Pinning legendary Coach Wayne Jamison down about “who was your best at this” or “best at that” can be a tricky proposition. Afterall, when you coached as long as Jamison coached, won as many games, had as many all-staters and had so many quality young men on your rosters, it’s not necessarily an easy thing to do.

 

On Wednesday, however, the former football coach and educator called in to chat a little bit about life and, in particular, football. I should note, as this holiday season approaches and Christmas nears, one of the great blessings that I have is that I’ve gotten to know Mr. Wayne Jamison well after I had already known Coach Wayne Jamison.

 

I have respect for both. Today, I consider Mr. Wayne Jamison a good friend (even though I considered him one as a coach too back in my early and young journalistic days).

 

As our conversation steered into football, it quickly went into the game he said he loves the most. When he mentioned it, I wasn’t entirely surprised Jamison mentioned that it wasn’t the Super Bowl, the college national championship or even the high school football title games.

 

Jamison’s favorite game of the year is the annual Army-Navy encounter. And he said it’s not even close.

 

“That’s the way football was meant to be played. It’s about discipline and respect and everything that you, as a coach and even a fan, should want out of football,” said Jamison. “Sure there’s money involved today, but that game isn’t about money. It never has been and it never will be.”

 

While that part didn’t figure into my equation for why he loved the game, I knew Jamison has served in the Navy. It was where he became – as his late friend Charlie Lindsey told me he had heard – “one of the best damn drop kickers ever.” With that in mind, it only seems to reason that Jamison would have a fondness for the game serving in that branch of the armed forces.

 

Yet even that part is a bit tricky. Jamison said he grew up an Army fan.

 

“I grew up an Army football fan because they played Notre Dame and I wanted to beat Notre Dame,” said Jamison, who talked about watching sports highlights and on news reels prior to movies as a younger man in movie theaters. “That was my favorite team and I guess when I was in the Navy it was kind of even as to who my favorite team was. Today, I’m at the point I’m not rooting. I just love the game and what it represents.”

 

As the conversation continued Jamison volunteered something that caught me by surprise. The coach that was 230-71 in 27 years, won games by a margin of more than 14 points and had state championships in Class AAA in 1972 and 1979 and in Class AA in 1986 and 1988 spilled what he said may have been his proudest moment involving a player in all of his years of coaching.

 

“I’ve had a lot of good moments with my kids, but (in 2001) during the Army-Navy game watching (former player) Brian Zickefoose out on the field as a captain was definitely one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had,” said Jamison. “I had a tear or two in my eyes watching that and what he was representing. We’ve had others, like Curt Burner, who went on and worked with the Chiefs of Staff, which is impressive, but to see him on the field with the President of the United States (during the pre-game coin flip).”

 

For anyone that doesn’t remember, the 1998 BHS alum was an absolute beast as a running back and as a defensive back. Jamison said he was the perfect type of player and teammate and got his tendencies from the best of place.

 

“He was a yes sir, no sir kid long before he went to West Point. When he was here, you could tell he enjoyed the game and the kids enjoyed and respected him; there were never any conflicts with him and the rest of the team respected him,” said Jamison. “You knew he was never going to have any issue at the academy because of that and because he was so intelligent. He got that way from his mother and father and the family. I remember cousins, too, that were like that. The whole group was something.”

 

Jamison said he didn’t recall Zickefoose’s insane workout regimen back in high school. Often up before the sun came up in the summer and even school months to run. Working out longer and harder than anyone at practice and beyond.

 

“I don’t recall it, but you know he was dedicated. We have a few like that in (Bobby) Marra and (Brad) Minetree that worked overtime and had to run them off to get home. I don’t think they were up at 4 or 5 a.m., maybe (Steve) Stout, but I think he had to be at work at 4:30 a.m.,” Jamison joked. “Kids like that have a chance to be special and most are. All these years later and I remember that moment where Brian was on the field. I was so proud and not the least bit surprised at the same time.”

 

Jamison said, in the end, Zickefoose and everyone else in the Army-Navy game from 2001 and from the most recent game, realize one important thing. The players on both teams are working for the same team in the end with the same goal of taking care of our country.

 

“They have a bond I don’t think most would understand, which is another reason I love that game,” said Jamison.  “To have one of my kids out there in one of the most significant games after 9/11 was something that made it even more special.

 

“I loved having kids like Brian and, people may not realize that, there were others that were special too. Those kids that came out their sophomore year with two left and stayed with it until their senior year just for a chance to play,” he continued. “Some would be starters and some would work to get in when they could, but would be there working out and sweating just like the one with all the ability. I really admired those kids too.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Wayne Jamison being carried off the field following his 200th career win, while the middle photo shows Brian Zickefoose during his senior season at Army and the bottom photo shows him during his senior season at Bridgeport High School. Middle photo courtesy of the United States Army football program, while the top and bottom photo courtesy of the BHS Journalism Department and Mrs. Alice Rowe.