Doing good and Coach Hoblitzell’s defense
Introduction: Remarks in today’s column will range widely in scope. The column will not be a sports column so much in the sense of covering details or results of recent events; it will consider several of the items of people and marginal events which gave richness to the larger events they modified and amplified.
There will be remarks following giving attention to people and their contribution to the “big picture.” I have learned people like for their names to appear in the paper ( all of us). I just saw that I made a notation concerning items I intend to write in my column. One item stated “Names I will never type on my keyboard and that will never appear in one of my columns.” These people and events associated with them reach back for a few years and all have to do with athletic events and athletes at Calhoun High School. There is no dislike of people here; only strong exception taken to actions they performed ( not plays on the athletic playing field) or words and sentiments spoken. The number used to be two; it has now grown to four. All four had exceptional talent while manifesting ill- will toward fellow players or their coach. None involved this old coach except for the fact I was a witness of the actions and/ or words spoken. Let me begin with a non- athletic topic... Good deeds to and for others: This is the time of year that most of our hearts are touched and we lift up our eyes to the needs of those around us. It is sad that most of us are motivated concerning the needs of the less fortunate during short periods during the year. This is not to say many are not moved at other times.
Just last Sunday, I heard a sermon delivered by Jon Mitchell at the Calhoun Church of Christ as he referred to scriptures urging Christians in the early days of the church to not grow weary in well doing. That admonition by Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians is as applicable in our modern age as it was some 2,000 years ago.
Aren’t all of our hearts warmed as we see and hear of individuals wife, Sherry, came to Calhoun to coach and teach in 1972. During the years since then, both have given their time, their energy and their hearts to the activities of the school and the well- being of the students. Coach Richardson has performed in more athletic activities than I can name at this time.
One never sees D.A. or Sherry without realizing they have suffered more heartache than most of us can even imagine. The Richardson’s oldest son Lex was an outstanding athlete at Calhoun High in several sports. He played and starred on my 1982 football team and upon graduation went to Mississippi to play at a junior college near the home of where D.A. grew up. Sadly, on the way home early on a Friday morning following a football game the previous night, Lex was killed in a car accident near Floyd College close to the end of his journey. The Richardson’s youngest son, Allan, died a year or so later from a blood disease. It has been a matter of deep admiration for the Richardson’s over the years as I have observed them continue their lives in service with interest, enthusiasm and zest in all areas of the community they came and made their home for the last 45 years.
Coach George Hoblitzell and his great defense:
From Coach Richardson’s poster stating big players, big plays and a big game were all part of the story last Friday night when Calhoun defeated Peach County 10- 6 for the State Championship.
Operating largely out of the limelight, Coach George Hoblitzell, Calhoun’s defensive coordinator, has put together a defensive unit whose young man have become “big players” who made “big plays” during the season and in the “big game” last week at the “Benz.”
The Peach County team came into the game averaging nearly 50 points per game. Coach Hoblitzell’s defensive scheme used the big players to make big plays in what must be considered the big game of the season. Most observers thought it couldn’t be done, but when the game ended, the big- play defense had done their job.