Hollowed Ground How I remember so well that morning August 1st 1978 as my alarm went off at 4:00 AM. I was thinking to myself as I slid out of my bed Why? I got in my little red rambler and drove over to the gym at Thomasville High School arriving by 5 am as instructed. I go in and see my locker. I sit on the bench just to get a short nap in before it starts when I get a good slap on the back as He was passing by saying Ready Hoyle? I quickly popped up and said Yes Sir! I had no clue what was coming next for I was a Cinderman that was a walk on. Yeah, I threw the Discus and Put the Shot. I even failed to do the Long Jump much to Stan Styers chagrin the previous year. As I watched Coach Allen Brown walk past me in the Locker room I was happy that I was no longer on the Track Team for we just ran too much for my liking. The next words to come out of his mouth gave me cold chills! Load up the bus men time for a mornin run! The reason I went to football as a sport of choice to play was not only that my dad played for Harris High School in Spruce Pine back in his day but that I noticed all the girls were hanging around guys like Marcus Hester, Mark Conner and Dean Harris. You know the pretty boys that played football. I thought to myself I might could make my hair all curly with a helmet and get the girls to like me also. The next month before our first game with Greensboro Smith was a life changing experience for me and many other young men on that practice field that have eat some of that same hollowed ground. Coach Allen Brown was more than a coach, he was a friend, a leader and a man of God who showed us how to be men. Yeah, I still have those reminders this time of year when I smell the fresh cut August grass. I feel the hot wind blow and a tinge of pain goes through my body when I see Tony Carrolls picture. That young man put a hurtin on me every Wednesday during scrimmages! Memories I cherish and I know some of you do also.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 23:06:43 +0000
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