got as your '... on staff coach ...' would ever be a regular caller on international talk radio. Or call a weekend of NCAA Baseball between South Carolina and Auburn next to Tom Price and Andrew Kittick. Or be called 'The Voice' by Coach Berson. Or have the Westminster Chimes as his ringtone. PUPPPU - One sticks with his team. HIS FAMILY. That's it. One stays loyal to his family through thick and thin. Once a River Rat ... Well you know. We do it the right way. Professionally. Thoroughly. Orderly. With hard work and a blue collar mentality. Nobody else in the United States has exactly what we have. Nobody. It was just the right thing to do; I wouldn't have missed being even a part of it.
The reason you are so deserving of this award is that you take whatever hand you are dealt, and you get just about the best out of it that I believe can be gotten. I was a very ordinary and average coach, and I recognize that. But I am so proud of your having stood side-by-side with me for so many hundreds of proper football matches. Spot on, friend!
Cheers - Dave
