Anita Campbell
County Reporter
Helping the referees at every home football game, the Warsaw High School chain gang performs a necessary duty as they keep track of the yards and downs during the game.
Before every Wildcats home game, Brent Whitaker, Tim Murrell, Jesse Kellner and Jerome Bagley gather at the Whitaker house and load up in a special “chain gang” car (Black Betty, a 1956 Chevy) and head for Randy Morrow Field to do their part in the Friday night game.
Whitaker has been on the “chain gang” on and off for about 16 years.
“I love football so when I was asked to help out, of course, I said ‘yes’,” said Whitaker. “I started several years ago then I dropped out for a while but when my son (Gage) moved up to high school football, I moved up with him.”
Whitaker likes being on the “chain gang” because it gives him the best position on the field to watch his son play for the 'Cats.
“My favorite time was watching Gage run in four touchdowns in one game,” said Whitaker.
Both Gage and his dad wore the #1 for the Cats.
“One of the funniest moments on the field though was when a Warsaw player hit Jesse Kellner while he was holding the chain and absolutely rolled him. Jesse was completely knocked down and he lost his glasses.”
Whitaker says that the chain gang crew has a great deal of fun at the games.
“One night, the chain broke and a referees gave us a zip tie to fix it,” said Whitaker. “The referee carried the zip tie in his hat for just such an emergency so we all started carrying zip ties in our hats, only we didn’t tell Jesse and then we teased him about not having any zip ties.”
Jesse Kellner, also a long-time chain gang member, remembers this a little differently.
“Whitaker and Bagley are the ones who break the chains most often because they step on them,” said Kellner. “But now we all carry zip ties and duct tape in case of emergencies.”
Kellner also remarked that he enjoys being a part of the chain gang and that he stayed on after his son graduated last year because he enjoys watching the kids play. As for the night he was hit by a player, Kellner said that he watched the player running toward him and he thought about running but he remembered that he was instructed to hold the chain in place no matter what until the very last minute.
“He kept getting closer and I just waited too long to run,” replied Kellner about the night he was hit off the chain. However, Kellner wasn’t badly hurt so he got up and continued his duties.
Kellner remarked that his only disadvantage to being on the chain gang was that he couldn’t root for the Wildcats during the game.
“I would like to be yelling for the 'Cats, but we are instructed to be impartial and remain quiet during the game,” said Kellner. “It is hard at times, especially when the game is close, but we stand by silently watching the good and the bad.”
Kellner said he enjoyed being with the other three chain gang members and that they had fun together.
“I will miss riding to the games in Bagley’s car and listening to ‘Back in Black’ blasting from the sound system on the way to the field,” said Kellner.
Tim Murrell was recruited for the chain gang 15 years ago by long time Wildcat supporter Eddie Carroll.
“I was the captain of my football team in Higginsville when I was in high school so it is impossible for me to sit still during a game,” said Murrell. “I also have a good view of the field to watch my son, Drake play.”
Murrell said he enjoyed talking to the visiting team as well as visiting with the referees.
“We work on the visiting side of the field so we get a different perspective of the game,” said Murrell.
Murrell spends a great deal of time at WHS since his daughter is on the volleyball team, his son is on the football team and his wife works in the high school office.
“We go to all the games,” said Murrell. “I still bleed blue and gold for Higginsville but my kids bleed green and black.”
While the chains only move when there is a first down, Murrell is the stick man and moves where the ball is.
“I missed seeing Jesse get hit because I am always moving to keep up with the ball,” said Murrell. “We didn’t even go help Jesse up when he did get hit. I just heard everybody laughing.”
Murrell intends to continue with the chain gang since his kids will be playing for a while.
“I enjoy all the pre-game fun we have together as well as riding to the game together,” said Murrell. “Being on the chain gang allows us to feel the pulse of the game and hear what the coaches and players are saying as they prepare.”
Murrell moved to the Warsaw area 16 years ago as a Missouri Water Patrolman and decided to retire here.
“My family came to the lake in the summer so it was a natural for me to move here,” said Murrell. “I moved to Warsaw, got married and built a house all in the same year.”
Jerome Bagley joined the chain gang five years ago when he was recruited by the other members. Bagley is the father of three Wildcats football players, Nick, a senior; Kendall, a sophomore; and Easton, a sixth grader.
“Being on the chain gang gives me the best seat in the house to watch my boys play ball,” said Bagley. “I enjoy supporting my boys on the team as well as the boys around them.”
Bagley has never been hit by a player during a game, but he keeps his phone handy to get a picture in case Jesse Kellner gets hit again.
Although he never played in high school himself, he enjoys watching Warsaw football. He attended school in Conway, MO, and his school didn’t have a football team.
Bagley intends to continue on the chain gang for years to come since his youngest son is only a sixth grader.
“I’ll be around for several years to come,” said Bagley.
Wildcats head football coach Ryan Boyer appreciates the chain gang as well.
“These guys are great and I never have to worry about whether or not they will show up,” said Boyer. “They are all volunteers who just like having a great view of the game.”
Boyer also mentioned that the officials at games often compliment the Warsaw chain gang as being very diligent in the performance of their duties and always being very respectful.
“It is a good night when the guys running the chains aren’t even noticed because that means they are doing their job and not interfering with the game,” said Boyer. “This is just an exceptional group of guys who love football and enjoy working together.”
