My uncle Tim was a man I always looked up to. He was a tough man at times, he was a emotional man at times, but he was a great man always. I have waited over 2 years to write this because, well, I have been putting my mind and thoughts around this post. Sometimes the small things mean the most. I remember when Sadie and I were playing hide and seek when we were young. I got found by her, and said she cheated, and looked when I was hiding. I started to yell and get mad like most kids do, but then it happened. Tim took me aside and said, "Sean, that is your cousin, it's just a game. Remember that. Let it go, we are family. Ok bud? Ok, now let's go eat (ruffling my hair)." I will never forget his presence and humility, among an endless amount of other admirable traits. Always loved and never forgotten. Love you Uncle.
Tennis in 1975
Tim also coached the Tennis Team at CSUH when I was a freshman in 1975.We did not win the league championship but I was an individual winner.This was a direct result of the inspiration I got from Tim.He was serious about winning like I was and I will NEVER EVER forget him.Dougditmer@comcast.net
CSUH vs. Humboldt State
Official Game Program Sat., Nov 9, 1985
1992 Team
This was such a fun team. With the rise of Facebook it has been easier for all of us to communicate. Most of us still chat as if it were still 92'. I actually started the 91' season with SFSU and my brother was on his way to Missourri Western. Coach T and Coach Sawyer convinced us to go to Hayward. Glad they did!!
Walking the dogs
Not always Tim's favorite thing to do but he made so many new friends just walking the dogs around the Atascadero Lake. The dogs took full advantage of his kindness and tolerance and set their own pace.
Longtime Pioneers football coach Tim Tierney passes away
September 19, 2012
By MARTY VALDEZ
The Cal State East Bay Athletics family suffered a loss last week when Tim Tierney, former head football coach and golf coach, passed away as a result of complications from brain surgery on Sept. 15. He was 68.
A 1964 graduate of San Francisco State University, Tierney was an All Far Western Conference defensive back for the Gators in 1963, and in 1964. After graduation, Tierney was highly sought after by the Philadelphia Eagles, and played in the Eagles organization in 1965 and 1966. After two years in the pro ranks, Tierney returned to San Francisco State to coach the defensive backs.
Tierney then spent three years coaching on the high school level; two years at St. Ignatius in San Francisco, and Homestead High School in 1969-70.
In 1970, Tierney joined the coaching staff at Cal State East Bay (then known as Cal State Hayward) as defensive coordinator.
Five years later in 1975, Tierney became the head football coach at Cal State East Bay, and would remain in that post until the football program was dropped in 1993.
During his 19 years as head coach, Tierney led the Pioneers to a share of the Far Western Conference Championship in 1981, when they had a 4-1 record. The Pioneers finished in second place four times. During the 1977 and 1978 seasons, Tierney guided the Pioneers to an impressive 14-5-1 overall record. The 1978 team finished with an 8-2 record and finished second place 4-1 conference mark. The 8-2 record was the best showing from a Pioneer football team since 1971.
From 1980-86, the Pioneers posted a 42-26-3 record. The 1984 Pioneer football team had its highest point production since 1971 as it scored 260 points and led the Northern California Athletic Conference in rushing offense. The following season, the Pioneers eclipsed their point production by scoring 282 points (13th-Division II) and led the NCAC in total defense in allowing an average of 294.8 yards a contest. The Pioneers broke a school record for rushing defense, allowing 67.2 yards a contest. The 1986 Pioneer football team finished with a 7-3 record, marking the eighth time in the last 10 years Cal State Hayward posted a winning record.
Tierney was voted "Co-Coach of the Year" in the conference in 1977 and 1981.
Numerous football players received All-American, All-Region and All-Conference honors under Tierney.
Tierney coached four Pioneer Athletic Hall of Famers, including Greg Blankenship, Sandy LaBeaux, Mitch Bigger and Bill Myatt. Assistant football coaches and hall of famers Joel Grose and Don Sawyer were on Tierney’s coaching staff.
More than 90 percent of Tierney’s non-conference schedule for 19 years included scholarship institutions. Those schools included Santa Clara, Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly SLO, St. Mary’s and Eastern Washington.
In 2001, Tierney became the head coach of the Pioneer women’s and men’s golf programs. Current East Bay golf coach Alan Sue took over for Tierney in 2005.
Tierney continued to teach in the Kinesiology Department at Cal State East Bay until his retirement in 2007.
Pioneer Hall of Famer and former Athletic Director Al Mathews called Tierney an excellent coach who did a great job with a high profiled program for 19 years.
“I was always impressed with the job Tim did with the football program,” Mathews said. “We had successful teams under Tim in the Far Western Conference and the Northern California Athletic Conference. “Not only was Tim a great coach, he was a good friend with a positive attitude. This is a tremendous lost to his family, friends and the University.”
