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Show AUGUST 12, 1986 New LHS grid coach wants to turn program around (Editors Note: In the next 30 days all of Da vis Countys six high schools will be in the thick of another explosive prep football schedule. One of the schools that Bountiful, Viewmont and Woods Cross will play in their first three weeks, will be the Layton Lancers to the north. The following layout gets into the mind of second year head coach, Joseph Wood who is trying desperately to turn the football fortunes around at that school.) By team. One simple statement that was rendered at that time to most of them went something like this, For those of you who want to be part of Laytons state championship team next year, the weight room will be open each Monday and Wednesday at 6 a.m. Wood played on that saying, "True preparation never ends, whether KEITH DUNCAN its mental, physical or emotional. Weber High never LAYTON - Joe Wood and Lee lacocca have at least one thing in -- stops preparing from the time they left oft in the 1984 season until they won the title in 1985. room to workout in. "I guess every coach is a little optimistic right now and Im no different. I believe weve got 110 to 115 kids that are quality football players who will add to our program in one way or another. I seriously believe we wont lose any more kids than what we started with because of their attitudes. On the 9th of June when they came back, it was do or die for percent of them. 99-pl- "Thats another great reason RICH ELMORE, 1985 Layton High graduate, ran his Fifth marathon in the past year at the Deseret News Marathon. He finished first in his category and was eleventh overall. Im so gobbled up in this thing. These kids have been working their fannies off so if I didnt give more effort than them, I shouldnt deserve to be here as their leader. Elmore likes open spaces Woods leadership role has proven to be like a magnet. Hes got staff and kids clinging to his HERE IS JOE Wood with former Layton Lancer Maurice Turner who he coached at Utah State. common, in fact its the only thing that matters. Either theyve done it or theyre trying awfully hard, to turn once flourishing organizations around and head them back in the right direction. No one wants to put Layton football back on the map more than Wood does. If it never happens, a kind of thinking Wood prefers not to ponder, it wont be because the second year head coach isnt putting the time in. From early morning till sundown, this guy sleeps, drinks and thinks about ways to make his prep football team better. His first season was a appointment, but now its time. Laytons 5 mark of a year ago stands in serious jeopardy of being improved upon the way Wood is grooming his 86 4-- get-serio- crew. Why the intensity, or at least the high degree of it? Wood says it comes down to following the example of those who have taught him in the football world. Ive been privileged to work under some great, great leaders like John Robison (Los Angeles People talk about To me there is no such thing as a Burn-ou- t burn-ou- t. to me is someone who wants to quit right now who is admitting failure. True, there must be different levels of intensity but I always believe you must prepare yourself. Many kids did take Wood up on his offer and did begin to prepare. If they werent in his program, they were in other sports. They themselves ultimately will tell the tale. One of them, Boyd Murray, coming back for his senior year commented, Weve talked among ourselves and weve agreed its time to turn things around. I know we can do it. burn-out- s. off-seas- To help his kids prepare, Wood and his staff moved the weight training facility from the small little room where its been to one of the upper levels behind the bleachers in the same gymnasium. Certainly now the kids have much more example. At Layton this fall there will be some talent and some kids who know how to win, two ingredients that Wood hopes will help his team rebound if the sudden momentum they have now begins to shift. He and his counterparts know all too well that the football can bounce in any direction. But its a funny thing, said Wood, We really wont know the ultimate answer to our turnaround until we look up at the clock with no time remaining in the Bountiful game on Aug. 29. "Its such a pivotal game in terms of winning, even though we would lose that one and go on and win the rest of them. That game however will teach us a lot in terms of what we must do from that point on. I believe this years crop of kids will bounce back in case of defeat even better than last years team did. But what Im really hoping is that the heartbreak that happened to us in some games last year, happens to the other guy this time around. Maybe it will and maybe it wont, but one thing is for sure, we will be prepared every-tim- e we take the field. Woods competitive spirit is beginning to rub off on his players. Two days algo during a conditioning session, one player remarked, Losing stinks. Ive heard people say when theyve finished second place or last, that someone has to, so why not me. All I can say, is why take second or last when first place is available. Having been around athletics has allowed me to see winners and losers and I just simply want to be a winner. Maybe you could say Im a poor loser, but thats just the way I am, said Wood. Rams), Joe Kapp (University of California), Bruce Snyder (Utah State and Los Angeles Rams') and others who have always wanted to be the best they could be. I combine their example with my own desire to be the best and it adds up to everything Im doing right now, Wood said . But getting the job done of winning at Layton High isnt something hell accomplish by himsel-fan- d Wood knows that. Youve got to have a great staff behind you and I feel weve got that right now. Weve got nine solid people that I believe are great teachers of the game and I envision success with them, he said. From the day the season ended last year, Wood and a few of his staff members began working with kids that would compose the 1986 Elmore, who most recently finished in first place in his division at the Deseret News Marathon, graduated from Layton High School in 1985. But it was never in high school that Elmore got any major thrills in running long distance. I give a lot of credit to Russ Jones (Elmores prep track coach) for