“C’mon, Ronnie, let’s go out to the concession stand and I’ll give you a Catawba cap.”
When Catawba College football coach David Bennett made that offer, I jumped. The way my hair looks, I need a cap. My brush has more hair than I do.
Funny thing about that short walk from Bennett’s office to the concession stand. We had to make a little detour.
First, we had to touch the totem pole just outside the end zone. And then we had to touch the plaque.
It may sound crazy but touching that plaque it kinda inspired me. Bennett knew it would.
He says he never walks onto the field without touching the plaque — a symbol of excellence.
The plaque is in honor of the late, great Gordon Kirkland, who coached Catawba to glory a half-century ago.
They used to say no one would ever do what Gordon Kirkland did — lead the Indians to 21 wins in a two-season span.
But Bennett is doing it. He has won 22 (and counting) in the past two years and 52 in the past six. He has become one of the most recognizable celebrities in Rowan County.
You might think the Kirkland family would bristle at even mentioning someone in the same breath as their revered father. On the contrary.
Gordon Kirkland Jr. came to Bennett’s press conference Tuesday afternoon. While Bennett drawled his way through another entertaining hour, Kirkland’s eyes were fixed on Bennett — as if he was staring directly at his own father.
“My sister and I thought it was time for another legend at Catawba College,” Kirkland said. “Certainly, Coach Bennett is it.”
Kirkland doesn’t really remember much about his father, who has always been recognized as the greatest coach in Catawba history. He relies on the words of others.
Kirkland was just six when his father passed away in 1953 of heart and kidney problems.
“The only memories I have are what I hear from people who knew him,” he said. “It’s a tremendous sense of pride.”
Kirkland just wishes his father could be here today to see what is going on in Salisbury at the college he loved.
Kirkland Jr. shares the pride with everyone, especially the men who made up theTangerine Bowl winners. In 1946, Catawba bopped Maryville 31-0 in a 10-2 season and in 1947, took care of Marshall 7-0 and finished 11-1.
“You see a lot of these guys and they all have smiles on their faces,” Kirkland said with a smile of his own.
“Let’s face it. We went through a lot of years without a whole lot to cheer about.”
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Now, those guys from the Tangerine days are coming out of the woodwork to cheer on their alma mater.
And they all have memories.
Walt Ramseur was at the press conference with Kirkland. He played all of one week.
“I was a 145-pound tackle,” Ramseur sighed, “and Coach Kirkland put me up against Clyde Biggers ( a 6-foot-8 monster). “Igot the message I was wasting my time.”
Art Claar remembers Biggers. He was the smallest starter on the offensive line during those days and he went up against Biggers as well.
“As soon as I learned how to block him, Coach moved me to the other side,” Claar said.
But Kirkland used psychology. He brought his college coach from Elon in to give a halftime speech during the 1946 Tangerine Bowl win.
“He always made you put forth the effort,” said Claar, an eventual All-American end who never misses a home game.
“My sister and mother told me that one time, my father lost a game and couldn’t sleep,” said Kirkland. “He walked down to the field, sat in the stands and replayed the game. I knew he took losses hard. Thank goodness, he didn’t lose too many.”
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No, Kirkland didn’t. His 14-year career record at Catawba (1934-48) was 107-31-7, a .762 wininng percentage.
Bennett’s 52-14 is a tad better at .778.
“Idon’t know how many have said Coach Bennett reminds them of my father,” said Kirkland. “The things he says ... God and family first, then school and football third — the players under my father said he had his priorities in order as well.”
It’s hard for Claar to admit this team is better than the 1947 team, however.
“We were ranked 20th in the nation with the likes of Duke, Notre Dame and UCLA,” he said. “And we played in the Tangerine Bowl in front of 20,000 people. That was like the Rose Bowl to us.”
But Claar, who coached for 32 years after Catawba, loves watching this team.
“I kinda visualize myself out there,” Claar chuckles.
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Kirkland visualizes too — about how great of a man his father must have been.
Eleven — count ‘em ,11 — All-Americans were produced under Kirkland in those 14 years, including Claar’s teammate Ray Yagiello. Now, they relive their great years through this current team. And relive their coach through Bennett.
“Coach Bennett instills a desire to win but also instills character in those players,” Claar said from his Elon College home Wednesday evening. “Those players are out doing community service, helping the needy ... he just goes beyond the call of duty.”
Kirkland Jr. has continued one trait of his father: a love for Catawba College. And a love for those players. He marvels at how genuine they all seem to be.
“You see them around campus and they always have a smile on their face. They always say hello. They’re great kids.”
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And David Bennett?
“He’s like the Pied Piper,” Kirkland grinned. “People gravitate to him. They follow him. They believe in him.
“I guess most people by now realize what a tremendous asset he is. He’s just a treasure that we’ve got to hold on to.”
They used to say things like that about Kirkland’s father. Fifty-three years later, this season is in his honor.
Kirkland Jr., Claar, Ramseur and all the rest of the former Indians will all be at Kirkland Field Saturday when the team meets Delta State in the second round of the Division II playoffs.
“Every time I walk into that stadium, the first thing I do is look at that plaque,” said Kirkland. “I notice that Coach Bennett gets all of his players to touch the totem pole and plaque. And that’s just tremendous.”
On the perfect weekend to give thanks, Catawba football fans old and new are gathering together to say thanks — for having a role model like Kirkland 50 years ago and for having the same type of role model now.
“Inever thought I’d live to see the day when Coach Kirkland’s records were broken,” said Ramseur who just made a sizeable donation to the school. “I’m glad I did.
With a smile, he summed it all up to every Catawba grad and fan.
“This is Camelot. Right now. At Catawba College.”
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Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of the Post.
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