After more than a two-year absence from football, Ken Colquette just couldn’t stay away any longer.
One of the area’s true coaching legends, Colquette will work as the defensive backs coach at Ooltewah this season.
“I wasn’t doing much of anything besides reading and riding my motorcycle, so I was glad to know I could still help a team somewhere,” Colquette said. “I didn’t miss practice in the heat or the mad mamas you have to deal with, but I did miss working with the kids and just the feeling of Friday nights when you’re playing the game.
“I’ll try to be as much of a help as I can, but I’ve already told the trainers that if I get run over on the sideline, just call the funeral home and have them come pick me up there.”
Colquette, 65, was first a successful head coach at Bridgeport (Ala.) before taking over at Marion County in 1980 and guiding that program to unparalleled success. The Warriors won four state championships, were state runners-up twice and had just one losing season in his term. During one stretch in the mid-1990s, they went 56-1. After resigning from the Jasper school in 1996, Colquette coached at Vidalia (Ga.) and Grundy County before ending his head coaching career with a 249-81 record.
Colquette, who was Grundy County’s principal for eight years but has been retired from education since 2009, was contacted by Ooltewah coach Shannon Williams earlier this summer. After the two met and discussed coaching philosophies, they decided it would be a good fit.
“Honestly I didn’t know much about him other than that he had won a lot of games,” Williams said. “After I spoke to him I called [retired Ooltewah coach] Benny Monroe to ask his opinion, and Benny said if I had a chance to get Ken on the staff I’d better do it because he’s one of the best there is. Since he’s been here I can see why he was so successful. He is a wealth of knowledge and is great about giving his opinion on fine-tuning things.
“He’s a coach with some horsepower.”
Officials’ tribute
About an hour before Soddy-Daisy’s season opener tonight against visiting Baylor, the officiating crew working the game will visit the grave of one of their members who died at halftime of a game last season.
Jerry Green died of a brain aneurysm when Signal Mountain hosted Grundy County on Sept. 17. Green, a native of Soddy-Daisy, was a TSSAA football and basketball referee for 35 years.
Led by referee Bill Fairbanks, the officials will visit Green’s grave as a tribute before the season kicks off. Fairbanks’ crew also will wear wristbands with the initials “J.G.” during this season.
“It might sound cheesy, but we’re going to blow the whistle to signify the start of the season and say a few words just all as a tribute to Jerry,” Fairbanks said. “He was not only the umpire on my crew the past seven years, he was my best friend and will be dearly missed this season.”
Rams add big man
Tyner coach Wayne Turner is casting about for extra extra-large — as in 4X-plus — pairs of practice and game pants.
They’re for Chris Dukes, a freshman transfer from Mississippi.
“He’s 6-3 1/2 and 400 plus, and he isn’t a sloppy 400-plus,” Turner said Tuesday. “He brought me a physical today so we’re going to suit him up and then we’re going to see where we can go. He’ll probably wear 72 or 75. Those are the biggest jerseys I have. I’ve got shoulder pads and a helmet that will fit him, but pants — I don’t know. The biggest they make is 4X.”
Lamb still an Indian
All-state as a junior, noseguard Austin Lamb has returned to the fold at Sequatchie County.
The 5-10, 230-pound Lamb had debated the possibility of not playing this year and also had been rumored to be considering a transfer. He returned Monday to the Indians after a meeting with Sequatchie coach Chad Barger.
“He’s back,” Barger said. “He probably won’t play Friday, but he’s back.”
The Indians, who have graduated 35 players over the last two years, open tonight at York Institute.
Rhea adds transfers
Rhea County coach Doug Greene has picked up a couple of transfers who could wind up helping fairly soon. Vinny Aguiar is from New Jersey and Josh Davis is from Minnesota.
“Vinny’s a sophomore who’ll probably be a receiver. He runs well,” Greene said. “Davis will probably be a defensive back and wide receiver, although we’re also going to look at him at tight end.”