motivating me to be better than average in athletics, but I never could run track to the best of my ability, becuase I just didnt enjoy it. Plain and simple I just couldnt get into doing the same thing, day after day. Despite that feeling, Elmore was still Laytons top distance runner for a couple of years. His heart jusNwasnt in track, but it was a much different story when it came to coaching himself in longer road races. Elmore could actually perform better in a high school meet after hed put down a good time in a local road race. Coach Jones never could leash me down and I wasnt trying to be uncoachable either. I just enjoyed the freedom that road racing had to offer, it was just in me, continued Elmore. The Layton ace loves to run the longest races available and after high school he began entering as often as he could. The marathons and half marathons have always given him the most excitement. In the space of nearly three years, Elmores marathon time has improved over one hour which he attributes to hard work and constant intensity. Already he has performed in some very notable marathons, including the Boston Marathon this year, which was always a dream for the Layton teenager. Whether its been the Boston Marathon or another race, Ive always felt uplifted to just finish the race. When I was old, I was visiting a good friend of mine, Scott Tennis (the wrestling coach at Clearfield High) who had a picture of himself finishing a race. I asked him what it was and he told three and a half hours. "In my opinion there are a lot of people who can run high school in miles and be like a Matt Roat (the talented Woods Cross runner) and maybe even win a state championship there, but finishing 26.2 miles is something that will remain with -- A collection of the finest baseball players from Viewmont and 2 Continued on next page -- Marathon BOUNTIFUL - Nothing like a little teamwork, maybe a lot of teamwork here. 4-- LAYTON - Rich Elmore, the talented young long distance running ace, might be described as a wild stallion that never did like being confined to an oval track. finished the Deseret News KEITH DUNCAN Davis Highs have joined together this summer to form the Viewmont American Legion baseball team which last Saturday evening captured a victory over Granite in the opening round of seasonending Legion tournament being played in Salt Lake City. Last Monday evening Viewmont was to have played Kearns in a KEITH DUNCAN me it was him finishing a 26.2 mile Deseret. News Marathon. I was awed by. that and ever since Ive wanted to finish a marathon myself, even though I couldnt figure out how a human body could run that far. The next year, at age 14, he VHS Legion plays well By By JOE WOOD IN his playing days at the University of Oregon. you forever, said Elmore. In the past year now, Elmore has done nearly the impossible by completing five marathons. That span includes two Deseret News runs, the St. George Marathon, the Las Vegas Marathon and the Boston event. How much can a body endure? My body pretty much tells me what I can and cannot do, said Rich, I usually workout twice a day but I also let my body dictate how much can be done. I use the pyramid system as most good road race runners do. You build yourself a base and work up from there, getting more speed as time goes on. Even though Elmore was displeased with his performance at the Boston Marathon this year, it completed a dream for him. The Boston race requires a qualification standard in order to none-the-le- compete, close to two hours and 50 minutes being done in the marathon sometime within a year prior to the race. Over 6,000 runners competed in the Boston race this year. But in comparing marathons, Boston might be more prestigious to Elmore, but not as difficult as the Deseret News race. "The Deseret News run is second toughest marathon in the country and thats a second reason you get a lot of satisfaction in completing the race, said Elmore. At the 1986 event in July, Elmore finished 11th overall and was the youngest racer in the top 11. Finishing second in Elmores category at the Deseret News run, was ironically his neighbor, Braun Bennett, the first official 26.2 race. Its funny how things happen, said Elmore, Braun called me up one day and told me hed started running and I told him to keep it up, not really thinking much of it. But Braun worked himself into 60 or 70 miles a week and it wasnt too long before they started working out together. I saw some definite improvement and talked him into doing a half marathon in Brigham Citv. I need some time to grow and mature still, said Elmore, And I look at the fact that many great long distance runners in our area have gone on missions. Guys like Ed Eyestone, Farley Gerber and others have. When I come back from my mission, Ive got pretty high hopes of what can and some pretty good goals to go along with it. 1 VIEWMONTS 1986 AMERICAN Legion squad picked up a win over Granite last Saturday night in the first round of the Legion State playoffs. They are coached by Gary Lindsey and Tom Secrist, a team made up of players from Davis and Viewmont Highs. 4-- 2 We Enthusiastic Support Bill Peters Dean Argyle Grant Steed Robert Finklea Dick Bowman Rick Robinson J. Bruce Smart G. Ralph Dibble Hal LaBelle Karl T Dqvis Choose BILL PETERS Davis County Co atarissloner Jeffery D. Cook Sharon Stevenson Earl Tlngey Don Perkins Gary V. Smith Craig Shiner H.- D. Call Kent Chlehuber Richard J. Lewis LeGrande Simmons Lamar Chard Jim Brough Phil Maybe Elmer Barlow Ron Randall Bill and Mary Olson Ken and Shirley Hill Dewey & Lorraine McKay John & Carolyn Harmer Marc and Janice Francom Dean and Ann Thurgood Jay and Carmen Fisher Bruce and Marilyn Hallows Bud and Maijean Siegfried Bob and Marian Spelrs Eugene & Allie Mae Possclll Bennett Peterson Stan Smoot Morris Swapp Wendall Zaugg . -- Republican WHAT DO TOE WANT FROM TOUR COENTT COMMISSIONER? The citizens want a commissioner that will look out for their interests, generate a high level of confidence, and be quick to listen and respond. I am looking forward to serving the people of Davis County once kgain. I bring to this candidacy many years of decisionmaking experience and responsibility, and I am qualified to make a sizable contribution in serving Davis County as commissioner. Bill Peters ss Paid for by Homra Lodging Properties and the Committee to Elect BUI Peters |