Entry #62 - 1/2/07

Happy New Year! I hope your 2007 is filled with an abundance of love, joy and happiness. In my next couple of entries I am going to make up for some lost time and give a quick review of last season and try to catch up on what has happened during the last half of 2006.

Our 2006 season ended on May 27th in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship game. This was a great accomplishment for our program and our players, as it was the first time in the history of ETSU Baseball that a team would play in the Championship game of a conference tournament. The thirty one wins marked the first time since 1981 and 1982 that an ETSU Baseball team had posted back to back thirty win seasons. It is a good feeling to know we are moving in the right direction. There is a lot of confidence in our baseball program right now. The most I've seen in the last eight years. All of our former players, alumni, administration and the people of Johnson City have raised their expectations for our program. I definitely see this as a sign of progress.

This senior class of Shane Byrne, Steven Calicutt, Blake Church, Josiah Glafenhein, Jeremy Hall, Chuck Hargis and Matt Traylor all ended their careers with outstanding seasons. This class ended up being the second most winning class in history. Their impact on our program, both on and off the field will never be forgotten. Each one of them definitely left their mark as this group assaulted the individual record books. Shane, Steven, Jeremy and Chuck were all selected in the Major League Baseball draft and will continue their baseball careers. Meanwhile Blake and Matt were first round choices in the business world, both landing outstanding jobs. And Josiah is already one of the top graduate students in one of the best graduate school programs in the country. I'm very proud that six of them have graduated, leaving only Cutt left to finish. I'm putting the heat on Cutt now. He only has a few hours left and could not finish this year because he was invited to the Instructional League with the Giants this past fall. I have no doubts though that he will soon finish. I know Mrs. Calicutt will make sure of it. This was a special group and I really enjoyed watching them develop and grow as ball players and young men. Success is inevitable for this group and it will be very enjoyable seeing where their futures take them.

The summer was a whirlwind as this time of the year just seems to fly by. Recruiting is in full swing during these months. Mix in summer baseball camps, clinics, Tilo's little league season and it seemed like the Skole's were at a baseball field just about every day. What else could be better, right?

We did mange a few days to do a Disney vacation. Boy was I fired up about this. I had not been to Disney World in thirty four years. Of course I had seen it on television over the years and researched it thoroughly. I think my anticipation was greater than Tilo and Jack's. We had a detailed game plan and we were ready to experience everything Disney had to offer. Every morning we were up at the crack of dawn and off to a different park. What an enterprise they have down there. It is truly magical and amazing. Don't ever say Walt Disney was not a genius. The boys were having a blast and couldn't wait to get from one place to another, but for me, after the first few days it all started to run together. Don't get me wrong, Disney World is a wonderful place, but Mickey Mouse was beating down the old coach. After a serious dent in the check book and some aching feet, I came to the conclusion that when you visit Disney World, you need a vacation immediately afterwards just to recover.

At the end of our vacation I received a phone call that no one should ever have to make or receive. On the phone was my brother-in-law, David Burnett. I'll never forget as it was just after 7:00am and I could hear and feel the pain in his voice. David informed me that my nephew, Tommy Burnett was killed in an automobile accident the night before. Tommy had just finished his freshman year at Kennesaw State where he ran track. He was on his way home (only about 15 minutes from his house) that evening when his car hit a slick spot and hydroplaned. There was a lot of rain that night and some very bad storms going through the Atlanta area. I was in complete shock and could not believe what I had just heard. Jody was in the shower at the time of the call and the boys were still asleep. My conversation with David was brief as it was impossible to keep our emotions in check. When I finally got my Father on the phone he confirmed what had happened. My thoughts were then directed towards my sister Robyn, who I could not even imagine what state of mind she would be in. I was able to speak with her briefly but once again the emotions were just so strong that we couldn't even talk. I immediately got on the phone with my brothers and hoped that this was just a bad dream. Neither, Mike, Scott or I could believe what had happened.

We immediately left the hotel in Orlando and headed to Roswell to be with my sister and brother-in-law. This was the longest drive I have ever had to make, but all I knew was that I wanted to be with my sister and brother in law. What happened over the next ten days just seemed to run together. Obviously those days were filled with some very sad, sorrowful, difficult moments. Losing a loved one is never easy. Especially someone who was as young, vibrant and loved as Tommy was. Over and over, in my mind, I kept asking myself, "Why"? "Why did this horrible accident have to happen?" Tommy was a phenomenal kid. He was the little brother I never had. He had so many people who loved him cared about him. It just doesn't seem fair. Your faith is really tested in times like this.

As I knew it would be, this is difficult for me to share. I realize this digest is probably not the right place for me to express these things, but the reason I started this digest was to share my thoughts and what is on my mind and I would be lying if I didn't admit that Tommy's passing occupies a space in my thoughts every single day. So for this reason I feel it necessary to do so. I do not want to go into much more about what occurred over the next couple of days, but I was amazed at some of the things that happened. Death is a concept that most of us are not comfortable with. We don't like to talk about it and we sure don't want to experience it, but everyday it occurs in all of our worlds.

I have always said that one of the best "perks" that come from being a college coach is that you are always around young people. Some people may look at this as a negative, but there are times when young people can simply amaze you in a positive way. Sure, there are times when they can break your heart, but just when you seem to be getting down or negative on our society's youth, they come out of nowhere and knock you off your feet with something very heartwarming and gratifying.

The immediate days after Tommy's accident his friends began to start showing up at my sister and brother in law's house. Some of these young people had never met Tommy's parents or family before, but they showed up anyway. I was amazed at how these young people kept coming through those doors even though they knew the sadness and sorrow that existed on the inside. Hundreds of them. It took a lot of courage for them to do this and with every visit they left something or shared something with my sister and brother which helped them get through the day. It was amazing to witness all the lives that young man touched in his short time with us.

These young people and the friends of Robyn and David taught me a valuable lesson. In the past, when someone that I knew had lost a loved one, I have always felt uncomfortable calling them or going to see them. I didn't want to bother them or even more, say the wrong thing. What can you possibly say to someone who is suffering through such a loss? What I learned during this time is that you can't say the wrong thing. When people suffer a tragic loss, it's not important what you say, what's important is that you just show up. You will find the right words when it is necessary. The people that showed up for my sister and brother were amazing and they continue to be to this day. Our family will always be in debt to them for their love and kindness.

Tommy's memory will continue to live on as he will continue to be an inspiration to all that were lucky enough to know him. My relationship with him was very special and will always be something that I will always cherish. There is not a single day that he doesn't inspire me in some way, shape or form to do the right thing. He was a special young man who was dearly loved. All that were close with him will continue to look for understanding and ask ourselves, "Why this had to happen?" And one day we will know the answer. Rest in peace my "little brother". Tilo and Jack sure do miss you.

Until Next Time...

Coach Skole