LETTERS: COACHES GUIDED '75 TEAMMATES TO EXCELLENCE

To the editor:

This letter is a reflection on the events in Houck Stadium during halftime ceremonies Oct. 21 honoring Southeast Missouri State University's last undefeated conference championship football team of 1975.

The recognition that was bestowed upon a group of individuals who have since grown was both humbling and satisfying. Memories exploded through the mind and, at times, were embellished through the lips. I only wish more of the teammates could have been there to share the moment.

The 1975 team is indeed a special one for its accomplishments, records and personnel. But the void that lingers is the acknowledgment, recognition, praise and public exultation of the coaches who recruited, trained, conditioned , built up, molded, guided and loved their players with one goal in mind: to be a team.

Jim Lohr, the late Kenny Hargens, Ryland Meyer and Gary Lynch pushed, pulled, chewed, patched, punished, loved, disciplined, guided and lectured as no other group of coaches has in the last 25 years of Southeast football.

Stories from teammates abound about experiences this group of men put their players through. Some players can even tell you that not only were they great coaches, but at times divine intervention would take place as most of us saw the face of God -- or at least asked to -- as we were asked to give whatever we had left just one more time. Whether we liked it or not, we gave it. The miracle of the whole experience was that even though you did not think you had it or could find it, the coaches in their own self-assured way guided you to it. They never handed it to you.

These coaches and their assistants drove a group of unfamiliar faces, talents, characteristics and personalities to individual limits and beyond many times with one goal in mind: to bring us together. Everything else would take care of itself on the field and for the rest of our lives.

I'm sure I speak for the rest of my teammates when I say to our coaches something so simple and yet so complete: Thank you. You continue with us.

DAVID GONCHER

Cape Girardeau