Kenny Hardin, Salisbury City Councilman
♦ The Game Plan for Life Team came to Hornet Country earlier this afternoon and immersed themselves in the red, black and gold pride that is Salisbury High School. A packed auditorium from the ground level seats to the balcony welcomed the GPFL presenters, local business leaders, the Sheriff, the Police Chief Brian Stallings and local political representatives.
Salisbury High Principal, Luke Brown, opened the session by ensuring calm and discipline before turning things over to Rowan Kannapolis Alcohol Beverage Control Board CEO, Terry Osborne. Terry kicked things off in his usual style of expertly drawing the audience in with a realistic message of the dangers of underage drinking and driving under the influence. He flawlessly interwove fatal accident statistics with a message of genuine caring. He used personal real life examples of tragic outcomes if students opted to drink and drive. His approach was not heavy handed nor was it overly preachy. He effectively got his message across with a genuine undertone of fatherly concern that resonated with the crowd of young people.
Terry turned the microphone over to Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten, a 1979 graduate of Salisbury High School, and a good athlete in his days of youth at SHS. Sheriff Auten had the privilege of introducing the first speaker, Perry Tuttle, who he called a personal friend and an athletic foe during his high school days. The Sheriff made mention of Tuttle’s illustrious All-American college football career at Clemson, but weighed in heavier on his strong personal character as a great father and as an advocate for youth education.
As any greatly accomplished person would naturally do, Tuttle showed amazing humility and graciousness from the outset. He didn’t begin his remarks as if he was conducting a speech for a crowded auditorium of 9th – 12th graders, but more of a conversation with an extension of his own six kids. He shared personal stories of his interactions with his children detailing how he wanted them to know him on a deeper and personal level as they began to age out of their teenaged years. He told of interactions where he allowed his children to ask him 15 questions on any topic and he would answer honestly. From those question and answer sessions, he turned it into a best-selling guide book for other parents to use.
He wove a story of how in the 3rd grade, a teacher who had difficulty with him and didn’t take the time to invest in him, labeled him as “stupid” and “dumb.” As a result, she placed him in Special Education classes and failed him his 3rd grade year. When he finally reached the 4th grade, a football coach did believe in him and told him that he would someday play in the NFL. He said that the confidence shown in him by the coach motivated and propelled him to achieve for the remainder of his formative educational years.
He wowed the crowd with stories of his being highly recruited as a High School senior by Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and other big name Division I schools. He finally decided on Clemson and blazed a path of athletic excellence and dominance as a wide receiver before moving on to be drafted by the Buffalo Bills.
He held up a copy of the cover of the 1982 Sports Illustrated magazine that showed his game winning catch that secured the national championship for Clemson over Nebraska. Tuttle, with football in hand, re-lived that moment for the auditorium letting everyone in on the huddle conversation between him and the QB. He then demonstrated the play from calling the signal, the snap, the throw and his game winning catch that was captured for the world to see. But, what he did next was better than that catch and brought a valuable point home to the students.
He placed the football on the floor and stomped down on it. He asked the room if he could stand on the football and a resounding “no” came from the crowd. Point made. He urged the students to find something sturdier in life to stand on. He honestly shared how football made him rich enough to buy all the things he had dreamed of, but owning all the toys and materialism never brought him true fulfilment.
He made numerous additional strong points that were as valuable as the football stand, but the one that resonated with me and many others was his position on reading. He said that when he met his future wife, she asked him what books he had read. He replied that he was in the NFL and didn’t need to read. Her response to him was that a person who doesn’t read is no different than a person who can’t read. He said that statement woke him up and changed his mindset about the importance of reading.
Tuttle ended his remarks focusing on trust and implored the students to believe that their teachers and parents had their best interest in mind. He closed by going back to the teacher who failed him in the 3rd grade, but reiterated how much the Coach who helped him believe and dream meant so much more. He encouraged the students to dream as he walked off to thunderous and appreciative applause.
As we waited for the next speaker to arrive, Terry allowed me the opportunity to briefly address the crowd. This was special to me as a 1983 Salisbury High graduate. I told the Students to never stop and accept where they were because it’s not where you start, but where you finish. I then had the honor of introducing 2011 SHS graduate Jay Watkins. Jay received a rousing welcome from the Hornet faithful. He shared a brief story of his travels, challenges and successes since leaving SHS and as a graduate of UNC-Charlotte. His story was well received and was a great segue way for the next GPFL speaker.
Before Terry Osborne took to the mic again, Principal Luke Brown called the Boys State Championship Soccer Team to the stage where they all received their state champion rings. It was great to be a part of that celebration. Hornet Pride!
Afterwards, Terry introduced former UNC Tarheel basketball legend and NBA great Al Wood. Due to travel delay issues, Wood’s remarks were brief but very powerful. He took to the mic and exhibited a high energy presentation where he challenged the students to think and make good decisions. Wood pulled no punches and introduced himself to the crowd as having a PhD in making bad decisions earlier in his life. He clarified by saying he didn’t make detrimental decisions, but could’ve made better ones. As he closed out, he had the entire auditorium repeat a pledge that they will own their lives, not follow the crowd and make positive choices.
Another great GPFL session. I’m extremely appreciative of my Brother Chris Sifford and Terry Osborne for allowing me to take part in this important initiative.
Game Plan for Life:
Best Selling Book “Game Plan for Life” by Coach Joe Gibbs:
Salisbury High School Auditorium Packed with Students for Game Plan for Life Program:
NFL and Clemson Football Immortal Perry Tuttle with City Councilman Kenny Hardin:
SHS Principal Luke Brown and Sheriff Kevin Auten Address the Students:
Terry Osborne was a Hit with the Students:
Jay and Jeff Watkins:
SHS State Soccer Champions being Honored:
Kenny Hardin tells the Game Plan for Life Assembly: “Its Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish.”:
Breaking Bread:
NBA and North Carolina Basketball Great Al Wood:
Terry Osborne, Sheriff Kevin Auten, Perry Tuttle, Al Wood, and Kenny Hardin
Sheriff Autin, Perry Tuttle with Student Body President Tarik Woods:
