Radio Page #8

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you look for a win...

...and Saturday morning

when you found one.

But that's not what's important

right now.

We got ourselves a young man

we're not thinking about.

The same young man who could

hardly talk when we first met him...

...and now he's making

announcements over the loudspeaker.

Same young man who got himself

a football letter last fall...

...but never wears it, because

he can't afford a jacket.

Now we're asking him to leave.

- Harold, we are not asking...

- The man's not done, Frank.

I know some of you don't know

or don't care...

...about all that Radio's learned

over these past few months.

Well, the truth is...

...we're not the ones

who've been teaching Radio.

Radio's the one been teaching us.

The way he treats us all the time...

...is the way we wish we treated

each other even part of the time.

I know something's gotta happen here.

I know some changes gotta be made.

And I know I can't let what happened

last season happen again.

So I've decided to step down

as head football coach.

See what you've done, Frank.

I'd like to keep teaching,

if that's all right.

I'll keep an eye on Radio,

make sure he stays out of trouble.

And I'd like to spend more time...

...with a few other folks

I've neglected over the years...

...while I still have a chance to.

Much as I love this game, it's not

half as important as setting that right.

That was a pretty good cup, Del.

- Thank y'all.

- Good night.

This what you wanted?

Is this worth it?

- That was a crazy idea.

- Weren't expecting that, were you?

I can't believe you're gonna stop

coaching football.

Found it. Under the mattress

with everything else.

All right.

You look great, Radio.

Thanks, Mary Helen.

- I'll see you out there.

- All right.

- There she go.

- Get your collar down.

You look good, now.

You look really good.

You know where we'll be, right?

All right.

- Do a good job. I'm awful proud of you.

- Okay, coach.

- There I go.

- Hey, Radio.

Oh, hey, Johnny, how you doing?

- I heard you got yourself a letter.

- Yeah, they gave me a letter.

Me and the boys thought you might

need something to put it on.

- That for Radio?

- Yeah.

- How you like that one?

- Looks good on you, man.

Thanks, Johnny. Thanks, Johnny.

Hey, congratulations, man...

...and thanks a lot.

Patricia Ann Yearwood.

Patricia Ann Yearwood.

Thanks, Radio. You're the best.

Thank you.

I would also like to extend

a special thank-you...

...to our honorary graduate...

...Mr. James Robert Kennedy.

Yeah, Radio! All right!

Who has decided to return

this coming fall...

...as an 11 th-grade student

at Hanna...

...where he will be welcome for

as many such years as he so chooses.

- You got your assistant coach back.

- Yes, we did.

In that moment,

my husband was prouder...

... than if his team had won

a state title.

Radio was now officially

a part of Hanna...

... and a part of our lives forever.

So if you're ever in Anderson on

a Friday in the fall, get there early.

You'll see the man

they call Radio...

... leading the Yellow Jackets

onto the field.

Radio's in his 50s now...

... and he's the most beloved coach

Hanna's ever had.

Coach Harold Jones.

Harold Jones?

He was recently inducted into the

South Carolina Coaches Hall of Fame.

He's retired from teaching but still

maintains his special friendship...

... with Hanna's favorite 11 th-grader.

Ready? Ready! Set!

Touchdown!

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