Steve,
I remember this game very well as I was there as the team physician. Todd's kick hit the cross bar and went over to put the Mustangs ahead (the late defensive TD on a Trenton fumble made it 22-13). I still have the game program that I will show you someday.
I remember your days at the helm of the Mustangs as you were a pretty good field general.
Thanks for your input.
Scotty Portis
The post by Terry Brewer (my favorite receiver, by the way) compelled me to go ahead and add one of my memories of Coach Ward. As you all know my parents and their relationship with Coach Ward, I had looked up to him with awe and reverence while growing up in Huntingdon. Yet, with their being close friends with him and with me being friends with Bobby as we grew up, I knew Coach Ward much better than most of the aspiring young Mustangs in Huntingdon. But make no mistake, I still viewed him as a larger than life figure. And, after watching my heroes such as Tim Priest, I could not wait to be a Huntingdon Mustang and play for Coach Ward.
I finally got my chance as a sophomore with the outstanding 1975 team, Coach Ward's last year, as mentioned previously. On to my story. I started fall practice as the third-team quarterback, behind Brian Caton and Jeff Kelly. Unfortunately, after about 3-4 weeks of preseason practice, I had to undergo exploratory surgery because it was feared I had testicular cancer. Thank the Lord it was a false alarm, but I had to miss considerable practice time and the first two games while I recovered. I came back to practice the week of the third game against Henderson. I actually got to play some as we totally destroyed Henderson. As a matter of fact, at the urging of my teammates, we threw the football the first several plays (I was in there with the rest of reserves). That play calling came to an abrupt halt since (A) Coach Ward liked the forward pass about as much as he would have liked a case of the shingles and (B) It is considered very poor sportsmanship to be throwing the ball when you're up half a hundred.
The following week our opponent was McKenzie and we were practicing extra points and field goals at the end of practice. As Terry mentioned, we had not settled on a placekicker. (As an aside, Terry had a very short lived career as a soccer style kicker the next year for Coach Bobby Hayes' first team.) Anyway, the kicking practice was not going well. I was just standing there watching, waiting for the wind sprints to begin. However, my life was about to change. As we got ready for another PAT attempt, the holder (who shall remain nameless) slightly moved the black square tee that was used to place the football after the kicker had counted off his steps. Coach Ward became extremely agitated, to say the least. He ran over to the holder--who was still kneeling--and brought him to his feet by his facemask. We all know Coach Ward had a special affinity for facemasks. He pulled the holder out of the way, turned around and looked at me. "Get down there and hold the ball Stout and don't move the damn tee!!" I had never done this in my life. But, I got down there and thankfully did not throw up on myself or drop the ball. So, I became the holder and was holding for the field goal Todd Hall kicked against Trenton. Looking back, I often wonder if Coach Ward did that so I could contribute to the team in some small way after what I had gone through in the pre-season. I've convinced myself that was the case and he never knew how much I appreciated it.
Steve Stout
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
1956 - The Tipping Point
[Editors note: Sorry these are not in chronological order: Dad sent me some more stories yesterday that I was not originally copied on. smp]
From: Fred Holladay
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:01 PM
Subject: RE: Coach Ward
It has been very interesting to read the blogs in reference to Coach Ward. I was fortunate to know Coach in several dimensions. I first knew him as sponsor of the class of ’58 (1955-1958). I then knew him as Coach and was privileged to play on his first two regular season undefeated teams, 1956 and 1957. Later, at the encouragement of Billy Portis (Scotty’s father), I ran for and was elected to the board of the Huntingdon Special School District and was privileged to serve with both Mr. Pudor and subsequently Coach Ward. Coach Ward’s sister, Hazel, was a key employee of mine for 20 years while in the retail furniture business in Huntingdon.
Many memories course through my grey matter as I read the blogs. I remember, as though it were last week, when Billy Yeager broke my nose (obviously before face masks were standard issue) at football practice and Coach fell to his knees in hilarious laughter. He told me not to reach to touch it because “it was all over my face”. Coach went with me to Wilson Clinic and stayed until I was released to go to a specialist in Jackson. Then there was the game, against Paris, I think, that was played in the rain on a very muddy field when the field was lined with limestone instead of chalk. All of the team was burned with limestone and again, characteristically, Coach Ward went with us to Wilson Clinic to have the limestone burns treated.
Although most of the recipients of this blog appeared later in Coach Ward’s very successful tenure, the “tipping point” year was 1956. The team of 1955 was 9-0-1[actually 0-9-1 ed.], scoring only 79 points in ten games, losing 9 games in a row before tying Northside at 14 in the final game. Larry Stewart joined the Mustangs for the 1956 season and the team went 10-0 scoring 300 points before losing to Paris in the Exchange Bowl 12-6. I think that the team of 1956 absolutely changed the character of football in Huntingdon for generations to come. Someone inquired about the offensive line for the 1956 season: Bobby Churchwell-right end, Walter Brown-right tackle, Bendell Wilkes-right guard, Warren Blankenship-Center, Bobby Crossett-left guard, Dale Lewis-left tackle and Ronnie Rice-left end. The single wing backfield was Dewey Williams, Barton Williams, Jerry Parish and Larry Stewart. That was the year that Dixie Carter was Football Queen, Paul Ward was Coach of the Year in West Tennessee and Larry Stewart was the state’s leading scorer. The team of 1957 was 9-0 in the regular season scoring 240 points and then beat Parsons in the Exchange Bowl. Offensive line was Ronnie Rice-right end, Walter Brown-right tackle, Bendell Wilkes-right guard, Warren Blankenship-center, Fred Holladay-left guard, Sammy Lankford-left tackle and Lance Kee-left end. The backfield was Jerry Parish, Scotty Portis, Marshal “Moose” Smith and Wallace Pinkley.
