Little did Phillip Rhodes know the impact he’d have on the community of Childress when he accepted a coaching job in August of 1984. On Wednesday morning, he realized that impact when over 750 people filled Bobcat Den to watch him receive the trip of a lifetime; a trip to Super Bowl LI in Houston on Sunday.
“Everyone told me this was a pep rally about the Super Bowl and since it’s in Texas, they wanted to stop here,” he said via phone after the pep rally. “When Coach Kirkpatrick interviewed me, I thought she was interviewing me about the new track,” he said with a big laugh. “I had no idea this is what was happening.”
“I just cannot believe this,” he said. “I always watch the game on television, I never believed I’d see a pro game in person, much less the Super Bowl.”
In the crowd were former athletes from as far away as San Marcos and the Dallas area. Rhodes didn’t get suspicious seeing them in the stands, he just thought they wanted to be on television. “I thought, wow, there sure are a lot of Big Time Bobcats here today who want to be on Good Morning America!”
Standing in front of a television monitor, Rhodes watched a segment where former athletes, coaches, friends and students talked about the impact Rhodes made in their lives.
When asked how he felt about being named Good Morning America’s Super Coach, Rhodes paused and said, “Humbled.” He went on to say, “To know so many people took the time to nominate me and seeing all the people here today is unbelievable. I’m truly humbled.”
WATCH: The incredible moment that our super coach, Phillip Rhodes, finds out he is going to the #SuperBowl! #SB51 pic.twitter.com/NgXwqbgLHW
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 1, 2017
Since arriving in Childress, Rhodes has inspired three generations of Bobcats and Lady Cats, in the classroom and on the track and football field. “I never realized what I meant to people. I just let what light I have shine for others.”
Rhodes recalled recently listening to a speech given to the team by former Bobcat and World Champion Tie Down Roper Stran Smith. “Stran talked about how when he was a kid, he hated sweeping the barn, but he knew he had to do it.” He went on to say, “Stran said if he was going to sweep it, he might as well be the best barn sweeper there was and that’s how I look at my career. If I’m going to coach, I’m going to be the best coach I can be.”
Rhodes started out as a seventh grade coach and since 1987, has coached at Childress High School where he is the head Junior Varsity football coach and head track coach.
Heading to the big game with Rhodes will be one of his lifelong best friends, Corey Johnson. “I had about three guys on my mind I could take and I wanted to take Corey. He’s a great friend and always follows me to Austin when I take my team to the state track meet.”
Rhodes especially wanted to thank those who nominated him for this once in a lifetime honor. “I want to thank everyone who wrote a letter for me,” he said. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I’m so very thankful and humbled by all of you.”
Rhodes set off for his VIP experience on Thursday, returning home to Childress with a lifetime of memories and stories to share. One person can truly make a difference in the lives of others and Coach Phillip Rhodes is living proof of that.
Editor’s note: You can also find this story on the Red River Sun website here.
