There is a rather poignant scene from my favorite movie, Remember the Titans, where Coach Bill Yost opts out of an attempt to fix the outcome of a playoff game. The plan was for T.C. Williams High School to lose its playoff game which would result in the termination, from the head coaching position, of black football coach, Herman Boone. Not allowing the rigged outcome to take place, the movies suggests, sunk Yost’s chances for induction into the Hall of Fame at season’s end. However, in a decision which makes Yost one of the profound heroes of the movie, Coach Yost chose propriety over fame and rightfully.
As the scene is set, after Yost confronted the officials about his knowing the outcome of the game is fixed, and the officiating is meant to assure the opponent victory, Yost threatens to expose the plot forcing the officials to call the game legitimately, resulting in T.C. Williams winning. At game’s end, and while the participants are shaking hands at mid-field, two angry white men inform Yost they had taken a straw poll and his induction into the Hall-of-Fame was sunk. Coach Boone approaches Yost, puts his arm around him, and says, You’re a Hall-of-Famer in my book! Now that story is completely dissimilar from this one other than we at Kentucky Prep Gridiron take this opportunity to wrap our figurative arm around Curtis Higgins and say, you’re a Hall-of-famer in anyone’s book!
Higgins coached the Tigers from Fern Creek High School in Louisville, Kentucky (28-20), as well as 8 seasons at Trigg County (69-26), with a stop at Oldham County (17-24) were his overall coaching record, at the time of his retirement was 114-70 for a nearly 62% overall winning percentage. Higgins brought an exciting offensive game plan to the teams he headed and coached at Trigg County High School where both players and teams still sit atop the TCHS football record book according to an article authored by Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier-Journal, published at the time of Coach Higgin’s retirement from coaching to take a job in high school administration.
When reached for comment Coach Higgins said he is very proud of his enshrinement into the Greater Louisville Football Coach’s Association (GLFCA) Hall of Fame and went on the remark…Football generally and coaching particularly have been really fulfilling and have given me opportunity I might otherwise not have had to positively impact the lives of both the players and coaches who have traveled this path with me. I am both appreciative and humbled by my enshrinement among the great coaches who have coached in the Louisville area like Bob Redman and Dennis Lampley, just to name two out of many. I never expected such an honor but I am very grateful for it.
Coach Higgins has now joined the staff, in a volunteer capacity, at Hopkinsville High School where he is assisting his very good friend, Head Coach Craig Clayton, whom one would suspect is sure to gain induction into, at least, one Hall of Fame upon Clayton’s own retirement from coaching. Higgins’ assisting Clayton and the staff he has put together explains, fairly or not, the buoyed expectations of a Tiger fan base for their Tiger football team this Fall. These expectations are in spite of the team’s losing many seniors off of last years’ team, which finished the year 10-2. Oh well, such is the burden of being so well staffed.
Congratulations to Coach Curtis Higgins and remember ballers…PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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