Stan Hebert, associate vice president, Student Affairs at Cal State East Bay, played for Tim Tierney from 1972-75.
“I was a walk-on in 1972, and Tim, a defensive coach at the time, gave me a shot as a defensive back,” Hebert said. “He developed me into a great defensive back and kick returner.” “Tim loved coaching and was a stand-up guy. He also wanted his players to be productive in life. I’m saddened by Tim’s passing.”
Alan Sue had these thoughts about Tim Tierney:
“Tim was a great leader,” Sue said. “He was very organized and cared a lot about his teams and coaching staff. Tim cared about me becoming a head coach. I learned so much from Tim about the administrative side of coaching. He helped create the coaching philosophy I use today. Great guy, I will surely miss him.”
Jim Spagle, Pioneer women’s volleyball coach and officemate of Tim Tierney in the Kinesiology department had these comments about Tim:
“I shared an office with Tim for over 10 years,” Spagle said. “In that time, Tim became both my mentor and valued friend. One of the most intelligent individuals I have ever met, Tim always encouraged me to think and look at things from a variety of positions. He shared his experience, values, and insight with me at all times. When he spoke, if you were not listening carefully, you were missing out on excellent insight and knowledge.
“The Pioneer nation has lost a tremendous resource and valued member of a proud and rich heritage. I have lost my own personal coach and great friend.”
Ted Barrett played for Tim Tierney from 1985-86 and was an assistant football coach at Cal State East Bay. Barrett, a current major league umpire, had these thoughts about Tim.
“I attribute my success as a major league umpire to Tim Tierney,” Barrett said. “Tim taught me the value of life both on and off the football field. He preached teamwork and how to overcome adversity. I got to know Tim more when I was member of his coaching staff for one season. Tim gave his heart and soul to the Pioneer football program for 25 years. What a tremendous loss.”
The lyrics: Into the Mystic
We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won
As we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly
Into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows
I will be coming home, mmm mmm
And when the fog horn blows
I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float
Into the mystic
When that fog horn blows
You know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn whistle blows
I gotta hear it
I don't have to fear it
And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float
Into the mystic
Come on girl
Will they stop now
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I picked this song because of what it meant to me and Tim. I find this song so powerful, so moving, and a perfect song match for him. He loved the sea- Into the mystic, the fog horn blows & going home (afterlife). I find comfort in it that he is at peace. A nod to our love as well, that we will oneday meet again & together float into the mystic.
Jeanette
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Anonymous interpretation of the song (taken from the internet)
While looking up the lyrics to the song Into the Mystic by Van Morrison I found several comments about it which I read, and while reading them I agreed with some and disagreed with others, then I realized they all had validity and were all correct which was actually the spirit of the song itself.
And now here is my take on the song.
We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Before there was a universe or solar system or anything there exist spirit; that which is all knowing. We were born from God.
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Mankind was born on this good boat, or spaceship we call “Earth,” and we sail into the duality of the known and unknown called “the mystic,” knowing there is something there, but not knowing exactly what it is, hence “the mystic.”
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
We, mankind, are the sailors crying out. “What is this life? What is the meaning of this mystical experience which we call life? Why am I here?” We may all have different questions at different times. And, we may all have different answers at different times.
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
Enjoy your senses and those things which make up your experiences of your life. Your soul is the totality of your experiences and your spirit is your sense of knowing the duality of life and your expressions of your soul. How you act, what you do, and what you say and think count. “Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds – thus spoke Zarathustra.
And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
When Gabriel blows his horn, or when death and rebirth call us it will be a magnificent sound and there is nothing to fear when returning home to the all knowing spirit within us.
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
I want to awaken and comfort your wandering just as the ancient prophets have written and spoke about over the centuries, Jesus, Zarathustra, Buhdda and many, many others.
Then magnificently we will float into the mystic
Together joined as one mankind we will learn the meaning to all that we seek in this experience we call life.
Now I have no idea what Van Morrison was actually referring to in this song. I do know he sang some spiritual songs later in his career. What I do know about this song and many of Van Morrison’s songs is that the wording is metaphorical which gives rise to the many ambiguous meanings and comments and is one of the reasons for its strength as a classic song. I noticed one thing all the comments referred to was that the song was beautiful and enjoyed by all.
In Memory: San Francisco Chronicle
Tim Tierney, a 1985 San Francisco State Hall of Fame inductee, died Saturday at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City because of complications from a brain tumor. He was 68.
Mr. Tierney was a standout football player for the Gators and once held the school record for longest punt return at 89 yards.
He coached 19 seasons at Cal State Hayward (76-110-5 record) and started his career as an assistant at St. Ignatius High School under Vince Tringali in the 1960s. He coached future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts at St. Ignatius.
Mitch Stephens is a national columnist for MaxPreps.com.