What's gameday like for a legend?
Chamberlain’s Billy Turner is a coaching legend. An icon, really. In five decades on the sideline, the guy has won more than 200 games and coached dozens of future college players.
But guess what?
With kickoff of the regular season just hours away, he's a nervous wreck.
Seriously.
Coaching "is just as fun today as ever,” Turner said. “The way I know why is that I’ve got butterflies. I can’t believe it. After 49 years, I still get them. I get so nervous the day of a game. I shake all day long, all the way up to the game. I don’t relax until something happens in the game.”
How does Turner, who no longer teaches, pass the time on gameday? By running errands and, if he’s lucky, taking a power nap.
“The time goes by fast when you’re sleeping,” Turner joked.
The state-ranked Chiefs play at Gaither tonight.
--KEITH NIEBUHR
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Niebuhr,
Ok that's a little better than talking about some players girlfriend transfering. Hold of on your transfer to the Trib.
Turner is a coaching legend in Hillsborough county and the press was appropriate.
Posted by: | September 05, 2008 at 03:35 PM
I thought I saw him in the halls at Jefferson HS on game day
Posted by: Jeff R Son | September 06, 2008 at 09:25 AM
It's better than reading about what Aaron Murray had for breakfast like the Trib writes every day. Does K.S. realize how much her credibility has been damaged with this love affair?
If Coach Turner's dedication to kids over so many year's isn't worth celebrating, what is?
Posted by: | September 07, 2008 at 10:40 AM