Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Now that high school season is underway, I will tell you about my first season as a high school coach at Williamston High School. The year was 1979 and we played Ayden-Grifton high school in our first game of the year.

The ride to Ayden- Grifton high school was in the rain, and I was scared how the rain would affect the outcome of the game. The whole way to Ayden, I studied my game plan, seeing what I could do to give my team a chance to compete and win!

The opposing team had a history of winning their first football game. The opportunity for me to win was slim and none. Still, with two Division 1 prospects, we had a chance to win.

The game started with the opening kickoff, and I glanced down and saw my dad propped against the opposing team goal posts. He had not paid much attention to me as head coach. He had rather for me to be farming like he was. He later changed his mind and was proud that I was the head coach in Williamston.

We won that game that night 21-7 and continued on to win eight that season. We lost twice against two of the best teams in the league, Ahoskie and Edenton.

You never know who’s looking at you. I wish I had a picture of him propped up on that goal post, I’d frame it because he said he didn’t care that much. Mama said he sat up every Friday night until Coach Wagner called him or until the score came on the television.

Young coaches, you’ll never know who’s looking at you, so be careful what you do or say. I never knew my father was there until I looked down at the opposing goal posts that Friday night.

The best of times with best of friends in the best of places Washington, N.C. The Original Washington!

Harold Jr