Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 57) HigH scHool Little Rock Central Growing Up With Bernie by brian cox Longtime Central Tiger Coach Never Brought the Game Home, Son Says hoW WoULD FootBaLL Fans across the state describe the Little Rock Central tigers? Regardless of their love or hate for the program, they would probably refer to it as “historically successful,” “rich in tradition” or maybe even “the team to beat.” you might think the man at the head post would feel immense pressure to keep winning games and adding trophies to the already full trophy cases. you may believe the stress to fill the shoes left by such men as earl Quigley and Wilson matthews would keep coach Bernie Cox’s time and attention away from his family, or at least make him difficult to live with. Well, that’s not the case. Growing up with a dad that coaches one of the most successful football teams in arkansas was definitely a joy. other than the occasional nights when the 16mm projector could be heard clicking somewhere in the house, Dad didn’t bring his work home. Game films, celebrations and disappointments were usually left at the stadium. my older sister, tanya, and I never knew any different. Didn’t every family eat dinner at 8 p.m. during football season or leave daddy a plate in the oven until he came home from a junior varsity game? sure, Dad came home late five months out the year, but our mom, myrene, was there to keep life normal. she, like most moms, was the one who asked us about our day at school and checked our homework. Dad, even when getting home late, was still home in time to play hide and seek, tuck us in and make sure we heard a story about “the three Little Pigs” or “the three Bears.” our earliest football memories include the traditional thanksgiving Day games against Little Rock hall. to this day, even 26 years after the last “turkey Bowl,” we still believe thanksgiving should begin with a 10 a.m. kickoff before our 2 p.m. feast at mamaw and Papaw’s house. even though six of these holiday games decided the state championship, the day’s atmosphere was never determined by the outcome. Recently, Dad admitted one specific game against hall high has haunted him ever since he walked off the field that 1979 season. Ranked no. 1 and undefeated for two seasons, the tigers fielded the most feared defense in the state and cOurTeSY BriAn cOX fAmilY AffAir: Bernie and Brian cox watch game film in the 1970s (above), Bernie and Myrene cox enjoy a Thanksgiving morning (top right) and Tanya cox gets an early start at cheerleading. were expected to easily stop the no. 2 the laundry was clean and three or four Warriors. however, an embarrassing 17-0 dozen donuts were eaten, the all-important loss cost the tigers a second consecutive game of touch football ensued on earl state championship. For 29 years Dad has Quigley’s grand field. to this day, donuts blamed himself for the outcome of that take me back to that special time. game. Lack of preparation and focus is many football fans may reminisce about the reason he gives for this guilt. But he the saturdays they would dress in Razorback has kept these thoughts to himself for red, pack the family car and travel north almost three decades, never grumbling to root for the hogs. our memories are about the “game that got away.” somewhat different. We donned black and so, of course, disappointment old gold and filled chartered buses full of other coaches’ families, and disgust come with the spirit squads and school position of head coach. administrators. We trahow these emotions veled to cities across are handled is what arkansas to cheer on makes the difference the tigers. Whether the to a family. obviously, work games were home or away, Friday nights were electric. was inevitable, so Dad by the With success comes publicity tried hard to include his family. as a young girl, tanya nuMbers and Central was quite suchappily attended two-a-days 382 Total games cessful in the 1970s and ’80s. but preferred watching the We routinely saw Dad’s picture 271 Wins cheerleaders instead of the in the newspaper or him being 7 State championships players. her many hours at these interviewed on television. We practices (and Dad’s position as 4 Undefeated never went to a store or out to seasons head coach) helped her become eat without someone talking to the cheerleader mascot, which him about football. We were 9 Prep AllAmerican players she enjoyed for several years. proud to have a father who was along with standing on the so well-known. sideline during games, Dad some of that fun ended allowed me to hang out with him at the when the mid-1990s brought the dreaded stadium on saturday mornings. First, we “down years” that most every coach stopped to get milk and donuts for both eventually experiences. a 1-9-0 campaign the coaches, who graded film, and the in 1993 was Dad’s first losing season. managers, who washed the uniforms. once and he would endure two more before LR the program turned back around. Losing was unfamiliar and brought with it a different level of scrutiny. Fans began booing at games and letters to the editor called for Dad’s retirement. even after the tigers began winning again, new media outlets like radio talk shows and Internet message boards kept pointing out that the tigers weren’t the same as they once were. and, in all honesty, this was true. Central hadn’t won a state title in more than 10 years. this type of negativity comes with the profession, so Dad never let it bother him. after all, he has to live with the decisions he makes. he believes no one’s opinion should affect how you approach your responsibilities. our family, however, did become annoyed at some of the remarks, but we appreciated those people who spoke up to defend Dad and the football program. Fans were rewarded in 2003 and 2004 with back-to-back state championships. For me, these were more special than any of the others. tanya and I enjoyed Dad’s first five state championships, but these two were celebrated by a new generation. Five grandchildren were now part of the tiger family and able to experience the joy of tiger Pride. m Brian Cox is the author of “Tiger Pride: One Hundred Years of Little Rock Central High Football,” published in 2005. His father, Bernie Cox, begins his 34th season at the helm of the Central Tigers in August. July 2008 ArkansasSports360.com 57 http://ArkansasSports360.com
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