I remember the “Jackson Highway Gang” but how many remember the predecessor “Saturday Morning Pudor Field Gang”? Each Saturday morning there would be a game at Pudor Field in which boys lived their dream of Friday Night Football. Two of the regulars were Jimmy McKinney and Johnny Wayne “Pain” Clifton. “Pain” would always show up with a new, shiny, leather football since his father, W. W. Clifton, owned the Western Auto store. Pain thought that we should play by his rules since he always furnished the new football. One Saturday morning, Pain said that if we did not play his way he would take the ball and go home. Jimmy McKinney, who had as much as he could stand, told Johnny Wayne to “take your ‘ole football and go home. We don’t need it anyway.” We then finished playing with an old football, with no white markings, on a field with gold and blue crepe paper strewn along the sidelines and chalk lines marking the playing field.
Coach Ward showed no favoritism to the players. He would always entrust some player with the “football car” who was charged with the responsibility of taking players home to “the country” and then was privileged to drive the car to school the next day. (Can you imagine that happening in 2008?) He would take promising young men like Warren Blankenship and Ray Chandler, focus his attention on them, give them an opportunity to excel, and prepare them for life in a larger world. During my high school years he would retreat to the “boiler room” with J. Leroy Tate for a smoke. He demanded strict adherence to team rules such as no smoking, no soft drinks and a strict 10:00 pm curfew. Later, as Superintendent of Schools, he would make the hard decisions necessary to keep the Huntingdon Special School District operating at peak efficiency and confront teachers whom he felt needed confrontation.
Thank you, Coach Paul Ward, for the extraordinary influence you have had on the lives of hundreds of people and for an influence that is certainly felt among the children and grandchildren of your players.
Fred Holladay
Huntingdon Mustangs (1955-1957)
Freddie, another great story from yet another great Mustang lineman. What would the backs be without you guys "knocking" those giant holes in the line. I well remember your senior year and my junior year on the same field together. What a great season. Your senior team was one of the best all round teams I think Coach Ward ever had. To show his coaching genius, as you will remember, we started the "belly series" that year (switch from the single wing as we had less speed in the backfield but more power) with a lot of the plays coming over you at left guard (belly 35 with Moose over left guard or Parish left 47 off tackle) always for yardage.
I do remember Yeager breaking your nose-it was rather flat. Yeager laughed about as hard as Coach Ward did.
Just another thought of support for the athletic teams. I can remember the support of the cheerleaders. I can recall one incident on the baseball team (yes Coach Ward was the assistant BB coach- Blake Milam was the head Coach and a good one). We went to play Palmersville in an away game (don't know if I could find Palmersville today or not without a Garmin) but several of the cheerleaders came all the way to the game-Kay Watson, Judy Barger, Mary Louise Barrow, Mary Ann Coleman, and Judy Morris. There were no stands to sit in at their field and the girls sat two back to back for support. Funny how you remember the smallest details. The point is that Huntingdon has always had great support from the student body, cheerleaders, and our fans. My senior year we met Lexington in the important 6th game of the year with both teams being 6-0. There were so many fans at the game that the crowds were 5-6 deep all around Pudor Field (the old High School). Johnny Pitts (left defensive half back) and I (safety) ran a Lexington back into the crowd on their side and we could not get out. Their fans were shoving, kicking, and pounding us with their fists. The chain gang had to come in and rescue us. Our big game then was with Lexington (beat them twice that year 46-7 in the above game and 35-0 in the Vol Cof. play off game in Lexington). The Lexington guys were always good but dirty. One of their defensive linemen stuck his finger in my mouth after I had been tackled and I tried to bite his finger off. He ran to the ref and showed him his bleeding finger and the ref told him he should not have stuck it in my mouth. My wife often asks me "Scotty, how in the world do you remember so much detail"? I just tell her that events that mean so much to you just stand out in your mind, and playing football for Paul Ward and for the Huntingon Mustangs is one of the those things.
Again, Freddie so good to hear from you and your good story and memories of Coach Ward. I know everyone is getting a kick out of these. I just got one from Betty Robinson (former Mustang cheerleader and Coach Robinson's wife and a good friend of mime). Jimmy Lumpkin another Mustang QB also sent a very good story.
Belly Series
A good quick story from Benny Roberts:
From: Benny Roberts
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 6:15 AM
Subject: RE: Coach Ward
scotty,
we were still running the "belly series" when i played. in the fall of 1974 i played right guard. against bruceton coach ward told brian caton (our qb) to run 32 belly until they stopped it. the first series we ran it 8 straight times for a touchdown. the next time we got the ball it only took 6 times. we were up 14-0. after we got the ball back we decided to do somethine different. so we ran 33 belly and they didn't stop it either. probably the only game i played in that we didn't even attempt to pass. we won 32-8 or something like that.
by the way, we didn't have a jackson highway gang but by then we had "the browning highway boys". white's, tippitts, ledsingers, watwoods, stallings, and more. our saturday and sunday games were at the old cannon school and you better bring your "a" game !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
benny
From: Scotty Portis
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
Benny, great to hear from you again. I think you and I have enjoyed these blogs as much or more than anyone. Keep up the good work.
Side Straddle Hop
From: Glen McCadams
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:38 AM
Subject: RE: Coach Ward
It’s now time to catch up on some things I have neglected since July. The foremost thought on my mind being the passing of Coach Ward, and that I didn’t even make his funeral. I should have been there, but we were getting ready for the semi-final game, and I believed Coach Ward would have expected me to do that.
