By JOE HOLTZAPFEL
I had the chance to see one of Ironton's finest play in the Shoe one Saturday afternoon.
Judge Clark Collins gave me tickets to see Ohio State play Bowling Green and as it just so happened one of Ironton's former players ran out of the tunnel for the first time. Tyler Whaley ran out of the tunnel and I am not one to be emotional but that day tears ran down my rosy red cheeks.
To top it off, they announced the candidates to be inducted into the Ohio High School Hall of Fame. One of the candidates was none other than Bob Lutz whose name appeared on the Jumbotron.
I was one proud Irontonian sitting in the upper reaches of "C" deck.
One afternoon at practice on the new turf, who walked into the stadium but none other than Coaches Lutz and Burcham. It was Coach Lutz's first trip into the stadium with new turf and his name on both sidelines. I don't know if you have ever noticed but there are white boxes on both sides of the field. They are to keep coaches and players away from the field during play. Another noticeable thing are the black lines that run the length of the field on both sides.
Bob noticed these lines right away and being a perfectionist he looked at me and said, "Those media lines don't need to run through the white coach's boxes."
Me and my big mouth said those aren't media lines.
Then Coach said in his stern way, "Then just what are they."
After I got my foot out of my mouth I said, "Those are out of bounds soccer lines."
I don't think he talked to me the rest of the day. (LOL) There are dots around the field for more lines if they ever are needed. Coach Lutz could never get into soccer.
Coach Lutz now lives in Southern Florida on the Gulf Coast side. That part of Florida is beautiful as I lived in Sarasota for a year and know first hand. Bob attends church every Sunday and he decided he wanted to join the men's choir. Well this church was very particular who sings in the choir so you have to fill out an application to join. You also have to undergo an interview. So you can imagine what was on Bob's application. This church also had a high school who had a football team. During the interview they ask Bob if he would be interested in coaching the high school football team.
In his own sort of way Bob looked at them and said,"No just want to join the choir."
All the things I have written about Coach was all in good fun. He is without a doubt the greatest football coach in Ironton history. Not only in Ironton history but the State history as well.
I could go as far to say just what Jeff Handley said,"Coach of the World."
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