Molly and Nick
FLOYDADA — I have been a believer for a long time that things happen for a reason more than we realize. On Friday, Nov. 12 I enjoyed a unique opportunity of broadcasting a Whirlwind Playoff football game with my daughter Molly Jensen of Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
The previous Friday, the Whirlwinds pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in modern Floydada football history, beating the Hale Center Owls 35-34 at Charles Tyer Stadium to qualify Floydada for the bi-district playoffs as the No. 4 seed from District 2-2A-I.
Randell Sims, who has been a part of Whirlwind broadcasting for 14 years, had family obligations and would not be available for the playoffs. This left me searching for a partner to cover the Whirlwinds at Tulia’s Younger Field against the Panhandle Panthers.
After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, my wife Melissa suggested our daughter Molly. A sense of joy immediately came over me, because I had been thinking of her for the position to fill Randell’s shoes for more than 24 hours. I knew it would be a much different broadcast, especially not having Randell’s expertise in stats and his experience of Whirlwind sports for more than a decade.
We had a couple of planning sessions prior to the broadcast, and we agreed we would drive home the fact that Floydada had earned its place in the playoffs, especially after the dramatic win over Hale Center. We knew that the Whirlwinds were decisive underdogs against the Panhandle Panthers, District 1-2A-I Champions, but we decided to focus on the positives — a very young Floydada team that will return 18 different players that were starters this season to be an experienced squad in 2022; to brag on the Whirlwind spirit of the marching band, cheerleaders and fans; and that Molly was a 2004 FHS graduate. I encouraged her to talk from her heart about Floydada meant to her — and she answered the call.
Molly was well aware what this season meant to me for several reasons. She so eloquently expressed in the game the opportunity her dad had to broadcast from beautiful Charles Tyer Stadium, and what the entire Tyer family means to the Long family. Charlie and I had been prayer partners on a weekly basis for 14 years, meeting every Tuesday morning at either my office or backyard patio. Charlie was such an inspiration to me, and he always returned similar comments to me. It was a true friendship.
She also expressed how much it meant to me to work with new head coach J.R. Compton, who I had broadcast for two consecutive years in the early 1980s when Hale Center marched to two consecutive State Semi-Finals appearances. Compton was an All-State running back at Hale Center and an excellent kicker. We both discussed how proud we were of Coach Compton and what he had accomplished in his first year at Floydada. He has a big heart that fits well in his large body.
I have been fortunate to work with great partners through the 47 years of broadcasting, like Jerry Cannon, Edd Henerson Jr., Bob Alldredge, Tyler Helms, Tony Ricketts and Randell Sims on Whirlwind sports; along with Jeff Piersol for Hale Center, John Ellzey with Perryton, Charles Keaton with Plainview and Littlefield, Randy Adams with Plainview and Littlefield, Charles Bechtold with Plainview, Jeff Tunnel with Plainview; but working with Molly was special. She made me laugh a couple of times that once required her to say, “Get it together Dad.”
This season was first time I have ever in my career that the game video was streamed with the radio audio, one of the many great technology executions from KFLP. Alex Driggars was the producer of the video stream and he is real pro at his job. Alex is also the Editor of the Floyd County Record, and he is great person to work with when I submit sports stories. I appreciate his teamwork philosophy.
I learned something that stuck early in my broadcasting career from legendary coach Greg Sherwood about “loyal to effort”. There is something inside me that ignites real easy, to get excited when the team I am following does something positive. This kids work hard and put in a lot of time in playing athletics. These kids deserve someone to give them recognition for their effort. What made me so proud in Tulia was that Molly opened her heart for the Whirlwinds. Floydada did not win. As a matter of fact, they took a pretty tough beating, but we appreciate the Winds for the whole body of work this season. I am very optimistic for the future of Whirlwind football, and anxious to see our new schedule after the UIL realignment in February.
Good luck to the Whirlwinds and Lady Winds during basketball and the spring sports. I am confident you will give it your best and make us cheer for your exciting plays — “loyal to effort”.
