Speaking of Sports Column Archive

Speaking
of Sports

by
Bernie Fratto

They Call Him Coach

September 14, 2010

Missouri is the ‘show-me’ State, and when you’ve cut your teeth as a Coach at Southwest Baptist, you’ve earned your stripes. Hold that thought.

But whether it be Missouri or Michigan, when it comes to coaching high school football, a simple phrase comes to mind; “This job ain’t so easy.”

Prior to this season, Novi High School had featured only two Head Football Coaches in 43-years. Enter Todd Pennycuff… He is of course, no stranger to Wildcat football, but that doesn’t lessen the challenge of following two coaching legends named John Osborne and Tab Kellepourey.

And, coaching these days requires a multi-dimensional dynamic. A leader of this sort must wear many hats… Leader, teacher, confidant, motivator, booster, representative of the local community, and of course, an expert in the area of x’s and o’s. These are just some of the many facets of being a varsity head football coach in a prominent city like Novi.

Add to that the economic challenges that have beset the area, and assembling a competitive unit ain’t so easy…

Here in Las Vegas, I continue to keep my pulse on the high school football scene, and last Friday I saw Silverado host Liberty High School. I reference this game, because Silverado’s offensive coordinator is the legendary Randall Cunningham. Yes, that Randall Cunningham, a man that QB’d the Eagles and Vikings and presided over many high-powered offenses.

Meanwhile, Coach Pennycuff’s Wildcats were putting up 35 points in an impressive win over Salem, their 2nd in a row.

So how did Coach Cunningham’s team do that night? …They were shut out! This job ain’t so easy, even for a College Hall-of-Famer like Randall Cunningham.

But with a great community like Novi, the established tradition entrenched at Novi High School, and a coach that learned his trade in the ‘show-me’ state, the future is still bright.

When enough people care, and are all pulling in the same direction, anything can happen. That’s the greatness of Novi.

This week South Lyon East will tee it up against the latest version of the Novi Wildcats, and when they step on the field against the green and white, believe me, it won’t be so easy!

Coach Pennycuff and his charges will make sure of that.