|
GiglnTiger
AHSFHS Forum Superstar
399 Posts |
 Posted - 10/22/2023 : 09:08:19
|
Reposting the story from a media article. It?s a good read.
Between the high schools and the colleges, there sure was a lot of football played the last two days.
And the one person who has my attention is a man who didn't get any attention from the media over the weekend.
He's a fine American that America should know.
I'd like to tell you about a man who should be recognized.
A man that America should thank.
It was Friday night when a deep, talented Coosa Christian (AL) High School football team visited Appalachian High School.
The AHS Eagles played hard, but this year's Coosa team is very talented, and AHS has suffered numerous injuries.
Coosa Christian would beat Appalachian 51-0.
About 10:30 Friday night, the Coosa coaches and players were boarding their chartered bus to travel back to Gadsden, when a problem arose: The team's bus would not start.
It had been a long day for the Appalachian community- head coach Neal Whittington arose at 5:30 am, and by 10:30 at night following a 51-0 loss, he was ready for some sleep.
Neal Whittington realized there was work to do: He needed to get Coosa's bus started so the visiting team could get home.
Coach Whittington was joined by Matt Helms, Justin Hathcock, Curtis Atkinson and many others from Appalachian in an effort to diagnose the problem with Coosa's bus.
At last, Justin diagnosed the problem as a broken starter.
The problem?
The parts wouldn't be delivered for a day or two.
Appalachian coach Neal Whittington has a servant's heart.
He called the Blount County superintendent- a school bus was delivered to take the Coosa players and coaches home.
The problem?
Only a licensed driver who was approved to drive a Blount County school bus could drive the Coosa team 45 minutes to Gadsden.
That man was Appalachian coach Neal Whittington.
What a scene it was.
After losing to Coosa Christian 51-0, Eagles coach Neal Whittington hopped on the school bus and drove the victorious team home.
"That's what we do at Appalachian,"
Coach Whittington told me as he worked on his farm Saturday morning after just a few hours sleep.
And that chartered bus used by Coosa?
It was still parked at Appalachian High School late Saturday night, waiting for the parts to arrive.
Coach Neal Whittington arrived back at Appalachian High School about 1 am on Saturday.
There was more work to do, as the coach gathered his player's uniforms to be laundered and finished picking up the trash.
He arrived home about 2:30 in the morning after a 51-0 loss.
After a deep breath and a prayer, Coach Whittington fell fast asleep.
America won't hear a lot about Neal Whittington today, but perhaps America should.
He's the man whose team lost 51-0 and then drove the victors home so they could get some rest.
Appalachian coach Neal Whittington sure does have my respect and gratitude today.
I bet he has America's respect, too.
*Pictures courtesy Neal Whittington, Justin Hathcock & Matt Helms
_____________
Jeremy Wortham
Randolph County Tigers
2003 Class 2A State Champions
2017 Class 3A State Runner-Ups, 1998 Class 3A State Runner-Ups,
1984 Class 3A State Runner-Ups, 1979 Class 2A State Runner-Ups |
Edited by - GiglnTiger on 10/22/2023 09:09:57 |
|
Appalachian HC comes to Coosa Chr. aid after game
152 Posts
