News from 1984:

99 and counting

Closing in on his 100th win, Strasburg's Glenn Proctor takes time to remember

By Elizabeth Libby
(Daily Sports Writer)

Glenn Proctor, head coach of the Strasburg Rams, doesn't want to be perceived as a man who'd win at all costs.

But, there was a time when winning was so important Proctor was willing to give up his own body in the pursuit.

After losing in the last :50 to Fluvanna High School in the 1970 regional playoffs, the Rams rescheduled the Flying Flucos for the following season's homecoming game.

In his usual pre-game pep-talk, as if the perfect motivating statement, Proctor told his team he would give his left leg for a victory.

Pumped up and ready to win, Strasburg proceeded to score its first touchdown and, in celebration, Proctor ruptured the achilles tendon in his left ankle.

"We talked all week about how we had been hurt the year before by this same team and I can still vividly remember saying, 'I'd give my left leg to win this game,'" said Proctor, pointing to the other reminder of the injury, a seven-inch scar.

"Just as fate would have it, I just about did give up my whole leg."

One of the most painful moments of his career, also turned out to be one of the most satisfying.

This season, Proctor enters his 21st year as head coach of the Rams. And if Strasburg can avoid a winless season, it will prove to be another satisfying moment in a career that started in W.Va, in 1961.

He is just one win away from his 100th victory at the Shenandoah Valley school. However, while it is considered a pinnacle in any coach's career, Proctor, with a 99-95-6 record, looks at it as just another win.

"I guess it's considered a milestone in coaching circles. (But) to me, it's just another win. I don't think I'll think about it till it's over.

"When you start planning to celebrate before your homework's done, that's a serious mistake.

"A lot of people get hung up over that sort of thing," added Proctor, "but it doesn't mean that much to me. If you stay in it (coaching) long enough, you'll get to 100."

Staying in it long enough is something Proctor hasn't found difficult despite the fact that the Rams have won just one district championship in Proctor's 21 years.

When he arrived in 1964, football was not taken very seriously at Strasburg, according to Proctor.

His first year, the Rams finished a poor 1-9.

Although they again won only one game in 1965, Strasburg lost one less, giving Proctor a 1-8-1 record in his second season.

With just a 2-17-1 overall slate, Strasburg fared a little better in 1966, finishing 3-6-1. But, more importantly, Proctor's third year brought forth a change in Ram football which experienced just one losing season in the next 10 years.

Then, after two down years in 1977 and 1978, when the Rams went 2-8, Strasburg finished 5-4-1 (1979, 1980), 4-5 in 1981, 6-4 in 1982 and 4-5-1 in 1983.

"The first six years I was here, 64-69, the district we were playing in (Old District 10) made winning district titles very prohibitive," Proctor remembered.

The Rams were playing schools such as Warren County,Turner Ashby, Broadway, Clarke County and Montivideo -- all five were pushed up to Group AA in 1970.

"They had very high enrollments and that made life very difficult for us," added Proctor. "I think probably some of the finest football teams we ever had we had in the late 60's, early 70's era."

From 1970-79, the Rams played in the Skyline District.

"If there was anything you could say about the Skyline, it was dominated primarily by the three M's -- Madison, Monroe and Montivideo," he added. "Those three schools were extremely difficult to beat and particularly to beat all three of them in the same season."

The Rams did just that in 1970, enroute to their only district title with a 10-1 record, before losing 22-18 to Fluvanna in the regionals.

"I think the dominance of Madison County, particularly, made it very difficult for us during that particular time because they were just so very, very good," Proctor added.

"So, I gained some solace in the fact that I know that we played in a very tough district. We did have some very good teams during those times, but never quite good enough to overcome the Mountaineers or not as many times as we'd like to have."

In 10 years against Madison, Strasburg went 1-9, the win coming their first time out in 1970.

From 1980-82, with Madison moved up to Group AA, Strasburg had its chances to win the district but lost one game each year that cost them the title.

Then, the districts were revamped and the Rams moved into the Bull Run where the 1982 district title came down to the final game between Strasburg and George Mason, both unbeaten in district play.

