101 Critical Days of Summer off with “Pistol” start
by Frank McIntyre
Public Affairs Chief of News
Les Miles, Oklahoma State University head football coach tells the audience the importance of hydration while engaged in summer activities. Photo by Frank McIntyre
Coach Miles takes a question from a Team Vance member in the standing room only crowd at hangar 170. Photo by Frank McIntyre
Coach Miles runs the throttle up to full after burner during a visit to the engine test room. With the coach and his sons are Maj Ken Coon of wing safety and Ronald Martin, lead test cell specialist. Photo by Brian Rochester
Lt Col Hiawatha Newton, 71st Operations Group thanks Coach Miles for coming to the base and discusses the upcoming season. Photo by Frank McIntyre
“I’m proud to be here today to say thank you. Thank you from my family. Thank you from my school. And thank you from my country,”
That is what Les “Pistol Pete” Miles, Oklahoma State University head football coach, said was his real reason for visiting Vance Air Force Base May 28.
Although the coach said he came to thank Team Vance, his visit was sponsored by wing safety to kick off the 101 Critical Days of Summer by speaking about sports safety during the 11 a.m. briefing in Hangar 170.
“I thought it was great to hear Coach Miles,” said Amn Wesley Schoenhofer, 71st Mission Support Squadron. “He had great stories and was very entertaining.
“I thought it was especially interesting how he related similarities from his coaching experiences to military life,” Airman Schoenhofer said.
Coach Miles stressed that neither his OSU team nor Team Vance can afford to have people slowed by avoidable injuries.
“We prepare to play, you prepare to fly. We deploy to the Big 12 Conference, you deploy worldwide. We both set our sights on being the best and can’t afford injures causing distractions to the team,” the coach said before discussing his approach to fitness.
Prior to his speech, the coach and his two sons received a tour of the base.
Disclaimer:
The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S.
Air Force of this Web site or the information, products, or services contained
therein.
