One of Coach Ross's greatest attributes was, he did more with less then other other coach I have known. When Coach Ross was at Raceland, we were not that great, we had one or two good players each year, but the rest of the team was average at best. For the most part, we were not graced with size or strength. But, Coach Ross got the best out of his players.

 

Recently, I heard a coach say, "we aren't that good, there's nothing we can do about that". And I thought to myself, "I sure am glad Coach Ross didn't think that way or Raceland may not have a football program".

 

Bill Tom was the ultimate motivator, the man could and did have 2nd or lower string players feeling like they were as good and important as any on the field. That "Family" atmosphere and attitude translated into wins over teams that in reality should have beaten our Rams handily, instead they left not knowing what or how it happened but they had lost. A lot of times after a game I would see Coach Ross talking to, congratulate an opposing teams player and have them feeling good about themselves, their team regardless of the score of the game.

I have said many times over that the Raceland Ram winning ways, tradition was here long before Bill Tom was. What Ross did was take that and raise the bar, change expectations into reality and took Ram Football to levels that were even higher the most dedicated of "Ram Nation" thought was possible. From "wanting to keep it close" (vs. bigger, better schools) to "thinking we could win" to "knowing / winning against them" to "expecting / demanding a win over anyone" ! THAT, my friends is a Coach ! Players would run trough a concrete wall or die trying for the man. Not out of fear but out of Respect / Admiration.

I apologize if it seems that I am "hogging" this thread, I tried to edit and add this one last comment to my last post and couldn't.

SO, Coach Bill Tom Ross .... you have WON the Ultimate Championship and we were all better people for it .......

 

go rest high on that mountain vince gill - Bing Videos

Condolences to the Raceland Community.

 

What years did Coach Ross work at Raceland?

Condolences to the Raceland Community.

 

What years did Coach Ross work at Raceland?

1983-1996

Coach Ross was the first Raceland Coach to schedule Ashland. Prior to that, Raceland was very strong versus small schools. When Coach Ross schedule Ashland, everyone thought he was crazy, Raceland being a 1A school playing 4A Ashland who was the largest school in the area. At first Ashland beat Raceland handily and everyone questioned why Raceland would want to play the much bigger Ashland. Everyone repeated the same excuses: "what is either school getting from this game being played", "A 1A school can not compete with the much larger Ashland", "this game shouldn't be scheduled anymore".

 

My junior year, 1990, Ashland had a great team with a once in a lifetime backfield. Ashland beat Raceland fairly easily and went on to win the 4A State Championship. The next year, Ashland returned one running back, who went on to be the all-time rushing leading at the school. I was a senior and Ashland was coming off a State Championship. Coach Ross told us, we are going to shock the world, we were going to beat Ashland. We believed. Everyone other then the Raceland players and coaches though Raceland was going to Ashland for another big loss. Coach Ross was right, we shocked the world, at least the NEKY world, we beat Ashland 14-13. The first Raceland win ever over Ashland.

 

Since that monumental win, Raceland has had it's share of victories over the much larger Ashland, including two, three game winning streaks. Sure, I'm biased, but I feel that historic win raised the bar at Raceland one more rung. Just like winning the first ever Regional Championship two years ago raised it one more rung, a team which my son was a part of (I'm blessed to know we both were on Raceland teams that helped elevate the program somewhat).

 

Now, for the funny part: 15 years after that first win over Ashland, the local newspaper wrote a story about big wins in Coach Ross's career, one of which was the 1991 Raceland win over Ashland. Coach Ross said, when asked, "I never expected Raceland to win, I just thought is was a great game to prepare Raceland for the playoffs and to compete with the powerhouse 1A teams around the state". I read that and was shocked. I didn't know what to think, he told us "we will win", "we will shock the world". We all believed that. The coaches believed that, or did they. Apparently, the Raceland "Players" were the only people that thought Raceland would beat Ashland in 1991. The coaches must have not thought it was possible. What was I going to do?