Coach Ward is still my coach everyday. It began fifty years ago. In the summers, he carried us to McKenzie in the old school bus and taught us how to swim. All those hot summer days in the old gym playing cork ball, tumbling, etc. He loved tumbling – laying on his back and flipping us over the top of him. In our high school years it was those summer night workouts on all of those door frames in the new gym foyer, where we pushed on immovable bars for 12 seconds – isometrics. He took many of us to our first college football game @ Vandy vs. West Virginia. He also got our attention when Cat Bennett had to run the length of the football field with one of our best players hitting him every 5 yards. He was also my junior high basketball coach and my summer time baseball coach at the old fairgrounds.
During junior high football I broke my left leg and ankle. Coach Ward carried me to school and got me home every day. During the spring practice of my junior season, I broke several bones in my left foot, and again Coach Ward carried me to school. Also during my high school days, it was discovered that I had a birth defect in my spine, which ended my football playing days forever and my dream of being a high school football coach. I was crushed, now only hoping that maybe I could be a high school basketball coach someday.
When I graduated from college, it looked as though I was headed to Camden to coach basketball. Then one day, out of the blue, I got a phone call from the principal of Milan High School. Mr. Wheeler offered me an assistant football coaching position with their new coach – John Tucker. It turns out that Coach Ward had recommended me to Mr. Wheeler [who also just passed away about 3 weeks ago].
I still remember that night, at old Rothrock Stadium, when I was able to thank Coach Ward for restarting my dream, which I have now lived for 39 years.
I’m glad I was at the last game he coached during the playoffs @ Memphis. I still savor my last time out at the coffee table with my dad and Coach Ward. I remember talking with Coach Ward during Huntingdon’s last state championship game. He told me that he wasn’t able to make the 2003 game, to which I replied that I was glad he didn’t get to see my team that night because we weren’t very well coached – I still remember that laugh, don’t you?
To this very day, I try to handle my kids just as he did all of us. He was tough, fair, consistent, and cared about us. We simply respected him and relished his approval. Who can forget that smile when somebody got whammed, or bounced off the trampoline, or how excited he was on the first day of practice, or the Lord’s Prayer on our knees at the 50 yard line right before kickoff.
To this very day – after our strength coach gets finished with his static stretching routine, we are going to do the old SIDE STRADDLE HOP – COUNT THE FIRST 8 & GO TO 32, slapping those thigh pads hard & loud. You remember – READY 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,30,1,2. It puts a little smile on my face, memories in my heart, is a reminder of how I am suppose to coach today, and in a small way honors my COACH!
Scott Portis
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:38 AM
Subject: RE: Coach Ward
It’s now time to catch up on some things I have neglected since July. The foremost thought on my mind being the passing of Coach Ward, and that I didn’t even make his funeral. I should have been there, but we were getting ready for the semi-final game, and I believed Coach Ward would have expected me to do that.
Coach Ward is still my coach everyday. It began fifty years ago. In the summers, he carried us to McKenzie in the old school bus and taught us how to swim. All those hot summer days in the old gym playing cork ball, tumbling, etc. He loved tumbling – laying on his back and flipping us over the top of him. In our high school years it was those summer night workouts on all of those door frames in the new gym foyer, where we pushed on immovable bars for 12 seconds – isometrics. He took many of us to our first college football game @ Vandy vs. West Virginia. He also got our attention when Cat Bennett had to run the length of the football field with one of our best players hitting him every 5 yards. He was also my junior high basketball coach and my summer time baseball coach at the old fairgrounds.
During junior high football I broke my left leg and ankle. Coach Ward carried me to school and got me home every day. During the spring practice of my junior season, I broke several bones in my left foot, and again Coach Ward carried me to school. Also during my high school days, it was discovered that I had a birth defect in my spine, which ended my football playing days forever and my dream of being a high school football coach. I was crushed, now only hoping that maybe I could be a high school basketball coach someday.
When I graduated from college, it looked as though I was headed to Camden to coach basketball. Then one day, out of the blue, I got a phone call from the principal of Milan High School. Mr. Wheeler offered me an assistant football coaching position with their new coach – John Tucker. It turns out that Coach Ward had recommended me to Mr. Wheeler [who also just passed away about 3 weeks ago].
I still remember that night, at old Rothrock Stadium, when I was able to thank Coach Ward for restarting my dream, which I have now lived for 39 years.
I’m glad I was at the last game he coached during the playoffs @ Memphis. I still savor my last time out at the coffee table with my dad and Coach Ward. I remember talking with Coach Ward during Huntingdon’s last state championship game. He told me that he wasn’t able to make the 2003 game, to which I replied that I was glad he didn’t get to see my team that night because we weren’t very well coached – I still remember that laugh, don’t you?
To this very day, I try to handle my kids just as he did all of us. He was tough, fair, consistent, and cared about us. We simply respected him and relished his approval. Who can forget that smile when somebody got whammed, or bounced off the trampoline, or how excited he was on the first day of practice, or the Lord’s Prayer on our knees at the 50 yard line right before kickoff.
To this very day – after our strength coach gets finished with his static stretching routine, we are going to do the old SIDE STRADDLE HOP – COUNT THE FIRST 8 & GO TO 32, slapping those thigh pads hard & loud. You remember – READY 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,30,1,2. It puts a little smile on my face, memories in my heart, is a reminder of how I am suppose to coach today, and in a small way honors my COACH!
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:01 PM
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
Coach McCadams (Glen, it is hard for me to call you anything else after such a long and illustrious football career teaching young men in the fashion of Paul Ward). Your three state championships speak for themselves. So many of us owe so much to Coach Paul Ward and none more than you, as he guided you toward your first coaching job and under none other than another legend, Coach John Tucker of Milan.
Thanks so much for taking the time to send in your remembrance of Coach. I have taken the liberty to share yours with Paul Jr. and Bobby and the many others who either played for him or were taught by him. Each story told reveals more and more about a man that was multiple dimensional-a stern disciplinarian but with a heart as big as Texas.
