COMMENTARY: HS football coach more than deserving of award
The speech Cleveland Hill football coach Glen Graham gave inside of a solemn Sahlen's Stadium locker room six years ago is one I'll never forget.
Graham's Golden Eagles (Section VI) had just endured a crushing season-ending loss to Chenango Forks (Section IV) on a snowy, frigid November afternoon at the Rochester soccer complex — now named Marina Auto Stadium — that hosted the 2013 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class C semifinals.
As expected, the Cleve Hill players were already shedding tears when I entered the locker room, for an historic season had just ended. They entered the game unbeaten and left with school records for wins (11), points against (6.5 per game) and their 354 points scored were just five away from the single-season points mark.
I shook hands with every player — many were younger brothers of my classmates or former neighbors who grew up nearby my former Cedar Road home in Cheektowaga.
Graham addressed the team with powerful words. His message was to not be sad. They accomplished too much to be. He told them they were the greatest football team to ever don the blue and gold.
I am proud to know them, and I am proud to know him.
A similar sense of pride overwhelmed me when I discovered Graham's nomination as the NYSPHSAA Coach of the Year last week. The recommendation qualifies Graham and other nominees for national awards. Once the NYSPHSAA submits the names of coaches from all of the other sports to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), Graham will then be considered the NYSPHSAA Coach of the Year in football, and will then be eligible for the NFHS Section 1 Coach of the Year and NFHS National Coach of the Year.
Seeing that the NYSPHSAA set its second annual Coaches Appreciation Day for Wednesday, the timing to show my gratitude for my former football coach is fitting.
Graham is more than deserving of the nomination. He's been more than a coach to the football players and track and field athletes ever under his tutelage. He's a man of morals, humor, admiration and pride, giving back to his alma mater to guide children who are roaming the same halls he once did.
Once the clock struck 2:36 p.m. and student-athletes headed for the athletics grounds, Graham gift-wrapped life lessons disguised as discipline. He pushed you beyond what you thought — or hoped — your limits were throughout his 15-year tenure.
Graham was one of my favorite teachers, even though I struggled mightily in science. His wit made me eager to learn, and although I'd sit at the front of the class attempting to earn more stripes as a class clown, he'd tolerate me to a degree — I knew my limits in his classroom lol.
Covering sports helped me rekindle my relationship with my high school. When I discovered my passion for journalism in Ms. Daniel's 10th grade English class, I didn't imagine that I'd enjoy covering prep sports so much.
Writing about the student-athletes and coaches from my own high school helped.
As for the Cleve Hill football team, the Golden Eagles have done pretty well since that somber Saturday at Sahlen's Stadium. They've won four Section VI titles since then — and five in six title game appearances since 2011 — and advanced to the state semifinals in 2017 and 2018.
In fact, Cleve Hill would've played Holland Patent for a spot in the state final if the Golden Knights made it through regionals in November.
Living three hours away with my own football games to cover has kept me from seeing Cleve Hill play in person for a few years now. My best chance is to catch the Eagles if they advance to the state championship game at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
When Cleveland Hill punches its ticket to the state title game, you can rest assured that I'll be there.
Hopefully, that'll be for another column.
Contact reporter Marquel Slaughter at 315-792-4963 or follow him on Twitter @OD_Slaughter.
Submit Announcements & News
Your Community News
Herkimer County
Oneida-Verona
Blogs - Living - Sports
Uticaod ~ 221 Oriskany Plaza, Utica, NY 13501 ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Cookie Policy ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service ~ Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy
Utica Comets
MV All-Stars
Manage My Subcription
Scene Marketplace