Four years ago...

Paul and I moved back to the place he called home and that was now "our home." And it wasn't by our choice and it was basically because God had a plan.

He coached for 10 years at South Pontotoc and over that 10 years, he went on multiple job interviews at big schools and nothing. Then after finishing his 10th season with 5-5 and a post-season loss, we felt pretty good. The next year looked even brighter...February came and a witch-hunt by school board members ensued.

It dragged on until June. Multiply job interviews and each turned into a closed door. Then, he and his long-time friend, Junior Graham, were talking on the phone about Ethel's head job and Junior said you are going to get the job. I know it.

So we drove to Ethel and I stayed at his parents' house and waited and waited. We met him in town and he said to me, "I was told we are going to be very happy." Paul then called his friend, Kenny, at Ridgeland and then canceled his interview at Sebastopol for the following day.

From that point on everything fell into place, renting our house in Pontotoc, finding a house in Kosciusko, me getting a job and Paul finally got to come home and coach at the one place he always wanted to.

When he first graduated from college, all he wanted to do was come home and coach at Ethel. His friends got to come home and work nearby. He will also tell you that going to South Pontotoc, saved his life and brought him to a relationship with God. We have some great and wonderful friends. We miss them so very much.

But the greatest joy in our lives is the football players at Ethel High School. Cause if different things had happened and we had gone on to Sebastopol, there wouldn't know have been an Aaron Blaine, Jarrett Smith or Jamerious Beck; no "Smiley" and no Matt Morgan; a Hunter Dempsey, Keith Colllins and Dustin Wood or even a Dylan Simmions and Nick Winters. You get my point.

I know he touched their lives because they have certainly touched ours.

Win or lose against South Pontotoc tonight, I will still believe in "Vegas and Black" and "I bleed Black & Gold," and this is where we are suppose to be.