Once again, the Rams came up short, 14-7, finishing 6-4.

And then, last season, the Rams experienced what Proctor's called the worst finish in his 21-year career.

The Rams were in the driver's seat, undefeated in the district with a 4-2-1 overall record when "we turned completely to Jello," said Proctor. Strasburg went on to lose their final three games to finish 4-5-1.

"When we look back at our record for the last five years, we see that it's 5-5, 4-5-1, 6-4 -- nothing tremendously below .500, but yet not anything much above .500. I think the last five years have bothered me more than any since I've been here.

* * *

Proctor was born in Charleston, W. Va., in 1941. Always athletic, he lettered 11 times in football, basketball, baseball and track at Elk View High School.

He attended Glenville State College in Glenville, W. Va., and played football for four years and baseball for three.

His senior year, Proctor was named to the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) All-Conference team as a defensive back.

After graduating in 1961, Proctor taught geography, civics and physical education at Greenbank for two years before coming to Strasburg.

He was also "the coach" responsible for football, basketball and track.

"At that school you were the coach, the only coach. You did it all," Proctor remembered of the school where children attended from grade 1-12.

A college roommate coaching basketball at Strasburg told him about a teaching and coaching opening at the high school.

And, he's never been sorry for making the move.

"I've been treated awful well by the school administration both here at this school and the school board office. I've been treated very well in that regard and the community has been very much a factor in my staying here," Proctor said.

"I think Strasburg is a very unique community. Obviously, they'll let you know when they're dissatisfied but they're also very supportive. The people here take a great deal of pride in their school and school programs. The backing here is tremendous."

Proctor does admit, however, it hasn't all been a bed of roses.

Perhaps one game he is most remembered for is one he'd like to forget -- the 1973 loss to Central.

Trailing 7-0, the Rams had trouble connecting to their best pass receiver. Frustrated with the officials, Proctor took out his anger on the team, making them run several sprints up a hill at the Central field after the game.

"I've never said this and I don't mind saying this now. A lot of times as a coach, (since) you're on public display and you're aware of it, you put yourself ahead of the kids and you shouldn't do that.

"(That night) I was so angry at the officials and I couldn't manipulate them. I tried during the course of the game but never got any calls our way so I took out my frustration for the officials on my players and that's a sad thing."

It's memories like that, that may make Proctor misconceived by the community.

"I think probably if you ask the kids that played for me in the 60's as opposed to the ones who played for me in the 80's, you probably get two different profiles," Proctor mused.

"I made a lot of mistakes. There's a lot of things I'd do differently if I could turn the clock back. You learn as a coach, but some of the people you have under you are some of the people who have to pay the price for you learning."

"I certainly don't want to be perceived as a person who wants to win at all costs and someone who abuses people and uses people to attain personal goals. I certainly wouldn't want that thought of me. I'm not that way."

"I've undergone a lot of change in these 20 years," he continued. "If anything, I'd like for people to say about me is that I'm fair, firm, honest and compassionate."

"I like to feel I have an excellent relationship with the kids I coached 20 years ago. Those people, they are you're greatest ambassadors. When they leave here, I want them to have a good feeling about the way they were treated and the things that they learned.

"I want for them to be able to say Strasburg High School is a good place to go to school and it's a good place to play athletics."

 

 

Milestone 100

"I guess it's considered a milestone in coaching circles. (But) to me, it's just another win. I don't think I'll think about it till it's over.

When you start planning to celebrate before your homework's done, that's a serious mistake.

A lot of people get hung up over that sort of thing, but it doesn't mean that much to me. If you stay in it (coaching) long enough, you'll get to 100."

-- Coach
Glenn Proctor

 

 

 

 

 

 

On being a coach

"I like to feel I have an excellent relationship with the kids I coached 20 years ago. Those people, they are you're greatest ambassadors. when they leave here, I want them to have a good feeling about the way they were treated and the things that they learned.

I want for them to be able to say Strasburg High School is a good place to go to school and it's a good place to play athletics."

-- Coach
Glenn Proctor