Winning football coach holds Albany book signing

ALBANY — Ted “Rock” Knapp never once suspected he’d become an author, but he’s signing books on Saturday, launching a 10-city promotional tour.

Knapp is football through and through, having played or coached most of his 58 years. While attending Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Wisconsin, Knapp was a three-time All-Conference first teamer as middle linebacker. As a high school coach, he led his teams to nine state titles in six states.

But then in 2008, his second year as head football coach at Sherwood Christian Academy in Albany, following the “winningest season” in the history of that school, Knapp’s life took a drastic turn. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota confirmed he had two terminal cancers, amyloidosis and multiple myeloma, and gave him six months to live.

The cancers turned out to be what doctors call “smoldering” versions, and following a period of rapid advancement, during which Knapp lost his kidneys, the diseases eased off unexpectedly. Now six and a half years past his diagnosis, Knapp is still alive and kicking. According to Knapp, he’s enjoyed the longest remission from that combination of cancers of anyone in history, according to his doctors.

“Two weeks ago at Emory (University hospital) one of my doctors told me, ‘Coach, you’re a walking miracle,’”Knapp said.

So how would this man of football direct his time among the living? He’s written two inspirational books and started on a third. Knapp said that just after his diagnosis, he accepted his fate, but figured there had to be an ultimate reason he was stricken with both deadly diseases.

“I knew that if the Lord allowed this, there must be a purpose for it and I was determined to be equal to that purpose,” Knapp said.

The idea to write his first book came on Easter as he watched his grandchildren play, Knapp said, and almost before he knew it, he’d written The Great Adventures of Sparky the Angel, based loosely on the day his daughter was struck by lightning and survived. The childrens’ book sold more than 6,000 copies just by word of mouth, Knapp said.

And according to Knapp, sales of his current work, Bury Me With My Whistle, are “going through the roof.” In fact, Amazon Books underestimated the demand and have temporarily run short of the book, Knapp said. Knapp will have plenty on hand during his signing session at the Albany Mall Chick-fil-A, 2601 Dawson Road on Saturday, he said.

The book is about football, but even more about relationships and methods to inspire young men through sports. According to Knapp, his drive to deliver that message to those who’ll listen is enough to keep him touring and undergoing dialysis in a string of strange cities.

“It’s not about the money,” Knapp said. “My greatest hope is to inspire others and make a positive difference in other people’s lives. This book could help any coach build relationships in any sport.”

Signed copies of “Bury Me With My Whistle,” with comments by Dan Cathy, president and CEO of Chick-fil-A; Lloyd Mumphord, special teams captain of the 1972 Superbowl Miami Dolphins; Art Briles, head football coach at Baylor University and others are available from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday.