Like Holtz, Spicer expects strong second half
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Like Holtz, Spicer expects strong second half
Hillsboro Head Coach Brian Spicer reacts to a call in the first half of the
overflow-y: hidden;">Tribe’s 35-34 win over Western Brown Aug. 27.
How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser. ... And no
one has ever drowned in sweat.
– Coach Lou Holtz
In the first game of the 2010 high school football season, the Hillsboro Indians responded to their second-half challenge.
And then some.
Trailing 14-0 and 20-6 at different times in the first half, Coach Brian Spicer’s Indians may have squinted just a little in the bright, late-afternoon sunlight, but they never blinked.
For those of us lucky enough to be pacing the sidelines last Friday night at Western Brown High School, one thing was obvious: Coach Spicer has a lot of confidence in this team. He believes – and they believe.
This is by no means the biggest team or the fastest team or the most talented team. Frankly, I was surprised at the size of a few HHS players. Halfback Mason Hunick can’t be more than 5-7 and a buck-60; but man, can he hit. And run. He’s a football player, no doubt about it. And you can’t miss his No. 7; in addition to it being on his uniform, there’s a “7” carved into his game-night haircut.
(I’m sure his dad, Joe, is proud!)
Hunick’s 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on opening night electrified the Hillsboro sideline and the visiting fans.
As HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha told me, “He’s small, but he’s all muscle.” No kidding.
Defensive lineman Jerrad Luschek isn’t all that big for his position, either. But he can hit. Maybe a bit too much, sometimes. Luschek caught a
penalty flag for roughing the passer on a somewhat questionable call Friday night. After a few words from HHS defensive coordinator Bud Marsh, Luschek was back on track.
Let’s remember that not long ago, Coach Spicer was leaving Marietta, along the Ohio River in eastern Ohio, and Ron Johnston of The Marietta Times
wrote that the former Marietta High School head football coach would be missed. I’m sure he has been missed in southeastern Ohio.
I can’t say if Coach Spicer is a Lou Holtz fan and, frankly, I’m almost afraid to ask. If he’s not, the rest of this column might be rather pointless.
Coach Holtz, of course, grew up in another eastern Ohio town (East Liverpool) on the banks of the Ohio River.
Having followed Coach Holtz for many years – before and after his coaching tenure in South Bend, Ind. – and having had a chance to listen to a Holtz speech or two, I see a few similarities in Coach Holtz and Coach Spicer. Especially their enthusiasm.
After a series of coaching stints that averaged about 3 1/2 years per stop, Holtz arrived at Notre Dame in 1986 and stuck around for a decade
(threatening Knute Rockne’s ND record for football victories).
Coach Spicer has been around a bit, too. From Marietta to Albany, N.Y., to Hillsboro. I’m hoping to report 10 years from now that he arrived in
Hillsboro in 2009 and stuck around for a decade.
Coach Spicer is a West Point graduate (1988). It doesn’t get much better than that.
In 1979, I was nominated to West Point by former Congressman Bill Harsha and I went through the preliminary rigors of the Academy. Coach Spicer is a far better man for having completed the West Point matriculation process.
One of the things I have enjoyed the past two years watching the HHS field boss is that his young son (David) is never too far away from his dad.
As I recall, when Hillsboro opened its 2009 season at Richards Memorial Field, the coach’s son wanted to run through the inflated Indian Chief tunnel at the west endzone. As the story was told to me, David asked his dad, “Can we run through the tunnel?”
Dad supposedly replied, “I’m the coach; we can do anything we want!”
I have no way of vouching for the accuracy of that story, but I’d like to think it’s true.
And I’d like to think that Coach Brian Spicer and his family feel welcome in Highland County for many years to come. Nice way to start the season, Coach.
No, it wasn’t as well played as you would have preferred, but it was a very exciting season-opening football game.
Coach Mack looks for big season from Danté
Xavier Head Coach Chris Mack, the 2009-10 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year after posting a 26-9 in his first season, was on a Cincinnati Reds broadcast this week talking about the coming basketball season.
Mack, the first Xavier head coach to guide the Muskies to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in his first season, had very positive things to say about former McClain Tigers standout and Xavier senior Danté Jackson.
“Big-shot Danté. Whenever we need the clutch 3-pointer, Danté hits it,” Mack said on the Reds broadcast. “If anyone is representative of our program this year, it’s Danté.”
Mack said it’s hard to believe Danté’s first three years at Xavier have gone by so fast.
