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Danny Mitchell leaves behind a legacy of funny stories

Delawareans connect the dots across the generations
November 15, 2022

Speakers of the House - I took a photo of Danny Mitchell and Pete Schwartzkopf at the Rehoboth Fire Fightin’ 5K in August. They were holding court, feeling those good commiserations – Danny, speaker of the Rehoboth Fire House, and Pete, speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives. I remember Pete a couple of years ago telling me, “I try to avoid speaking in certain situations; just so many heroic people in Delaware, I feel like I’m going to cry. Does that make any sense to you?” I said, “Yes, I call it Dick Vermeil syndrome. The Eagles coach cried when celebrating the human spirit. We older ‘tough guys’ can all relate. We can feel it.” There were lots of tough people crying Sunday morning after hearing that Danny “Big Country”  Mitchell passed away. I called him “Chowder,” his old-school nickname from back when I coached football with him and Chester Davis on the Rob Schroeder staff 1985-88. Danny loved Cape football and Delaware football. Those Sussex County tailgates with Nut Marvel and Danny on the visitors’ side of the stadium were a must-stop drop. A heavy Sussex Central influence on Saturday afternoon after the Golden Knights kicked someone’s butt on Friday night. There were Pink Lloyd, Keith Mumford, Nik Fair and Bradley Layfield, and more chowder and chili than you could ladle into a disposable bowl. Back in the day, I found myself at a garage sale/auction on a Saturday morning. All the Mitchells were there – Danny, his brothers and father. I had my eye on a ladder, but the Mitchells bought all the ladders – like four of them. I said to Danny, “You don’t mind me saying so, but the Mitchell family doesn't have that second-story look.” “No, but we have lots of stories, and you can’t have enough ladders,” Danny said. And “we” didn’t have enough time to just sit on that bench in front of the Rehoboth Fire House on a Sunday morning and just talk and watch the world go by. Danny had the skill to listen to your stories and laugh, and then ask follow-up questions. I sometimes wondered if he was playing me, if he was playing us all; no one could be that interested in what others had to say. Danny was the quintessential coach; he made us all feel better about how we see ourselves, enhancing our self-esteem. Not to be a whiny crybaby, but we want him back!

History and  chemistry - Shelly Smith and Ian Hayes, a chance meeting along the rope line at Saturday’s state cross country meet. I am in this story because I am walking history and Ian’s mom Leslee Maria is carrying my blue chair. Shelly, a former state champion distance runner at Caesar Rodney, won the very first women’s race at the state cross country championships in 1981. Ian is a cross country runner and soccer player for Woodbridge in 2022. Ian is affable and transitions easily to wonderment when hearing Shelly’s story. Shelly’s mom talks to Leslee as they exchange lifetime biographies. Ian, a senior accepted to multiple colleges, wants to major in pre-med. Shelly worked as a chemist for 10 years before taking a teaching job at Dover and is now at Caesar Rodney. Her son ran at Salesianum. The entire day is some kind of Delaware fun. I grabbed a photo of Ian and Shelly together, following the model, “two people in a photo is always more interesting than just one.” 

Smyrna sandwich - Cape football scored first (Maurki James) and last (C.J. Fritchman) at Smyrna Friday night for 13 points, but in between, the Eagles scored 40 to win the game. This Friday night is another slice of Smyrna, as Cape, the eighth seed in the Group 3A state tournament, opens at top-seeded Smyrna. Other games are Salesianum at Middletown, St. Georges at Appoquinimink and Dover at Sussex Central. Tournament pairings and updates for all groups can be found at the DIAA website at education.delaware.gov/diaa/.   

Live screaming - You know you make me wanna shout! I don’t sit with fans during games, so I have no idea how crazy they get. On Saturday at the state cross country meet, I was perched at the bend leading to the final straightaway heading for home. I have never screamed like that in my life. My brain was vibrating after four races. I needed to go into concussion protocol when I got home. I had a harrier hangover.  

DIAA Crown Trophy - Before every DIAA state tournament game in each sport, a player from each team is honored with a plaque for Education Through Athletics, called the Crown Trophy. Thursday at the Cape versus Milford hockey game, I watched and listened as Layna Reynolds of Milford and Grace Hudson were announced. They were both surprised. They graciously posed for a picture together. Later, when I blew up the image on the computer so I could read the inscription, I realized it read Division II field hockey state tournament. This is a smart kid award, so I’m sure they noticed. Grace, a few days earlier, had signed a letter of intent to play field hockey at Belmont Abbey College in South Carolina. Grace will join Abby Kane of Cape on the Crusaders’ roster. The Crusaders are a strong Division II program and play programs like Bloomsburg, Slippery Rock, Shippensburg and Limestone. 

Snippets - I’ve been boosted more times than poppy in a power chair. I’m ready for indoor sports. I’m immune from all airborne contagions. I'm ready for my blue chair grounded in a neutral corner at wrestling matches. Cape is the defending two-time Division I state champion. Sussex Central, Caesar Rodney, Smyrna and Milford will all bring strong teams. To quote Bart Scott, “Can’t wait!” Go on now, git! 

 

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