Tom, Terry and Mike: Workin' on the Chain Gang
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
As the 2011 high school football season is now under way, a few early season reflections come to mind.
• The "chain gang" for the Hillsboro Indians has outlasted any head football coach in the school's recent history that I can name. One of my former co-workers, the inimitable Tom Pennington, is beginning his 31st season as a member of the chain gang. Tom, Terry Britton, and Mike Ward are the guys entrusted with keeping the proper down and distance and line of scrimmage for the Indians' five home games each season. I know Larry Cole had done this job in previous seasons and I'm sure there were others as well, included among them are Chuck Cruea, Dennis Walker, Dean Huffman, Charlie Chapman, T.J. Britton and Bill Meyers.
Just prior to the Hillsboro-Western Brown game last Friday at Richards Memorial Field, Tom and I caught up on a few old stories from my Rotary Forms Press decade (1980-90).
We both recalled the Friday morning, sometime around the summer of 1982 or '83, when Tom, Ed Stewart, Chris Fenner, Larry Taylor and maybe a few others "kidnapped" me. These guys were working third shift at that time and their work week usually ended at 7 a.m. Friday. On the other hand, I was still on second shift back then – and my work week did not end until 11 p.m. Friday. In other words, they were in full weekend mode when Tom pulled his old green conversion van into our yard on East Walnut Street.
The only reason I was even outside at that hour was to pick up The Cincinnati Enquirer that Jimmy Jenkins had tossed out for my dad. About the time I reached for what used to be a good newspaper, Tom and the RFP third shift gang wheeled into the side yard. A door opened, and I was pulled into the middle of the van. (I tossed the newspaper back in our yard as we headed east toward Rocky Fork Lake.)
Please keep in mind that I have nothing against having a little fun AFTER work. But on that particular day, I hadn't even been to work. Eventually, Tom – or someone – brought me home. I still remember that I had on basketball shorts, a T-shirt and no shoes that morning. They wouldn't even let me go back in the house for a pair of gym shoes. (What are friends for, anyway?)
• And then Tom had to tell Terry about the infamous "Fire Extinguisher Incident" at RFP, Inc. Since I really don't recall the details, I'm going to guess that this happened very early on a Friday morning in the early 1980s. Basically, as best Tom and I can remember, someone we'll just refer to as "Cool," caused the majority of the problems that morning.
What I can tell you is this: A carbon-coater runs much better before being lubricated with the white, foam carbonate from a fire extinguisher. And if you don't believe me, just ask Dennis Crouse, who happened to be operating the machine at that particular moment.
"Cool" was responsible for that unfortunate incident. The pizza episode that occurred that same morning at the south end of Press 44 was allegedly all me. (I had no idea it made such a lasting "impression" in the printing industry, but apparently it did.)
As "Cool" and I reported to work the following afternoon, I recall foreman John Ames meeting us near the door. "Ernie's office," he commanded. There, "Cool" and the gang met with Ernie Blankenship, Richard Morris and Mr. Ames.
I seem to recall that Ernie asked one of us what, exactly, had occurred the previous evening/early morning.
"What have you heard so far?" I asked.
About halfway through his report from third shift witnesses, "Cool" and I conceded that our dogs had lost this fight.
We told the supervisors that if they had to fire us, we understood, and then placed ourselves at the mercy of the court. Richard Morris, who was a press supervisor then, said words to the effect that, "This is your one and only second chance. Don't mess it up."
(I'm happy to say I worked another eight or nine years for the Cassner Family without incident. And Mr. Al Cassner will always be one of my favorite employers. He compensated his employees well and he could throw a great summer party.)
While Tom seemed to enjoy telling the story, and while Mike seemed to corroborate it, at least Terry lifted my spirits, somewhat, by saying, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who does stupid things."
No, Terry, as long as I'm alive, you're not...
It was, indeed, a fun walk down memory lane last Friday night with the Chain Gang. More importantly, though, let's thank Tom Pennington, Terry Britton and Mike Ward for their continued volunteer service to the high school football program. Most of us don't realize what the line crew does – unless they don't do it.
"It's nice as an administrator to have quality people you can count on to do this job," Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley told me this week. "You never have to worry about them showing up. If they have to miss a game, they take care of getting their replacement. They are great ambassadors for Hillsboro High School."
They sure are. And they're pretty good guys, too.
Thanks, Tom, Terry and Mike, for your many years of service. And thank you, Tom, for making me laugh about an incident that I've been trying to forget for the past 30 years!
(And as all old pressmen used to say, "Crank it up, Gravy.")
***
• One thing that really frosts the nads of an old (ancient) sports writer is the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) enforcement of the so-called "25-yard line rule."
