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For: September 09, 2010
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Abbott Stepping Down at FSHS to Coach O-line at FSU
BYMIKE BOWEN TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN
FAIRMONT — Five years ago, J.L. Abbott took over a Fairmont Senior football program that hadn’t made the playoffs since the 2000 season.
He promptly took the Bears back to the playoffs in his first season (2005), followed by a trip to the state semifinals in 2006, back to the playoffs in 2008 and to the quarterfinals in 2009.
During the time he’s coached the school’s secondever Kennedy Award winner in Kyle Allard and had another quarterback Logan Moore challenge for the award in 2009 as well as set the school’s all-time mark for passing yards.
But now he’s hanging up the whistle, at least at the high school level.
In fact, Abbott will be the second high school head coach to join the Fairmont State University staff, following former Robert C. Byrd head coach Bryan Fisher to FSU. “Whenever you’re having success, it’s never the right time to go,” Abbott said. “But Coach (Mike) Lopez is going to give me an opportunity to coach at the next level.
“I believe in what his plans are for Fairmont State, and it means a lot to me to go up there and be a part of it.
“I don’t have to uproot my family, and I definitely want to give it a try.”
He leaves the high school coaching ranks with a 37-20 record, including a 3-4 record in the state playoffs.
According to Abbott he will be coaching the offensive lineman at Fairmont State.
“I’ll be the O-line coach for Coach Fisher,” Abbott said. “That really excites me to be able to coach one unit and not have to worry about defense, linebackers or free safeties. Just the offensive line.
“Going by yesterday (signing day) and what they have coming back, they definitely have the talent to put a lot of points on the board.”
It wasn’t an easy decision for Abbott, by no means.
In fact he recalled the words of the late Larry Conaway when trying to decide his future.
“He told me ‘there’s always going to be juniors, no matter what,’” Abbott said. “I learned from Larry Conaway that you’ve got to know when it’s time to give something up. This was a great opportunity for me at my alma mater, and it’s an honor to go up there and coach with the staff they have.”
In doing so he will be reunited with a trio of former FSHS stars — Moore, Remington Skarzinski and Aaron Fetty — all of whom signed with FSU on Wednesday.
Abbott was trying to keep his departure under wraps until at least Thursday so as to not take anything away from his players on their important day.
“I’m excited to be with them again,” Abbott said. “Those are three special kids whom I’ve known for a long time. I’m fortunate to be able to be with them again.”
As for the Polar Bears, Abbott didn’t mention anything about a possible successor, but did say that the program isn’t hurting.
“By no means is the cupboard at Fairmont Senior bare,” he said. “They still have the top receiving corps in the state in my opinion. Three out of five linemen will be back as well as a Tim Tebow-like quarterback in Trevor Malnick.”
And as good as Abbott’s career at FSHS has been, he deferred everything back to the players he coached.
“We just knocked the dust off it five years ago,” he said of the program. “We didn’t make them believe; they bought into it. That’s what made them special.
“The talent is always there at Fairmont Senior.”
Abbott is also happy with the way his high school career has come to an end.
“If you think about it I have a lucky head coaching career,” he said. “I had five good teams; a lot of guys can’t say that.
“I was real blessed to coach at Fairmont Senior High School.”
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