Josh & Troy after the game Photo courtesy Casey Outen

Disclaimer: This blog has nothing to do with hunting or the outdoors.

Every now and then you get to be a part of something special?

In 1991 I stopped playing football in the dirt track around the field during games and started being a water boy for the Eagles.  I enjoyed being a part of the team, being around the field, the players & coaches, and learning the game.  Back then we had a small water tank on wheels that I had to pull out to the guys during time outs and all over the field throughout practice.  I can remember having the water tank turn over on me and not being strong enough to pull it and the guys laughing at me! It didn?t matter to me though because as long as I got out of school early in the playoffs to ride with the team and wear a jersey, I would keep on pumping the pump to give water pressure for the hoses and bringing the guys water.  I can remember the guys seeming like giants when I was that young.  Fridays were special because we got to make Gatorade.  We always had contests in between the managers to see who could make the best tasting Gatorade.  Some of the players were always on me to put extra packets of the mix in the water to make it sweeter.  I remember small things like that plus riding the bus, being at practice, and being on the sidelines like it was yesterday. 

Mr. Interception - De'Aja Blakeney Photo courtesy Casey Outen

In 1993 I got a promotion?I became a ball boy.  I think it was more out of necessity than from reward, but either way I was on the up and up! From a water boy?s standpoint, being a ball boy was a coveted position.  Being a ball boy took more knowledge of the game and was a little higher up the chain of command.  To be a ball boy meant you got on the field and you also had to know how to work with the referees.  The position also brought on a little bit of responsibility.  The last thing you wanted was the Qb or running backs saying the balls were tough to hold or throw because they were wet!  It wasn?t long before I figured it all out and had referees telling me that they wished they could carry me around the state in their back pockets because I made their job easy. I was in this role for a couple of years and then I started playing.

By 1997 I had worked my way through the system until I was finally a senior.  I was the Qb for our team and we had a ?Cinderella? season.  I was blessed to play on the team that won the 2nd state championship in the school?s history.  I can remember many moments from that season like it was yesterday as well.  We beat Barnwell 21-19 and we were the underdogs all season long.  It felt good to finally see and feel what it was like to win a state championship.  The medal and jersey are still on the wall.

The Eagles won another championship in 2003, the year of my first season in Europe.  The Qb for this team was Trent Usher who was the head coach?s son and also ball boy when I played back in 1997. After playing in college and Europe for a couple of seasons, I tore my shoulder up and had to get into ?real life?.  When I got back I started helping out with the team at practice and on Friday nights.  I even had a short stint as a long-term sub at Central.  In time I got a job in Charlotte and wasn?t able to be in Pageland throughout the week, but I continued to come on Friday nights and help out on top of the box.  Even though years had passed the same coaches were still at Central and the program was still rolling.  Transitioning from playing to helping coach was a little challenging because I had to (and still am) trying to train my eyes to watch different aspects of the game.

	Coach Mangum & Son (JR) Photo courtesy Jason Fararooei Yellow Cape Communications

The past two seasons (2008 & 2009) we had really good squads and we met Dillon each year in the state championship.  We lost two years in a row by 1 point to Dillon and each loss was tough to swallow.  We just couldn?t seem to pull it out for one reason or the other, but we keep on coming back for more. 

This year things kind of got shaken up earlier in the year when the district cut our head coach?s salary to around 10k as part of the budget cuts.  Coach Mangum was a ?working retiree? and wasn?t offered a job at his previous level of compensation.  The district?s decision lead many working retirees in the district to leave their post and retire.  Everyone wasn?t sure what would happen, but Coach Mangum stayed on to coach for a small fraction of what he deserves.  His unselfish decision to stay and coach is one of the best examples of servant leadership that I can think of and pretty much set the tone for the whole season.  Coach Mangum stayed on to lead the program that he and so many others have spent 30 + years making for several reasons, but one of the biggest reasons was because his son plays on the team. 

We met Dillon again this year in the state title and it was a tough game.  It was a ?nail-biter? and it didn?t look good for us with 3 minutes remaining as we were down 17-7.  Dillon was about to have a ?3-pete? with all 3 victories coming against us and I was numb in the press box looking down to the field.  Then, things got interesting.  Dillon?s players seemed to relax a little and we drove the field and scored.  17-14. Dillon got the ball back with around 1:45 left and threw a pass on 2nd down and we picked it off and the rest was history.  We scored with about 37 seconds left in the game to go ahead 20-17 and we held on for the victory.  Our guys were down, but not out.

The Eagles ready to battle in the 4th Photo courtesy Casey Outen

I?ve been a part of and seen a lot of things happen on the football field over the years, but what I saw happen last Saturday in Columbia is what I believe to be destiny.  It was our year to win and God had a plan for our team.  For our guys, the game played out in the perfect way and in the perfect time.  The victory felt really good since we?d been beaten by Dillon the past 2 years in a row.  It was also sweet because Coach Mangum?s son was able to be on the winning team?the first undefeated state championship team in our school?s history combined with the fact that Coach Mangum took a severe salary cut and stayed on anyways.  Coach Mangum has always wanted his son to be on a state championship team and it finally happened. We were happy for them, the whole team, and the community overall.  Everyone on the team played a part in the win and now I know 3 former ball boys who all have rings because ironically Coach Mangum?s son was the ball boy when Trent?s team won the state in 2003!

It?s been a long time since I was mixing Gatorade and running footballs out to the refs, but the thrill of victory is still the same.  Whether I was taking a towel to the guys, throwing Td?s, or sitting on top of the box it still feels good to win.  We had many opportunities to give up in the past 3 weeks, but we never did.  Our guys bent, but never broke and always believed we could win.  Now another trophy is in the trophy case because of the dedication and commitment of everyone associated with this year?s team and the program overall. 

Below is a video made by Casey Outen from the state championship weekend

Every now and then in life you get to be a part of something special. This past season was another one of those special times in my life.

Regards,

Clint