As I understand it, the sideline media and school photographers must remain outside the 25-yard line from either end of the field throughout every high school football game. My first encounter with this rule came about during the Hillsboro Indians' scrimmage against Paint Valley when a school official told me I must stay outside of the "team area," which is exactly half of the football field.
Given that I covered my first football game before this school official – and every member of the 2011 Hillsboro Indians – were born, you can imagine my displeasure with this announcement.
And this is not an issue with the local high schools, coaching staffs or game officials. It's an OHSAA issue.
For those of you who've read my columns for the last 21 years, you know that I have about the same respect and admiration for the OHSAA that I have for the NCAA. They are, to borrow a phrase, a couple of Capital A's.
To be clear, the game is about the respective players and schools. It's not about media coverage. But I can't tell you how many times over the years that I've been asked – and readily complied – for requests of our photos of local players. Barring the media from half the football field will likely limit our ability to comply with future requests, or surely lessen the quality of our photos.
In reality, the Ohio media have been barred from more than half of the sidelines. Why? Because when the line of scrimmage reaches any point inside the 25-yard line, the team and coaches on the sidelines tend to follow the football, which is perfectly understandable. (The OHSAA does not seem to insist on the enforcement of the 25-yard line rule to keep the respective teams in their "designated areas.")
Thus, when the line of scrimmage reaches the "red zone," (inside the 20), the local media photographers still have to maneuver for position among the players and coaches. What's the difference? If we have to jockey for position inside the 20-yard line, how is that any different from finding space between the 25s?
I've been told the rule is for safety purposes. If so, that, too, defies logic. There's no safety net or shield from contact inside the 25s.
Furthermore, I've never had a coach, on any occasion, ask me to move away from the sideline. Let's face it, if a coach is overly concerned about a newspaper photographer, he's probably not focusing on the task at hand.
Have there been a few idiots among the profession of sports journalism? Did Billy Johnson dance in white shoes? Yes and yes. But here's a thought for the OHSAA: Punish the offenders and leave the rest of us alone. The enforcement of your rule simply makes no sense. Once the line of scrimmage passes the 25, so do the players and coaches. And everyone happily co-exists. (Even if the respective teams aren't supposed to encroach inside the 25, guess what? They will, and I can't fault them for that.)
Having photographed high school football games for more than 20 years without incident, I'm left with the only logical conclusion that the OHSAA just needed another rule to enforce before they pulled on their Tressel vests to start the 2011 season.
(As the Indiana songwriter said, "I fight authority, but authority always wins.")
***
For a few final observations from Week One of the high school football season:
• Chase Gilliland wins the early season Multi-Purpose Award. The Hillsboro senior plays offense, defense, punts and kicks extra-points. He scored a touchdown and intercepted a pass in the Indians' season-opener. I've said this before and I'll say it again, the Hillsboro High School Sports Hall of Fame ought to have a separate entry for families. The Gilliland family would be an automatic entry.
• Tyrand Cumberland was one of the best athletes on the field last Friday. He intercepted two Nick Woodyard passes and returned one of them for a touchdown. Former Southern State and HHS standout basketball player Scott Cumberland was on hand to watch Tyrand. Scottie and I talked for about 10 minutes after the game had been decided. As always, it was good to catch up and to laugh about our long ago exploits on the basketball court. And, yes, the Cumberland family belongs in the HHS Sports Hall of Fame.
• Christian Wildey can give a pretty good hit.
• Christian Cundiff can take a pretty good hit. After one particular handoff, a Western Brown lineman absolutely laid out the HHS quarterback, much to the dismay of Coach Spicer, who informed the officials that it was a late hit on his signal-caller.
Even from my limited vantage point – imposed by the OHSAA – from beyond the 25-yard line, I'd agree with the coach. It looked like a late hit.
No matter. Cundiff jumped to his feet and called the next play.
• HHS running back Craig Jackson is like John Wayne. He has grit. True Grit. Jackson may be the "Rudy" of the 2011 Indians. He's five-foot nothin' and 100 and nothin.' Just don't tell him. He'll take the football and find positive yardage. He's fun to watch. Give him the ball and a couple of blocks and he'll move the chains.
I've had the distinct pleasure of watching 10-0 football teams and the less pleasurable task of covering 0-10 football teams. But in both instances there are always many more positives than negatives for the local student-athletes. The important thing for parents and fans to remember is the effort put forth by the players and coaches. These guys put it on the line while the rest of us have the luxury of watching from the stands and playing Monday morning quarterback.
This may or may not be one of those "off-year" seasons for the Indians. Regardless, they need your support. The student-athletes earned that during two-a-days in 90-degree weather while you were in your air-conditioned SUVs whining about the price of gasoline.
