Larry Olson will be missed
January 29th, 2008, 5:21 pm · Post a Comment · posted by rdickson
I won’t go so far as to say I shed tears Monday when I found out Navarre head football coach Larry Olson was stepping down as he prepares to ease into a well-deserved retirment, but I did have a twinge in my gut.
Larry is one of the good guys in the business. At age 58, he’s old enough to be old school. In fact, if we had been at the same location, I could have played for him when he was getting his start as an assistant coach. From what I’ve learned about Larry, I think I would have liked that too.
The way I see it there are some guys you like, others you respect and a few you admire. I think you can respect someone without liking them, but I don’t think you can admire someone without both liking and respecting them. I admire Larry Olson, not only for what he stands for on the field, but what he stands for in life as well.
Until you get to know him, because he his old school, Larry can be a little intimidating at times. But under that tough exterior is a tender side that cares deeply not only for his players and assistants, but those fortunate enough to call him friend.
Never was that compassion more evident to me than last November when sports editor Perry Ballard suddenly passed away. The day after Perry’s passing I had to go to Navarre for a preview story about the team’s upcoming game with Gulf Breeze.
Talking football wasn’t easy that day, but I managed to get through it. After I got what I needed for my story, we sat and talked about life, death and how we all want to impact others in a positive way. Long after everyone else had left the Navarre fieldhouse, Larry was there for me offering a shoulder to cry on at I time I needed it most. I’ll always be thankful for him taking time he didn’t have to making sure I was OK.
In my book Larry Olson is one of a kind, the finest kind, and all who have known him are finer for the experience as well.
Thanks for making a difference, Larry.
