PRAIRIE GROVE -- Head football coach Danny Abshier has quietly achieved a distinction of becoming a shepherd among the community of Prairie Grove since taking the helm of the high school program in 1993.
In ancient literature the good shepherd is described as being committed to the point of laying down his life in the best interest of those he is watching over as opposed to a hireling, who would flee or look the other way when the wolf or adversity manifests. Among the characteristics of a shepherd are to lead, protect and govern their people, and provide for their welfare. Those closely associated with Abshier have witnessed him exhibiting those leadership traits.
Tommy Roy took over as Prairie Grove athletic director in the spring of 2015. In his first year on the job, Abshier's hands-on approach and willingness to engage people in their moment of adversity has impressed Roy.
"Being new, I kind of have a fresh lens," Roy said. "With Coach Abshier I have seen him time after time take a kid aside in the hall that he sees as kind of down or having some kind of problem and ask them what's wrong."
Roy said he agrees with the fact Abshier wants to instill character in the hearts of the student/athletes he coaches.
"But even more than that I think he wants to be involved in their lives," Roy said.
Abshier's assistant coaches in the football program testify to his influence in the community.
Assistant coach Mason Pinkley said Abshier takes it to heart when a player leaves the football program.
"It really hurts him when he loses one," Pinkley said. "If a player decides to quit, or has to quit, or (through) injuries, he really takes it personally."
Roy says Abshier is that way with everybody, reaching out beyond the football program, and the P.E. classes Abshier teaches, to Prairie Grove students and staff.
Defensive Coordinator Craig Laird recalled a Friday afternoon in 2012. The Tigers were tied with Pea Ridge in the 4A-1 Conference standings and preparing to play on the road in a game that would determine the conference championship. Taking time away from football, Abshier came to Laird's aid.
"I had a car issue," Laird said.
The ignition switch had gone out.
"He goes with me to my house and helps me change that ignition switch right in the heart of the season," Laird said. "He almost made us go do that. He's got a huge game coming up and he's helping me, one of his assistants. That saved me a couple of hundred bucks."
Offensive Coordinator John Elder gestures toward the entryway into the coaches' office at the fieldhouse.
"If a kid walks through that door and wants to play football, Danny will do everything he can to help that kid," Elder said. "It doesn't matter who it is, he wants to see them succeed."
Laird describes Abshier as "a player's coach," and agrees with fellow assistant coach Nik Paroubek that Abshier's pep talks before the Tigers take the field are inspirational.
"His pregame speeches are a must-listen," Paroubek said, explaining Abshier does his best to motivate the team to perform on the field.
Pinkley said while Abshier's coaching style may not be spectacular, the head coach is an effective motivator.
"What the thing about Danny is, the Xs and Os is not anything ground-breaking. He's running an old-style offense, the Wing-T," Pinkley said. "Yet, he gets his kids to play well for him. His kids want to play hard for him."
Roy said the 2015 season, in which Abshier led the Tigers to a 9-1 regular season and conference championship, then strung together four straight wins in the playoffs to advance to the state championship, was the most fun high school season he has ever been a part of.
That's high praise coming from a former coach, who led Shiloh Christian to state championships in soccer.
Three days before taking on Nashville on Dec. 12 at Little Rock AT&T Field inside War Memorial Stadium, Prairie Grove held an outdoor pep rally at Tiger Den Stadium. Roy said the atmosphere was unbelievable.
"There were over a thousand people there. By the time Coach Abshier finished speaking, if you listened to him, you wanted to go play," Roy said. "He had them in a frenzy."
The Tigers led, 20-19, at halftime in the state final before Nashville dominated the second-half. Prairie Grove finished as state runner-up, bringing the second place trophy home.
"If a few things had gone our way, we might have won that game," Roy said. "If Blake Faulk doesn't get hurt right before halftime. He already had 200 yards rushing by halftime."
Swallowing the disappointment, Abshier was still shepherding his players.
"Coach Abshier has waited 20 years to play in a state championship game. He's built it (the football program) from nothing," Roy said, expressing an appreciation for how Abshier handled the loss.
"The life lessons he taught those guys," Roy said. "He told them how we are one of two final teams in the state. We won a lot of games and we did that together. His perspective on how he handled it just filtered on down to the team."
Roy likes the family atmosphere Abshier creates, saying, "He is as advertised."
MARK HUMPHREY IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER.
Sports on 08/10/2016