Glen, you continue to carry the torch for Coach Ward. And as Ned Priest was quoted, speaking about you, "He also teaches his kids to act right and insists they do so. He is a good coach and a good man. Coach Ward would be proud". Indeed he would.
Jackson Sun Article - Paul Ward 11/27/07
This was the original article that was published in the Jackson Sun shortly after Coach Ward passed away, courtesy of Johnny Pitts.
smp (Scott M Portis)
smp (Scott M Portis)
Article published Nov 27, 2007
Huntingdon's Ward was true legend
By DAN MORRIS
They gathered Monday in Huntingdon to pay final respects to Paul Ward, one of West Tennessee's true football coaching legends.
He died Saturday at age 81 and was buried in his native soil. One of the great thrills of his life was being hired to coach his alma mater - the Huntingdon Mustangs.
When he showed up for his first practice as a head coach in 1953, the 24-year-old Ward was stunned to find only nine boys on the field. He had to recruit students out of the halls and physical-education classes to corral his first herd of Mustangs.
When he retired 23 years later following the 1975 season to become superintendent of Huntingdon schools, Ward had achieved fame across the state. With 169 wins, 62 losses and six ties, he had a .726 winning percentage.
He added eight undefeated seasons, nine Volunteer Conference championships and was The Jackson Sun's Coach of the Year twice.
His last team in 1975 was 10-0 in the regular season and ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press Class AA poll before losing to Bishop Byrne in the state playoffs.
There was nothing fancy about Ward. He was a hard-nosed disciplinarian who stressed fundamentals. If you could block and tackle better than the opponent, he figured the odds were on his side.
Passing was rarely in his game plan, especially during the early years. There were wagers among the Mustang faithful over the odds of Ward making it through a season without throwing a pass.
"The word got around that Coach Ward won't even let his wife 'pass the salt' at the breakfast table," Ward once told me. "I began passing some after that," he said.
A 1944 graduate of Huntingdon High, where he was a standout fullback, Ward served in the Navy from 1944-46. Then he went to Murray State on a football scholarship and started three years at tackle. He played on the 1948 team that won the Ohio Valley Conference title and played in the Tangerine Bowl against Sul Ross College of Alpine, Texas. Years later Ward learned that he had played against Dan Blocker, alias Hoss Cartwright of Bonanza fame, in that game.
After graduation, Ward was an assistant coach at Bruceton three years before getting the Huntingdon job. His third season with the Mustangs, the team's record was 0-9-1.
"I was lucky I didn't get fired after the third season," Ward once said.
But things changed quickly the next year when Larry Stewart, the son of a Baptist preacher, moved to town.
"He probably did more to build Huntingdon's program than anybody else," Ward said.
Running out of a "sidesaddle T," Stewart was the state's leading scorer and led the Mustangs to a 10-0 record. From 1956 to 1966, Huntingdon teams put together an incredible string of 102 wins, 7 losses and 1 tie for a .932 winning percentage.
In 1966 Tim Priest was Huntingdon's star, leading the Mustangs to an 11-0 season. He became a standout defensive back for the Tennessee Volunteers and is still heard each week as the color commentator during the UT football radio broadcasts.
Priest and Stewart were among those attending the funeral Monday, along with another former Mustang and UT lineman Warren Blankenship. Emotions ran high. The man who had helped shape their character and work ethic was gone to his reward.
Roy Dill was there, too. Dill played for Ward in 1961-64 and has kept statistics for Huntingdon football the past 32 seasons.
"You respected Coach Ward so much," Dill said. "He could get all over you one minute and be patting you on the back the next. You knew he was for you all the way, and he treated everybody the same."
A die-hard respect usually follows the great coaches to their grave. Such was the case for Paul Ward.
Dan Morris is The Jackson Sun's interim sports editor. Reach him at 425-9756 or (800) 372-3922, ext. 259756 or by e-mail at dmorris@jacksonsun.com.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Team Physician
Terry, welcome to the blog for Coach Ward. I don't know when we have had more fun in such a sad situation. Coach Ward does not realize it but he continues to walk among us and teach even after he has departed this life. Paul and Bobby have expressed to me on numerous occasions what these contributions have meant to them and their families. I got a very sweet note from Paul Jr.'s daughter, Jill (a teacher herself) in Memphis the other day.
Your story of the 1975 game with Trenton is outstanding and shows the true ability of this remarkable Coach to get "his team" ready for the next "big game". And a premonition that the kicking game could produce a win-wow! As I was back in Huntingdon and very close to this team as the "assistant team physician" under Dr. Atkins (who has dedicated many, many years to the Huntingdon football team), I too remember the hype leading up to the game. Huntingdon was "a buzz" with excitement all week preceding the game. Game day arrived and Dr. Atkins had to be out of town and could not attend the game. This propelled me into the job of "Team Physician"-for this nite anyway. I arrived in Trenton early and very nervous because of the importance of the game (I still get very nervous even today before each Mustang game just like I did when I played-not to the point of vomiting like Steve Barnett-but still nervous) and because of my added responsibility. No sooner had I approached the field house, than one of the managers ran up to me and said come quick as someone had been hurt in the pregame drills and Coach Ward needed me. My knees almost buckled for fear that I was going have to bench one of Coach Ward's important cogs. I don't even remember who the player was and his injury was not that bad (he played).
What a game! As I said in an earlier blog, this was probably the most exciting Mustang win that I ever witnessed with the team being behind in the 4th quarter, then going ahead with the field goal by none other than Todd Hall only a sophomore (Mustangs 15-Golden Tide 13 with the Mustangs scoring a late defensive touchdown to win 22-13). What a game! I don't remember the bash to Coach Ward's head but probably even if it had brought blood, Coach would not have cared at that point.
