by Larry Beckish

This is an excerpt from the book “I Believe in Cream, Apples, and Football – Thoughts for Coaches”.

The most valuable lesson I learned about coaching came from Frank Howard, Clemson’s legendary head football coach who led the Tigers for thirty-three seasons. It was a simple thought which forced a re-evaluation of my immature approach towards coaching college football. Now, years later, I wish I had a dollar for all the times I used the wiley Ol’ Coach’s admonishment to drive home the same point with other coaches.

Way back as a twenty-four year old, I had the good fortune to coach the wide receivers and tight ends at Clemson University. Clemson was my first opportunity to coach bigtime football. I didn’t learn a great deal about Xs and Os from the Baron of Barlow Bend, but I learned several lessons far more important than ones found in a playbook — especially one I learned during my first spring practice which made a significant impact on my future as a coach.

THE LESSON

The lesson was the result of an early morning staff meeting a few days after spring practice was underway. The first topic of discussion was personnel.

Coach Howard asked the staff, “How dem boys doin’ out there, men?” One by one the coaches around the table reported on the progress of their players. When my turn came I gave a rambling assessment of all the things the flankers, split ends, and tight ends couldn’t do. I emphasized the lack of speed, the inconsistency in catching the football, and the lack of toughness blocking downfield.

The Ol’ Coach slowly chewed his plug tobacco, occasionally spitting in a large paper cup, and slowly tapped his stubby, fat fingers on the huge, dark oak table as I carried on and on about the athletic deficiencies of the kids I coached. Finally, he pressed his ample belly against the table, spit in the cup and looked me directly in the eyes. With a slight touch of irritation in his gravelly voice, he said softly, “Boy, that’s why they put coach in front of your name.” Nothing else was said. In a heartbeat his point struck me right between the ears like a lightning bolt.

The Ol’ Coach with a simple, direct admonishment let me know in no uncertain terms it was my responsibility to help the kids develop the skills necessary to play the game. After the meeting adjourned, I walked out of the conference room thankful Coach Howard made the point without really taking me to task.

I believe as the result of that meeting I started a thirty-year evolutionary process of becoming a football coach, and not a guy who just happened to have “Coach” in front of his name.

I Believe . . .

Good coaches, regardless of their sport, have the ability to improvise and adjust (I and A). They possess the creativity to improvise ways to make themselves better coaches and their kids better players. They can easily adjust to unexpected circumstances without a rapid increase of their heart rate.

I Believe . . . If Coach Howard were alive today he would still call me, “Boy..

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This article is an excerpt from the book “I Believe in Cream, Apples, and Football – Thoughts for Coaches” by Larry Beckish

Coach Beckish is a member of the South Carolina State University coaching staff, coaching the Offensive Line. The list of coaches that Larry his worked with reads like a “Who’s Who” among coaching legends. His coaching stints include stops in the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten.

Larry played for four years at Wichita State University (1960-1965), and was team captain in 1963. Upon graduating from Wichita State, Beckish began his coaching career at the University of Tampa where he coached both the offensive and defensive lines.

After two seasons at Tampa, Beckish headed north to serve as the receivers coach at Clemson under the legendary Frank Howard. He moved south again for a season at the University of Miami before returning to Clemson as receivers coach and he coached the Tigers from 1971-1976.

After Clemson, Beckish returned to his alma mater to work with the legendary Willie Jeffries, who made history by becoming the first African-American head coach in Division 1-A. At WSU Coach Beckish, the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator and the staff developed the Trap Option.

Following three years with Jeffries, Beckish became an assistant at East Carolina for a season before joining the Arizona Wranglers of the now-defunct USFL. He later coached three seasons at the University of Minnesota as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Lou Holtz.

After brief retirement Larry returned to coach two seasons at Ole Miss (1990-1992) as well as a season with the Charlotte Rage of the Arena League. From 1995 through 1998 he coached at Duke. Larry recently worked as a ‘volunteer’ coach at Hilton Head High School in 2001 and 2002 before returning to college football in 2003.

During retirement from 1987-1990, he wrote ‘The Trap Option – 40 Plus 60 Equals Option.’ He also authored, ‘I Believe in Cream, Apples, and Football – Thoughts for Coaches’.

Order Larry’s eBook, Coaching the Option Quarterback from the CompuSports Media Exchange

LISTEN TO Coach Beckish on The Coaches Corner Football Coaching Podcast and hear him discuss other thoughts and ideas from I Believe.