Lack of cow pasture prevents championship

Former Macon County coach Jimmy Maffett, a good friend of mine, was a star basketball player at Montezuma High School during the World War II years. When Maffett was a sophomore, his coach was Elliott Roberts.  At season’s end, Coach Roberts joined the service.  That left Montezuma without a basketball coach to begin the 1942-43 season.

Since most young coaches were serving in the war, it became increasingly difficult to recruit a coach. The high school principal at Montezuma was Mr. Bert Rumble.  Unable to find a suitable coach, Mr. Rumble–being an educator and not a coach–reluctantly took over the reigns as basketball coach.  

That same year, a new coach, Bob Eddleman, came to Byron High School.  During his first season, 1942-43, Eddleman coached Byron to the state championship game, losing in a squeaker to Barney High School near Valdosta by only two points—a game that could have gone either way.   Seeing great promise in Eddleman to rescue their basketball fortunes, Montezuma school officials decided to lure Eddleman away from Byron.  A formal offer was made.  Eddleman seriously considered it for several days, but finally decided to remain at Byron.  When asked why he declined Montezuma’s offer, Eddleman stated, “ I have a milk cow. Montezuma didn’t have any place for me to keep my cow, so I stayed at Byron.”  

Jimmy Maffett feels that had Eddleman transferred, Montezuma, which came within a whisker of advancing to the state playoffs in 1944, would have had an excellent chance of winning the state championship. Ed Howard, an all-state basketball player from Byron who played against Maffett, agreed: “ Yes, Montezuma had a strong team that year and Jimmy Maffett was their leader.” Howard continued, “Had Montezuma gotten Coach Eddleman, their 1943-44 team would have been a formidable force in Georgia basketball.” Bobby Joe Clark, Byron star player and Howard’s teammate added,  “Eddleman was indeed a great basketball coach who would have made a difference at any school. ”  Maffett remarked, “Had the townspeople known that the only thing keeping Coach Eddleman from accepting the position was a place to graze his milk cow, surely someone would have volunteered a small pasture.” Since principal Rumble was not a seasoned coach, it is evident that Eddleman could have improved Montezuma’s basketball fortunes.  If Montezuma officials couldn’t pasture Eddleman’s cow, they at least should have promised him a quart of milk delivered fresh to his house every day. 

In conclusion, Montezuma officials didn’t pay the price for a great coach and possibly missed a golden opportunity to win a state championship.  The same is true of salvation. A price must be paid in personal commitment.  To accept Jesus as Savoir is not enough. We must make Him the Lord of our lives.  When we accept His Lordship, we not only must feel remorse for our sins, but we must turn from our wicked ways and become new creatures in Christ Jesus.