Again, Terry, thanks for the contribution as your insight added another dimension to a game that is #1 in my book. Your blog did a lot more than just trigger fond memories of a time gone by.
Also, I want to welcome another very special person to the site. None other than one of my very close "girl friends" Miss Melinda Milam Popplewell. Melinda's dad Blake Milam was our head baseball coach (Coach Ward was his assistant) and a very special person to me and the other baseball Mustangs. Coach Milam carried us far, way beyond our collective ability. This man was to baseball what Paul Ward was to football. Every season we won a lot more games than we should have with the talent we had. We were playing Memphis Central (Tim McCarver who was a catcher for the Mets and a left handed pitcher named Guido Grilli) in Memphis once in an important game and Gary Hall one of our pitchers reminded me the other day what Coach Ward and Coach Milam told us before the game "boys, they put their pants on one leg at a time just like you do". Melinda, hope you and Jay enjoy these stories as much as we have.
Again, welcome to all new bloggers to the site. Johnny Radford, the number #1 Mustang sports fan of all time, is feeding me names faster than I can recognize everyone. If I have missed you, sorry. Anyone (like Terry Brewer above) who has a special play, a game, a teammate, a season, or even another sport that eulogizes Coach Ward or someone else, please feel free to share. It will do you good and certainly will do this group good.
Thanks.
Scott Portis
Mustang (1955-1958)
Field Goal!
From: Terry Brewer
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:19 PM
Subject: Coach Ward blog
Doc,
Hey, it's Terry Brewer here and I just wanted to say hi and thanks for the effort on behalf of Coach Ward. I had the privilege of being on Coach Ward's last Mustang team and also being Johnnie Compton's brother in law for many years. I knew early on the esteem that Johnnie held for Coach and I soon learned as I entered high school that he was not alone. All who came in contact with him where immediately aware of the aura that was Coach Ward. He had such an overpowering presence. He was also my principal for 3 years. Needless to say, I kept my nose clean and avoided any opportunities to face that potential trauma.
I can remember many humorous events that happened on the practice field with Coach Ward but the one memory that will always be foremost occurred the week of the Trenton game in 75. I know most Mustang fans will remember that game. It was the state's #2 vs. #3 in the game of the year in West Tenn. The game was hyped by the media and the entire town was fired up for the contest. But, all week long, Coach Ward kept stressing the kicking game--particularly field goals. Now,. up to that point in the season, we hadn't ATTEMPTED a FG. We hadn't even had a #1 kicker for the most part. Several people had been in the running but none had been consistent enough for Coach. Finally, sophomore Todd Hall had earned the job but had only had the chance to kick XP's. Well, the whole team had bought into the hype of the game and heard from the town folk about how good we were and by Thursday, had gotten a little too cocky. We had spent more time working on FG's that week than the entire season leading up to it combined. As the Thursday practice wound down, we were getting a little rowdy and just going through the motions as we finished up our kicking practice. After a poor snap, a lackadaisical effort and a missed kick, Coach Ward stopped practice and chewed our butts for a moment. He finished up his rant by saying, (quoted as I remember--maybe not exact but close) "a field goal is going to win this game for you". For all that remember, of course it came down to Todd kicking a 32 yd FG in the 4th quarter to put the Mustangs ahead and ultimately lead us to the win. It's like he knew how even the 2 teams were and how the game was going to evolve. Also, on the kick, a Mustang on the sidelines jumped up on the sidelines when the "good" signal was given and and bashed Coach (accidentally) in the head with his helmet. Of course it didn't phase Coach Ward but it should have driven him to his knees.
I typed a lot more than I intended when I started typing this but I couldn't help it. I add my condolences to Little Paul and Bobby--they both know how I felt about their dad. Hope my story triggered a fond memory for the Mustang faithful.
Terry
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:19 PM
Subject: Coach Ward blog
Doc,
Hey, it's Terry Brewer here and I just wanted to say hi and thanks for the effort on behalf of Coach Ward. I had the privilege of being on Coach Ward's last Mustang team and also being Johnnie Compton's brother in law for many years. I knew early on the esteem that Johnnie held for Coach and I soon learned as I entered high school that he was not alone. All who came in contact with him where immediately aware of the aura that was Coach Ward. He had such an overpowering presence. He was also my principal for 3 years. Needless to say, I kept my nose clean and avoided any opportunities to face that potential trauma.
I can remember many humorous events that happened on the practice field with Coach Ward but the one memory that will always be foremost occurred the week of the Trenton game in 75. I know most Mustang fans will remember that game. It was the state's #2 vs. #3 in the game of the year in West Tenn. The game was hyped by the media and the entire town was fired up for the contest. But, all week long, Coach Ward kept stressing the kicking game--particularly field goals. Now,. up to that point in the season, we hadn't ATTEMPTED a FG. We hadn't even had a #1 kicker for the most part. Several people had been in the running but none had been consistent enough for Coach. Finally, sophomore Todd Hall had earned the job but had only had the chance to kick XP's. Well, the whole team had bought into the hype of the game and heard from the town folk about how good we were and by Thursday, had gotten a little too cocky. We had spent more time working on FG's that week than the entire season leading up to it combined. As the Thursday practice wound down, we were getting a little rowdy and just going through the motions as we finished up our kicking practice. After a poor snap, a lackadaisical effort and a missed kick, Coach Ward stopped practice and chewed our butts for a moment. He finished up his rant by saying, (quoted as I remember--maybe not exact but close) "a field goal is going to win this game for you". For all that remember, of course it came down to Todd kicking a 32 yd FG in the 4th quarter to put the Mustangs ahead and ultimately lead us to the win. It's like he knew how even the 2 teams were and how the game was going to evolve. Also, on the kick, a Mustang on the sidelines jumped up on the sidelines when the "good" signal was given and and bashed Coach (accidentally) in the head with his helmet. Of course it didn't phase Coach Ward but it should have driven him to his knees.
