How an Owl Became a Goose…The Story of Ooltewah Owls Coach Goose Manning’s Nickname

Ooltewah, TN-(WDEF-TV) It’s not often that you see a bunch of Owls led by a Goose…unless you’re in Ooltewah. Goose Manning is back in his second season as the head coach of the Ooltewah Owls. Chances are you’ll never forget someone whose name is Goose. News 12’s Brian Armstrong went goose hunting for the story on Manning’s nickname.

Said Manning:”When I was a senior in high school I thought I was getting booed at wrestling matches.”

Ooltewah Head Football coach James Manning is known by many as Goose.

And he has his grandfather and timing to thank for the nickname.

Said Manning:”When I was born a flock of geese flew over the hospital and it was supposed to be a joke. My granddad was like hey let’s go and Goose they used to name their kids after something at birth. It was supposed to be a joke and it just kind of stuck, it was in the family and my dad was yelling at a football game and they put in the paper as Goose Manning. From then on I was south more, then on that was it they put it in my state bracket and everything.”

Although his players call him Coach Manning,  his family wasn’t going to break tradition.

Said Manning:”Part of that as I reduce myself is coach Manning but I have cousins that went to school here and they’re not gonna call me Coach Manning in the building so they call me Goose. But a lot of kids at least add Coach to it and I appreciate that.”

When he was wrestling for the Ooltewah high school he thought he was actually being booed during a match.

Said Manning:”One of my buddies his dad would always go to Goose but in the gym it sounded like I was getting booed. First time it happened I was like that’s not very nice I’m just 17, 18 years old. Then finally figured out what they were yelling and I was like oh that’s pretty cool. But at first I was a little hurt by it.”

And if you want to make a Top Pun joke or a Manning family joke, you aren’t being original.

Said Manning:”Navigating that joke outside the Mother Goose thing with my mom every now and then oh where’s Maverick joke has been going around for a very long time. I’m no stranger to that and with my last name being Manning everybody ask if I’m related to Peyton and Eli.”