Coach John H. Lilly Blog
7-4-10 The North South All Star Game Experience
After having the honor and privaledge coaching the North South All Star Football Game for the second time in my career and it gave me a new perspective of the experiance of this great event. The first time I coached in this game I was very young and was the Offensive Coordinator but this time, 17 years later I was the Head Coach. I now have a great appreciation for exactly how much effort both finanicially and as well as the volunteerism that takes place. Bob Mullett is the Game Director and the time and effort he has placed in this game is greatly underappreciated. Bob put enormous ammount of time and energy. Mark Montgomery is Assistant Game Director and his love of the game shines thru and the time he volunteers is remakable. Ralph Hensley and Pam from Riverside High School, The trainers from Capital High School and Sarge from Wheeling Park High School all donated enormous ammount of time to add to this game.
In the Football world this game is still very prestigous. Other sports have watered down their All Star games with numerous all star games and events. However, the North South All Star Football Game is one of the top events in our Sport. Any coach who get's the opportunity to coach in it places him in an elite status in each of their careers. Simply ask any of them who have been fortunate enough to do it. Bob called me several weeks after the game to congratulate me and told me it would always be a part of my legacy as a coach, I truly believe that more now than I did 17 years ago, the first time around. Mike Linsky, the great coach from John Marshall and a good friend of mine, who passed away a few years ago told me that it was one of the greatest moments in his life and I now agree with him.
I will always have a relationship with these young men to the day I die. I still have contact with some of the men I coached in 1994. As I am much older now I was amazed at the converations late at night with 36 men beginning a new phase in their life, how unsure they were, how nervous they were and how excited they are about entering into the new phase of life. I think I undersood it more now that I am a parent and older. I would hope all coaches would get this opportunity to be a part of the elite players in the state. It was much more about them this time around than me! I enjoyed the non football relationships more than the actual on field items. We had zero discipline problems the whole week and won the game and what a great week in my career. I owe a great ammount of thanks to Tim Carrico for running the team while I was gone and allowing me this great honor. There are those who could learn from his example. Willis Mays,the Head Football Coach at Hurricane High School, Jack Woolwine, former Head Coach ot Capital High School, and Trank Scarbro from St. Albans for allowing me to be the Head Coach and be an Assistant after being a Head coach themselves. Thanks also to my wife who allowed me to be gone a total of 11 days including meetings and travel as well as my children who put up with all this!
I have done everything in this sport but one thing and we are going to chase that vigorously and it is located in Wheeling. I believe with all my heart it is going to happen.
