High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 132 text:
“
Changing a tradition Boots Donnelly is faced with reversing Govs' losing ways By Doug Vance It was a warm Friday afternoon and the Austin Peay football team was in the midst of atwo-hour scrimmage at Municipal Stadium. A handful of spectators watched quietly as the quarter- back back-peddled and lofted a soft pass downfield. The nearly perfect spiral sailed over the heads of the confused secondary until finally landing with an embar- rassing thud untouched on the AstroTurf. HHoId it hold it! came a cry from downfield. That was just beautiful. Weive got a sure six points and 120 everyone is going to stand up and say iwhoopie' but instead we don't have a receiver in sight so everyone in the stands is going to hurl popcorn boxes at us. The speaker was James HBoots Donnelly. It was a relatively insignificant moment in the grueling practice routine last spring. But it's a proper introduction to the man, Boots Donnelly. He is a football coach, and as you watch him you can't help feeling that you are witnessing a uniquely gifted man; a man who knows where it's at, as the saying goes, and exactly how to get there. Fundamentals. They are his teaching tools. The coach is demanding and does not hesitate to raise his voice in practice when necessary. But he understands and appreciates the pressures of college football, and he interjects humor in his practices always,'it appears, at the proper time. Donnelly's mission is clear. Austin Peay has won just 144 games out of 384 in its 40 years of intercollegiate football. He must recruit skilled, quality players and formulate a program that reflects excitement within the community. I don't know if challenge is the right word, Donnelly explains. HThe program has the potential and is in a formative stage. I know it's a very exciting situation for me. A full understanding of this attitude requires some hind- sight. We pick up the story in 1957. It was that year that Donnelly, an eager and hard-nosed defensive end, won his first high school football letter under former Austin Peay gridiron standout Louis Catig- nani at Father Ryan High School in Nashville. Donnelly started three years under Catignani, spending his senior season 096D at quarterback when he was selected 'Most Valuable Player in the Nashville Inters- cholastic League tNILi Big Four. Donnelly, whose brother tTommyi was the top rusher at Austin Peay in '61 and '62, also lettered four years in baseball at Father Ryan. Boots accepted a football scholarship to Middle Tennessee State, where he played under Charles UBub- ber Murphy. From his sophomore year on, Donnelly started 32 straight games and Middle went 8-2, 7-2-1 and 10-0 and won two Ohio Valley Conference championships. First-year head football coach James HBoots Donnelly'spends late hours in his office. looking for answers that have puzzled Gov coaches before him. Donnelly stepped in as head coach last winter.
”
Page 133 text:
“
Donnelly spent most of his college career at defensive corner back. HI was a plugger, Boots says. Indeed he was. He didn't let a few injuries keep him out of the lineup. At times, he played with a broken hand, once with a cracked neck and he has started with broken ribs and a broken nose. Donnelly received his MS. degree in 1965 and his M.Ed. degree in 1966 from Middle Tennessee State. Donnelly returned to Father Ryan and spent six years as assistant coach under Catignani, working with the de- fensive secondary, offensive line and backfield. As secondary coach, Donnelly's backs averaged 22 in- terceptions a year. Boots took over the Father Ryan program in 1974 and his accomplishments in his two years as head coach boggle the mind. He led Father Ryan to a 21-2 record and two NIL cham- pionships. His 1974 squad finished with an impressive 13-0 record and captured the Tennessee Class AAA title. After eight years in high school coaching, Donnelly was persuaded by coach Fred Pancoast to join the Vanderbilt staff where he served as offensive backfield coach during the '76 season. Among his proudest accomplishments is his success in Donnelly talks serious football strategy with his players and expects a good return on his investment of time. However, even though most of his efforts are serious, he interjects humor at the proper points. helping coordinate some of the finest coaching clinics in Tennessee while at Father Ryan. His clinics included some of the top high school and college coaches in the area. Boots has a fetish for golf, and his free time is devoted to his wife, the former Carole Holzapfel of Nashville, and their three girls; Bunny, Helen and Lauren. 121
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
