Clay Howell
Mrs. Tate
English II - Period 6
13 October 2008
Learning from the best
“Bring it in” yell the husky man from the other side of the track. All the boys jogging started to navigate their sweaty and weary bodies toward the man shouting commands. Upon arrival, we sorted ourselves into a semicircle around the short, pudgy, old coach while he barked orders at us with his deep and intimidating voice. We all situated ourselves with our hands behind our back. “If you have not figured it out by now, let me tell you so there are no surprises. In this class you are going to work. I am going to work you, and I’m going to work you hard. You are out here so you will improve. Every week you’re going to be timed, and your times better improve. If they are staying the same then you’re not improving; if you’re not improving, then you are getting worse. And if you’re getting worse then you better start thinking about a schedule change. Some of you might not think that this is the class for you, and I don’t mind that. Just get out of my class. My name is Coach Burlingame. I am the head Track coach and I am also the head Football coach.” I finished my first day of Track practice frightened, but little did I know how great of an impact on my life my coach, Coach Burlingame, would create.
Throughout the year, I learned a lot about running but, I learned a lot more about our coach. He preaches long infamous speeches and his ethics are true. He is a stout man with a large gut and he wears a face of a military general. He uses a voice which could shake mountaintops, he is not to be contradicted, and he has more witty comebacks than hairs on his head. Only after being associated with this brute of nature for a short amount of time, you might derive these characteristics. At first glance he appears to hold abnormal features and a menacing attitude, but after having time to study him, like a germ under a microscope, I learn his build, how he works, and what...