Here's my Fearless Prediction for Week Two: HHS 24, Land o' Goshen, 12.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
• The "chain gang" for the Hillsboro Indians has outlasted any head football coach in the school's recent history that I can name. One of my former co-workers, the inimitable Tom Pennington, is beginning his 31st season as a member of the chain gang. Tom, Terry Britton, and Mike Ward are the guys entrusted with keeping the proper down and distance and line of scrimmage for the Indians' five home games each season. I know Larry Cole had done this job in previous seasons and I'm sure there were others as well, included among them are Chuck Cruea, Dennis Walker, Dean Huffman, Charlie Chapman, T.J. Britton and Bill Meyers.
Just prior to the Hillsboro-Western Brown game last Friday at Richards Memorial Field, Tom and I caught up on a few old stories from my Rotary Forms Press decade (1980-90).
We both recalled the Friday morning, sometime around the summer of 1982 or '83, when Tom, Ed Stewart, Chris Fenner, Larry Taylor and maybe a few others "kidnapped" me. These guys were working third shift at that time and their work week usually ended at 7 a.m. Friday. On the other hand, I was still on second shift back then – and my work week did not end until 11 p.m. Friday. In other words, they were in full weekend mode when Tom pulled his old green conversion van into our yard on East Walnut Street.
The only reason I was even outside at that hour was to pick up The Cincinnati Enquirer that Jimmy Jenkins had tossed out for my dad. About the time I reached for what used to be a good newspaper, Tom and the RFP third shift gang wheeled into the side yard. A door opened, and I was pulled into the middle of the van. (I tossed the newspaper back in our yard as we headed east toward Rocky Fork Lake.)
Please keep in mind that I have nothing against having a little fun AFTER work. But on that particular day, I hadn't even been to work. Eventually, Tom – or someone – brought me home. I still remember that I had on basketball shorts, a T-shirt and no shoes that morning. They wouldn't even let me go back in the house for a pair of gym shoes. (What are friends for, anyway?)
• And then Tom had to tell Terry about the infamous "Fire Extinguisher Incident" at RFP, Inc. Since I really don't recall the details, I'm going to guess that this happened very early on a Friday morning in the early 1980s. Basically, as best Tom and I can remember, someone we'll just refer to as "Cool," caused the majority of the problems that morning.
What I can tell you is this: A carbon-coater runs much better before being lubricated with the white, foam carbonate from a fire extinguisher. And if you don't believe me, just ask Dennis Crouse, who happened to be operating the machine at that particular moment.
"Cool" was responsible for that unfortunate incident. The pizza episode that occurred that same morning at the south end of Press 44 was allegedly all me. (I had no idea it made such a lasting "impression" in the printing industry, but apparently it did.)
As "Cool" and I reported to work the following afternoon, I recall foreman John Ames meeting us near the door. "Ernie's office," he commanded. There, "Cool" and the gang met with Ernie Blankenship, Richard Morris and Mr. Ames.
I seem to recall that Ernie asked one of us what, exactly, had occurred the previous evening/early morning.
"What have you heard so far?" I asked.
About halfway through his report from third shift witnesses, "Cool" and I conceded that our dogs had lost this fight.
We told the supervisors that if they had to fire us, we understood, and then placed ourselves at the mercy of the court. Richard Morris, who was a press supervisor then, said words to the effect that, "This is your one and only second chance. Don't mess it up."
(I'm happy to say I worked another eight or nine years for the Cassner Family without incident. And Mr. Al Cassner will always be one of my favorite employers. He compensated his employees well and he could throw a great summer party.)
While Tom seemed to enjoy telling the story, and while Mike seemed to corroborate it, at least Terry lifted my spirits, somewhat, by saying, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who does stupid things."
No, Terry, as long as I'm alive, you're not...
It was, indeed, a fun walk down memory lane last Friday night with the Chain Gang. More importantly, though, let's thank Tom Pennington, Terry Britton and Mike Ward for their continued volunteer service to the high school football program. Most of us don't realize what the line crew does – unless they don't do it.
"It's nice as an administrator to have quality people you can count on to do this job," Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley told me this week. "You never have to worry about them showing up. If they have to miss a game, they take care of getting their replacement. They are great ambassadors for Hillsboro High School."
They sure are. And they're pretty good guys, too.
Thanks, Tom, Terry and Mike, for your many years of service. And thank you, Tom, for making me laugh about an incident that I've been trying to forget for the past 30 years!
(And as all old pressmen used to say, "Crank it up, Gravy.")
***
• One thing that really frosts the nads of an old (ancient) sports writer is the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) enforcement of the so-called "25-yard line rule."
