[Devil68]

I was lucky enough to play for coach McGlone in the early 80's. We played in 4 state semifinals with my senior year ending with a 4 point difference between Russell and Danville. The 4 years we were in the semifinals the teams we played went on to be state champions and blew out their opponents by 30 and 40 pt. margins. Highlands twice, Conner and Danville. During those years I myself looked to coach McGlone as a father figure, since I didn't have one at home. He gave me advice and kept me out of trouble, because he knew the situation that each of his players were in at home and school. He knew what kind of style coaching each player needed to make them better. I love the man to death. And he still has a sharp mind. He can recall plays and situations from each game throughout his 38 yr career, and what we could have done different to win those ball games. He still today has one of the best football IQ's in the state, regardless of his age and medical condition. He was really looking forward to this season. He had a lot of talent returning and he new these next few years he had a lot of talent to work with. He can still win the big games with his style of football but you have to have the athletes to do it with.

My oldest son was a senior on the 2005 championship team. They were loaded with talent and they ran Ivan's wing T to perfection. Almost all of them went both ways. Covington Catholic came out with all their players playing one way, and it was the spread offense going up against the wing T. Guess what, they didn't know what hit them. They could not stop the wing T because we were talented at every position, and if every position carries out their assignment the wing T will still win ball games. We were the only public school to win a state championship that year. And we did it with the old wing T.

Ivan had some talent since the 2006 state runner-up team, but not like he had in the past years that would go deep into the playoffs. I think the next few years teams will have that talent and Ivan knows that. I feel that that's what Ivan had in mind. To take the talent he would have the next 3 seasons and then retire under his own terms with a championship team. Whether it was a district champ, region champ or state champ. It did not matter. He wanted that one last chance to go out as a champion.