In 1991 I played my first year with the arbutus big red semi pro football team. At 198 lbs coach fred put me at middle linebacker where tom arnold and chris lynn had their way with me at every practice. Lol. I had every pad on possible . I started in four games that year. Not bad for a rookie . I also had four sacks. That year I met what was to become my extended family. Coach george kendrick , coach fred and marvin march were my mentors. Tom arnold chris lynn larry chambers george roycroft and big daddy kirby my brothers. Not to mention their were so many others. Johnny hunt dave eaton kevin moore huff k9 big ben chris detty and the list goes on.In 1992 I rode the pine. Most would have quit. I could not except fred giving up on me, tom and chris bruising me everyday for nothing .I also watched something great happen that year that would change me forever . Mr. George was inducted into the semi pro hall of fame. People loved this man. Who he was as a person . What he does for the town of arbutus . I wanted to be him . I wanted to know that feeling . In 1993 I started in 7 games . By 19994 I started every game and played in my first all league game . Most of this was to the thanks of tom ,chris andfred .more so to my new mentor kirby. . In 94 kirby stripped me of all the extra padding and turned me into a football player. He led by example and we followed. Our defense later became something beyond great. In 1995 I went to my second all league game and was arbutus defensive player of the year . Also made honorable mention all american team . In 1996 arbutus football celebrated its 70th year. Who knew our defense was about to change how arbutus defense was to be played for ever on. I played in my now third all league game and made the second team all american roster. We went 6 & 4that year but greatness was just around the corner. In 1997 we went 6&6 losing in the playoffs. My big brother tom arnold had his jersey retired #75 and I made my forth all league appearance. I also made the second team all american roster. Our defense was ranked number 1 in the mason dixon . Number 7 in the region and number 22 in the east coast . In 1998 change had come. After long grinding years the pieces came together. Our defense lead by kirby and moore would become untouchable. This would be the best defense to ever come through arbutus to date. Dave eaton , kevin moore , charles kirby , kenny k9 williams, sam big kat williams , jermaine johnson chris detty , eric forster , justin clark , jose tomlin, my man james lewis , george roycroft and myself. Too many more to name. By all good fortune the m.d.f.l. championship was moved to our home field. I dont think this was ever done before. That november night we were champions . The weight was lifted. We were ranked 28th by coaches poll in the nation and 13th by american football association . I played in my fifth all league game made first team all american along with 7 other of my team players and was asked to my first casino bowl. But unfortunately I was unable to go. Coach george , fred and marvin watched most of us grow into a tight family since 1991. They pushed us to that great day. In 1999 we fell short of another tittle to the west demptford Broncos. I played in my sixth and last all league game. In 2000 I suffered a year ending injury and hung up the cleats . I missed them everyday. 2001 I tried to return but the leg said no . And once again came along coach george with the next decade of my life . He elected me into the arbutus A.A. . I started out as a 6-8 defensive coach . Wow I found a new love coaching the little guys. We were terrible. Lol. We might have won two games. But here I was hanging with tom arnold George roycroft , matt duffy and terry krug . Terry also played on the 1982 83 semi pro championship teams. This was great I had a chance at football once again . 2002 I coached 6-8 once again this time as the defensive coordinator . We ranked #1 in defense giving up just 12 points a game . Great for a 6-8 club . During this year I wanted coach george to be proud of me . I then took over the job as equipment manager for six of our football teams . I was chairman of the yearbook field committee, and co chairman for the banquets. In 2003 I wanted to do more. I became head coach of our 7-9 football team . I also became elected president of arbutus A.A. that year my team went 7-3 #1 ranked defense only letting up 6.5 points a game. Thanks to my staff of matt duffy joe mohler mike gamber kevin betters and arron easter. We fell one game short of the superbowl. I grew close to an arbutus legend todd denner. He took me under his wing and taught me his defense . We would go on to many football coaching clinics and many hours in his basement to learn this game . To serve arbutus I continued to be the equipment manager , chairman of the yearbook , player awards , banquets and field committee. 2004 I once again was president of arbutus A.A. and defensive coordinator for 8-10 . I coached under scott englehart and along with matt duffy , joe mohler and arron easter. We went 5-5 posted another great defense but lost first round of the playoffs. This season as equipment manager was tough. I was responsible for 217 football players nine football teams. I still managed to be chairman of player awards , and field committee. 2005 I took on my third term as president of arbutuss A.A. . I was now head coach of 8-10 football. We went 7- 3 falling one game short of the superbowl. I was the defensive coordinator and again #1 ranked defense. My coaching staff was matt duffy , henry karcher and dave trott. I was equipment manager now for 11 football teams most ever in arbutus and 230 players again most in arbutus history. I still managed to be chairman of the yearbook , crab raffle ,patron drive , field committee , fall dance , homecoming and helped my wife run concessions . In 2006 I stepped down from president for todd denner. I was still head coach and defensive coordinator of 8-10 posted a 9-1 season the #1 ranked defense letting up just 8 points a game and again falling just one game short of the superbowl. My staff was tom arnold , ross kendrick , george roycroft and sean simpson . I was chairman of the yearbook , crab raffle , homecoming , parade cordinator , and sat on the board of directors. I was now equipment manager for a new record 12 teams 234 players. In 2007 I moved to 9-11 to be defensive coordinator for matt duffy . Our defense was ranked #2 letting up just 9 points a game . This time makeing my first superbowl appearance. We lost 12 to zip. Fellow coaches were tom arnold and sean simpson . I still remained equipment manager for 10 teams this season 194 players. I only chaired our banquets that year. In 2008 I made one of the worst mistakes of my life. Unannounced I walked away from arbutus A.A. . Looking back I wish I would have made a better choice. It was a tough time in my life but I shared it with knowone. Arbutus lost a great man, coach and my best friend that year, Carl linton known as coach thunder.we miss you. In 2009 I came back as a defensive coordinator for tom . We had a very good season but came up short in the big game . That season was tough for me . I carried a quilt the whole season for walking out in 2008 the way I did. I let my extended family down. The only way to make mends would to be to come back and become close to my family once more and forever . Coach marvin once called me little george kendrick. Wow what an honor. Arbutus saved my life . Raised my kids. Made me a man . So I returned. 2011 I was head coach of arbutus first ever 18u arena team . Back with tom arnold and matt duffy . Home again . We went 6-2 won the division but lost in the states. In 2012 I coached 8u arena along side my son and under tom arnold. I also was a linebacker coach for saint frances high school academy. We won the miaa c conference.this brought in my life a great man Messay hailemariam . This man would help bring me closer to my faith in god. So Like always my love for equipment took over and I was the manager for jv and varsity at saint frances. Lol. In 2013 I continued to do equipment for saint frances and assisted my son as a defensive coordinator for arbutus 7-9 football under coach tom arnold . We went 7-2 but lost in the playoffs . Finishing ranked 10th in the state . As for saint frances we moved to miaa A and finished 3-3 . Not bad for the best ball in the state. I now want to continue my path through football helping where ever I am needed. I love the people in my life right now and this is what I was ment to do. I was once told to take care of the queen bee at home for she makes it posdible for me to be who I am . So sara I love you very much . Thank you . Also thank you to all mentioned. .
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 21:47:38 +0000
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