PawneeSports
02-22-2006, 08:02 PM
Ringling coach's recovery continuing a year after accident
Written by: Bill Baker, Sports Writer
Date Web Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Researched by PawneeSports
Rick Gandy
http://ardmoreite.com/images/033105/8795_512.jpg
2004 Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee
2003 Undefeated Class A State Football Champions (14-0)
They outscored their opponents 676-123, an average of 48-9 per game. The average score by intermission had the Blue Devils up 33-3, and it wasn't until Ringling reached the Class A semifinals against Washington that the starters were able to stay in the game until the end. Defensively, Ringling was as dominating as perhaps any team in the state. For example, Blue Devil opponents threw 91 passes in 2003, and the Blue Devils picked off 32 of those.
Ringling got by Washington 21-16 in the semifinal game at Moore's Lions Stadium, and a week later they defeated a talented Tonkawa team 27-20 at the University of Oklahoma's Owen Field to win the Blue Devils their third state title and the second under Gandy's leadership.
1992 Class A State Football Champions
36 Years - Ringling School system (1970-2006)
13 Years - Ringling Superintendent (1991-2004)
It was a year ago today when Ringling football coach Rick Gandy and his son, Tracy, were involved in ranching duties on the Gandy ranch land. On that day, they were doctoring calves. One that Rick had just roped went into a depression in the land. His horse saw the depression a split second before Gandy did. The horse stopped and threw Gandy to the ground on his back.
The fall severely injured Gandy, and after getting help from neighbor, Jan Wade, and first responders, he was flown to Oklahoma City where he spent three weeks at the OU MEDICAL CENTER in the intensive care unit. From there, he was moved to Southwest Medical Center for five weeks, and was then transferred to the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center for two months.
Since then Gandy and therapist Phil Whetstone from Mercy Home Health have been working hard to help Gandy come all the way back from where he was before the accident. Progress at time has been slow, but steady. And victories are measured now in feet in much the same way as they used to be measured in yards when Gandy was the coach of the Blue Devils.
"I can actually walk a little, but I need someone there to help support me and help me keep my balance," Gandy said.
"I'm able to walk about 150 feet now before giving out. I've come a long way, but I really want to do better.
"Three months ago, I couldn't walk much at all. Now Phil has got me walking some every day. Some days I can move pretty well. The weather with the different fronts coming in seems to affect me. But I'm really excited to have come so far from where I was a year ago.
Gandy credits Whetstone with much of his overall progress.
"Phil has been a therapist for 11 years, and he's seen a lot," Gandy said. "He's been pushing me pretty hard to improve. He told me the other day I was the first person he had ever seen with this type of paralysis be able to take steps like I can. So much of that has to do with his dedication to me, and to the prayers and the encouragement of so many people who care for me."
Gandy is hoping this week is another new beginning for his on-going therapy. A fish fry/calf fry and auction is to take place at 5 p.m. Saturday in Gandy's honor at the Ringling High School Multi-Purpose Room. The auction following at between 6 and 6:30 p.m. The cost for admission is $10 beforehand and $15 at the door. All the proceeds will be donated to Gandy's medical rehab and recovery.
The list of items to be auctioned off is like a Who's Who in the sports and country music Hall of Fame. Among the items to be auctioned off are:
A George Strait autographed guitar;
A Toby Keith autographed guitar;
Joe Diffee is expected to send autographed items as well;
A Barry Switzer autographed football;
A Bob Stoops autographed football;
A Josh White (they probably meant Jason White-corrected by PawneeSports) autographed football;
A Josh Heupel autographed football jersey (Heupel had it displayed in a glass case);
A Sherri Coale autographed basketball;
Gary Gibbs, former Sooner coach and now with the New Orleans Saints, is expected to send various Saints merchandise for auctioning. Gibbs, formerly an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys, is also in contact with head coach Bill Parcels, and from that friendship, Cowboys' memorabilia is also a possibility.
Charles Ray Pogue, world champion steer wrestler from Ringling, is donating a trophy saddle.
Fishing great Jimmy Houston is offering a fishing trip for auction.
A ski trip is also up for bids.