I typed a lot more than I intended when I started typing this but I couldn't help it. I add my condolences to Little Paul and Bobby--they both know how I felt about their dad. Hope my story triggered a fond memory for the Mustang faithful.
Terry
Ray "Bull" Crosno
From: Manuel Crossno
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:00 PM
Subject: Fw: Coach Ward
Hey Scotty, just finished watching the Giants win.
It's been good to see all the blogs concerning football of past Huntingdon games with Coach Ward. I only wish Ray were still here to read them also, he loved playing.
It's always been a sad memory for me thought, concerning Ray, he was seven years older than me and I never got to watch him play, not even on film. It always impressed me though that after all these years as he walked down the streets of Huntingdon people still called him "Bull"
Manuel Crossno
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:27 PM
To: Scott Portis
Cc:
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
Ray "Bull" Crosno was a legend to our young team in Junior High, even though, as far as I know, none of us ever saw him play. It's truly remarkable, but not at all surprising, how this thread has come down through multiple generations and continues to inspire and inform us. Thanks, Scotty, and thanks, Coach Ward!
Manuel, Amen. He was a great football player. Coach Ward loved Bull. I enjoyed being on the same field with him. Thanks for the email.
Scotty
From: N Priest Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:27 PM
To: Scott Portis
Cc:
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
Ray "Bull" Crosno was a legend to our young team in Junior High, even though, as far as I know, none of us ever saw him play. It's truly remarkable, but not at all surprising, how this thread has come down through multiple generations and continues to inspire and inform us. Thanks, Scotty, and thanks, Coach Ward!
R.I.P. Landon "Peghead" Moore
From: Scotty Portis
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 9:01 PM
With sadness today I report the death of a former Mustang-Landon "Peghead" Moore. Peghead, as I liked to call him even to his face as I was his doctor for many years, was a fullback on Coach Ward's very first team in 1953. Peghead, all 135 pounds, 10 lbs lighter than Wallace "Wade" Pinkley was an excellent running back (speed was his forte) on this team which went 4 and 6. He leaves his daughters, Lana and Lisa, and wife, Margaret. Our deepest sympathy to this fine family.
At the visitation today I met Johnny Compton's widow, Pam. She told me how much she had enjoyed the stories of her late husband, his coach, his fellow team mates, and other Mustang players and teams. She said that the stories often brought tears to her eyes but put joy and laughter in her heart. She has sent the stories out to many of her friends and relatives.
We probably do not yet realize the magnitude of the blog that has been created as it has begun to "spider web" out and out.
Lying in bed the other nite before going to sleep, I tried to envision the physical and mental effort that Paul Ward had to have expend doing the many chores that he did. Someone mentioned being hauled to the swimming pool in McKenzie for swimming lessons, others mentioned being carried to the doctor for game or practice related injuries, another mentioned his teaching duties, he was the assistant baseball coach, his parenting of many of his under privileged players, and on and on. All of this on top of the tremendous effort that went with being the head football coach of very WINNING teams. Scheduling problems, equiptment problems, assistant coaches, tranportation problems, field conditions, and answering to the public that demanded nothing but victory. It is mind boggling to think of the energy that this man spent taking care of us. Yet he did it year after year with out complaining. It can even be said that he enjoyed it. So once again Coach Paul Ward we take our hats off to you and salute you for a job well done.
Scott Portis
Mustang 1955-1958
Soccer Shoes
Scotty:
Some weeks ago I sent in a memory of Coach Ward, but I do not see it posted below so I may have wrongly addressed it. I’ll try again with some rambling memories. Please let me say how much I have enjoyed reading the stories of others and reminiscing about growing up in Huntingdon. A couple of things come to mind. In the fall of ’64 when guys like Danny Woodard, Dale Strickland, Donnie Hall, Jerry Morris, Mud Brown and Jerry “Pee Wee” Robison were some of the really good seniors on the team Coach Ward reluctantly agreed to let the backs on the team wear “soccer shoes”- low cut, light weight shoes with a molded, soft rubber sole having short molded cleats. As I recall only the seniors and a few others who might get in a game(like up and coming sophomore, Steve Barnett) got the shoes. As we all thought the shoes looked “fast” and we thought we ran faster in them everyone was excited to have “soccer shoes”. As I and other sophomores played little we mostly looked forward to wearing soccer shoes in our junior and senior seasons.
The ’64 team went undefeated in the regular season and beat Bolivar handily in the Volunteer Conference championship game. We then went to play mighty
In the fall of ’65 we lost to
As many have already posted we all feel a great sense of loss with Coach Ward’s death. However, remembering his contributions to all our lives at an age when we were very impressionable gives us warm memories of the an individual who left us all a little better than he found us.
I look forward to reading future posts.
Tim
Tim Priest
From: Roberts, Benny
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:36 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Coach Ward
tim,
being one of the youngest "posters" to this blog i will continue on your story. as you know my dad and mom were great fans. and with judy there we managed to go to every game. i remember cutting up newspapers so i could throw up confetti at brownsville. after pee wee broke his arm, my dad told me to just throw it up on first downs because he didn't think we would score. he turned out to be right. the night of the camden game you were speaking of, i rode with my dad and gene wilkes, gerry and barbara to camden. i remember all the way over there their conversation (strange how that kind of stuff comes back). they came to the conclusion that the only way we would win was for us to receive the opening kickoff and you return it for a touchdown. i can't remember if you did that or not but that thought just entered my mind as i was reading your story.
benny
From: Tim Priest
To:
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:29 AM
Subject: RE: Coach Ward
Benny:
No such luck for me on the opening kickoff. Certainly it was an all around team effort.
