Roaming the county, getting ready for tonight …
Scott Young was watching ESPN recently when he heard Texas quarterback Colt McCoy say something to a bunch of top high school prospects that really sunk in.
“You’re too blessed to be stressed.”
The West Rowan head football coach has taken those words to heart and tells his star Falcons to just go out there, play the game, “and have fun.”
And Young? Every time he looks down at that state championship ring, he knows the pressures that come with it. He and his team will be under the microscope like never before. Everyone will be watching.
“I’m trying to relax,” he smiled.
The 12th-year head coach of the Falcons is living the good life right now. Practice is fun. Life as a youth-league baseball coach is fun. Sharing each day with wife Diane and the kids is fun.
Heck, he even jokes about his poison ivy, comparing his bumps with other coaches who are also suffering from itchy arms and legs after some weed-eating outside.
The good life comes from West Rowan’s 3A title back on Dec. 15. Young can’t go many places without hearing the same question.
“Are you going to win it again.”
Young gives them a championship grin and replies, “We’re going to try.
“That’s the only way I can respond,” he says.
–
During one recent practice, defensive maneater Chris Smith scooped up a fumble and began laughing as he took it the other way.
“Ha-ha,” Young laughed, mocking his star. “Shut up!”
He lauds his players, from the oldest senior to the youngest jayvee. He appears to be the happiest man in the world.
But on the inside, you wonder if his stomach is churning.
“There’s a lot of stress internally,” Young said.
He worries about certain things and then realizes they’re probably not that big a deal:
– He hopes his defensive line doesn’t get big-headed.
“Most are seniors,” Young pointed out. “Most are talented. They know it. But they can’t practice like they know it. They have to go hard.”
He then relaxes and realizes this is too good of a group to let him down.
– He thinks about how many carries K.P. Parks should get:
Parks has the county records but now, he’s going for the state marks. Young knows his running back needs almost 3,000 yards to reach the coveted 10,000-yard plateau. But how much do you run him?
“We’ve already talked about it,” Young said. “If the records come, great. If they don’t, it’s still a great career.”
Young pointed to one game last year where Parks was limited to just 10 carries for 140 yards because of a West rout.
“That wasn’t fair to K.P.,” Young said. “He has worked as hard as anyone in the program.”
Parks’ reaction to being taken out early is what makes him a great team player.
“He never pouts or moans about it,” Young said.
If you ask me, that’s good stress.
“We’ve got good things going on right now,” Young said. “There’s a lot of excitement.”
–
As Young continued to talk, the smile got wider and the poison ivy itched a lot less.
“We’re not like anyone else,” he said. “These kids don’t miss anything. We have 7-on-7 passing and they’re all here. We’ve got coaches who miss more than they do.”
Kids seem to show up when their school is defending state champ, don’t they?
“You can’t top it,” Young said of last year’s 35-7 crowning win over West Craven. “The neat thing is, this is my 12th year and it has been a steady climb. We’ve been good for a long time. But we had to be a contender before we could win it all.
“And it takes everybody. I’m real proud of the players, the coaches and the community.”
The community should be proud of its coach. He hasn’t big-timed anyone. He still tries to be the same ‘ol Scott Young. He was humble when his Falcons were 3-8 his first year and he is trying to be humble after a state title.
To relax these days, all Young has to do is look down at his championship ring and then look up at all of those hard-working kids at practice striving to win another championship and another ring.
And that’s when it has to hit him.
He is a high school football coach too blessed to be stressed.
–
West starts the Victory Tour tonight at Central Cabarrus.
This is the second straight year a new coach opens against West. Last year, Tasker Fleming’s first game at North Rowan was against K.P. and Company. Central Cabarrus’ Chris Shinn has his first game as head man against K.P. and Company.
Salisbury travels to South Rowan tonight for an intriguing matchup. Salisbury won last season but South is favored tonight.
In other games, North travels to East, Carson goes to Hickory Ridge, wherever that is, A.L. Brown is home to Statesville and Davie plays host to Alexander Central.
–
Believe it or not, our two local radio stations have returned from Fargo and American Legion baseball.
Howard Platt had to do a quick switch to football.
“I’m still trying to get back in gear,” a tired Platt said.
He will tonight. The Hall of Famer joins sidekick Wilson “Wild” Cherry to call the North at East game on WSTP 1490 AM.
WSAT 1280 AM will continue its tradition of having reporters at all the games, providing updates.
Go to a game and enjoy Opening Night, folks. And be nice.
–
Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com.