Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Home News
Former Chaparral football coach John Chura, left, shares fond memories of Greg Spencer during a memorial service inside the Cimarron-Memorial theater on Sunday. Spencer, who led Cimarron to state titles in 1998 and 1999, started his coaching career as an assistant under Chura at Chaparral.
Published Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 | 8 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 | 3:13 p.m.
Denver Broncos safety Vernon Fox reflects on how Spartans coach Greg Spencer touched his life not only during his time playing for Cimarron, but throughout his life, during a memorial service for Spencer at the Cimarron-Memorial High School Theater on Sunday.
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Vernon Fox should have been beaten for a touchdown.
A defensive back for the San Diego Chargers during his rookie season of 2002, Fox invited his high school coaches from Cimarron-Memorial to one of his games on football's biggest stage.
Fox allowed the receiver he was covering to get wide open that day, and Cimarron coach Greg Spencer — like he had done some many times before — had stern words for his prized pupil following the game.
If the quarterback would have seen the open receiver, Fox would have surely allowed a touchdown.
"Instead of patting me on the back, he was telling me what I did wrong," Fox said.
Most of Southern Nevada's 31 large-school division coaches attended the memorial, which included eulogies from family, friends and former players. Everyone from game officials, to rival coaches from Northern Nevada and community members packed Cimarron's auditorium to reminisce about the impact Spencer had on their lives.
Fox, who was with the Denver Broncos in 2008 and has played seven years in the NFL, called Spencer one of the best coaches he has ever had. Spencer pushed his athletes to their physical limits, which Parker said made them better men.
"To this day, those were some of the hardest practices I have been through in my life," Fox said. "You had to have thick skin playing for him. If you didn't, you would crumble."
Spencer was Cimarron's first coach when the school opened in 1991 and led them to a 75-31 record. He stepped down in 2000 and returned to the program as assistant from 2003 to '06.
He coached sons Chase and Neil at Cimarron, but if you ask most of the athletes who played for him, they would agree coach Spencer was like a second father to all his players.
"He showed us the ins and outs of life and the wrongs and rights of life," Chase Spencer said. "He taught us that the person who worked the hardest always prevailed."
A video tribute was played at the conclusion of the celebration, showing images of the coach outside of football. He was a dedicated family man, avid fisherman and had a passion for working on cars. He also loved riding his motorcycle.
"He's probably up there riding a brand new Harley with grandma on the back," Chase Spencer said.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].
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