Midseason and just before the playoffs begin brings Homecoming Week with parades, floats, Homecoming court beauties, community pep rallies, and signature run-throughs for the teams.
Each school and community has certain traditions that make Homecoming special to them. Anyone associated with Oxford immediately recalls the parade, how the team used to ride on the Oxford fire trucks, former bonfires meticulously planned and constructed by Paul Bain, spectacular fireworks from years ago, the band’s nostalgic halftime performance to In the Mood and the beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace.
While the ways we celebrate Homecoming may change throughout the years and especially now due to COVID-19, the opportunity for former players to return home to reminisce and renew friendships remains constant. For some, many years have passed since they were a part of the Friday night pageantry with the cheers and roar of the crowd. But no matter where they are now or what they are doing, this time back together serves to remind them of a place and time where they were not only admired for their athletic accomplishments, but more importantly, loved. It will always be home.
As coach’s wives, we have the opportunity to cheer for, celebrate, and cry with many young athletes year after year. The lasting relationships we establish are all near and dear to our hearts. Many young people come and go, season after season, each leaving a distinct impression on our hearts. I have always referred to my husband’s players as “my boys,” and any opportunity to see and talk with them again after their high school days is special.
Homecoming for me is a special time. Each year I watch with joy the small children of our coaching staffs dressed in their Oxford’s best miniature jerseys and cheerleader uniforms. Images of them mimicking football players and cheerleaders stirs sweet memories of my own girls who as children also started out in this pretend mode and then grew to participate in their own high school Homecoming traditions.
The chance to once again greet and hug former players took on an even greater significance for me a few years back, when just before Homecoming, the Oxford community and athletic family lost one of “our boys” when Chauncey Teague was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Tuscaloosa. Chauncey was a two-sport athlete excelling both in football and basketball. Chauncey was most notably remembered as the star quarterback of our 1993 State Championship Team and the extremely talented basketball player capable of Jordan-like dunks. Chauncey was a crowd pleaser. Anytime he was on the field or court, there was a sense of excitement. You knew you were going to experience something special. Off the field and court, he continued to be a crowd pleaser. His amazing smile exuberated confidence and from an early age positioned him as a leader. For all he was on the field and court, he was even more as a person. He touched many lives in our community and left behind wonderful memories both on and off the playing field for all who knew and loved him.
Chauncey was one of “my boys”, and his untimely death broke my heart. But standing in the moment of silence that Friday night prior to kick-off, looking out at the field, reminiscing to a time of former images of him achieving greatness on Lamar Field during a Homecoming game and the eventual run for the state championship of ‘93, I began to feel a sense of peace. For it struck me in that one quiet moment that Chauncey was home, for he had participated in the ultimate and greatest Homecoming any of us will ever know.
And I am confident he is still smiling, still a crowd pleaser, and now waiting to greet and hug us when we finally are called home.
God is building a heavenly home for us, the likes of which we cannot imagine. He will send Christ to escort us to our true home filled abundantly with His amazing grace.
Can you imagine the pageantry and celebration awaiting us with that Homecoming?!
There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you…When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
John 14:2-3
Connie Davidson has been a coach’s wife for 42 years married to longtime Oxford High School varsity basketball coach and AHSAA Hall of Fame Coach, Larry Davidson, who now serves as Oxford’s Athletic Director. Connie is a former elementary school teacher, reading specialist, and district coach for Oxford City Schools, who now works with Curriculum Associates managing professional development across the country. They have two married daughters and three grandchildren who complete their home team.
Though her coach’s role has now changed, Connie views her time now as God’s nod to her that now is the time to put into practice all He has laid on her heart over the years in her “coachwifelife” – the joys AND the struggles – how to “make the bitter sweet.” Now is he “overtime” with founding and directing Beyond the Bleachers.
She often refers to her coach as Coach Honey, and they truly love their school and community. Most any night of the week, season after season, from one sport to the next, they can be found in the stands and on the sidelines cheering for the Oxford Yellow Jackets. They have no doubt God placed them together where they are and intended for them to stay. How else can you explain one coach and coach’s wife in one school doing what they love for 40+ years?
Only God can do that!
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