Nov. 1, 2003

Charleston, SC - Coaches live in a world of extremes. The highs are very high. The lows very low. That's the difference between winning and losing in a profession that demands the former and is intolerant of the latter.

Thus, the men who coach college football struggle to find a place in between where they can live with themselves. Of all the coaches I have known, Ellis Johnson does this best.

In his third season at the helm of The Citadel Bulldogs, Johnson suffered through two losing seasons that saw only six victories and little to cheer about. But through it all, he was calm, steadfast and candid. He never allowed defeat to triumph and take over his life or his team.

Now, with his Bulldogs enjoying a four-game win streak and the adoration that comes with winning, he is exactly the same. Calm. Steadfast. Candid.

Nothing seems to rock his world. He doesn't get too low. He doesn't get too high.