Several months ago (at Bluenanza) my wife helped me to win an opportunity to participate as guest coach for an ETSU Basketball game. After much deliberation, I decided to go for the Belmont game. I wasn’t for sure what I was getting into, the only thing I knew is that it would be a neat experience.
Neat experience doesn’t even do it justice. I had the opportunity to spend the day with the ETSU Bucs team and experience ETSU Basketball in a whole new light! I honestly feel blessed to have this opportunity and to have such a new perspective!
My day started off at 2pm with the pregame shoot around. I went in with the idea that I had a great understanding of the game of basketball. After watching that one hour practice, I realized I knew nothing about basketball or the hours upon hours of dedication these players and coaches pour into their passion. Watching the coaches run through the different plays and defensive setups what seemed to be seamlessly, with great detail being payed to every detail. There was no doubt in my mind that the players were ready for this game!
I quickly made two observations about our coaching staff. One, the staff pours their heart, souls, and time into the team and players. Watching hours of film on each of the opponents they face, designing sets to make excellent defensive stops, designing offensive plays that not only met our players strength but also breaks down their defense, and even hosting the players on Sunday night as a bonding experience, the coaches definitely have a love for the team and for what they do!
The second quick observation I made is that the coaches trust each other. I saw many times where Coaches Boyd and Wagers would be working with the entire team, while Bartow is working with the individual players. The coaches worked in sync and trusted each others judgment. It is evident that this staff has been together for years!
As for the players, it was neat to see them exemplify the statement “Work Hard, Play Hard.” When working with the coaches, they were focused and set on growing as players. When the coaches let them shoot around, they were having a blast. I watched them do slam dunk contests, rag on each other, and overall look like they are truly happy being student athletes.
Speaking of student athletes. let me say I have a new found appreciation for all athletes. Besides hard practices, a grueling travel schedule, and becoming a student of their respective games, they are also students. And as student athletes, they are expected to perform both on the court and in the classroom, and preform big!
So after all of this during the 2pm shoot around, I was invited to join the team at the 3pm pregame meal. We headed off to the DP Culp center for a great dinner consisting of salad (ranch dressing), pasta, pork, mixed vegetables, baked potato, and a roll. No sodas, just water and power aide. The coaches arrived first and sat together. Coach Bartow invited me to come sit beside of him with the coaches. In my mind, I always imagined the coaches sitting there gruling over plays and talking about the game. Instead, they were a bit more relaxed and enjoying a chance just to catch up.
After the players were seated and eating, Coach Boyd introduced me to the team, and Earle Chute delivered an amazing chapel on using the talents and gifts we have been given. More on that in a few minutes. Afterward, Coach Bartow instructed the team to be at the gym to shoot around (if they wanted) and ready to watch film at 6:10. He also asked the team to make sure to come by and say hi to me. As the team came by, I was given a program autographed by all of the team members!
I went home to catch my breath from all of the excitement and check in on my wonderful wife, who wasn’t feeling well. I headed back to ETSU about 5:40.
I arrived at ETSU with quite a few minutes to spare before the 6:10 film. So I went out onto the court through the tunnel and just looked around. Belmont was shooting around a bit, and a few of our players came on the court for a few minutes. All I could think about is that ETSU has always had a tough time with this team and in just over one hour, the battle for #1 will begin.
I returned to the locker room at 6:10 to view the pregame video. The staff had put together a highlight clip from the Lipscomb game. After watching that 9 minute clip, I could have suited up and went to battle! The team left the film room and listed to final instructions from the coaching staff and keys to victory. The players headed out of the locker room for the warm up before the big game.
I got the chance while the team shot around to assume my position at the end of the bench (which fyi was AWESOME). I sat there and just watched both teams prepare. It was neat to be right there, on the floor, and watching these students prepare to represent their school and bring home a win.
As I was sitting on the bench, and when I would pass others, they would all refer to me as coach! Now I know that may not seem like a big thing, but it JACKED ME UP EVEN MORE!!! Sometimes in life it is the small things, but I felt like part of the team! It was such an amazing feeling!
The team returned back to the locker room for one final set of instructions before show time. The coaches were real intent on reminding the team that in order to win, they needed to come out with passion! They needed to take control of the game from the first minute and never let go!
