St. Joseph Catholic School Madison will announce Friday morning that Bond, 57, has been hired as its new football coach. Bond, who has not been a head coach before, was previously a graduate assistant at State in 1999 under Jackie Sherrill. Bond will take over for Todd Lott who was 16-9 in the last two seasons. He reportedly resigned as coach just recently. Sherrill stated Thursday that the team had hit a home run after learning that St. Joe had hired Bond. He’ll win there. He will win because he’s smart, and because of his ability relate to children and get them to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to succeed. He will get them to do things that they don’t like to do.” Sherrill stopped before asking “Can he recruit at this school?” It is a private school. He shouldn’t have to. Sherrill stated, “Then he’ll be very successful.” John is able to relate to children, as I mentioned. It will be fun for them. “I am very happy to hear John has made this decision.” The pertinent question is: Why now? After 15 years of being the Eutaw Construction Company’s director of business development and co-hosting a talk show about sports with Hal Mumme, why make this decision now? Bond stated that even though I haven’t coached for a while, I have never been far from the game and had always considered becoming a head coach in my lifetime. “I have helped many coaches at many schools, including Hal Mumme at Belhaven and Bob Tyler at Millsaps. I also assisted several high schools. “I have had head coaching opportunities before, but it has never been the right place at right time. Bond said that this time at St. Joe it felt right. Bond said, “I know this may seem like an extreme task to some people, but it’s not to me because the sport is something I have always loved and kept close to.” Long-time readers will be familiar with Bond’s relationship with this writer. My first assignment was in 1979 as The Clarion-Ledger’s Mississippi State beat reporter. It covered Emory Bellard and the Bulldogs football team. Despite some great offensive weapons and a strong defense, State finished 3-8. The only thing missing was a quarterback capable of running Bellard’s wishbone offense. John Bond, a long-haired, speedster with a free spirit, arrived at State in 1980. He was a slim, tall, and free-spirited man who could most certainly run Bellard’s wishbone offense. State jumped to 9-3 after winning over No. Bear Bryant and Alabama are ranked 1 in the country. Bryant tried to recruit Bond to Alabama but State got him. Bond quarterbacked the Bulldogs’ to 27 wins over four seasons, four of which were over LSU. Bond was free-spirited, as I wrote before. He may have even broken training once or twice. His coaches loved him, and his teammates played hard for him. Unnoticed by casual observers, Bond was a physical warrior. To be a successful option quarterback, he must have speed, dexterity, and the ability make quick, intelligent and sometimes painful decisions. This position requires toughness and the ability to hold onto the ball until the very last second, even when you know that you will be hit by at least one strong, powerful defensive linebacker or end. Bond was often bruised, bloody and beaten up – as he was in the famous 1980 Alabama game. But he never missed a play. He was strong and durable. Did I mention that he was quick? Bond was a fast runner when the opposing defense got it wrong and both the linebacker and the end went after the pitch man. We don’t know how this will translate into your first job as a head football coach at the age of 56. It will translate this way: John Bond asked me my first question, “John, will St. Joe manage the wishbone?” John Bond laughed loudly, “Heck no, that’s not what I would do to any young quarterback.”