I remember when they first started calling us boomers. We were the sons and daughters of the World War II generation, born in the euphoria of victory in the European and Pacific theaters of war. The greatest generation that ever lived, our fathers and mothers, had just defeated two enemies in two different parts of the world. Prosperity had returned. There was a frenzy of activity. Commerce was booming. Homes were being built by the thousands. Families were growing. Mom and Dad were joining the PTA, church committees, local town councils and coaching their kid’s teams. The boomers grew up and had GenX’ers. The GenX’ers grew up and had Millenials and if you’re a boomer, like me, you realize these 30 somethings are our grandchildren.
When I wrote this, I had just interviewed new Catoctin football Head Coach Brady Ridenour and the next day, I learned that Coach Will Delawter had just been named the new Head Coach of the Catoctin Cougars varsity baseball team. I was talking to an old coaching friend of mine and I called it a youth movement. And then, I looked it up. The average age of a high school coach is 35 years old! Brady Ridenour is 32 years old. Will Delawter is 38 years old. When you think grown men with families are a youth movement, there is only one conclusion. It’s the same conclusion that you make when you see what you thought was a teenager buying beer at the Sheetz. They are not too young, you are too old.
But, I’ll tell you what it really is….AN ALUMNI MOVEMENT and I like it!
Unlike recruited coaches from other areas, alumni have a shared experience with their players which means a deeper trust of a common legacy. They can guide their players through the same challenges they faced. They are teammates in spirit. They share the team’s school history and pride.
Brady Ridenour, Catoctin Football Head Coach
Will Delawter, Catoctin Varsity Baseball Head Coach
Doug Williams, Former Catoctin Head Football Coach, 2009 state championships
When I sat down with new Catoctin football head coach Brady Ridenour, even though I am not a Catoctin alum, we shared a common history too. We were both there on that fateful day in December of 2009 at the Baltimore Ravens NFL stadium, Brady on the field and me in the pressbox broadcasting his game. It snowed eight inches that day and we had a tough time even getting to the game. But, in the end it was more than worth it. Coach Doug Williams held that State football championship up over his head, with his team beaming behind him and Catoctin had their first football championship ever!
Every Catoctin football player who ever put on a Cougars helmet knows that story.
They also know Coach Brady was there. Brady plans not only to restore that Cougars pride, but to go back to the basics that put that trophy in the display case twice in one decade. Brady has been an assistant coach on this team ever since they put the last trophy in that case. The year after Coach Williams and his Cougars team won their second State football championship in 2019, Brady called new head coach Mike Rich and asked him if he needed any help. Everyone knew that Coach Willliams had retired and Coach Rich was coming in to take over. Coach Rich jumped at the chance to recruit former Catoctin star Brady Ridenour. Coach Brady was excited to be back on the field with his Cougars as a coach in 2020. But then, Covid hit and the season was over. There was a year without football and then a strange shortened spring season and then everyone struggled to get back to normal.
Mike Rich, Former Catoctin Football Head Coach, 2019
Now, six seasons later, Coach Rich has stepped down and a new chapter begins for Cougars football.
Kurt Stein, Oakdale Head Coach and former Offensive Coordinator
From Catoctin youth football, coached by his Dad, to offensive lineman coached by the legendary Doug Williams and then offensive coordinator Kurt Stein, Coach Brady comes from a championship pedigree. He still talks to Coach Stein, who is coaching at Oakdale now and considers him a trusted mentor, especially now that they are both members of the fraternity of Frederick County varsity high school head football coaches.
I asked him what type of team we could expect. He explained that he wanted to go back to the basics and run a ground and pound offense. It’s not just old school tradition, but Coach Brady is excited about his running backs. He has a bunch and they are good. He plans to reinstall the old Cougars single wing and confuse the opponent with the legendary Pop Warner style offense that employs multiple sets and lots of misdirection, a perfect match for his big stable of running backs to keep fresh legs on the field. He will look to his talented sophomore quarterback Chase Creiger to keep the defenses off guard. After graduating his entire offensive line, the single wing will give his young lineman an advantage. They won’t have to learn sophisticated blocking schemes that require multi-level blocks. They’ll just line up and take it to the defense.
I asked Brady what kind of coach he wanted to be. He thought for a long time. He mentioned Paul Dumars. He mentioned Coach Nesbitt. And then, with a sigh, he said: “It would have to be Coach Williams” He was there for me when my Mom passed. He would call me up on Sundays and send me Bible verses. It was like he knew everything about me. But, when I was struggling with losing my Mom, he was there and he was my friend. That meant more to me, than anyone can imagine. That’s the kind of coach I want to be….Dumars tough, Nesbitt compassionate and Williams steadfast.
The Cougars open their football season at home against Thomas Johnson in a special Saturday 1pm game on September 6. They play Boonsboro Homecoming Day Friday Sept 26 @ 6:30.
This season is about getting back to traditions.
Remembering what it means to be a Catoctin Cougar. Regardless of the outcome, Cougars play to win.
WTHU will broadcast the opening game on September 6.
We’ll see you in the stands!
Great article Michael. Super job & coverage, Kemo