Being there on the bench for the game was an energized and awesome experience. You could feel the excitement and the confidence on the bench!
I will be honest, I didn’t know what in the heck to do! As my beautiful wife put it after the game, at the beginning of the game I looked like a lost puppy looking for my mommy. I didn’t know whether to go in the huddle, stay in my seat, or throw my chair on the court. As the game passed, I decided that I wanted to experience it all, so I went and listened in all of the timeouts. It was neat because you could see the staff coaching the players, designing plays, and keeping the team motivated. You could also see the team was feeling it!
At halftime, Coach Bartow reminded the team that they still needed to play with that sense of urgency, that sense of needing to come out and dominate the second half. The coaches would meet in the film room and come back individually and deliver information to the team. They focused on stats, match ups, and overall what went right and what very few things they could improve on.
The second half, the Bucs turned it on! They went on a tear and literally schooled Belmont. The Buccaneer team that was on the court tonight cannot be beat. I saw something in that team that hasn’t been there as much over the past few years - a thirst for the win, for the championship.
After the game, Bartow addressed the team again, congratulating them on an excellent win. They reviewed some stats and talked about the schedule for the next few days. In the end, I got the chance to say goodbye to the players and wish them luck over the rest of the season.
At the end of the day, I must say that this is an experience that I will never forget. I had an absolute blast! I learned so much about basketball and the passion our Buccaneers have.
The neat thing about this experience is that not only was it just awesome, but I was also able to grow from this experience. I took away a few valuable lessons from this experience. One, in order to succeed, you must have passion and a drive to do what it takes to suceed. It was extremely evident in the players (who practice endlessly to become better) and the coaches (who are constantly watching film, recruiting, bonding with players, and so much more).
Second, God has given us all gifts and talents. It is up to us to use these talents, and to use them for God’s glory. Earle brought up an excellent example during chapel that touched my life. Earle said that he had a dream in which he died and went to heaven. When he got there, St. Peter was there, and handed him gifts with his name on it. He was opening these gifts and looking through all the different boxes when he noticed a larger pile that had his name on them, but he couldn’t open. St. Peter said those were gifts that he never used.
I may never be a basketball coach (maybe other than “Guest Coach” and youth league coach), but I have other gifts that God has blessed me with and it is my responsibility to use these gifts to the best of my ability and for His glory.
I could go on and on for days about this incredible opportunity. Thank you to Coach Bartow, his amazing staff, and all of the outstanding basketball players for such an awesome day and including me as part of the team. As a Buc fan, I cannot even begin to say how much this experience made my day! Have a wonderful evening and God bless!
On August 5, 2007 I was unanimously elected TRP Chairman. In my remarks to the State Executive Committee, my pledge was to serve with our Republican principles as the first priority and vehicle in growing our organization and winning elections. The promise included the additional emphasis on the value of the great people of Tennessee, rather than simple partisanship.
These same remarks included the ultimate goal of our Tennessee Republican Party: Taking the Hill. Winning the Republican Majority in the General Assembly was agreed to be the most important accomplishment that we could pursue due to the 2010 Governor’s race and the redistricting mandated for 2011.
The Tennessee Republican Party delivered. Working in an unprecedented fashion with the state elected leadership, coordinating a true grassroots army and raising and spending an unparalleled amount of money on state legislative races, the Tennessee Republican Party was the driving force during the fifteen months of focused campaign activity.
On Tuesday, January 13, grassroots activists, party leaders, family members of elected officials and State Executive Committee Members swarmed around Tennessee’s Capitol with high expectations that Rep. Jason Mumpower would be elected Speaker of the TN House and Steve McDaniel would be elected Speaker Pro Tempore. The gallery was in an overflow situation with excitement visible from the faces of the “work horses” that had carried the weight of the campaigns.
“Stunned” is a word that inadequately captures the expressions as it became incredibly evident that Rep. Kent Williams had accepted a deal to be the Democrats nominee for Speaker in direct opposition to his Republican Leader, Jason Mumpower.
The sense of betrayal was not only palpable but also expressed in the calls from the balcony of “traitor”, “sellout” that rained down on Rep. Kent Williams as he walked forward to take the oath as Speaker.
The response to the Tennessee Republican Party has been overwhelmingly one-sided. A few snippets from the mountain of emails received:
“Kent Williams must be recalled.”
