McCallie Coach Ralph Potter Has Plenty of History With Baylor-McCallie Rivalry

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Baylor and McCallie renew their rivalry on Friday, and no one understands the cross-town showdown like Blue Tornado head coach Ralph Potter.
His father Pete was a long time coach at McCallie. Ralph played quarterback for the Blue Tornado, and he also served as an assistant and head coach at Baylor.

Said Potter:”My first experience. McCallie lost 33-15. They had lost 36-0 the year before. I didn’t even know that. I just remember I was kind of sad because McCallie lost. I was nine-years-old. They were. The McCallie people were just ecstatic because they had scored twice, and so I guess it’s all about expectations.”
Reporter:”What memories do you carry with you from the time you played?”
Said Potter:”We lost my sophomore year and my junior year. Really two heartbreaking losses. And I just remember as a senior, us and our senior class were really determined we weren’t going to let that happen again. I just remember that determination.”
Reporter:”And you won I take it your senior year?”
Said Potter:”Game of the century. Absolutely.” (laughter)
Potter admits it was a bit unusual when he started coaching at Baylor and faced his high school alma mater.
Said Potter:”My first year coach (Fred) Hubbs was the head coach. He let me call the plays. So I actually called the plays over here in that game. It was a really good story. We scored on the first play and got it called back. I mean it was a whole story about it.”
Reporter:”Was that odd at all being a defensive coordinator and assistant at Baylor, and your Dad was still on the other side?”
Said Potter:”The only difficult one was the last one. Was in ’93. Because still to this day, there are people that say McCallie got cheated in that game. It was funny because my mom. My dad didn’t say a whole lot, but my mom actually met me at midfield and said you had to cheat to win you know so.” (laughs)
Reporter:”Does this week just bring back a lot of joy for you and special memories because there’s just so much that’s tied to this game, and you’ve been a big part of it for so many years.”
Said Potter:”No. I’m just glad when it’s over every year you know.”