[Ring'Em Up]

I hesitate to type this because it is personal, but for all the Matney haters, or at least the ones who want to disagree with him, let me share something with you. I have said before on here that Jim Matney was the first high school player I ever met. He was a member of my father's church in Belfry. I have know him for some 35 years. Anytime I see him, he takes time to talk, but that is not the story. After the game, I walked out to midfield to see Jim. He looked at me and grinned and said he almost didn't recognize me. He stuck his hand out, but instead I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and he hugged me and told me back the same. I told him it was a good game and he thought it was too. This next part may mean more to the Belfry people. I told him that when avid Belfry fan, and long- time Matney supporter, Frank O'brien died, I had thought a lot about him. He said that he had been having a hard time handling Frank's death, and we also mentioned the passing of Ron May, who was Dick Roddy's top man back in the 70s and early 80s. We both stood there with tears in our eyes and choked up. He mentioned some other folks that were close to him in the Pond Creek area that were gone, and how much they had meant to him. How many of you out there have seen this side of Jim? He went on to say that it was just a great game between two great teams and his kids and Belfry's kids had played hard. He praised Haywood for the fake punt call and said he could not believe it happened. When you down a coach, sometimes you forget where you came from and where you are. Have I always agreed with Matney over the years? No. Has he done things his own way? Yes. Be glad for what you have, or it could be gone.

For me, the best post in history of BGR. And from a Belfry fan. That's awesome.