Coach Gary Gaines

and the rich sports history of San Angelo

First off, I know what you’re thinking: “He’s writing about his hometown for the second straight time?!” And yes, you are right.

I originally planned to talk about Manti Te’o’s documentary on Netflix. However sometimes our best laid plans are not the best plans for you.

As I’ve mentioned before in this very newsletter, when people from NYC asked where I’m from, I never mentioned San Angelo. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed by it, but by the end of my time, I would just tell them “oh I’m from west Texas. Think Friday Night Lights.” Having said that, most people understood what I meant.

Side note:  Non Texans still haven’t understood what a homecoming mum is nor have they experienced the superior waffle found in motels in the shape of Texas.

Back to my original thoughts, recently Gary Gaines passed away in his seventies. Gaines was the head coach at Odessa Permian. He also coached at San Angelo Central.

Before I explain further for my non-Texan friends, there used to be a college conference called the SWC. It was primarily schools in west Texas. Before schools in large cities like Dallas or Houston started dominating the sport, the best football was played in the district both of the aforementioned schools played in. It was so tough that it was nicknamed the lil ole southwest conference. Gaines and his team made national waves when Buzz Bisinger wrote about it.

Years later, my dad told me he had met Coach Gaines when they both worked at SAISD and remembered him fondly as someone who was very nice and pleasant to him, a high school choir director.  My dad also reminded me yesterday that he worked with Jim Morris. Morris’ life was made into a movie called The Rookie. In the same way, my dad said similar things about him.

When someone like Gaines passes away, it’s natural to think about their life or the immense impact they’ve made in this area alone. I remembered that this city has its own long list of famous athletes or athletic figures.

In no particular order: David Hulse, Jim Morris, Emory Bellard, Taurean Prince, Jevan Snead, Clayton Weishuhn, Cliff Richey. I also found it funny/interesting that the first pick of the NBA draft in 1996, Allen Iverson’s mom lived here for a while when he still was in the nba. Throw in Gregg Maddux, Doc Edwards, and the various coaches that have come out of school at angelo state, it’s amazing for a city in the middle of nowhere to have the names we have who have connections In this town in middle of nowhere.

RIP Coach Gaines, tell Coach Doug McCutcheon i said hello when you see him.

Today’s gratitude list:

• To the wonderful couple who so graciously allowed me to ask for their advice. Thank you. I apologize for not keeping up over the years but look forward to maintaining a relationship

• To their grandson, Mason Brooks who was just named to the 20 under 40 list at just one year older than me. Please stop making me look bad haha

• To Hope the PetSmart Trainer, thank for being patient with Wally.

• To Dr. Anderson. Thank you again for following me. If you read this, I’d love to ask your advice on potential career moves.

• To Patricia, thank you once again for your volunteer work. This puppy is very hyper and keeps me up at night, but have fallen completely in love with her already even if she does take up my twin bed.

As always, try to do one kind thing for someone else. Compliment them or buy clothes that complement him. Sorry, bad dad joke.

Song of the day:

This song encourages me to put down my phone and experience life and beauty surrounding you.

Some videos and columns I’ve enjoyed:

https://youtube.com/shorts/mNFF0r-afKg?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/mNFF0r-afKg?feature=share