Lifelong Lessons From Time on the Team

Local Leaders Look Back

For many, high school football is more than just a game. The discipline, camaraderie, and determination forged on the field often extend far beyond the Friday night lights, shaping how players navigate their careers and overcome life’s challenges. Whether running a business or serving as an executive, several of our area’s respected professionals credit the game with strengthening their character, work ethic, and approach to leadership. Here, they reflect on the lasting lessons and defining moments that continue to guide them today.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICH SMITH

RYAN SEABERG

Baylor School, Class of ‘12 | Defensive End/Fullback

Looking back, what are you most proud of?

My whole life, all I ever wanted to do was play professional football. When I got to Baylor, I was 5’6” and 120 pounds, and I looked more like the waterboy than an actual football player. But I worked and worked, got to school at 6 a.m. every day to work out and run, and went from Baylor to Division I football. From there, I got to live my dream and play professionally. I’m proud of not giving up and all the work it took.

What skills did you take with you into adulthood?

I own my own company now, and one thing I’ve noticed is no matter what happens in work or life, my mindset is always “move on to the next play.” I think a lot of people get stuck or overwhelmed when things don’t go their way, but football taught me that things are going to go wrong all the time, but all you can do is do your job and move on to the next play – don’t get stuck.

What was the biggest lesson the game taught you?

I think what it taught me the most was that hard work is what truly makes someone great. I was never the fastest, the strongest, or the most skilled, but I could outwork you and that would be the difference between why I was going to make my dreams come true with football.

What did football teach you about leadership and being part of a team?

Sometimes you have to put your ego aside and do what’s best for the greater good of the team. We all have roles, and to be truly successful you need to complement and support each other almost like one big family. And when everyone comes together and works towards one goal, it is the most beautiful thing in the world.

What advice would you give to your alma mater’s current players?

These are going to be some of the best times in your life. It may not seem like it when it’s 100 degrees in the middle of two-a-days in August, but I promise you – you have to enjoy it, because you will miss it when it’s over.

KURT SCHMISSRAUTER

Notre Dame High School, class of ‘80 | Offensive/Defensive Tackle

Can you share a favorite memory from your high school football days?

Playing in front of larger crowds in the TSSAA playoffs and smelling the cigars mixed in with the popcorn and cotton candy aroma on a crisp fall evening just before kickoff. Man, you just can’t beat that atmosphere and feeling. My teammates and I loved it when our team was the underdog. We had great coaches and my teammates were real gamers. In 1978, we played against the No. 2 team in the state in the quarterfinal game at Central High School. Notre Dame didn’t have a home field at the time. Rockwood came to Chattanooga, and they were loaded with talent. Notre Dame was ranked No. 10 and perhaps not given much of a chance to win the game. However, it was a great night for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and we won!

Who was your biggest inspiration?

Besides my parents and family, Notre Dame had great coaches in Jon Keene, Jack Cramer, and our principal, Jim Phifer. Each and all inspired me tremendously.

What was the biggest lesson the game taught you?

Things like being a little scared before a kickoff, or getting knocked down on your tail and having to dust yourself off and get up, have a huge influence on how you are going to persevere throughout life.

What skills did you take with you into adulthood?

There is no “I” in team. Being a good teammate can be very hard, and I hope sports enabled me to be a little humbler and slightly more selfless.

How did football shape your career and help you become successful in the workplace?

Throughout my childhood, adolescence, and even early adulthood, I have been blessed with great mentors. Coaches Jackie Davidson and Walt Lauter shaped me early in sports. John Day, Jim Phifer, Jon Keene, Jack Cramer, and Hubert Smith prepared me for the next level with Paul “Bear” Bryant and Dee Powell at Alabama. Finally, my father polished my skills and prepared me for the workplace.

HOGAN WHITMIRE

Signal Mountain High School, Class of ‘11 | Quarterback

Can you share a favorite memory from your high school football days?

The 2010 state championship season stands out as an unforgettable highlight. Achieving that level of success just two years into our varsity program was incredible. It was a testament to the commitment, hard work, and unwavering belief shared by our coaches, teammates, and the entire community.

What was the biggest lesson the game taught you?

One of the most important lessons I learned, and something I still carry with me every day, is to rely on God, not just myself. Before every football game, we would gather and pray, giving everything over to Him. I’ve carried that same habit into my work. Before every surgery, I pause, pray, and remind myself that it’s not about my strength alone. Whether it’s the privilege of playing football or performing dental surgery, it’s all a blessing and a gift from God. That mindset keeps me grounded, focused, and grateful.

