Alcoa football coach Gary Rankin gets 400 wins: What people are saying

Gary Rankin's players and assistant coaches, past and present, had more to say than fits in one story about the Alcoa coach as he became the first to reach 400 wins in Tennessee high school football history. Here's what they had to say:

“He taught me to take the thinking out as much as you can, so they can play fast. He never asks his kids to do too much so they can play fast.” — David Watson, former Riverdale assistant and current Blackman coach

“People can say what they want about him winning with good athletes, but he’s won with good athletes and he’s won with average athletes. We went to some state championship games with average athletes. In 2000, we went to the state championship and I don’t think we signed a guy off that team.” — Greg Wyant, former Riverdale assistant and current Siegel athletic director

“He fascinates me that he has the drive that he has. It’d be easy to take a deep breath and rest, but I’ve never known him to do that.” — Thomas McDaniel, former Riverdale assistant and current coach of Christian Brothers in Memphis

More: Alcoa football coach Gary Rankin first in Tennessee to win 400 games

More: Alcoa football coach Gary Rankin at 400 wins: Stories from former players, coaches

“When you’re successful, you build this reputation that you want to go there. I can’t tell you how many times we’d play against them at CAK and we’d see someone who was the younger brother of someone we coached against three years ago.” — Rusty Bradley, former coach at rival CAK and current Grace Christian coach

“Alcoa has some pedigree and talent for a small school. You combine that with a coach who teaches players about sacrifice and doing everything they can, you get something special.” — Randall Cobb, former Alcoa player and current Green Bay Packers wide receiver

“I try to teach our kids to be appreciative of all people. If they think they’re the greatest football player to ever play, they’re not. If they think they’re more important than the greatest trumpet player over in the band, they’re not. Everyone has their strengths and I want them to respect all of that.” — Gary Rankin, first Tennessee high school football coach to reach 400 wins

“Off the field, he always looks out for us. On the field, he builds character. But he looks out for us as a person. I look up to him as a role model for that.” — Tristan Woody, current Alcoa player.

“He doesn’t get enough credit for how he treats players. He has an uncanny ability to understand players and what they need, what they want. He does a great job of motivating players, probably in a way people don’t understand.” — Brian Gossett, Alcoa offensive line coach