Richard Dillon, former Blue Devil and Sooner great, is hoping to get items from Heisman and Doak Walker winner Reggie Bush from USC.
"Basically, it's old friends and former players that have pulled together to make this auction possible," Gandy said. "Everybody is rallying around the cause. The kids at school are making up baskets to auction off. I'm very excited and grateful for all the hard work everyone is putting into the feed and auction.
"There are a lot of football, basketball, cowboy and country and music items up for auction. I'm just hoping that all those fans show up and do their best."
Gandy is excited about the progress other countries have made in the area of stem cell research in recent years. Russia, Japan, China and Turkey have all been working in stem cell research, and Gandy believes therein lies great hope for him to someday make a trip aboard to see if that option might work for him.
"I've got high expectations about what stem cells can possibly do for me, and I'm anxious to have a chance to go see for myself," Gandy said. "A girl from Marietta, who has gone through a situation similar to mine, just returned from Turkey the other day with renewed hope.
"We aren't working so hard here in America in this arena because there is fear of what could happen with the embryonic cells from babies. But what they're doing right now overseas is taking your own bone marrow in your spinal cord and injecting it in the sight where the damage is. You're not having to deal with rejection when you use your own cells in that way. It's exciting what they're doing."
Gandy continues to be thankful for the ongoing prayers and support coming from all over southern Oklahoma, and elsewhere, during this difficult time in his life.
"All the churches in our community are still praying every Sunday for me," Gandy said. "And my former football coach, Bill Parker, and his prayer group still pray for me every time they meet. It's a result of answered prayer that I'm where I am now after such a rough beginning in this process. A year ago, I was in really bad shape, and just a few months ago, I couldn't take a step.
"Now, I have days when I can walk pretty good, with just someone helping me balance. I'm doing better all the time, but it's slow. Even when Phil doesn't come one of his three days a week, we're working hard here at home to get stronger. I want to get well again. I'm very hopeful that this week's dinner and auction will give me an opportunity to explore some of the options that are out there, especially in the other countries. I'm hoping and praying that the right treatment, and all the hard work, will pay off, and I'll be able to come all the way back."
Editor's Note -- Bill Baker can be e-mailed at bill.baker@ardmoreite.com.
Written by: Bill Baker, Sports Writer
Date Web Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Researched by PawneeSports
Rick Gandy
http://ardmoreite.com/images/033105/8795_512.jpg
2004 Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee
2003 Undefeated Class A State Football Champions (14-0)
They outscored their opponents 676-123, an average of 48-9 per game. The average score by intermission had the Blue Devils up 33-3, and it wasn't until Ringling reached the Class A semifinals against Washington that the starters were able to stay in the game until the end. Defensively, Ringling was as dominating as perhaps any team in the state. For example, Blue Devil opponents threw 91 passes in 2003, and the Blue Devils picked off 32 of those.
Ringling got by Washington 21-16 in the semifinal game at Moore's Lions Stadium, and a week later they defeated a talented Tonkawa team 27-20 at the University of Oklahoma's Owen Field to win the Blue Devils their third state title and the second under Gandy's leadership.
1992 Class A State Football Champions
36 Years - Ringling School system (1970-2006)
13 Years - Ringling Superintendent (1991-2004)
It was a year ago today when Ringling football coach Rick Gandy and his son, Tracy, were involved in ranching duties on the Gandy ranch land. On that day, they were doctoring calves. One that Rick had just roped went into a depression in the land. His horse saw the depression a split second before Gandy did. The horse stopped and threw Gandy to the ground on his back.
The fall severely injured Gandy, and after getting help from neighbor, Jan Wade, and first responders, he was flown to Oklahoma City where he spent three weeks at the OU MEDICAL CENTER in the intensive care unit. From there, he was moved to Southwest Medical Center for five weeks, and was then transferred to the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center for two months.
Since then Gandy and therapist Phil Whetstone from Mercy Home Health have been working hard to help Gandy come all the way back from where he was before the accident. Progress at time has been slow, but steady. And victories are measured now in feet in much the same way as they used to be measured in yards when Gandy was the coach of the Blue Devils.
"I can actually walk a little, but I need someone there to help support me and help me keep my balance," Gandy said.
