From the Stands by Don Eskins: CHS’s Big 3 Coaches and Mt. Guadalupe

ESPN broadcasters usually have a field day when they make time to salute outstanding coaches. They especially seem to have a great time when they list their picks for Mt. Rushmore-caliber coaches, all iconic in stature.

On such days, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and old honest Abe Lincoln himself are respectfully given the day off for the purpose of inserting some big-time coaches, at least for a few minutes anyway, in their spots on South Dakota’s most famous mountain.

So, if ESPN can have a Mt. Rushmore filled with outstanding coaches, why shouldn’t we here at the Carlsbad Local be able to do the same?

Well, we can! However, our list will pertain to Carlsbad High School coaches only. But we don’t have to go all the way to South Dakota for a mountain to put them on; we have one right here in our backyard, and we’ll use it.

For coaches in Carlsbad, what mountain range could be better, or more fitting, than the good old Guadalupes?

However, by limiting our picks to just Carlsbad High, there really shouldn’t be much of a discussion at all concerning which coaches should be on our mountain, at least for three of them who have already been tabbed as iconic in the Land of Enchantment.

First, there’s Cavemen head coach Ralph Bowyer with 13 state championships, eight in football, three in basketball, and two in track.

Secondly, there’s Cavegirl head coach John Tigert, who collected 11 state softball championships.

Thirdly, there’s Cavemen head coach Tom Forni, who guided his baseball charges to six state championships. Also, to his credit, Baseball Magazine named his 1990 Cavemen National Champions.

This brings us to an interesting point in the development of our mountain.

As CHS fans have probably already noticed, while Mt. Rushmore houses four presidents, our Mt. Guadalupe (better known as Guadalupe Peak) houses just three coaches.

So, Carlsbad, who would your choice be for the fourth CHS coach on the Carlsbad Local’s Mt. Guadalupe?

Lou Holtz Words of Wisdom

1. “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”

2. “You’ll never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.”

3. “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

4. “Don’t ever promise more than you can deliver, but always deliver more than you promise.”

5. “Winners and losers aren’t born; they are the products of how they think”

6. “I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask questions.”

7. “I can’t believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.”

8. “It’s good to be successful, but it’s great to be significant”

9. “Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.”

10. “I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care. You’ve got to make a sincere attempt to have the right goals to begin with, then go after them with appropriate effort, and remember that you can’t really achieve anything great without the help of others.”