Terry Brown was a legislator who served in both houses, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, a businessman, and a Pee Wee football coach. While he was an effective legislator, he may have been an even better Pee Wee football coach. Maybe 20 years ago the Columbus Pee Wee program had only 3 or 4 teams and they had grown tired of playing each other repeatedly. They asked if a New Hope team would be willing to play. Terry Brown, coach of the Gold team, accepted the challenge and the teams met at the Heritage football field.
I was one of the referees for the game. If I remember correctly the kids were 6th or 7th graders. The Columbus team was huge and I remember the New Hope kids staring wide-eyed at their opponents. A couple of mothers expressed their concern to Terry, who completely ignored them. Terry walked away from everyone and yelled for his team to gather up for a meeting. Terry knelt down with his boys surrounding him, but I was unable to hear the speech he gave them. I don’t know what he said, but I’m sure it is something Bear Bryant would have been proud of. Terry’s itsy-bitsy boys arose with a look of pure determination.
For the next hour I witnessed one of the best efforts by both teams. I do not even remember who won the game. It was close and might have even been a tie. The score didn’t matter. Instead of the obligatory hand slap and “good game” after it was over, the teams met at mid-field and complimented each other one-on-one. The parents were all smiling and telling each other what a great game they had witnessed. In my opinion, this is what Pee Wee sports are all about. I am sure most of these young boys learned a valuable lesson that day–one they have most certainly used in their adult lives.
Terry recently battled another formidable opponent. I witnessed him exhibit the same resolve and determination in this fight. In the end, it wasn’t meant to be. I can picture Terry trotting to mid-field and shaking the hand of his opponent knowing he had given it his best.
Good game Coach Terry.
Tim Hudson, Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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