 

I picked up my phone, that's what I was going to do. I called Coach Ross. He answered the phone and said, "Hello". I didn't say hello, or tell him who was calling, I just said, "what do you mean you didn't think we would beat Ashland, you told us we would win". Coach Ross recognized my voice and said "No Marty", in the way only he pronounced my name (Moddy), he went on to say, "I always knew anything was possible, but I was more worried about us winning playoff games and didn't worry to much about the Ashlands of the world", "But, we did shock the world didn't we?". We went on to have one of our great conversations reliving our time at Raceland.

 

People speak of the Raceland win over Ashland in 1991 and all I say is "we got coached, that's why we won".

Coach Ross got me in my first fight at Raceland. I literally had just come back into town from playing baseball all summer and we were in pads. My first practice at Raceland and at the end of the practice it was a between the tackles goal line drill. At the time, the first team defense was on that side of the ball, we were in the wishbone and I was the fullback and had to lead in the A gap (obviously) and I absolutely blew up the senior starting middle linebacker. Coach Ross started jumping up and down like a madman screaming and shouting, and in the process humiliated the senior unintentionally. Next play, the senior and I met in a different way, and it was on, of course. He and I ended up playing the middle together that year on defense and became great friends. But no one could run a practice like coach. I wonder if there aren't some great stories being shared with a certain former Paintsville coach up in heaven .

Doc, Coach Ross did a similar thing to me. I was playing Defensive End as a freshman, Coach called 26 Smash (for you non Raceland people that is a play where the fullback and one halfback run shoulder to shoulder and "Smashed" the defensive end while the other halfback runs the ball behind them). Now the two players "Smashing" me were great players and very big. They ran at me, I split them and made the tackle. Well, Coach Ross made a big deal about a Freshman doing that to the starting backfield. The next play was, you guessed it, 26 Smash, the starting backfield wanted another shot at me. This time, I looked like a Freshman, they broke the facemark off my helmet. Broke the two plastic things on the sides of the facemask that hold it to the helmet. And, about broke my nose.

So long for now Coach Ross, you will be missed.........I will see you again one day when I am called "home".

I was really touched yesterday to see the football lights turned on at about 4pm. Fitting tribute to Coach Ross seeing that visitation was at the old gym.

I, along with Ram, attended the funeral today in Ashland and it was one of the best services that I have attended. Coach Ross battled the illness for a long time and I believe the family knew it was his calling to go to the Lord and everyone there seemed to enjoy all the stories that were told. Great stories were told during the service as they opened the floor to anyone that wanted to tell a story or experience they encountered with Coach. He was definitely an icon for this area and touched a lot of people.

 

I am glad I attended the service to witness the "winningest" coach in Raceland history be put to rest.

 

I am glad I attended the service to witness the "winningest" coach in Raceland history be put to rest.

This next season 2015 Rams Football will have yet another "RAM" looking down on them .... I hope that the kids today know what Coach Ross meant to Raceland Football and maybe dedicate this coming season to him. I know how proud that he was over the last few seasons and the back to back district / region championships, that's what he was building here. I am sure that coach Salmons has and / or will talk to them. LR, it is people like Coach Ross and so many others that ARE Raceland Ram Football ......That's what males this place special.

This next season 2015 Rams Football will have yet another "RAM" looking down on them .... I hope that the kids today know what Coach Ross meant to Raceland Football and maybe dedicate this coming season to him. I know how proud that he was over the last few seasons and the back to back district / region championships, that's what he was building here. I am sure that coach Salmons has and / or will talk to them. LR, it is people like Coach Ross and so many others that ARE Raceland Ram Football ......That's what males this place special.

 

Special People make it a Special Place. And I am sure, as Ram said, Coach Ross could tell you the same thing.

I know it sounds crazy, but Coach Ross's Funeral was the funnest funeral I have ever attended. What a great time celebrating the life of a great man. Funny stories and people talking about how Coach Ross affected their lives. It was a great time. You never know what will happen when you get 50 football coaches and 100 former players in one location. And, that was just the stories that could be told in a Church.

I was really touched yesterday to see the football lights turned on at about 4pm. Fitting tribute to Coach Ross seeing that visitation was at the old gym.

Brenda, Coach Ross's wife, said she loved the lights being on. She said it was fitting and "where else would Coach be on a Friday night, but at Ram Stadium with the lights on".