McClain fans certainly remember Jackson’s many, many highlights for the Tigers just a few years ago.
Best of luck this year to Danté and my mother’s alma mater, the Xavier Musketeers.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.
How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser. ... And no one has ever drowned in sweat.
– Coach Lou Holtz
In the first game of the 2010 high school football season, the Hillsboro Indians responded to their second-half challenge.
And then some.
Trailing 14-0 and 20-6 at different times in the first half, Coach Brian Spicer’s Indians may have squinted just a little in the bright, late-afternoon sunlight, but they never blinked.
For those of us lucky enough to be pacing the sidelines last Friday night at Western Brown High School, one thing was obvious: Coach Spicer has a lot of confidence in this team. He believes – and they believe.
This is by no means the biggest team or the fastest team or the most talented team. Frankly, I was surprised at the size of a few HHS players. Halfback Mason Hunick can’t be more than 5-7 and a buck-60; but man, can he hit. And run. He’s a football player, no doubt about it. And you can’t miss his No. 7; in addition to it being on his uniform, there’s a “7” carved into his game-night haircut.
(I’m sure his dad, Joe, is proud!)
Hunick’s 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on opening night electrified the Hillsboro sideline and the visiting fans.
As HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha told me, “He’s small, but he’s all muscle.” No kidding.
Defensive lineman Jerrad Luschek isn’t all that big for his position, either. But he can hit. Maybe a bit too much, sometimes. Luschek caught a penalty flag for roughing the passer on a somewhat questionable call Friday night. After a few words from HHS defensive coordinator Bud Marsh, Luschek was back on track.
Let’s remember that not long ago, Coach Spicer was leaving Marietta, along the Ohio River in eastern Ohio, and Ron Johnston of The Marietta Times wrote that the former Marietta High School head football coach would be missed. I’m sure he has been missed in southeastern Ohio.
I can’t say if Coach Spicer is a Lou Holtz fan and, frankly, I’m almost afraid to ask. If he’s not, the rest of this column might be rather pointless.
Coach Holtz, of course, grew up in another eastern Ohio town (East Liverpool) on the banks of the Ohio River.
Having followed Coach Holtz for many years – before and after his coaching tenure in South Bend, Ind. – and having had a chance to listen to a Holtz speech or two, I see a few similarities in Coach Holtz and Coach Spicer. Especially their enthusiasm.
After a series of coaching stints that averaged about 3 1/2 years per stop, Holtz arrived at Notre Dame in 1986 and stuck around for a decade (threatening Knute Rockne’s ND record for football victories).
Coach Spicer has been around a bit, too. From Marietta to Albany, N.Y., to Hillsboro. I’m hoping to report 10 years from now that he arrived in Hillsboro in 2009 and stuck around for a decade.
Coach Spicer is a West Point graduate (1988). It doesn’t get much better than that.
In 1979, I was nominated to West Point by former Congressman Bill Harsha and I went through the preliminary rigors of the Academy. Coach Spicer is a far better man for having completed the West Point matriculation process.
One of the things I have enjoyed the past two years watching the HHS field boss is that his young son (David) is never too far away from his dad.
As I recall, when Hillsboro opened its 2009 season at Richards Memorial Field, the coach’s son wanted to run through the inflated Indian Chief tunnel at the west endzone. As the story was told to me, David asked his dad, “Can we run through the tunnel?”
Dad supposedly replied, “I’m the coach; we can do anything we want!”
I have no way of vouching for the accuracy of that story, but I’d like to think it’s true.
And I’d like to think that Coach Brian Spicer and his family feel welcome in Highland County for many years to come. Nice way to start the season, Coach.
No, it wasn’t as well played as you would have preferred, but it was a very exciting season-opening football game.
Coach Mack looks for big season from Danté
Xavier Head Coach Chris Mack, the 2009-10 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year after posting a 26-9 in his first season, was on a Cincinnati Reds broadcast this week talking about the coming basketball season.
Mack, the first Xavier head coach to guide the Muskies to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in his first season, had very positive things to say about former McClain Tigers standout and Xavier senior Danté Jackson.
“Big-shot Danté. Whenever we need the clutch 3-pointer, Danté hits it,” Mack said on the Reds broadcast. “If anyone is representative of our program this year, it’s Danté.”
Mack said it’s hard to believe Danté’s first three years at Xavier have gone by so fast.
McClain fans certainly remember Jackson’s many, many highlights for the Tigers just a few years ago.
Best of luck this year to Danté and my mother’s alma mater, the Xavier Musketeers.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.
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