Coach David Meske of the Webb School of Knoxville Spartans. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By JESSE SMITHEY
No matter what Dave Meske may have done over the past months to prepare himself for the moment, that moment still hit him in the feels Friday night.
The legendary head football coach at Webb School of Knoxville announced before the 2022 season began that this fall would be his final one at the helm of the Spartans’ program.
But as the weeks of the season wore on, and Webb kept clicking off wins to keep its season going, Meske had ample opportunities to think about his final game and the weight of that.
But, by his own admission, he didn’t get emotional about it until this week.
The final act unfurled Friday, as nationally ranked Lipscomb Academy put an end to Webb’s unbeaten season with a 44-7 victory in the Division II-AA state semifinals. That final punctuation on Meske’s career might have been a tough one, but it did little diminish what he and the Spartans accomplished this season and during his tenure.
And he made it a point to hug every current and former player he could find after the game.
“It’s been a great year. I love these kids. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach football for a long time and be around a lot of great kids,” Meske said. “I’ll miss it. I really will.
“And this football team, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of young men to be around in my last year here at Webb School. I’m proud of them. They’re wonderful.”
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