How did football shape your career and help you become successful in the workplace?

In football, everything runs through the quarterback. In dental surgery, everything runs through the surgeon. Looking back, I didn’t realize how closely those roles would align. Playing quarterback taught me how to prepare thoroughly, stay composed under pressure, and lead a team with confidence – all essential traits in surgery.

Who had the biggest impact on you as a player?

Without a doubt, my dad. He was my favorite coach, my biggest encourager, and, at times, my toughest critic. He pushed me to be better not just on the field, but off it too. Football gave us a bond that brought us closer than ever, and those years helped shape me into the man I am today.

If you could go back and play one more game, what would you do differently?

I’d take the pressure off myself and just play freer. Back then, I was so focused on trying to be perfect on every single snap, like everything had to go exactly right. But perfection isn’t possible, and that mindset only held me back. I’d tell my younger self to trust the preparation, enjoy the moment, and show myself a little grace.

MIKE SHUFORD

Baylor School, Class of ‘74 | Wingback

Who was your biggest inspiration?

Coach David Longley. He was the backfield coach and worked with Coach Etter, who was our head coach. One thing I can say about our team is that even though we may not have had the best talent on the field, we were more prepared with our game plan than any team we played against because of our coaching. I could also go to Coach Longley for personal advice that had nothing to do with football and it was always extremely helpful.

Looking back, what are you most proud of?

Kicking the winning field goal in the Baylor vs. McCallie game, since it was the first time that Baylor and McCallie had played in over 40 years. I was only a sophomore that year and wasn’t a starter on the team at that time. We won the game 9-7. The second thing I am most proud of is going undefeated our senior year and winning the state championship. We also were awarded the computer-generated national championship for high school football that season.

What was the biggest lesson the game taught you?

I would say that teamwork was the biggest lesson that I learned from playing football, and it’s helped me throughout my professional career. It taught me how to work as a team player and get everyone to understand their role for the success of the company. If everyone is working for the same objective, then naturally, your chance for success improves significantly. I also made lifetime friends through teammates, and we are still close today.

How do you continue to support your alma mater?

I try to attend several games a year. I am excited to have a grandson who is starting Baylor this year as a sixth grader. It does make me proud that there is still a picture of our team posted in the gym even though that was over 50 years ago. I can only hope that he can enjoy the experiences that I did playing football.

What advice would you give to your alma mater’s current players?

They have a very strong team and excellent coaching. I would just tell them to continue what they are doing.

RYAN CRIMMINS

Baylor School, Class of ‘78 | Defensive Back

Can you share a favorite memory from your high school football days?

We had a senior team back in 1977 that as a unit had never lost a game starting in the seventh grade. We shut out our two local rivals, beat the ninth ranked team in the country (Oak Ridge), and played in The Liberty Bowl for the state championship.

Who had the biggest impact on you as a player?

Gene Etter. He approached the game as a chess match. We anticipated what plays would be run based on down and distance and could tell what play our opposition was going to run based on formations we had studied looking at film.

How did football shape your career and help you become successful in the workplace?

In football, and you read this a lot and it is true, one MUST work together as a team to achieve one’s goals. This is true in business – working together to build an enterprise bigger than oneself – and in family life – sacrificing self for greater goals. In football you may not play the exact position you want to play, but the sacrifice an individual makes for the team pays big dividends.

If you could go back and play one more game, what would you do differently?

That’s easy. In the state championship, we had a prevent D (defense) called with 16 seconds on the clock, and Christian Brothers threw a crazy pass for a last second touchdown to beat us. If we had blitzed them, we would have blown up the play.

How do you continue to support your alma mater?

I encourage young people to immerse themselves fully in academics, athletics, and in other extracurricular work. Young people have an opportunity to lead in many ways and need a little push sometimes to find their niche. Also, football may not be a primary sport for some, but the team aspect of the sport and conditioning required for football will serve them well in their primary sport.

BILL EMENDORFER

Cleveland High School, Class of ‘69 | Offensive Lineman/Defensive Tackle

Can you share a favorite memory from your high school football days?