"I'm able to walk about 150 feet now before giving out. I've come a long way, but I really want to do better.
"Three months ago, I couldn't walk much at all. Now Phil has got me walking some every day. Some days I can move pretty well. The weather with the different fronts coming in seems to affect me. But I'm really excited to have come so far from where I was a year ago.
Gandy credits Whetstone with much of his overall progress.
"Phil has been a therapist for 11 years, and he's seen a lot," Gandy said. "He's been pushing me pretty hard to improve. He told me the other day I was the first person he had ever seen with this type of paralysis be able to take steps like I can. So much of that has to do with his dedication to me, and to the prayers and the encouragement of so many people who care for me."
Gandy is hoping this week is another new beginning for his on-going therapy. A fish fry/calf fry and auction is to take place at 5 p.m. Saturday in Gandy's honor at the Ringling High School Multi-Purpose Room. The auction following at between 6 and 6:30 p.m. The cost for admission is $10 beforehand and $15 at the door. All the proceeds will be donated to Gandy's medical rehab and recovery.
The list of items to be auctioned off is like a Who's Who in the sports and country music Hall of Fame. Among the items to be auctioned off are:
A George Strait autographed guitar;
A Toby Keith autographed guitar;
Joe Diffee is expected to send autographed items as well;
A Barry Switzer autographed football;
A Bob Stoops autographed football;
A Josh White (they probably meant Jason White-corrected by PawneeSports) autographed football;
A Josh Heupel autographed football jersey (Heupel had it displayed in a glass case);
A Sherri Coale autographed basketball;
Gary Gibbs, former Sooner coach and now with the New Orleans Saints, is expected to send various Saints merchandise for auctioning. Gibbs, formerly an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys, is also in contact with head coach Bill Parcels, and from that friendship, Cowboys' memorabilia is also a possibility.
Charles Ray Pogue, world champion steer wrestler from Ringling, is donating a trophy saddle.
Fishing great Jimmy Houston is offering a fishing trip for auction.
A ski trip is also up for bids.
Richard Dillon, former Blue Devil and Sooner great, is hoping to get items from Heisman and Doak Walker winner Reggie Bush from USC.
"Basically, it's old friends and former players that have pulled together to make this auction possible," Gandy said. "Everybody is rallying around the cause. The kids at school are making up baskets to auction off. I'm very excited and grateful for all the hard work everyone is putting into the feed and auction.
"There are a lot of football, basketball, cowboy and country and music items up for auction. I'm just hoping that all those fans show up and do their best."
Gandy is excited about the progress other countries have made in the area of stem cell research in recent years. Russia, Japan, China and Turkey have all been working in stem cell research, and Gandy believes therein lies great hope for him to someday make a trip aboard to see if that option might work for him.
"I've got high expectations about what stem cells can possibly do for me, and I'm anxious to have a chance to go see for myself," Gandy said. "A girl from Marietta, who has gone through a situation similar to mine, just returned from Turkey the other day with renewed hope.
"We aren't working so hard here in America in this arena because there is fear of what could happen with the embryonic cells from babies. But what they're doing right now overseas is taking your own bone marrow in your spinal cord and injecting it in the sight where the damage is. You're not having to deal with rejection when you use your own cells in that way. It's exciting what they're doing."
Gandy continues to be thankful for the ongoing prayers and support coming from all over southern Oklahoma, and elsewhere, during this difficult time in his life.
"All the churches in our community are still praying every Sunday for me," Gandy said. "And my former football coach, Bill Parker, and his prayer group still pray for me every time they meet. It's a result of answered prayer that I'm where I am now after such a rough beginning in this process. A year ago, I was in really bad shape, and just a few months ago, I couldn't take a step.
"Now, I have days when I can walk pretty good, with just someone helping me balance. I'm doing better all the time, but it's slow. Even when Phil doesn't come one of his three days a week, we're working hard here at home to get stronger. I want to get well again. I'm very hopeful that this week's dinner and auction will give me an opportunity to explore some of the options that are out there, especially in the other countries. I'm hoping and praying that the right treatment, and all the hard work, will pay off, and I'll be able to come all the way back."
Editor's Note -- Bill Baker can be e-mailed at bill.baker@ardmoreite.com.