“This traitor should be kicked out of the party.”
“Kent Williams is an embarrassment to the Party and the state.”
“Rep. Williams belongs to the party of liars, deceivers, and traitors.”
“On behalf of all the people in Carter County, I sincerely regret ever casting a vote for this man and disgracing the Tennessee house chamber with his presence.”
WHY THE OUTRAGE?
Kent Williams lives in Carter County and won this house seat in 2006. His first vote in 2007 was to elect Democrat Jimmy Naifeh as Speaker.
In November 2008, Senator Lamar Alexander received 79.7% of the vote and Presidential Candidate John McCain received 72.8% of Carter Countians’ votes. Looking at data back to 1996, this county has trended more Republican with each election. In 2004, voters in Carter County voted overwhelmingly at 86.3% that a family should be defined as a union between one man and one woman. This rural county nestled in the Appalachian Mountain Range reflects a desire for 2nd Amendment Rights, the hopes and dreams for individual opportunity and the Constitutional right of life.
Rep. Kent Williams had verbally committed to countless individuals his votes for the Caucus nominees for leadership and even signed a pledge to do the same. On December 15, Rep. Williams looked me in the eye and expressed his possible departure from the GOP Caucus for only one vote: a likely vote for Dale Sims for Treasurer.
Prior to the session on January 13, Rep. Williams spoke to a Member of the Republican U.S. Congressional Delegation and never indicated any departure from the Caucus votes he had previously pledged.
In one last incredible insult, Rep. Kent Williams caucused with the other 49 Republican members of the majority during the 30-minute recess that immediately preceded the nominations and vote for Speaker. During that time, Representatives Jason Mumpower, Glen Casada and Charles Sargeant joined Kent Williams in prayer. Rep. Williams offered no indication that less than a half-hour later he would not honor his previous pledges to vote for the nominees of the Republican Caucus.
In conversations with members of the Legislature, I have now spoken with at least two other Republican Members of the House who were contacted in addition to Kent Williams to be nominated as Speaker by the Democrats. So, of the three members approached to participate in this deal, only Kent Williams agreed to conspire with the Democrats. This speaks to the character of Williams, but more importantly, to the character of the 49 honorable men and women who serve us so well in the House. I am proud as Chairman to stand with them on principle and the values of the majority of Tennesseans.
Seven days before his betrayal of our values and a full eight weeks after Representative Gary Odom (D-Nashville) claims the plot was hatched, Williams affirmed his commitment to elect Jason Mumpower as Speaker of the House. Listen to him make the false statement.
THE RESULT
The State Executive Committee of the Republican Party generated 30 written challenges to the “Bona Fide” status to Kent Williams. As Chairman, pursuant to the Tennessee Republican Party Bylaws, I received these challenges and began the deliberate review to determine appropriate action. Whether Rep. Kent Williams caucuses with the 49 Republicans is determined by two factors: the personal desire of Kent Williams and the votes of the 49 Members of the Republican House Caucus.
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
To the countless who have emailed your strong sentiments already, thank you. For those who have not, please send us your thoughts on this situation. Please also participate in this online poll to allow the public to see your immediate views.
As your Tennessee Republican Party Chairman, it is my promise to never value privileges above principles. According to former President Eisenhower, those who do, “soon lose both.”
A NEW DAY FOR TENNESSEE
New constitutional officers chosen via an open and honest selection process
The Tennessee Republican Party adds its voice to those praising the election of a new Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer for the great state of Tennessee.
The legislature, meeting in joint session Thursday appropriately elected Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Comptroller Justin Wilson and Treasured David Lillard, the constitutional officer nominees selected by an unprecedented selection process designed by the new Republican legislative majority. That process included an open application period and public hearings.
During the last 140 years of Democratic control of the legislature and, therefore, the process of selecting constitutional officers, there was no public application or vetting process and no opportunity for public input. In recent years, the bitter fruit of that backroom-deal style of politics was evident as the Democratic appointees in those positions became increasingly partisan and politicized.
Secretary of State Hargett, Comptroller Wilson and Treasurer Lillard are all fine public servants of high personal, professional and ethical standards and achievements who have already served their state well, and Tennessee is blessed to have them serving now in these very important roles, The open and honest selection process created by the Republican majority has served the state well.
