Friday, October 20, 2023

Honoring Rosy Nolan


Thurs. & Fri., October 19-20, 2023

After spending all day Thursday and most of Friday ailing in bed at home, I just had to rally to get to a game Friday afternoon.

There was a good reason for this decision.

Our goal was to get to the Agoura Chargers at Thousand Oaks Lancers JV game the kicked off at 4:00 p.m.

Jacob by the famed Thousand Oaks
Lancer statue

With Robert Richards and Stan Mansfield

Stan is holding the plaque that was the reason for my decision to get to the game. More on that in just a moment.

On the right, current Lancers Head Coach
Ben McEnroe with several players and
coaches from the late 1960s and
early 1970s

Chargers on Offense . . .

. . . airing it out in the First Half

Our reason for attending the game was to honor a wonderful man and coach, Rosy Nolan.

Rosy was a WWII hero

He inspired hundreds of TOHS athletes and was a tremendous mentor to lots of young coaches like myself.

This plaque was given to TOHS Head Coach Ben McEnroe and will be placed in a prominent spot in the Lancers Weight Room.

Former players and coaches
and their families at the ceremony

Former Rio Mesa H.S. player
Justin Schmidt was the Head Referee
at the JV game

Agoura driving for a TD late in the game

This Charger pass fell just short

Jacob, #12 on the right, passing the ball
in a behind the End Zone 2-on-2 game

Jacob's Dad and Uncle used to do this exact same thing 40 years ago in this same spot.

The only difference was that back then, this area was natural grass.

Another solid bonding moment

The Lancers' back-up Defenders scored
a TD on the last play of the game via
a spectacular interception

It was Thousand Oaks' THIRD Defensive TD of the game!
 
Here come the Varsity Lancers

Normally we would have stayed for this game too but with my ailments of the last two days, wiser heads prevailed and we headed for home.

Good health move if you ask me.

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