Dog House Saturday Morning Blitz

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Happy Saturday, Dog House family!

This week was an absolute whirlwind—but the good news is that we finally had football games!

The long offseason is over. The lights came on, the helmets started cracking and communities across the Tri-State area gathered beneath those Friday night lights once again.

Welcome inside my little brain for a weekly wrap-up that was truly epic.

Sunday — Faith, Family and a Little Old Dog

Sunday was a great day filled with faith, fellowship and time with my church family.

With everything moving so quickly around us, Sunday gave me an opportunity to slow down, take a deep breath and remember what truly matters. It helped prepare my heart and mind for the whirlwind waiting in the week ahead.

Of course, the day also included some quality time with a certain little old Beagle named Loki.

Loki may not understand everything happening with the Dog House Tour, The Coach Show or football season—but he certainly understands when Dad has been sitting at the computer too long and should be paying attention to him.

Sunday provided exactly what I needed: fellowship, reflection and a little old dog reminding me to enjoy the simple moments.

Then Monday arrived—and the whirlwind officially began.

Monday — Back to the Teaching Grind

Monday marked my first day back to the grind in the teaching world.

I must have been excited to begin the new school year because I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the wonderful hour of 4:30 in the morning.

Once I was awake, there was no going back to sleep. My little brain was already moving in about 47 different directions, so I spent some early-morning time working on the Dog House before taking Loki out for our morning walk.

Loki certainly did not complain about the early start. In his mind, anytime Dad is awake is the perfect time for walking, eating or receiving attention.

After our walk, Stephanie, Peyton—my son—and I piled into the car and headed to work.

This is Year 25 for me in education, Year 23 as an educator and Year 1 away from the daily grind of coaching football.

That last part feels a little strange.

For more than two decades, August meant practices, meetings, depth charts, film sessions and long days at the football field. This year, I walked into the beginning of school without carrying the responsibilities of a coach for the first time.

Ironically, our professional development was actually pretty good. Yes, you read that correctly—a longtime educator just admitted that professional development was good!

Still, the first Monday back for a teacher is a little like trying to survive a day without caffeine. You may technically make it through, but nobody should expect you to function at full speed.

By Monday afternoon, my little brain was finished.

People sometimes underestimate the kind of exhaustion that comes with teaching. It is not the same as being physically tired after a practice or workout. It is a different kind of tired—the result of listening, processing information, planning, communicating and maintaining focus for hours at a time.

For an ADHD brain like mine, that mental fatigue can hit especially hard.

Monday afternoon and evening were simple. We went home, slowed everything down and rested.

There were no big adventures and no dramatic football stories—just an old educator, his family and a little Beagle recovering from the first day back.

Sometimes rest is not being lazy. Sometimes rest is exactly what your mind and body need before getting up and doing it all again.

Tuesday — A Quiet “Love You”

Tuesday morning, I actually managed to sleep in a little.

I was awakened when my daughter Kat came home from her job as a jailer. I love those moments when she walks through the door, we say our piece and then exchange a quiet, simple “love you.”

No matter how old she gets, she will always be that little girl to me.

Children grow up, begin careers and build lives of their own—but a dad’s heart does not always recognize the passing years. Sometimes I still see that little girl standing in front of me.

After that special start to the morning, we headed to work and had another great day preparing for the school year.

But once again, Mental Fatigue City arrived by the end of the day.

Teaching requires your mind to remain switched on constantly. There are conversations to process, details to remember, decisions to make and plans to build. When you have an ADHD brain that likes to travel down several roads simultaneously, that mental energy can disappear quickly.

By Tuesday evening, I had nothing left in the tank.

So I listened to my body, shut everything down and went to bed early. Sometimes the most productive decision you can make is admitting that the day is over and allowing yourself to rest.

Wednesday — A Wild Day in the Dog House

Wednesday was a much bigger day.

The workday was filled with more meetings and professional development before I headed into a busy evening inside the Dog House.

Before beginning the show, I attended the visitation of a friend who had passed away. Many prayers go out to her family and everyone who loved her. Moments like that remind us just how precious—and sometimes painfully short—our time together can be.

After the visitation, I headed to my work compound at home, which has been a little hectic because of water damage in the basement.

Then came the technical difficulties.

I was already dealing with internet issues when, wouldn’t you know it, the computer decided it needed to reboot approximately 15 minutes before my first coach was scheduled to come on the air.

Nothing raises the blood pressure of an old ball coach quite like staring at a restarting computer while the clock continues ticking toward showtime.

Somehow, we got everything running and fired up another edition of The Coach Show: Dog House.

First, I visited with Centerville Big Reds head coach Matt Kovacevich as his team prepared to open the season.

Next came West Hancock Titans head coach Coy Dorothy. I always love seeing Coach Dorothy. The man smiles at me an awful lot. I am guessing it is because I am am funny-looking and have the perfect face—and voice—for radio.

Finally, after he finished putting his children to bed, Macomb Bombers head coach Tanner Horrell joined me to close out the evening.

That was a beautiful way to finish a wild and crazy day.

We talked football, preparation, players and the excitement surrounding the beginning of another season. After the meetings, the visitation, basement issues, internet problems and the last-minute computer reboot, I ended Wednesday doing something I truly love—sitting down with good coaches and helping share the stories of their programs.

Sometimes the most hectic days provide the most meaningful endings.

Thursday — Stress, Smiles and the Calm

Thursday brought more meetings, plenty of smiles and laughter, a few moments of stress and even a couple of times when I found myself on the verge of tears.

Then came the calm.

That is sometimes how life works. The emotions build, your mind begins racing and everything feels as if it might become too much—then something brings you back to center.

