A Crucial Decision
Pearl River College (Now Pearl River
Community College) was a small picturesque junior college situated in the
beautiful countryside of South Mississippi back in 1960, At this school
located immediately adjacent to U.S. Highway 11, which still separates PRC from
the city of Poplarville, a young former football player, Tim Mallory, had been an intelligent, successful offensive guard and linebacker
who so impressed the football coach, Coach T. D. Dobie Holden, that the ol' man asked him to be an assistant during spring football practice. He
requested that the young man do so until Dobie could hire a seasoned football assistant coach for next fall.
Soon after PRC spring training was completed, Coach had Tim stop by his office where he thanked him for helping. Then, to Tim's surprise, he offered him the job as assistant coach. He stood shocked as
the highly regarded Coach smiled and said, "That's a big decision, Tim, and I know it, huh, huh, huh. So, take a few days, mull it over, and then tell me what you want to do."
Two days after the job was offered, Tim received word that the basketball coach, Jack Gallagher, wanted to see him in his gymnasium office. Jack was a Yankee who migrated south and starred as a college basketball player, making the little All-American team his senior year at Mississippi Southern College in Hattiesburg (Now the University of Southern Mississippi.) He stood about five feet, eleven inches tall, weighed 175 pounds, and had a ready smile for anyone who was civil toward him. However, should the situation call for such, he could exchange caustically cutting, penetrating barbs with the best. He was quick-witted, and both Jeb and Tim liked and respected him.
"I heard you've been looking for me, Coach," Tim said at the door before entering the office.
"Yes, I have. C'mon in, Tim, and have a seat. He moved from behind his desk and dragged a chair over for the young man.
"Tim," he said pensively, "I understand you've been offered a coaching job."
"Yes, Sir, Coach," Tim beamed, "I have."
"Are you going to accept it?"
"I don't know, yet," Tim responded truthfully. "I've been giving it serious thought. It's one helluva opportunity for me."
"Is it?" The coach queried while forcing a smile. "Is it really?"
"I think so, Coach," Tim answered hesitantly. "But, from the tone of your voice and comments, I gather you don't think I should take the job." A grin covered his face as the coach chuckled and gushed, "I've always said you were brilliant, and there you go proving it again," he chuckled. "No, Tim, I don't think it's a good idea a'tall. And, I guess you'd like to hear why." Tim laughed uncomfortably and nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, Sir, I've thought about several reasons why I should accept it and would appreciate hearing rationale for not doing so. Then, hopefully, I'll make an informed choice one way or the other."
"Okay, Tim," Gallagher sighed, "here it goes. First, you don't even have an associate degree, much less a bachelor or master's degree. And, considering the way you'll be worked around here, completing those requirements will be awfully difficult, if not impossible. I know you like the ol' man very much, and he feels the same about you. But coaching comes first and personal matters, such as education, come afterward. And the coaching time is so demanding, there is damned little time to do anything else. Secondly, you plan to marry that pretty little Adrienne, don't ya'?"
"Yes, Sir, I do."
"Good! Then, let me tell ya' from my own personal experience that most coaches barely make enough money to survive; not enough to buy things that wives want and rightfully deserve." These remarks caused thoughts to flash through Tim's mind. He'd heard through campus gossip that Mrs. Gallagher was considerably unhappy about not having a home, new car, and pretty clothes like other women of her age and background. Rumor had it that she led him a fairly miserable existence due to his relatively meager income. And was pressuring him to quit the coaching profession and find a lucrative occupation.
"Third, and most importantly, Tim, if you sidetrack yourself now, you might forever lose the wonderful future I feel is so close for you, yet so fleeting. Just waiting there for you to stretch a bit more in order to grasp it."
It was evident that Jack Gallagher had strong feelings about what he was saying, probably projecting himself into this young man's place. Wishing he had made a different move somewhere in his past. "Please, don't deny yourself and that pretty little girl. Don't settle for the dregs of today for the promise of tomorrow. Tell him how much you appreciate the opportunity, but no thanks. I'm quite sure you'd be one helluva coach. You are truly a gem in the rough whose eventual worth will be determined by the precisioned cuts of time. However," he agonized, "you have much more potential than being a coach. Don't stop to play with agates when diamonds await you. For God's sake," he implored, "keep your nose to the grindstone; keep expanding your mind and abilities; and don't ever, ever stop, or look back." He paused a moment, reflected then said, "He loves you, Tim, and will understand, and be happy for you." Gallagher's assertive, probing assessment and dynamic delivery trailed off toward the end in a pleading, emotional manner. Afterward, he got up from his desk, walked to a window and quietly gazed out as his passionate emotions dampened.
Tim sat quietly in the chair running the impassioned comments through his mental processes. He had reservations about accepting the job but his emotional attachment to Coach Holden had clouded the issue. Coach Gallagher had stripped the emotional curtain and forced him to evaluate the matter in a more objective manner. He knew now that he couldn't afford to be derailed, though this realization saddened him. He
had strong emotional feeling regarding Coach Dobie Holden and enjoyed working with the coaching legend.
He would miss Coach's sage wit and clever use of reverse psychology, his wonderfully dry sense of humor, and the thrill of being present as the genius developed defensive or offensive schemes. Schemes that would drive opposing coaches up the wall trying to stymie or counter them. On the other hand, in harmony with Coach Gallagher's comments, he heard his high school principal warning him. "Do not fail to realize your full potential. Properly focus all energy and attentions toward its achievement. Don't waiver, for whatever reason," he had said, "or you might never regain the momentum."
"Tim," Coach Gallagher said quietly while gazing out the window, "you'd better get outta' here before I start preaching again. But, before ya' go," he continued as he turned to face the young man, "let me leave you with another thought. Somewhere in the future, you will achieve tremendous success and search the past for reasons why. You
gifted people are prone to do that." A smile slipped across his face as he slowly shook his head and stated, "Yes, sir, one day you might even reflect upon our conversation. If you do, just remember that Coach Holden wasn't the only one who admired and wished you well." Emotion was so thick in the room that one could have cut it when Tim, touched deeply by such caring remarks, stood to leave. He firmly shook Coach Gallagher's hand and replied, "Thank ya', Coach Gallagher. I shall not forget."