A continued sense of family and a refreshingly new sense of optimism combined to make the Logan County Cougar Foundation’s Meet & Greet at Crossroads Church last Friday a special evening, uniting football and faith.

The gathering provided Cougar supporters a chance to meet new head coach Steve Duncan and to learn about his philosophies concerning life and football.

A church building was an appropriate locale for the occasion, sense ample professions of faith were a part of the unscripted program. Coach Duncan is open is profession and practice of Christianity. He led one of three prayers during the program. The others were by Life Coach Tony Chaudoin and master of ceremonies Richard Holloman, who is past president of the relatively new Foundation.

Chaudoin, in fact, in his opening prayer said about Coach Duncan, “It is obvious that You brought him here in this time and place.”

Duncan talked about his faith and applied it to football. “The apostle Paul talked about being strong and very courageous,” he said. “I have watched video of every game we (the Cougars) played last year, and I am amazed at how courageous this team was, even in the face of losses. Now it’s time for us to get strong.”

Representatives of H&H Sheetmetal brought in a new power station which former Cougars Barclay Rowe of H&H and Ashe Wetton of Pro-Tec Metals designed and helped build. Nine of those workout stations have been ordered. Duncan’s children, who have been successful in sports and in academics, have all benefitted from strength training, as has his daughter-in-law, Ashley Muffett Duncan, who was a power event star at the University of Kentucky and now coaches throwers at WKU.

Current Cougar Chase Williamson is “the first fullback I’ve ever had who has front squatted over 300 pounds,” he said. “He’s a tough, strong kind of player.” Several other Cougars are already gaining strength as part of the coach’s emphasis on productive body building.

“We had the best spring practice I’ve ever had,” said Duncan, who is completing a highly successful coaching tenure at Murray High School, where he’s been regional and state coach of the year and had a record of 63-16. “Logan County raises good kids.”

Duncan said he expects to win and wants his players to expect to win. “Paul said to run the race to win,” he said. “If we don’t win, it’s my fault.”

In addition to Williamson, Duncan mentioned by name players Kaleb Coursey, Lennon Reed, Winn Perry, Colin Rostampour, Weston Plumlee, Cole Stanley, Luke Woodall, Heath Hightower, J.B. Decker, Jordan Dunn, Jarrett Hamilton, Tyler Wright, Joseph Olliiges, Connor McColpin, Devin Smith, A.J. Simmons, Dayton Thompson, Billy Vick, Will Robey, Austin Bruce, Stone Crowder, Robert Dancer, Austin Gregory, Nate Offutt, Dakota and Daniel Walker, Austin West, Drew Brown and someone named Ethan.

Two of Duncan’s assistant coaches are former Kentucky Wildcats. They are Zipp Duncan, the coach’s son who was an All-SEC lineman and became a Philadelphia Eagle, and Terry Clayton, a former Cougar star who won the first national Rudy Award. (Zipp is also the son of Fonda Duncan, who accompanied Coach Duncan, Zipp and Ashley to the Meet & Greet.)

Duncan announced that another former Cougar, Lee Proctor, has agreed to be one of his assistants. Proctor was the first Cougar player to become an NCAA football player, and he previously served as the LCHS head coach longer than anyone else in the program’s history.

Other assistants will include strength coach Grant Warren, assistant basketball coach Nathan Davis, head softball coach Michael Crawford, and Lewisburg teacher Chris Pyles.

A special part of the program came when Joseph Jefferson, who rushed for over 3,000 yards, scored 55 yards, and totaled over 200 tackles and 12 interceptions as a Cougar, spoke. He had come from Indianapolis to be there to welcome the new coach and fire up the players. Jefferson became the highest NFL draft choice in WKU football history when he was chosen in the third round in 2002. He went on to be a starter for the Indianapolis Colts under Coach Tony Dungy.

Jimmy Kent Wilson of H&H, who is the president of the Logan County Cougar Foundation, spoke, as did head of the Fundraising Committee, Billy Bingham, president of Lewisburg Banking Company.

Among those present were Superintendent Marshall Kemp, school board member Johnny Dawson, Principal Casey Jaynes, Athletic Director Hugh McReynolds, Crossroads pastor Chris Cowen, and magistrate Thomas Bouldin.

The Roy’s Bar-B-Q meal was furnished by Nai Construction, headed by Tom Silvey and John Williamson.