Tim
Tim Priest
From: Joe Fortner
Sent: Thu, 1/17/2008
To:
Subject: Fw: Coach Ward
Tim, Great memories of the 64 team, When talking about the shoes, Danny Woodard was given three pairs of shoes. The soccer shoes, a pair for playing on a dry field and a pair playing on a wet field.
Freddie Holiday. enjoyed your post. I have a question, I have always been told the story of the coach of Milan High School football team who at the time was playing Somerville in football each year. He dropped Sommerville from their schedule because of Larry Stewart and stated he would not play them again until Larry Stewart graduated from high school. Instead of playing Somerville he picked up Huntingdon for the next football season and then Bro. Jonas Stewart moved to Huntingdon to pastor the First Baptist Church and Larry played for the Mustangs against Milan High School that fall.
Joe Fortner
From: Scott Portis
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:47 AM
To: '
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
Tim, I remember this game very well. I arrived late (after the kickoff-having driven all the way from Indianapolis, Indiana, where I lived at the time just to see this game) and went from 6th deep in the end zone closest to town to the front row (still in the end zone). You could not stir the people with a stick. Anyway, on your first touchdown run, as you came through the end zone the crowd was so close to the field that you ran right by me and I swiped you on the butt and screamed, "way to go Tim Priest". What a great game and probably the best team the Mustangs ever fielded (most points scored and fewest allowed). Perhaps the more modern teams have topped these records but that '66 team was one of the best in my memory. Geno Dill could tell us more.
While your brother and I were in medical school in Memphis, all medical treatment at the old "John Gaston Hospital" came to a grinding halt on Saturday afternoon when you and the likes of "Jumping Joe Thompson" and the rest of the Vols took the field.
Great memories.
Scotty
PS Johnny Radford, the greatest Mustang fan of all time, continues to "grow" the list of former Mustangs. Welcome to all.
Anyone else with a great story line such as Tim's, we would like to hear from you. It could by about a season, a team, a game, or a single play. Coach Ward would have loved these stories.
Holding his pants ...
From: Bette Robison
To:
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 10:56 PM
Subject: Coach Ward
scotty...thanks for starting this,,,have loved all the old stories,, really enjoyed the one about Jerry that J. Fortner told,,,,I can remember him running a touchdown on Pudor Field...holding his pants with one hand and the ball with another....didn't ya'll have shoe strings to hold your pants in the "old days? whatever, Jerry's had broken that night../will never forget how Coach Ward would polish shoes with that old wheel thing every Fri. afternoon before pep rallys and try to mend uniforms ,wish more players would share theirs and had a way of knowing about the blog. I'm so glad that I had one last visit with him in the hospital altho it broke my heart to see him in the fragile state he was in....I'm sure he had every nurse in that hospital hopping!! .....is charlie rhodes, david's older brother.... i don't know him, but he is a wonderful story teller!!
From: Scott Portis
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3:35 AM
Subject: Fw: Coach Ward
Bette, welcome to the blog and you are the first female to contribute. Coach Ward would be happy, I am sure. I guess "Pee Wee" was running so fast his shoe string just broke. Maybe he was running so fast it caught on fire. I can't tell you how much I enjoy standing out in your mother's back yard and relating old Mustang stories with your husband. Jerry and I just tolerate your brother-in-law Lynn Brandon. By the way he promised us a blog. Be sure to email him and Harriet and get him on the ball. So glad you went by to see Coach before he died. Paul Allen and I were on our way when we got the word that he had died.
Charles is David's brother, and yes he is a great story teller. If you have not read his other stories on life in Huntingdon let me know and I well get you the addresses.
Again, Bette, thanks.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Losing to Jackson in 1957
Scott Portis
To: Johnny Radford
Cc: "Scott M. Portis"
JR, you have tremendous "institutional knowledge" of HHS football and Coach Ward. I only hope that we will be able to put all these "blogs" in a book eventually so not only the players and students but future generations will be able to remember our Coach and what he stood for. I am sending each and everyone of these to Scott my son (he was an end for MBA in
I'll call Paula and get Jerry's email address and send the blogs to him. I witnessed the 1966 season first hand as a spectator. I was standing with the rest of the crowd (6 deep) in the end zone at the You have forgotten this (I can barely remember it) but I helped Ewell Boldin coach the junior high each year before I went back to UT (I remember Tim and Tommy Portis on these teams). Keep up the good work on recruiting former Mustangs. Feel free to send the blogs on to them. Just let me know their addresses so I can send future emails to them. Feel free to expand our knowledge of the 1966 season as this was probably the most famous of all the HHS teams. The two most exciting games I ever witnessed was the 1975 game against SP |
Coach Wardisms
From: Johnny Radford
To: Dr. Scotty Portis
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:55 PM
Subject: Coach Wardisms
Scotty.. I just read Jimmy Jewell Lumpkin's blog on reaching in that back pocket for that second effort.
Here are a few of my Wardisms...
If you work hard then the "cream will rise to the top".
When practice was over and the team would run sprints, Coach would holler out "milking time".
When a player would screw up he would tell the team "don't make me have to get the shoe out".
He often would tell a big lineman on the bottom of the pile in practice, "get up from there you big ole rascal".
One of my favorites was being reminded to "eat plenty of salt tablets, they're good for you". Then going out to practice later and you would be so thirsty your tongue would feel like leather.
Scotty.. Let Dr. Atkins know about these blogs. He was the team doctor for many years and I know he would enjoy reading them and having several stories to share.
