November 11, 2009

Ira Schoffel, Osceola

It was an emotional scene on the Florida State practice fields last Tuesday, when longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews formally announced his retirement to the media.

Following the announcement, Andrews received a lengthy "bear hug" from defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins, who played for Coach Andrews in the 1980s and has been a member of Andrews' staff for more than a decade. Coach Haggins wasn't ready to talk about Andrews' retirement last week, but he shared his feelings Tuesday night in this interview with the Osceola's Ira Schoffel. Here is a transcript of that conversation.

Q: You obviously were emotional last week when Coach Andrews announced his retirement. Could you talk about what was going through your mind that night? It seemed like it was hitting you very hard even though you knew it was coming.

A: I've been here 15 years coaching and five years as a player. That's all my adult life, growing as a young man. You know, I never called him Mickey. That's Coach Andrews. A lot of people use that term "father figure" lightly, but he has been a father figure to me. My Mom, she always used to watch him on TV and she said, "That man has a lot of character and integrity about him." So I kind of modeled some things in my life after him because at the time, my father wasn't there - like a lot of young men's fathers weren't there. A lot of them take after him as a man. He's the most honest man I've ever seen in my life. And he's a staple at Florida State University.

You look at Mickey Andrews and all his former players that have graduated and gone on to the NFL. Look at his track record. Just look at some of the kids and the men they became. That to me means more than the fact that he coached so many All-Americans and so many pro players. Look at the young men that he raised, like Travis Johnson and Darnell Dockett. I would talk to them when they first got here, and they didn't understand. Now, they're using real-life lessons from the way he pushed them as young men, not just as players. It's not just about the players and what he has done. It's about the men he has helped raise. He has such high integrity.

Q: When Coach Andrews says something, his word is gold to you, isn't it?

A: Oh yeah. When he says something, he means it. I couldn't talk about it last week because I'd cry every time. Whew! (takes a moment to clear his throat). I hate to even think about it. But you know, a lot of people say it's the end of an era. No, it's not. It's the beginning of a new era. I'm happy for him. There can't be a person in the world happier for Coach Andrews than Odell Haggins. We've fished together, cried together. When my Mom and Dad passed, he took time to come to my house to sit down and bring food and talk to me about everything. I'm a family person. And a lot of people don't realize that I love everybody. And he said, "Odell, you keep that quality about you. And never give it up." (Pauses) My little girl calls him, "Coach Elmo." (laughing) She loves him. She's always, "Where's Coach Elmo?" That name will stick with him. She has gotten attached to him.

Q: Corey Simon said that he hasn't had a lot of chances to spend time fishing with Coach Andrews, but he plans to now. I'm sure you're going to be doing the same thing.

A: Oh yeah. I told him to make me a promise. I said, "We're gonna fish, don't you forget about that." And he said, "Odell, you know I won't. You're a son. You're one of my sons. You're special to me." (pauses) And he fishes as hard as he coaches. (laughing) Again, I'm sorry about last week. But it was happy tears, it wasn't sad tears. I'm just happy for what he has done. For the people at Florida State, graduating those young men. Don't take that lightly. I know he coached numerous All-Americans, but man, that's nothing compared to what he's done for my life and so many others.

Q: It seemed like the players really rallied around Coach last week and gave an inspired effort at Clemson. It seemed like they wanted to play well for him.

A: Yeah, anytime you're on the field with Coach Andrews, you want to play for him, because of the type of man he is. He's gonna look you in the eyes and tell you like it is. How can you not respect a man like that? I myself look at him as a great person. Not as a coach, but as a great person. You can put him up there on that pedestal with some of the greatest people out there. It's because of what he stands for. I know he's hard-nosed now, but he's a great person. And I've been blessed to be around him.

Talk about it on the Football Message Board or on the Tribal Council