As I understand it, the sideline media and school photographers must remain outside the 25-yard line from either end of the field throughout every high school football game. My first encounter with this rule came about during the Hillsboro Indians' scrimmage against Paint Valley when a school official told me I must stay outside of the "team area," which is exactly half of the football field.
Given that I covered my first football game before this school official – and every member of the 2011 Hillsboro Indians – were born, you can imagine my displeasure with this announcement.
And this is not an issue with the local high schools, coaching staffs or game officials. It's an OHSAA issue.
For those of you who've read my columns for the last 21 years, you know that I have about the same respect and admiration for the OHSAA that I have for the NCAA. They are, to borrow a phrase, a couple of Capital A's.
To be clear, the game is about the respective players and schools. It's not about media coverage. But I can't tell you how many times over the years that I've been asked – and readily complied – for requests of our photos of local players. Barring the media from half the football field will likely limit our ability to comply with future requests, or surely lessen the quality of our photos.
In reality, the Ohio media have been barred from more than half of the sidelines. Why? Because when the line of scrimmage reaches any point inside the 25-yard line, the team and coaches on the sidelines tend to follow the football, which is perfectly understandable. (The OHSAA does not seem to insist on the enforcement of the 25-yard line rule to keep the respective teams in their "designated areas.")
Thus, when the line of scrimmage reaches the "red zone," (inside the 20), the local media photographers still have to maneuver for position among the players and coaches. What's the difference? If we have to jockey for position inside the 20-yard line, how is that any different from finding space between the 25s?
I've been told the rule is for safety purposes. If so, that, too, defies logic. There's no safety net or shield from contact inside the 25s.
Furthermore, I've never had a coach, on any occasion, ask me to move away from the sideline. Let's face it, if a coach is overly concerned about a newspaper photographer, he's probably not focusing on the task at hand.
Have there been a few idiots among the profession of sports journalism? Did Billy Johnson dance in white shoes? Yes and yes. But here's a thought for the OHSAA: Punish the offenders and leave the rest of us alone. The enforcement of your rule simply makes no sense. Once the line of scrimmage passes the 25, so do the players and coaches. And everyone happily co-exists. (Even if the respective teams aren't supposed to encroach inside the 25, guess what? They will, and I can't fault them for that.)
Having photographed high school football games for more than 20 years without incident, I'm left with the only logical conclusion that the OHSAA just needed another rule to enforce before they pulled on their Tressel vests to start the 2011 season.
(As the Indiana songwriter said, "I fight authority, but authority always wins.")
***
For a few final observations from Week One of the high school football season:
• Chase Gilliland wins the early season Multi-Purpose Award. The Hillsboro senior plays offense, defense, punts and kicks extra-points. He scored a touchdown and intercepted a pass in the Indians' season-opener. I've said this before and I'll say it again, the Hillsboro High School Sports Hall of Fame ought to have a separate entry for families. The Gilliland family would be an automatic entry.
• Tyrand Cumberland was one of the best athletes on the field last Friday. He intercepted two Nick Woodyard passes and returned one of them for a touchdown. Former Southern State and HHS standout basketball player Scott Cumberland was on hand to watch Tyrand. Scottie and I talked for about 10 minutes after the game had been decided. As always, it was good to catch up and to laugh about our long ago exploits on the basketball court. And, yes, the Cumberland family belongs in the HHS Sports Hall of Fame.
• Christian Wildey can give a pretty good hit.
• Christian Cundiff can take a pretty good hit. After one particular handoff, a Western Brown lineman absolutely laid out the HHS quarterback, much to the dismay of Coach Spicer, who informed the officials that it was a late hit on his signal-caller.
Even from my limited vantage point – imposed by the OHSAA – from beyond the 25-yard line, I'd agree with the coach. It looked like a late hit.
No matter. Cundiff jumped to his feet and called the next play.
• HHS running back Craig Jackson is like John Wayne. He has grit. True Grit. Jackson may be the "Rudy" of the 2011 Indians. He's five-foot nothin' and 100 and nothin.' Just don't tell him. He'll take the football and find positive yardage. He's fun to watch. Give him the ball and a couple of blocks and he'll move the chains.
I've had the distinct pleasure of watching 10-0 football teams and the less pleasurable task of covering 0-10 football teams. But in both instances there are always many more positives than negatives for the local student-athletes. The important thing for parents and fans to remember is the effort put forth by the players and coaches. These guys put it on the line while the rest of us have the luxury of watching from the stands and playing Monday morning quarterback.
This may or may not be one of those "off-year" seasons for the Indians. Regardless, they need your support. The student-athletes earned that during two-a-days in 90-degree weather while you were in your air-conditioned SUVs whining about the price of gasoline.
Here's my Fearless Prediction for Week Two: HHS 24, Land o' Goshen, 12.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]