THE MEDIA REACTS TO THE DEMOCRATS’ POWER PLAY
Newspaper editorial pages and columnists across the state are being highly critical of statehouse Democrats for letting their lust for power lead them to install Kent Williams in the Speaker’s chair rather than a leader selected by the party you and your fellow Tennesseans elected to the majority just two months ago. Here’s a selection of their commentary, with excerpts and a link to the full versions on the web:
Williams’ defection from his party - and the Republican constituents who elected him - is a major blow for Republicans in the General Assembly who had hopes of advancing several long-stymied legislative initiatives such as expanding charter schools and making the state more business friendly. But Williams’ greatest betrayal was not to his fellow Republicans or even to the voters of his district who elected someone they had every reason to believe would support his party’s interests in the legislature. Rep. Williams’ greatest betrayal is to himself. To barter away the trust others once placed in him is a loss that he will never regain.
No one forced Rep. Williams to sign a pledge that he would support his party’s nominee for speaker. He did that of his own free will. To publicly make that pledge, only to break it for his own personal aggrandizement, is deeply dishonorable and obviously retards the positive change he claims to seek.
For Tennessee Republicans who are still reeling from Williams’ defection, however, there is yet some solace to be found in all of this: they aren’t in charge. Moreover, Williams’ elevation to the office of speaker is self-evidently not a triumph of open persuasion and bipartisanship but of connivance and chicanery. Williams appears a mere puppet of former Speaker Naifeh and his fellow Democrats. As such, they continue to hold the reins of power and will be answerable to the people of Tennessee for how they navigate the bleakest economy in a generation. And after shattering the trust and good will of half the House membership on the first day of the General Assembly, Tennessee Democrats are not, to put it mildly, off to a good start.
“The only Republican who voted for Williams was Williams. He was put into power with all 49 Democrat votes in the House. … Williams is essentially a Democratic speaker. Tennessee Democrats will get the credit - or the blame - for whatever Williams’ leadership brings. … Odom and Naifeh basically took arguably the opposing team’s weakest player and put him in charge.”
“By sabotaging plans to make heir-apparent Jason Mumpower the new speaker, replacing Jimmy Naifeh, [Democrats] have undermined whatever fragile trust existed between the parties and may have ultimately derailed their agenda. … The real losers in all this are the people of Tennessee who aren’t being served by the partisan bickering and political gamesmanship. But then, the people were the furthest thing from the Democrats’ mind in their rush to goad the Republicans. And it will be the people who will be hurt as this political drama plays itself out during the legislative year.”
Already, there are complaints that the Democrats’ action Tuesday was a classic example of secret deal-making in government, which the public always suspects and distinctly dislikes. In this case, those are not accusations but facts. Democratic leaders openly revealed the details of their clandestine strategy, going back to a restaurant meeting with Williams last Thanksgiving weekend that put the wheels in motion for what happened Tuesday. … The election of Williams as speaker made the process look more like a contest in cleverness than service to the people who elected those representatives.
“There is no benefit for the people of Tennessee when either party corrupts the other’s internal structure. It feels good to goad the competition, but being a member of the Tennessee House is a higher calling than the settlement of personal pique. An elected official speaks for the people of his district and state by his behavior and his votes. When the dust settled, Tennessee was not properly served Tuesday.”
On August 5, 2007 I was unanimously elected TRP Chairman. In my remarks to the State Executive Committee, my pledge was to serve with our Republican principles as the first priority and vehicle in growing our organization and winning elections. The promise included the additional emphasis on the value of the great people of Tennessee, rather than simple partisanship.
These same remarks included the ultimate goal of our Tennessee Republican Party: Taking the Hill. Winning the Republican Majority in the General Assembly was agreed to be the most important accomplishment that we could pursue due to the 2010 Governor’s race and the redistricting mandated for 2011.
The Tennessee Republican Party delivered. Working in an unprecedented fashion with the state elected leadership, coordinating a true grassroots army and raising and spending an unparalleled amount of money on state legislative races, the Tennessee Republican Party was the driving force during the fifteen months of focused campaign activity.
