Fridays with Mac: "Nudge Somebody"

Your knucklehead scribe eagerly drove toward the McCartney residence and the, always, anticipated Friday with Bill McCartney. It’s such a blessing. To think, the McCartney family allows this once, “Get in the back pocket of the CU football program,” sports journalist for CBSDenver to hang out with the Hall of Fame coach in these challenging times? Me? A lucky fella.

While charging in the door and pronouncing thy presence with Coach Mac charging toward me with equal vigor, yours truly instructs the only coach to ever lead the Colorado Buffaloes to a national title to sit back down. “Billy Mac from Hackensack, I got a story to tell you.”

We settle in and this avid storyteller begins to share about attending a Boy Scouts of America breakfast featuring Baltimore Oriole great, Cal Ripken, Jr.. What fun to hear baseball’s “Iron Man” and Hall of Famer reminisce about an incredible baseball career and current work as a wonderful ambassador to the game. A friend had graciously invited me to sit at his corporate table. Wonderful experience.?

Here’s the story that perked up the ears and spirit of an 81-year-old fireball fighting to good fight against Alzheimer’s and its related shrapnel. Getting old ain’t easy. Anyway, the gracious host at the Boy Scout breakfast is Michael Imhoff, a CU graduate, The Denver native’s a fine fella, successful business executive and, while studying in Boulder, a Ralphie handler. Ya know, the dudes who run alongside the female buffalo before the game and at halftime of CU home games and select road games. Ralphie’s one of college football’s most revered mascots.

During years as the station’s “Buff Guy” I got to know the “Ralphie” team well. We’d always be on the field hours before games and had a chance to hang out.?Back then Folsom Field had a hard and worn artificial turf (now natural grass). I used to cringe when a Ralphie handler fell and would be dragged around that burning carpet by an eager buffalo. That feisty female knows?once she turns in Folsom Field’s south end and heads for home? Inside the trailer at the north end? There’s treats! Ralphie starts running faster. Ever been pulled sixty yards by a buffalo? There’s a reason handlers where long sleeves and pants.?

Finally to the point. At the breakfast, Imhoff’s telling me a story of his college days. A new football coach had arrived in Boulder to try and transform a downtrodden program. This guy had been the defensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines under collegiate football legend Bo Schembechler. CU’s replacement for Chuck Fairbanks had been the ONLY high-school coach Schembechler ever hired at the nation’s winningest football program. McCartney had taken the CU job, struggled for three years and then, over the next decade, built it into a national power and champion. Those were the days. What a gift to have a front row seat.

Imhoff shares McCartney, as the new head coach to a program nobody really cared about, knew he had to rally the troops. “Coach Mac came and spoke at my fraternity,” Imhoff mentioned. “It was really cool. He was very humble and sincerely encouraged us to come out and support them. He (Coach Mac) was determined to build a program that would make CU proud.”

I’m sitting across the living room from the legendary coach, sharing this story and just watching my buddy’s body language. A huge smile engulfed his face, the walking fanatic rose taller in his usual chair and his eyes were ablaze with fervor. “I was just trying to nudge them along,” pronounced one damn talented exhorter of others.

Talk about an understatement. Nudging others along. Whether it’s to help them realize the great potential within themselves, family, community, team, fraternity or whatever endeavor attempted. Let’s not dismiss the value we can bring to others in embracing and understanding the importance of US, giving others a healthy and productive nudge. Apparently it worked with McCartney’s strategy of speaking to frat boys. This much I know, it sure meant a lot to one of them.?

Look around. Take Mac’s cue. With humble and eager heart, nudge somebody!