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Show JULY 27, 1983 Hard Work Proves Contagious Ward Sawley didnt beg his kids to come out last February to lift weights and condition, they did it completely on their own. By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports KAYSV1LLE - Theres three rules that a man by the name of Ward Sawley lives and breathes by in the profession or mentoring prep footbalj. , THE FIRST is that you can beat of everyone else by working hard. The second is that you can beat 90 percent of everyone else by working hard and understanding the system. something we go out to do and simply get done. Every other team feels like they do the same thing, I know that, but our kids honestly believe that through hard work they can be just about anything they want to, said Sawley who has coached some form of football since 1961. winning SAWLEY, WHO has a percentage as a head coach (a glossy 1 mark), was quite emphatic about the hard work principle, so much that he chose to give a recent example of it. It was last February that we as a coaching staff were confronted by several of the kids to work with them in a weightlifting and conditioning program to help prepare them for this fall. These were kids that will make up the bulk of our '83 team. At Davis we dont like specialization in just one sport and as we do every year, we literally force some kids to play another sport. But they insisted on working. 31-1- JIM DICKSON, who has been a part of all four seasons hes been the head person, stated, Sawley is a hell of a guy and thats all that really needs to be said. But Dickson did say more, There honestly isnt another head coach that I feel I coud work, other than Sawley. Hes a head coach that gives responsibility and expects it to get done. He definitely makes us feel like we contribute. Wards program it. THEYRE GOOD people and a lot of fun to work with. We may not always agree with a particular decision, but when its made, we all stand by it, Sawley stated. SAID PAT Sawley about her husbands command of the program, Ward is very and a lot of people have confidence in his judgement. On two particular occasions, in fact in both of Davis only two season losses under Saw-ley- s tenure, critical moments in which decisions were made resulted in negative results. But in both the Logan game of a few years back and the Highland contest two years ago, the coaching staff today wouldnt have done it any different. AS FAR as working with kids, he isnt afraid of having fun with them either fishing or golfing but he also has a special talent of letting them sense when its time to get down to business. Sawley grew up in nearby Clearfield and West Point, but never played organized football till junior high. self-assur- THATS WHEN we decided to get together three days a week at 6 a.m. If I wasnt there, then Coach (Jim) Dickson or Greg Stevenson were. Weve been consistent with that program from February until today, Its not something I asked of them, its what I think is a hard working principle that is entrenched in their minds, said Sawley. SAWLEY, WHO along with a staff he claims are at least three or four fully qualified head ITS NO doubt a challenge to duplicate previous records and accomplishments! Were not unique though, every region champion from last year goes through it. Someone once left a nicely written message in my desk, it being a quote from John Wooden. It stated the first win or championship is always the easiest. But the second and third is where the pressure mounts and everyone is looking to knock you off. Only if youve got kids that understand we could beat anyone. Wards wife, Pat, spoke up again, Every victory was something special to the kids, because it was something unexpected. After the Viewmont game I went up and embarrassed Ward in literal tears. But after doing it, I stopped for a minute with everyone around and said, Did we just win the state championship or is this our first league game. THREE OR four guys on this staff could be head coaches if it were right for them. Thats why we blend and work so well together. Were equals on the staff. Jim Dickson has passed up chances that could have netted him a head job, but he stayed. Mike Gardner, as far as Im concerned could be a head football coach because hes qualified and has the ability. Bruce Bitner is doing a great job, growing in leaps and bounds every season. Hes definitely got the interest in IM not talking about busy work, but football coach candidates, have won four consecutive region championships and in those four years have lost only two league games. Everybody goes out to win, but weve been lucky to do it a lot, said Sawley who admits his coaching tenure has been enjoyable because of the success. But last years record doesnt get you any points this year, theyre all for memories and helping building a tradition you can motivate in future years with. WE KNEW wed have to have an excellent game to beat them and nearly played flawless. Everything wed done in practice through the week, was exhibited on the field that night. From there everyone felt good and we knew Three or four guys on this staff could be head coaches if it were right for them" Ward Sawley THE THIRD is that youll have to fight the tooth and nail. They remaining work hard, live right, and will fight you every inch of the way, always a dogfight. The key ingredient above anything else in our football program at Davis High, the very most significant thing, is working hard as coaches and as players. AND WE BEAT Ben Lomond to start with and then lost to Skyline on a coaching mistake. We then had a close game with Clearfield in the rain that could have gone either way. The game of the year was coming next and against a very good friend in Mark Pierce who coached there last season. We scored twice in both halves and beat them 28-- work and prepare for it, will you have chances to continue to succeed, said the head coach. The man this schools administration selected four season ago, admits that he enjoys swimming together as a coaching staff, rather than even swimming