Elgin state title culmination of years of hard work

Success in coaching is often about timing and the ability to ask the right questions along the journey.

For Elgin football coach Chalmer Wyatt, his timing was on track as he worked his way up the coaching ladder from being a player, to learning the ropes as an assistant coach and making sure to dot all the I’s and T’s along the way.

His timing was perfect as our paths never crossed until a couple of years ago, so he never asked this writer a question that I have often been asked by young coaches. The question involves the Goodman “Alma Mater measure” which can be tricky to maneuver.

We’ve seen many young coaches return to their alma mater to coach and there have been failures along the way. The problem often comes about when former teammates and friends wind up having sons or daughters playing for their old buddy and when those players don’t get on the field enough or aren’t featured in prominent roles, it can cause stress.

Each situation is different but even when Wyatt was in his first few years as the Owls’ head coach, the team was struggling. He was able to get through that period by exhibiting a great deal of patience and surrounding himself with good assistant coaches. That combination helped the Owls survive that heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Claremore last season in the playoffs and only served to motivate the players and coaches over the summer and into the fall practices.

Saturday the journey was not completed, just extended. The players and coaches on the field Saturday were already talking about extending the winning streak and building an even stronger program. And, Wyatt’s former teammates were hugging him and picking him up in celebration.

So, what makes Wyatt a good coach? First and foremost, he knows the people who were on the journey with him and helped make the title possible. The first person he shakes hands with when he walks onto the field is his dad, Wes Wyatt.

Wes and I had crossed paths when he was helping Dub Woolbright coach the Owls girls basketball team when my niece Kim Kerr Squires was playing for Elgin. Wes was a young coach who moved around early in his career but the journey seemed to always return to the Elgin-Sterling area where the family farm/ranch was located.

Wes and I get along great, probably because we’re about the same age and we’ve both seen the good and bad side of athletics.

I enjoyed watching other dads on the field Saturday, each with a different story. Quiet Curtis Lorah showed the most emotion I’ve ever seen, running up and down the sideline revving up the Elgin fans and cheering on son Tres who was leading the Owls on the field as quarterback.

Curtis had coached the Owls during his career and seen two older sons lead the Owls but never had the family gotten its hands on the prized Gold Ball until Saturday.

Then there was Randy Breeze who led Lawton High to a long string of district titles and a runner-up finish in rugged Class 6A during his tenure. He was keeping me updated on what the Owls were getting ready to use to beat the Tuttle secondary as son Ryan, Wyatt and offensive coordinator Adam Castro were cooking up another successful play.

It was fun to sit back and watch the game unfold and then to witness the celebration.

There were so many people involved in the effort that Coach Wyatt spent a half-hour discussing how it all panned out.

“Amy Underhill has done an amazing job helping our program,” he said. “She coordinated all the away meals, she helped get the coaching gear printed and she’s doing all this even though her son played two years ago. She said she loves me and and the players and just wanted to help. Brian Begley is our booster club president and he’s been a pleasure to work with this season.”

He also gave credit to the Elgin administration.

“Curtis Lorah is just great,” Wyatt said. “I played for him and now as our high school principal he is so valuable to our program. All three of his and Tomi’s boys—Garrett, Brett and Tres—played quarterback here at Elgin. Of course Nate Meraz is a huge part of this as our superintendent. The entire administration has been great in helping us reach this level.”

Wyatt was also proud that his team claimed its third straight academic state championship as well this season, with Lorah, Meraz and Elgin Athletic Director Damon Hitt receiving the award prior to kickoff Saturday.

Wyatt also gave credit to his extended family that have been partners in the journey as well.

“David and Dustin Ballou are my brothers and David is the patriarch of the family cattle business,” Wyatt said. “I have long phone calls with those two offering to help in any way they can.”

Of course, the coaching staff has been a huge part of the journey.

“It’s funny but we tried to get Jack (Defensive coordinator Baker) twice and when he finally agreed to take this job it was a huge hire,” Wyatt said. “I knew what Jack was all about. It’s gotten to the point there is no place for me on the defensive side unless he needs me to help run drills. Jack has just been incredible.”

Wyatt admits the bond he and Adam Castro have forged has been huge in the success of the Owls.

“We came here together and we’ve become best friends,” Wyatt said. “We had no shot without him coming on board.”

The other assistants know their roles and help the group function perfectly.

“Lance (Hill) is really the glue; he’s been around and he handles the weight and strength program,” Wyatt said. “Cody (Rowell) has been here longer than any of us and he knows what we are doing on both sides of the ball and he takes that to the younger kids he coaches. We are in unison. After the Wagoner game Cody pulled me back and said, “you’re almost there.’ Cody is a very positive person. He’s done a great job with the wrestling program but he’s also a great football coach.”

“Coach ‘O’ (Orrin Forsythe) and Coach (Andrew) Park are both good young defensive coaches who do their jobs and work well with the kids. Then there’s Doug Beach; he’s never missed a Sunday when we break down film and work to get ready for the next game. He’s just a great guy and is dedicated to the program even though his job at OSU is an important one, but he still makes time to come and work in the press box.”

Wyatt also said that it has been great having Ashley Love as the trainer for Elgin, handling such an important part of the program.

“This is Ashley’s third year with us and she really takes a great deal of that load off the coaches,” he said. “She does the treatment, helps with rehab and she’s been able to get those big guys taped and into braces to keep them going. Chief (Lawton Fire Chief Jared) Williams also helps with making sure our athletes are treated quickly when needed. And our athletic director Damon Hitt has done so many things to benefit this program. He just loves the athletes and wants them to have the best.”

Wyatt also offered thanks to the Elgin band, the Owlettes, the cheerleaders and all the fans who packed the visitor’s bleachers at Central Oklahoma’s Richison Field.

“The support was just amazing; they were loud and the never let up and that was huge to hear that support on the field,” Wyatt said.

Like any good coach, the spouse has a very tough job, managing the home and allowing the coach to spent hours watching video and preparing for games.

Wyatt gives his wife Elizabeth credit for making his life easier and being there for him through the good and bad. Saturday she offered up a special note before he left for the fieldhouse.

“My wife wrote me a note Saturday morning and I read it and kept it in my pocket during the game,” he said. “Wives of coaches have a tough job but she’s been great. She’s an Ike girl and while she was at OU and I was at Cameron, some of our friends introduced us and we just hit it off.”

There’s another member of the team that can’t be overlooked and that’s young Caroline Wyatt who won’t realize what all the fuss has been of late, however, when she gets older she will have plenty of video to watch and this is video you don’t have to break down for tendencies or weaknesses in the defense.

No, this video will be just for entertainment but to truly enjoy such an event, you had to be there; it’s a feeling like no other to see that Gold Ball being passed around to those whose blood, sweat and tears made it happen.