When I get my thoughts together I'd like to share with all the Mustangs my remembrances about playing on the 1966 Mustang team. Your stories about playing with Stewart, Moose, Pinkley and Blankenship are great. I've got a couple of pictures of my dad, "Spider Radford" in his playing days at HHS. Spider would tell me when watching a game and someone like Lynn Stallworth had just let a pass slip off his fingertips that he could have caught that pass. Spider got his nickname from playing football and he played with Coach Ward in high school. Dad was even a coach with Mr. Robert Dilday for one year after WW II when Mr. Pudor was still gone from HHS. I've got an old HHS annual with their picture coaching the team. Ha...
Rabbit Hunting
Scott Portis
Welcome to two new "yet old" Mustangs-Jimmy Lumpkin a member of the notorious "Jackson Highway Gang" and David Thompson a very good Mustang fullback. I'll send you guys the other blogs as soon as I get this one typed.
As Gary Hall said in the very first email of this series of blogs "the old memory bucket just keeps on filling up". I want to "toot the horn" of two of the sparkplug players on my team (we played all four years together). Joe Fortner alluded to the prowess of Coach Jerry Robinson in an earlier email. Coach Ward's teams of 1957 and 1958 (the two years after Larry Stewart) went 10-0 and 10-1 losing to Jackson High in the Exchange Bowl 28-12 (we lead this game 6-0 at one point and were in the game til the end. Two interceptions allowed
Marshall "Moose" Smith was our 245 lb. fullback, but do not let this deceive you. The guy could move. Not only was he quick but could "chug" it down the field once in the clear. He led the team in scoring our senior year with about 140 points. When we needed 5 yards for sure, Moose got the ball. He bowled defensive players over. On the other side of the ball, he played middle guard and at times tackle depending on the defensive call. He was almost as good as Blankenship at making tackles all over the field. Coach Ward took Moose and me rabbit hunting one cold Nov. morning after a basketball game (we both played BB also). Both Coach and Moose had killed about two rabbits a piece and were chiding me for missing several shots. We walked a bit further and I sat down on a hollow log and darned if a rabbit didn't run out of the end of that log. I fired from the hip with the blast from the 16 gauge knocking me off the log. The two of them got down on the ground laughing but I had the last laugh when Coach Ward's faithful dog brought the rabbit up (Little Paul I remembered that dog's name for years). Coach Ward was the person who helped Moose and me get our scholarships to UT.
Wallace "Wade" Pinkley was our tailback those two years-all 145 lbs. Wade was slow as molasses (I could beat him 10 yds in the 100) but he never took a direct hit. If he had had the speed to match his quickness and ability to fake (give you a hip then take it away), he would have been everybody's All-American. But his ability to run the ball was not even his strong point. He was the best field general (calling plays in the huddle) I ever saw. He had an uncanny nack for calling the right play (right 48 sweep then come back with a fake sweep and pull up and throw a bullet down field). If things were not going well, then he made up plays in the huddle that actually worked. In the
Anyone with a good story about Coach, a fellow player, or a specific team lets hear it. Benny Roberts (1975, #58) emailed me and said that these blogs were better than any Rx he ever got from a doctor. Those of you who have not read Ned Priest's blog on Johnny Compton (Comptonian Physics) let me know. You have got to read it.
Scott Portis (1955-1958)
Throwing Rocks
joe fortner < > Wed, Dec 26, 2007 at 4:16 PM
To: Scott Portis
| SCOTTY,
Joe Fortner |
Welcome Lynn Brandon
Scotty Portis
Wed, Dec 26, 2007 at 3:27 PM
To: Lynn Brandon
Cc:
| All, we have a new "blogger" with us. None other than that famous field general, play caller, and belly series master of fakery "whose got the ball" Lynn Brandon. Lynn and I had a good time out in his mother-in-laws back yard this afternoon recounting old Mustang victories and retelling old Coach Ward stories. Anyway, Scott Portis
walterlbrown < > Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 6:11 PM To: joe fortner ; Scott Portis ….
Scott Portis < > Sat, Dec 29, 2007 at 4:46 PM Walter is right. The older we get the better athletes we all become. The TD runs longer and tougher, the tackles (always for loses) more viscous, the blocks that opened the holes cleaner with the opponent always on the ground. Time heals all short comings. |
Jackson Highway Gang
From: Scott Portis
To
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 1:57 PM
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
Joe, thanks for the blog. We all know the prowess of Coach Robinson, not only as a player but a very savy former Coach of the Mustangs. I am proud to be a next door neighbor of his mother-in-law and get to see Coach quite often, along with his brother-in-law and another former famous Mustang QB Lynn Brandon, when they come to visit. We stand in the back yard and talk Mustang football and often relive some of our old games.
Joe, I am reminded of the "Jackson Highway Gang" as we were known, a rough bunch of uncouth "country boys" as our city slicker friends called us. As I remember, the city boys would come calling to our field on Saturday for a little game of tackle football. Jimmy and Joe Fortner, Lynn Brandon, Mike "The Toe" McLemore, the Lumpkin boys, Donald Blankenship, Roy "Geno" Dill, the Chandler boys, Ralph Joyner, Chandler Peeples, Tommy and Bobby Crews, Scott and Tommy Portis, Ray Ivy, John Mitchell Smith, and least we not forget the female persusion- Ms Becky Presson and Ms. Betty Ann Portis made up the team. Geno Dill's mother looked out the window once and called her son over and said "
I am sure that these early days of playing football grew out of our love for the game but the town of
Joe, thanks again for a good story and for remembering a great football player, Jerry Robinson, and his coach, Coach Ward.
Scotty Portis
1964 Lexington Game
From: Joe Fortner
To:
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: Coach Ward
I have enjoyed all of the stories below. This Paul Ward story was during the fall of 1964 season. We were 7-0 and going to play
Thanks
Joe Fortner
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