We had undefeated seasons in 1967 and 1968 as only the second and third graduating classes from Cleveland, and we were state champions and ranked 19th nationally. Cleveland had just evolved into a high school from Arnold Junior High, so the county folks kind of looked at Cleveland as a second-rank citizen. There was also a huge rivalry between Cleveland and Bradley, and at the time, Bradley had such a huge reputation for winning state championships and excellence in athletics. So, this was kind of a changing of the guard, if you will.

Who was your biggest inspiration?

David Beckler and Joe Hardwick – they were seniors when I was a sophomore. They set a standard that permeated down through this program that was being formed. I think the culture we had at Cleveland was set by these guys who presented that foundation of discipline and hard work to the lower classmen.

What was the biggest lesson the game taught you?

Attention to detail, positive attitude, to never give up, and that true strength is in the team. You can never let them see you sweat, no matter how difficult something is. You’ve got to be steady and persevere. I think that’s what you learn in sports – to never give up. There were games that we should have lost that we didn’t simply because we believed that we weren’t going to.

How did football shape your career and help you become successful in the workplace?

I learned to work harder than anyone else and outwork my competition. I’ve had success and failures in business: I’ve been a serial entrepreneur, I’m a dentist by education, and I ran a restaurant company and a Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. You have to strive for excellence in what you do. Sometimes it doesn’t work and you can still fail – but you have to learn and grow, and take the adversity and turn it into success.

What advice would you give to your alma mater’s current players?

Take pride in the tradition, and work hard to restore that pride and winning tradition.

JIMMY SCOTCHIE

McCallie School, Class of ‘88 | Fullback

Can you share a favorite memory from your high school football days?

There are many great memories, and some you can’t forget no matter how hard you try. I was lucky enough to have Pete Potter as my head coach, and a memory I’ll never forget came during summer camp when he taught us a strong lesson about showing up late for practice. Needless to say, that only happened once.

Who had the biggest impact on you as a player?

My parents were very supportive of everything my brothers and I did. There is no doubt we would not have achieved as we have without their love and support. The entire coaching staff at McCallie in the ‘80s was incredible, but I would have to say my position coaches, Kenny Sholl and Ralph Potter, had the biggest impact on me as a player. They served as great role models for all of us.

What skills did you take with you into adulthood?

Things worth having require hard work, dedication, and discipline. When you get knocked down you jump back up. I also learned how to run into defensive linemen and linebackers in an effort to move them out of the way for my tailback. That was fun.

How did football shape your career and help you become successful in the workplace?

Many of the lessons I learned with a helmet on my head went unrealized at the time. As I matured and grew in my career, I began to appreciate how being pushed beyond what you thought were your limits helped in non-athletic aspects of life. To be successful in football you put in extra time, you sacrifice, you create a game plan, you execute the game plan. That’s the same recipe for success off the field.

What advice would you give to your alma mater’s current players?

Don’t blink. Be the best teammate possible. Listen to your coaches because they are teaching you more than football.

KYLE JOHNSTON

Hixson High School, Class of ‘00 | Linebacker

Who was your biggest inspiration?

My coaches were my biggest inspiration. These men didn’t just teach football, they changed a culture and a community. They inspired boys to become young men, to lean into the freedom that comes from discipline, and to develop a winning mindset rooted in setting goals, putting in the work, and showing up for one another every single day. Their leadership left a lasting mark on all of us – not just on the field, but in life.

What was the biggest lesson the game taught you?

The biggest lesson football taught me is that everything in life is earned – nothing is just handed to you. Whether it was playing time, respect, or results, it all came down to how hard you were willing to work when no one was watching. That mindset carried over into every part of my life.

How did football shape your career and help you become successful in the workplace?

Football helped me discover who I was under pressure, and that’s carried into every part of my professional life. It taught me how to stay composed when things don’t go as planned, how to adjust on the fly, and how to keep showing up even when it’s hard.

If you could go back and play one more game, what would you do differently?

I’d soak it all in. The crowd, the lights, the teammates I went to battle with every day. Back then, I was so focused on the next play, the next series, and the outcome, that I didn’t always pause to appreciate the moment. I’d play with the same heart and hustle, but I’d take an extra second to look around and feel the privilege of wearing that jersey.

How do you continue to support your alma mater?

I’ve been incredibly blessed in my life, and I believe those blessings aren’t meant to be kept to ourselves. They’re meant to be passed on. That’s why I stay involved with my alma mater in a few different ways. I advertise with the school, I come back to speak to the team, and most importantly, I share my story. I want those players to see that with the right mindset, work ethic, and support, they can go far.

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