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| Panthers remember two hall-of-famers |
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| Sports | |||
| Written by Gene Morris | |||
| Tuesday, 10 November 2009 08:00 | |||
I thought it was very fitting that the public address announcer at Panther Stadium asked for fans to remember two Paola High School hall of famers who passed away this year.  Jeff Hines asked fans for a moment of silence for longtime track and field coach Earl Ventura and Miami County Republic sports writer Bob Harrington. Coach Ventura and Harrington were great men, who devoted their lives to the students at Paola High School. What better place to honor these two men than Panther Stadium? The stadium has a track lap bell in honor of Ventura. Harrington paced the sidelines for many years covering the football team. It was a privilege to work with both men. Ventura was still coaching track when Harrington handed the sports beat over to me. The thing I remember the most about these two men was the clarity in which they spoke. They were straight shooters. Neither one of them would talk around a subject, opting instead to get right to the point and let you know where they stood. Ventura and Harrington leave a lasting legacy in the many student athletes they have touched over the years, many of whom have come back to Paola to live and raise their children. I know Harrington was a great comfort to my parents over the years, knowing he was watching over me here in Paola. I have a feeling he always will. Paola Panther fans had me more than a little worried on Saturday night as I looked to see the half-empty stands just minutes before kickoff. People kept coming in, filling out the sections to at least 85 percent. It would have been nice to see the stands overflowing. I know we had a large number of people standing on the track to watch the game. And, two bleachers have been added to the stands on the home side, but I still think we can do better. Paola is on the road Friday against Eudora. If the Panthers win that game, they would be home against either Louisburg or Bishop Miege in the Class 4A substate football playoffs with a berth in the state championship game on the line. I know we will have a strong Paola following at Eudora. It would be nice to pack the place if they bring the sectional title home and give us all one more home game in the substate playoffs. Hats off to the Paola High School marching band, the Panther cheerleaders and dance team and the Rat Pack spirit squad for supporting their classmates and adding to the game-day experience that is Paola Panther football.
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