Andes Girls Soccer Coach Gets A Shave

Andes Girls Soccer Coach Gets A Shave
Contributed By John Bernhardt

When it was finally finished, Andes Girls Soccer Co-Coach Tom Little had a strange tingling sensation above his upper lip. The Andes coach lost his moustache at a school-wide assembly Friday, fulfilling a pre-season promise he had made to his team.

Little made his pledge during the first week of summer practice, promising his team that should they win four games during the 2009 season, he would allow them to shave away his moustache. Since the Mountaineers had not won a soccer game in over a decade, most soccer fans probably felt Little’s whiskers were safe. Not Little. “I liked the profile of this year’s team,” explained Little. “I was pretty sure if we played up to our talent, four wins or more was a pretty realistic goal for the girls to chase.”

Little’s challenge ignited his team. When at long last Andes broke into the winner’s column in their second game of the season, the foundation was in place. Last week, when the Lady Mountaineer’s upended Roscoe, 4-0, they accomplished two goals; first winning the championship of the Cohen Classic, and equally as important to the girls, winning their fourth game of the year.

A school-wide assembly was scheduled where Little would make good on his pledge. As the time approached, the Andes coach had second doubts. He was reluctant to lose his mustache of 19 years. Thursday morning students arrived at school to find Little marching back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the school carrying a picket sign reading “Save the Stash.” Little protested seeking empathy from students and staff and requesting a school-wide vote to save his stash. The vote was held, but Little could only rally one voter to support his stance. Persistent to the end, Little fired off an e-mail to Governor Patterson’s office pleading for a pardon. No response was received.

So, Friday afternoon, Little sat on a chair in front of the student body and staff. Each of the Andes girls’ soccer players got a scissor’s swipe at their coach taking away some upper lip hair. With a bucket of water, razor, shaving cream, and a mirror in hand, Little finished the job. When the job was done, Little was more than pleased with the work of his Lady Mountaineers and trying to adjust to the numbing sensation over his upper lip.

So, what’s next? Never one to skirt a challenge, Little has extended a new goal to his team. If the Andes girls’ manage to reach the Section IV playoffs, Little has agreed that they can die his hair. When asked what color he would like, should the girls meet the challenge, he replied, “Brown!” Yeah, right. Doubt it, Coach.