Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Prairie Grove Coach Honored During Football Scrimmage
SURPRISE CEREMONY HONORING COACH CAME DURING SPRING GAME
PRAIRIE GROVE — The May 16 spring football scrimmage included a surprise for Prairie Grove head football coach Danny Abshier, who was honored by past players and his mentor, former Harrison and Huntsville coach Tommy Tice.
Abshier was named the National Federation of State High School Coaches Association’s Southwest Section Coach of the Year, as well as Arkansas Coach of the Year and the community gathered to recognize his leadership.
Superintendent Allen Williams presented the awards as Abshier was joined on the field by his wife, Kaye; sons, Patrick and Robby, their wives and children; and Abshier’s daughter, Ashton.
Former player Josh Vickery spoke first, recalling he was a sophomore when Coach Abshier showed up. Vickery referred to a quote by Christian author and speaker John Maxwell.
“When I was young I was certain about a lot of things, but now that I am older I am less certain about a lot of things,” Vickery said. “I am certain that as a husband and a father, those are simultaneously the two most joyful and stressful things as you journey through life. I am absolutely certain that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Honestly, at age 42, that’s my list of things I am certain about.”
Vickery went on to say as a person journeys through life there is only a handful of people, who will make an impact and Coach Abshier has been one of those for him. He recounted a story from his senior year when Abshier was head baseball coach.
Vickery and three of his baseball teammates took a senior skip day and went to the lake with the district tournament coming up.
“I came home and dad said Coach Abshier is fit to be tied, the only chance you got of playing in the district tournament is you better be at the field house at 7 a.m. in the morning,” Vickery said.
Somehow, Vickery got in touch with each of his teammates and they all showed up together the next morning. Abshier made them run the bases until they were exhausted.
“It was two miles,” Abshier said. “Over the next hour, we ran more than we had ever done so in our lives. However, after our sentence had been carried out, Coach Abshier said something that I’ll never forget,” Vickery said.
As the four were leaning up against the fence gasping for air, Coach Abshier walked over and said, “After a father disciplines his children, he always tells them how much he loves them, and I love you guys.”
He then turned and walked away with a tear in his eye.
“This was one of the moments in my life that truly changed my life and helped set my life on course,” Vickery said.
Brian Jones, one of Vickery’s teammates, who was
among the four players disciplined, was the second speaker. Jones said he was a troubled, young man who didn’t have many father figures in his life, but Abshier served that role and helped guide him into a better path.
” I feel like you shape the future for young men,” Jones said, addressing Abshier, as he spoke.
“He really was a troubled, young man,” Kaye Abshier said, explaining Jones’ speech was bringing a tear to her husband during the ceremony held at the 50-yard-line at Prairie Grove’s Tiger Den Stadium.
Tice recalled hiring Abshier to fill a position on his staff at Harrison, saying he called a good friend, Johnny Outlaw, at Arkadelphia, who said, “I’ve got a top prospect for you,” and recommended Abshier.
Tice praised Abshier for “the sometimes brutal honesty that he possesses,” and listed three qualities that make Abshier an outstanding coach, ability to inspire, ability to motivate and ability to demand.
“What a great accomplishment to spend 25 years in one place,” Tice said, explaining the majority of football coaches lasting that long in the profession move around a lot.
“We learned everything we know about football from them,” Kaye Abshier said, recalling the training ground Tommy and JoAnn Tice provided at Harrison.
“The people that talked tonight said the things I want to say,” Danny Abshier said. “The kids that are listening just see the old guy there, the 42-year-old; they don’t see the guy that was in shoulder pads over there sitting where they are sitting. It’s hard to relay, to put it in their head. Anyway, those guys said it well.”
Tice said, “The hiring of Danny Abshier as Prairie Grove High School head football coach is truly one of the greatest hires of all time.”
Few would argue.