Thursday afternoon, I got to spend about 15 minutes with Fort Madison head coach Derek Doherty and talk about the Bloodhounds. Football season was finally here, and you could feel the excitement building around the program.

After our conversation, I walked outside and took some pictures of some absolute dudes getting ready for the season.

Then it was back inside for Meet Your Teacher Night.

The students began coming through the doors, and suddenly the meetings, planning and professional development started to feel real. A new school year was no longer something sitting on the calendar—it was right in front of us.

There is something special about seeing students again, meeting families and watching a school building come back to life.

Afterward, I headed home for a quiet evening.

I spent some time posting in the old Dog House, reflecting on the day and thinking about everything that had happened during the week.

Then I allowed myself to slow down.

No meetings. No technical problems. No rushing from one place to another. Just a little self-reflection, some peace and an easy night’s rest before football Friday finally arrived.

Friday — A Kid in a Candy Store

Friday?

Well, you already know what time it was—and you know this old ball coach was like a kid in a candy store.

But first, there was more professional development and school. Thankfully, Friday was much more relaxing than the previous four days.

Then 3:15 arrived.

I piled into the old white Honda and pointed it toward Macomb.

This was my third trip to Macomb, but it was my first experience broadcasting an Illinois high school football game.

Let me tell you something:

Oh, Nelly!

I have always heard about “Iowa Nice,” but the kindness and hospitality I experienced in Macomb were on another level.

When I arrived at the stadium, I made my way toward the press box. I originally thought my little broadcasting space would be somewhere on the northern end of the sky level.

I messaged Macomb Activities Director Steve Horrell, and he told me to look for the door marked Dog Pound Radio.

Wouldn’t you know it?

Steve had placed this old ball coach directly on the 50-yard line—with internet and air conditioning!

Dog Pound Radio had officially arrived in Illinois in style.

I always show up early. That lesson was instilled in me by the great Gerald Eugene Banks—my father. Dad believed that being on time meant being early, and that is one of the many lessons from him that I still carry everywhere I go.

When Steve arrived, he came directly over to greet me with a smile. We walked around the field together, met some new faces and visited with people around the Macomb program.

Head coach Tanner Horrell was also wearing a grin as we passed by. Maybe everyone in Macomb was happy to see me—or perhaps they were smiling because the funny-looking radio guy had finally found the correct room.

After spending about 45 minutes down on the turf, I headed back into the press box to cool off and prepare for kickoff.

Then the game began.

And, man, did it begin with a bang.

The Bombers controlled the game from the opening kickoff and exploded to a 42–0 halftime lead. With Macomb holding a 42-point advantage, the second half moved to a running clock.

Knoxville continued battling and scored twice during the second half, but Macomb had already made its statement. The Bombers opened their season with an impressive 42–14 victory. The final score was also reported by MaxPreps and Muddy River Sports.

For all practical purposes, this was one of the most dominant teams I have watched in a long, long time.

As I watched Macomb operate, my mind drifted back to some of those great Oskaloosa teams featuring a young man named Tyler Sash. Those teams played with confidence, physicality and the feeling that they could impose their will on an opponent.

Macomb gave me that same feeling Friday night.

The official individual statistics have not yet been released and verified, so I will not throw out passing yards, rushing totals or tackle numbers simply to get them online first.

The film needs to be reviewed, the numbers need to be checked and the players deserve to have their performances reported accurately.

What I can confidently say is that this is not a football team built around one player.

The Bombers have strength in the trenches, experience across the roster, dangerous playmakers and a coaching staff that had them ready from the opening whistle.

Coach Tanner Horrell and his staff have something special brewing in Macomb.

What It Is All About

As the game ended and all the pomp and circumstance wrapped up, a young lady knocked on the press-box window.

Now, to be fair, this was the first time I had met Drake May’s mom in person. I thought I recognized her, but I did not want to look goofy if I was wrong.

So I asked, “What’s your name?”

She had brought me a poster signed by the Macomb players and a Casey’s gift card.

After packing up my equipment, I headed down to the field. I will be honest—I was tearing up a little.

This is what it is all about.

The Dog House Tour was never supposed to be just about scores, statistics or rankings. It is about building relationships, supporting young people and sharing the stories of players, coaches, families and communities.

That signed poster meant more to me than those young men will probably ever understand.

I took a picture, announced my Dog House Player of the Game and began making my way back toward the old white Honda.

Before leaving, I once again said my goodbyes to Coach Tanner Horrell and his father, Steve. They had welcomed me to Macomb, treated Dog Pound Radio like part of their football family and made my first Illinois high school football experience one I will never forget.

Then came the drive home.

Somewhere near New Boston, I nearly hit a deer.

For a moment, I felt like Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder, gripping the steering wheel and trying to guide that old white Honda through trouble.

Thankfully, the deer, the Honda and this old ball coach all survived.

When I finally arrived home, I saw that I had received a text message from Macomb. Then came the sweet bliss of being home after a long, emotional and unforgettable day.

Loki, however, had no interest in providing a calm welcome.

That little old Beagle went completely nuts.

He sprinted through the house and hit the furniture hard enough to knock the couches against the wall.

Needless to say, Loki was very happy to see Dad.

Final Thoughts from the Dog House

After a week filled with faith, school, professional development, meetings, mental fatigue, laughter, tears, technical problems, football and a late-night trip home from Illinois, Friday ended exactly where I needed to be.

Home—with my family and one wildly excited Beagle.

This week reminded me why I love this game, why I started the Dog House Tour and why I continue climbing into that old white Honda to share these stories.

Football was back.

Dog Pound Radio was on the air.

And this old ball coach was exactly where he wanted to be.

What a day.

What a week.

And what a beautiful reminder of what the Dog House is truly all about.

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