On Tuesday, January 13, grassroots activists, party leaders, family members of elected officials and State Executive Committee Members swarmed around Tennessee’s Capitol with high expectations that Rep. Jason Mumpower would be elected Speaker of the TN House and Steve McDaniel would be elected Speaker Pro Tempore. The gallery was in an overflow situation with excitement visible from the faces of the “work horses” that had carried the weight of the campaigns.
“Stunned” is a word that inadequately captures the expressions as it became incredibly evident that Rep. Kent Williams had accepted a deal to be the Democrats nominee for Speaker in direct opposition to his Republican Leader, Jason Mumpower.
The sense of betrayal was not only palpable but also expressed in the calls from the balcony of “traitor”, “sellout” that rained down on Rep. Kent Williams as he walked forward to take the oath as Speaker.
The response to the Tennessee Republican Party has been overwhelmingly one-sided. A few snippets from the mountain of emails received:
“Kent Williams must be recalled.”
“This traitor should be kicked out of the party.”
“Kent Williams is an embarrassment to the Party and the state.”
“Rep. Williams belongs to the party of liars, deceivers, and traitors.”
“On behalf of all the people in Carter County, I sincerely regret ever casting a vote for this man and disgracing the Tennessee house chamber with his presence.”
WHY THE OUTRAGE?
Kent Williams lives in Carter County and won this house seat in 2006. His first vote in 2007 was to elect Democrat Jimmy Naifeh as Speaker.
In November 2008, Senator Lamar Alexander received 79.7% of the vote and Presidential Candidate John McCain received 72.8% of Carter Countians’ votes. Looking at data back to 1996, this county has trended more Republican with each election. In 2004, voters in Carter County voted overwhelmingly at 86.3% that a family should be defined as a union between one man and one woman. This rural county nestled in the Appalachian Mountain Range reflects a desire for 2nd Amendment Rights, the hopes and dreams for individual opportunity and the Constitutional right of life.
Rep. Kent Williams had verbally committed to countless individuals his votes for the Caucus nominees for leadership and even signed a pledge to do the same. On December 15, Rep. Williams looked me in the eye and expressed his possible departure from the GOP Caucus for only one vote: a likely vote for Dale Sims for Treasurer.
Prior to the session on January 13, Rep. Williams spoke to a Member of the Republican U.S. Congressional Delegation and never indicated any departure from the Caucus votes he had previously pledged.
In one last incredible insult, Rep. Kent Williams caucused with the other 49 Republican members of the majority during the 30-minute recess that immediately preceded the nominations and vote for Speaker. During that time, Representatives Jason Mumpower, Glen Casada and Charles Sargeant joined Kent Williams in prayer. Rep. Williams offered no indication that less than a half-hour later he would not honor his previous pledges to vote for the nominees of the Republican Caucus.
In conversations with members of the Legislature, I have now spoken with at least two other Republican Members of the House who were contacted in addition to Kent Williams to be nominated as Speaker by the Democrats. So, of the three members approached to participate in this deal, only Kent Williams agreed to conspire with the Democrats. This speaks to the character of Williams, but more importantly, to the character of the 49 honorable men and women who serve us so well in the House. I am proud as Chairman to stand with them on principle and the values of the majority of Tennesseans.
Seven days before his betrayal of our values and a full eight weeks after Representative Gary Odom (D-Nashville) claims the plot was hatched, Williams affirmed his commitment to elect Jason Mumpower as Speaker of the House. Listen to him make the false statement.
THE RESULT
The State Executive Committee of the Republican Party generated 30 written challenges to the “Bona Fide” status to Kent Williams. As Chairman, pursuant to the Tennessee Republican Party Bylaws, I received these challenges and began the deliberate review to determine appropriate action. Whether Rep. Kent Williams caucuses with the 49 Republicans is determined by two factors: the personal desire of Kent Williams and the votes of the 49 Members of the Republican House Caucus.
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
To the countless who have emailed your strong sentiments already, thank you. For those who have not, please send us your thoughts on this situation. Please also participate in this online poll to allow the public to see your immediate views.
As your Tennessee Republican Party Chairman, it is my promise to never value privileges above principles. According to former President Eisenhower, those who do, “soon lose both.”
A NEW DAY FOR TENNESSEE
New constitutional officers chosen via an open and honest selection process
The Tennessee Republican Party adds its voice to those praising the election of a new Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer for the great state of Tennessee.
