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Journal North: Home | Sports | Opinion | Obits | Entertainment
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Los Alamos FB Coach Retires
By Vince Kong
Journal Staff Writer
Bob Scott was torn.
He had considered coaching for one more year. In fact, that was the plan.
“I've got one more season in me after this, and that's it,” said Scott, prior to the start of the 2009 football season, which Los Alamos finished 4-6.
But the end came sooner rather than later — Scott confirmed to the Journal on Wednesday that he has retired from the position he had held since 1990.
“I've had enough,” he said. “I'm tired. Besides, I've had two grandkids in the last five weeks — one daughter just had one (Tuesday) in California.
“It's time to take time off and spend it with them, help them raise the kids.”
Scott, 53, concluded his head coaching career with a 124-97 record, after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Los Alamos. And while Scott's voice perks up when talking about having his summers off, his tone changed markedly when discussing his decision to walk away.
“I've been toying with the idea for a couple years,” he said. “Then I had a heart-to-heart with my wife and she said, 'It just seems you're not into it. You're worn down and tired.' I said, 'I am.' ”
And his mind would be made up near the start of the District 2-4A season, as the 'Toppers, at 2-5, were set to square off against eventual league champion, Bernalillo, on Oct. 23.
After the 14-0 loss, Scott gathered his players.
“That's when I told the kids I wasn't coming back,” he said. “They were in shock, but I explained to them that, when my kids were growing up, my wife spent most of the time raising them — it was the weight room in the summers and during the season, it was football, football, football.
“I missed out on all that stuff. Now it's time to turn that around. They're older, but now that they have kids coming, spending time with them means more so.”
And Scott maintains that this past season's results had little to do with his decision — a season where the 'Toppers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
“We actually ended on a real good note — those last two ball games, the kids played well,” said Scott, whose squad topped Española Valley, 49-6, and Capital, 35-18, to conclude the season. “And I told the kids, 'If we played like that versus Bernalillo, we would have beaten them.'
“... It was really sad because we were peaking at the right time. But we were done.”
When the subject turned to regrets during his time coaching, Scott paused.
“In 30 years, I've never gotten a state championship,” he said. “It bothered me before, but I go back to my wife. She asked me, 'What does it matter? This is about what you've done for the kids, and what the kids have done for you.
“ 'It isn't about championships, it's about the memories.' ”
Scott said two of his most memorable coaching moments came from losses.
One was in 2006, falling to Artesia in the state semifinals in Los Alamos. The other was to Capital in 2007.
“I would always say, 'When I lose to a former player, that's when I was going to quit.' I didn't quit — I was just shooting smoke. But I was excited for Stephen (Castille),” said Scott of the Jaguars coach. “It's always a good feeling to beat someone who you supposedly learned from. They got us.”
Castille, who played for Scott from 1990 to 1993, said there was no “supposedly” about it.
“What I see those guys do up in Los Alamos is never forgetting what football is about, which is being tougher than your opponent,” he said. “They're not out there to out-scheme the world, they're there to get their kids to play hard and play tough. If you don't learn that from (Scott), you won't learn it.”
And while few would call Scott's run-first, -second and -third approach to offensive play-calling innovative, Castille said it could be now.
“I'm sure he is old school, without a doubt,” he said. “But getting ready for his team is like getting ready for Georgia Tech, who's running ... wishbone-type stuff.
“When the spread (offense) first came out, everybody was freaking out about it. Now everybody is freaking out about the triple option, because they don't see it anymore. What Coach Scott is bringing to the table is so old, it's new again.”
As for what kept Scott coaching for so long?
“You get to watch them mature and grow up,” he said. “You get them as freshmen when they can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Then, all of a sudden, they're a senior, putting up 300-400 pounds on the bench (press).
“Not being a part of their lives — that's going to be the hardest. They keep you young. It's just not the same being a teacher.”
Scott, who is one year away from drawing his pension from Los Alamos Public Schools, will continue as a physical education teacher at the high school.
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