Centennial baseball coach celebrates 50th birthday by turning on stadium lights

Tom Kreager
Nashville Tennessean

Rob Baughman started his 50th birthday Thursday by watching a video montage that his wife compiled of his former Centennial baseball players and assistant coaches giving him well wishes.

He ended it at the Williamson County high school, looking over Centennial's illuminated baseball field as several of his current players watched from the parking lot after surprising their coach and wishing him a happy birthday.

"This is the last thing I thought was going to happen," said Baughman, who is in his 16th season as the Cougars coach. "When I got here it was just us here.

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"This is really special, especially being 50 tonight. It's pretty cool. I've spent a lot of birthdays with our Centennial kids."

None, though, have been celebrated like this. 

The high school season lasted about a week before play was suspended due to concerns for the coronavirus pandemic. Baughman said the lights were never turned on this season for a varsity game.

"Maybe March 5," Baughman said. "I don't even know. I can't even think about that right now. Actually this may be the first time we have (turned on the lights) except for a JV game.

"Now, it's really in perspective. You know, we should have been at Dickson County (Thursday)."

Williamson County programs joined in unison on Thursday to light up their athletic stadiums to honor the Class of 2020 and use it to remind students that they are thinking of them during the current pandemic.

They turned on stadium lights at 8:20 p.m. ⁠— that is 20:20 in military time ⁠— and left them on for 20 minutes for the Class of 2020. It's part of a "Be The Light" movement that originated in Texas, but has migrated to other states.

Centennial High School baseball coach Rob Baughman celebrates his 50th birthday with students at a surprise drive by on Thursday, April 9, 2020, in Franklin, Tenn. Baughman was at the school to turn the field lights on in support of student athletes to show that coaches are thinking of them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The baseball season was cut short when school and athletic activities were canceled.

High school coaches across Tennessee have taken time to turn on their stadium lights for the Class of 2020 this week. Families are asked to turn on their porch light during that same time.

"Seeing the field and seeing the lights, you know a long time ago I wouldn't have wanted people to see the field," Baughman said. "But this is pretty cool."

Baughman said he and assistant Barry Eddings mow the grass at the field every other day to keep the stadium looking pristine.

"That's when I don't like it," Baughman said. "You see the field, and it's so pretty and we can't play.

"That's the hard part. I was really excited about our kids this year. And I hate it for our four seniors. I really hate it for them."

Currently, Gov. Bill Lee has urged schools to close through April 24. The TSSAA has suspended the boys and girls basketball state tournaments along with spring sports.

The high school association has a plan to play the basketball state tournaments in May and hold Spring Fling, the Olympic-style festival that includes all five state-sanctioned spring sports, in June. That is all dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic and if students can return to school.

The TSSAA has said it would likely have to cancel tournament play if school is canceled for the remainder of the school year.

"It's disappointing we can't have our season or finish our senior year," Centennial senior Andrew Ellison said. "But this is nice that the school is letting us do this."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.