alone or for the worst, sinking alone. "I know some guys who do it alone on some staffs and it isnt fun. - FROM NORTH Davis he bounced over to Davis High where he says, my whole football experience at Davis was a real good one. He started in the Dart offensive backfield with the same teammates for two consecutive years. Gary Batchelor was quarterback, Lynn was a back as was Paul Major and SawIn ley. two years as starters, they lost only two games, which losses kept them out of the playoffs. That was a disappointment not getting to the playoffs, I certainly like our format a lot better today, said Sawley. Lee Liston was Sawleys coach, in fact it was his final season as a head coach Sawleys senior year. During college Ward became interested in coaching some of the first WFFL teams while studying physical education at school. His first assignment out of school was an assistant job in Oregon at Toledo High School. He came back to Centerville Junior High a year later as the head coach, spent five years at Clearfield High and has been with the Darts ever since Cor-brid- DECISIONS HAVE to be made in every game, said Sawley, But with the people that surround me, its a lucky situation. As well as having Gardner, Dickson, and Bitner, weve got Frank Thompson and John Robison. Of course Dee Robins is my right hand man as a scout and without him I seriously wonder where Id be. With little hesitation, Sawley put it on record as its been stated before, that last years entire experience has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his athletic career. He wont forget the team that went 0 in season play and won a region championship nearly no one thought they had business being involved with. 5-- that. THE QUESTION hes frequently asked and here it comes again, how long will you stay with the crazy business of coaching? Sawley stated, its tough to be a coach in many ways. My summers are completely tied up, even though I dont require them to be. The demands on my family are tremendous and without an understanding wife, Id never last. I suppose as long as Im motivated and kids keep being motivated, Ill stay. It could be one more year, it might be ten. But Ill step aside when LAST season was so impressive because honestly, I thought v'ed have a struggle at the first of the year. A lot of people thought I was sandbagging, but actually I was being quite frank about it. The senior class was thin and unless we had some juniors come through, it was going to be difficult. But through all that, I never once said I didnt have the confidence in my kids and their ability to win, because deep down I knew they could do it. its time. Ward Sawley has been a Davis Dart as a player, an assistant coach and now is in his fifth a head coach season as u Ward has the ability to get the most from average ability kids.. .and has put together quite an impressive record in doing it. ..DeeRobis PEOPLE HAVE to understand kids nowadays. They want to be successful their final and senior year, just like all the senior classes before them. For most of them, theyll never get on a football field in full pads again. "Because they want success, it puts demands on me because they want someone who can lead them. 1 didn't ask the kids to come last February to lift, they did it on their own. NINETY-NINpercent of kids want to imskills their and go to camps, theyre not prove forced. What else can they do around here besides a few chores and weeding the garden. This thrust in athletics is something the younger generation has almost forced us to do. Kids want to be better and it requires a coach who can spend some time with them, concluded E Sawley. Dee Robins, who has acted as a scout for the Dart football program for over 21 years and is close to Sawley commented, From the standpoint of handling young men, Ward has had the ability to get more from young men than most other coaches. It holds true when you review the success hes had in four years. He hasnt had a true come from his teams, but has taken ability kids to a very er good-avera- record. impressive win-los- s WARD HAS done an excellent job in taking these kind of kids and making them believe they can compete with anyone. I should be careful in calling them average, because to the parents and to most of the fans, they are better than average, but in ability they are average. Ward has also been a guy who can blend a coaching staff together and lend out responsibilities to his assistants and let them carry them out. Tennis Tourney Scheduled Aug. 8 At Clfd. Complex 4-- CLEARFIELD - The Clearfield Recreation Department will host a tennis tournaat the ment here from Aug. 4-- 8 tennis complex located at Steed Park, 300 North 800 West. THE SINGLE-eliminatio- n tournament will feature competition in the following age di - II , u&mii'.iU 1?. " ; A 4 i i HI 1 7 I, ' ijrif 'lih j f d under singles;boys and girls to 13 singles; mens and 18 womens 19 to 34 singles; and mens and womens 35 and over singles. Participants must register in advance at the Clearfield Swim Pool, 934 S. 1000 E by Saturday, July 30. THE tournament schedule will be posted at the Clearfield Pool on Tuesday, Aug. 2. Entry fee is $2 per person. Trophies will be awarded to the top finishers in each division. FURTHER information is available by calling the Clearfield Recreation office at 773-330- Clearfield Youngsters Claim Nine Hershey Track Awards Recently the Utah State Hershey Track and Field meet was held in Provo and youngsters representing Clearfield came home with nine awards. Winners were: A highlight in the lives of many was the 1982 region championship which was so special because no one expected it. visions: boys and girls BOYS ages 0. Eric Davis! softball throw, 7th place; boys Wyllie Norton, 100 age meter dash, 5th place and 400 meter dash, 1st place. 2, Lance Roberts. 100 meter dash, 2nd place; 200 meter dash, 2nd Boys ages place. 13-1- GIRLS ages Laura Shavers, 100 meter dash, 8th place; Jenny Siegel, softball throw, 4th place; girls ages Stephanie Thurgood, 1600 meter run, 6th place; standing long jump, 4th place. 11-1- 2, 13-1- |