Good News: Former players, coaches celebrate 100 years of Eagles football

by Michael Smith


The Grain Valley football program will reach a milestone in 2023.

The Eagles are entering their 100-year anniversary in 2023, and they celebrated at Iron Kettle Brewing Saturday.

A who’s who of Grain Valley football coaches and players gathered and caught up with each other and reminisced about their time together.

“That’s crazy. It’s something that some people take for granted,” 2018 graduate and former quarterback Tate Collum said of the 100 year anniversary. “It’s a great thing to be a part of Grain Valley High School. You make so many friendships.”

Among those in attendance were current head coach David Allie and former head coach Forrest Rovello, who retired following the 2012 season after 18 years as the head coach.

“Everyone here has a connection playing football,” Allie said. “This is an opportunity for everyone to come together and talk with those who went to the same high school. We are like family. It’s a great experience.”

Allie keeps in regular contact with some of his former players and it’s apparent he has a special connection with them. Allie was shaking hands and hugging multiple former players at the event. Not only that, but he has some of them come to practices to give speeches to the current team.

“Once you are a part of our family, you’re always a part of it,” Allie said. “We’ve been blessed to have former players come back and share their experiences with the kids. We try to put them on the spot and we want them to speak from the heart. We hope their experience transfers to the next generation.”

One of those players is former linebacker Kole Waggoner, a 2017 graduate who went on to play for William Jewell College, spoke with the 2023 football team during the winter.

He is getting his doctorate in clinical psychology at Kansas University. Waggoner spoke to the current players about sports psychology and about developing as a leader.

“They let me come back for 10 weeks and lecture to a select group of guys,” Waggoner said. “I wanted to help them be better individuals and better leaders. That was a huge honor to be able to do that still continue some part of the legacy for Grain Valley.”

In addition to speaking with the current generation of Eagle athletes, at the 100-year celebration, Waggoner said he enjoyed conversing with some teammates that he hasn’t seen in a while. He said it was special to see the large number of former players and coaches.

“I love seeing everyone, and it just shows you the legacy of Grain Valley football when you see so many people here,” Waggoner said, “seeing and hearing the stories from everyone is inspiring. You’re not just a part of a program for four years, you are still a part of a family.”
“It’s much more than it being about football.”

Collum had similar sentiments about the celebration. He said that he had seen two of his former teammates before the gathering, but said he enjoyed seeing those that he hasn’t spoken to in years.

“I walked in here saw them, and there were some names I didn’t even remember,” Collum said. “I gave them a high five and a hug.”

“I even saw some guys that mentored me when I was in middle school. Ryan Nace, he was a running back when he played. I was at a middle school camp and he was the leader of my group. I ran into him and it was like, ‘Wow!’ You were in high school when I was in eighth grade.’”

Rovello, who has been retired for a decade, enjoyed his time at the celebration, as well. He actually has a connection with Allie, his successor. Allie was on the staff for the Greater Kansas City Coaches Association All-Star Game when he was an assistant at Warrensburg in 1997.

Rovello was the head coach with Team Missouri at the time.

“We would run into each other at track meets and that sort of stuff,” Rovello said. “I was really happy when he got the job here. I knew he would do an excellent job.”

“In the last 30 years, Coach Allie and I have coached 27 of them. That shows continuity in the program. Grain Valley is in as good of a position because of what he has done.”

And Rovello was a big part of turning around the program. In his first year as head coach in 1993, he took over an Eagles squad that was winless the previous season. He led the Eagles to their deepest playoff run in 2002 when they made it to the state semifinals.

“I had kids in my first class ask me if I was the new football coach,” Rovello said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ Then they said, ‘Why?’ They were 0-18 when I got them and there was only one way to go. David has kept the train on the track. Grain Valley football is still exciting.”

And on Saturday, he got to reunite with some of those players that helped him put Grain Valley football back on the map.
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“It’s been a lot of years and everyone moves on,” Rovello said. “It’s always good to see old players. A lot of these guys have gone on to coach, which I am excited about. If nothing else, these guys learned to love the game.”

From left, former players Hunter Ramirez and Luke Hamontree, assisant coach Ryan Adams and head coach David Allie were among those in attendance at the Grain Valley football programs 100-year anniversary celebration Saturday at Iron Kettle Brewing. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Multiple former players and coaches gathered at Iron Kettle Brewing Saturday to celebrate the Grain Valley football program's 100-year anniversary. Photo credit: Michael Smith