The legislature, meeting in joint session Thursday appropriately elected Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Comptroller Justin Wilson and Treasured David Lillard, the constitutional officer nominees selected by an unprecedented selection process designed by the new Republican legislative majority. That process included an open application period and public hearings.
During the last 140 years of Democratic control of the legislature and, therefore, the process of selecting constitutional officers, there was no public application or vetting process and no opportunity for public input. In recent years, the bitter fruit of that backroom-deal style of politics was evident as the Democratic appointees in those positions became increasingly partisan and politicized.
Secretary of State Hargett, Comptroller Wilson and Treasurer Lillard are all fine public servants of high personal, professional and ethical standards and achievements who have already served their state well, and Tennessee is blessed to have them serving now in these very important roles, The open and honest selection process created by the Republican majority has served the state well.
THE MEDIA REACTS TO THE DEMOCRATS’ POWER PLAY
Newspaper editorial pages and columnists across the state are being highly critical of statehouse Democrats for letting their lust for power lead them to install Kent Williams in the Speaker’s chair rather than a leader selected by the party you and your fellow Tennesseans elected to the majority just two months ago. Here’s a selection of their commentary, with excerpts and a link to the full versions on the web:
Williams’ defection from his party - and the Republican constituents who elected him - is a major blow for Republicans in the General Assembly who had hopes of advancing several long-stymied legislative initiatives such as expanding charter schools and making the state more business friendly. But Williams’ greatest betrayal was not to his fellow Republicans or even to the voters of his district who elected someone they had every reason to believe would support his party’s interests in the legislature. Rep. Williams’ greatest betrayal is to himself. To barter away the trust others once placed in him is a loss that he will never regain.
No one forced Rep. Williams to sign a pledge that he would support his party’s nominee for speaker. He did that of his own free will. To publicly make that pledge, only to break it for his own personal aggrandizement, is deeply dishonorable and obviously retards the positive change he claims to seek.
For Tennessee Republicans who are still reeling from Williams’ defection, however, there is yet some solace to be found in all of this: they aren’t in charge. Moreover, Williams’ elevation to the office of speaker is self-evidently not a triumph of open persuasion and bipartisanship but of connivance and chicanery. Williams appears a mere puppet of former Speaker Naifeh and his fellow Democrats. As such, they continue to hold the reins of power and will be answerable to the people of Tennessee for how they navigate the bleakest economy in a generation. And after shattering the trust and good will of half the House membership on the first day of the General Assembly, Tennessee Democrats are not, to put it mildly, off to a good start.
“The only Republican who voted for Williams was Williams. He was put into power with all 49 Democrat votes in the House. … Williams is essentially a Democratic speaker. Tennessee Democrats will get the credit - or the blame - for whatever Williams’ leadership brings. … Odom and Naifeh basically took arguably the opposing team’s weakest player and put him in charge.”
“By sabotaging plans to make heir-apparent Jason Mumpower the new speaker, replacing Jimmy Naifeh, [Democrats] have undermined whatever fragile trust existed between the parties and may have ultimately derailed their agenda. … The real losers in all this are the people of Tennessee who aren’t being served by the partisan bickering and political gamesmanship. But then, the people were the furthest thing from the Democrats’ mind in their rush to goad the Republicans. And it will be the people who will be hurt as this political drama plays itself out during the legislative year.”
Already, there are complaints that the Democrats’ action Tuesday was a classic example of secret deal-making in government, which the public always suspects and distinctly dislikes. In this case, those are not accusations but facts. Democratic leaders openly revealed the details of their clandestine strategy, going back to a restaurant meeting with Williams last Thanksgiving weekend that put the wheels in motion for what happened Tuesday. … The election of Williams as speaker made the process look more like a contest in cleverness than service to the people who elected those representatives.
“There is no benefit for the people of Tennessee when either party corrupts the other’s internal structure. It feels good to goad the competition, but being a member of the Tennessee House is a higher calling than the settlement of personal pique. An elected official speaks for the people of his district and state by his behavior and his votes. When the dust settled, Tennessee was not properly served Tuesday.”
If you would like to participate,simply
click here, take the test, and find out your results. Once you have, simply let me know by dropping me an email (click here) or leaving a message on my latest post and I will add you to the list :)
