Reardan represents at "50 Years of Football"

REARDAN-The scent of smoked sausage and sense of Reardan spirit packed Gene Smith Gym as hundreds of current and former football players and community members gathered for a once-in-a-generation "50 Years of Football" banquet Saturday, April 23.

The event served several purposes: Celebrate Eric Nikkola's retirement, honor former coaches Dan Graham and Gene Smith and introduce new head coach Matt Clouse to the Reardan faithful filling the building named after Smith.

Who better to start the night than Reardan's self-proclaimed and community-recognized No. 1 fan, pastor Pat Hogan, who offered a welcome, prayer and table dismissal for the dinner prepared by Rick Perleberg and several high school students. The big guns were then brought in after the meal to kick off the evening's speaking festivities in emcee Dennis Patchin, a longtime local sports anchor who is currently the sports director at SWX in Spokane.

Patchin first introduced Jeff Pietz, a member of the 1990 state title team. Pietz gave a few words and introduced Smith, whose speech brought back memories dating well into the 1970's. Smith's speech was humorously halted when he dropped the rather sensitive microphone while speaking, creating a ringing throughout the room.

"Can you all hear me now?" Smith quipped, with uproarious laughter the response.

Smith wrapped up his remarks and exited the stage to a resounding standing ovation.

"Well, when the gym is named after you, you can do whatever you want, Gene," Patchin later joked.

The same routine was then followed for Graham, who was introduced by Clouse. Nikkola finished up the former coach recognition portion of the night thanking a laundry list of school administrators, players, coaches and community members. The outgoing head man was introduced by his first quarterback, Ian Wagner, and the quarterback of the 2005 state title team, Eric Everett.

All three coaches were given loud standing ovations at the conclusion of their respective speeches.

Smith, Graham and Nikkola returned to the stage to offer Clouse words of advice as the latter was formally introduced as the program's fourth head football coach in the past 50-plus years. Graham then cheekily took the microphone and said,

"I know I'm going to get in trouble for this, but...keep the pride inside the tribe. Go Indians."

Reardan is presently transitioning its mascot from the "Indians" to the "Screaming Eagles" following new state legislature banning the use of Native American names and likenesses as mascots or logos.

Graham's remark drew the loudest cheers of the night from the crowd.

After Clouse's speech, Patchin roamed the room allowing for audience members to shortly offer stories or thoughts on Smith, Graham and/or Nikkola.

The session was highlighted when Graham's wife, Mary Lynne Graham, reflected on the confusion she faced when complimenting players and coaches after a seemingly resounding win or trying to cheer them up after a discouraging loss and tried to pass her bit of advice onto Clouse's wife, Wendy Clouse.

"I would tell them great game, and they would say, 'we played horrible.' But after a loss, I would say 'better luck next time,' and they would say, 'are you crazy? We played great,'" Mary Lynne Graham said. "I found it best to just simply ask them... 'what did you think of tonight's game?'"

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Drew Lawson, Editor

Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

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