By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
If you have ever been to a Fyffe football practice, chances are, you have met Mr. Dathan Ashley and his dog, Bob. They are permanent fixtures around the field house. “I don’t hang out at the coffee shops and talk football, I go to the dressing room and get to know the football players”, said Mr. Ashley. He and his dog can be seen walking around the field as the team practices. If you come to the field, wanting to criticize the Coach or the players, “Bob will run you off”, said Mr. Ashley.
As I sat down and talked to Mr Ashley and his beautiful bride of sixty-one years Nell, I was able to see the joy of Mr Ashley reliving his younger years. Mr. Ashley attended Fyffe High School and played football under Coach Aaron Hall. Mr. Hall was such a positive influence in his life, that he served as a pallbearer upon Mr. Hall’s death. He remembers going to his first football game in 1936. “Back then, there was no lights, the field was roped off and you got to the games on a flatbed truck, There was hardly any pads, no face masks, and you had to wear high top shoes. It cost 10 or 15 cents to get into the game.” “I remember having to walk home late at night from the game. It was so dark you couldn’t see the road.” “You have a better chance playing ball nowadays, back when I played, you had to practice for about forty-five minutes, then run catch the school bus and get home and start working.”
Mr. Ashley has always had a special place in his heart for children. He said his love for children started early in life as he was serving in the Korean War. He would save his food and give to the young children who did not have anything to eat. After the war, he started coaching baseball in the 1960’s. As he carries you thru his house and you see all the team pictures, you can see that each team was important to him. He tells the stories of past players calling him and telling him how much he meant to them. He doesn’t want to be called a hero but I’m sure all his players would agree that he impacted their life. He certainly did mine as I was interviewing him.
Mr. Ashley’s grandson, Tyler Ashley plays for Fyffe, This is Tyler’s senior year. I asked if he would still be a fixture at the Fyffe practices after Tyler had graduated. He said he would as long as his health allowed. He has glaucoma and his eyesight is slowing fading. He said “there was no use worrying about something you can’t do anything about.” He is not only Tyler’s grandfather, he is the team’s grandfather. He wants to make sure that everyone that needs a ride to workouts and weightlifting is taken care off. “I love my home, my church and my school. I don’t go on vacations, I go to the football field,” It is Mr. Ashley’s idea that sports builds champions, on and off the field, “You can tell if a person has played sports by the way they talk, walk and carry themselves. It shows in how they handle situations.” “Sometimes in life, you are going to have to eat dirt, just like on the field, being on a team helps you handle life.”
This past week as Fyffe defeated Ranburne, Mr Ashley went into the locker room and had the crowds attention. When he talks, you want to listen. He is not a big man in statue but a giant in motivation. He had this to say, “Don’t quit until quitting time and it ain’t no time to quit! We have two more games to play!” As Fyffe faces Randolph County Friday night, I hope his words ring in the player’s ears, “No time to quit.”
