A hearty 95-5, High Five, goes out to the dean of area high school football coaches, Metamora’s Pat Ryan, who was voted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame this week. Ryan will be officially honored on April 2 in Champaign.

Back in the late 90’s during my days on The Morning Mix TV show on WMBD CBS 31, Pat allowed me to practice with his Redbirds one hot August afternoon and shoot one of my silly sports-wannabe videos (pictured above). I’ve always found Pat to be friendly, cordial and “aw schucks”-like when praise is directed his way.

And there’s been plenty of accolades during his 26-year reign at Metamora. The former Redbird quarterback’s teams have won 80% of its games with Ryan as head man. His Metamora teams reached the state championship game an amazing seven times, winning twice in 2007 and 2009. I was on the sidelines reporting for the first one, won on a last second field goal, then up in the U of I Memorial Stadium pressbox calling the second. Great moments for the program and central Illinois football in general.

Two seasons ago, Metamora failed to reach the state playoffs, noteworthy in that it ended a long run. Ryan’s Redbirds have reached the post season 22 times and won or shared 19 Mid Illini Conference championships. They’re 50-20 in the playoffs, facing the best teams in the state.

We look forward to covering Metamora and all the area high school football programs again this Fall with our fifth year of the Red Zone High School Football Game of the Week on Peoria’s home for classic rock and football, 95.5, GLO.

Doc Watson

//