Editor's Note:  This is the most recent piece in a series of stories shared by Gorillas to Gorillas as we all embark upon this new "season" in our lives. These certainly are unprecedented times, for young and old alike. Our hope is for Gorilla student-athletes, past and present, coaches and members of Gorilla Nation to read these pieces, awaken their Gorilla memories and then compose their own story to share with us. There is strength in numbers.
 
When I think of Pittsburg State University, the first thing that comes to mind is the "toughness" that surrounds this place. We are in a tough time right now with the COVID-19 situation. The old saying, "Tough times don't last but tough people do" rings strong in my memories as a player and now coach for Gorilla Nation.
 
I immediately think of some of the best mentors and people in my life that helped mold me as a young man and student-athlete. I GUARANTEE you these people ARE NOT letting the current situation hold them down in life. I can visualize how coach Chuck Broyles, coach Tim Beck, coach Anton Stewart, coach Carl Roth, coach Bill Kroenke, coach John Pierce, coach Larry Garman, coach Lance Cullen, coach Frank Naccarato, Dr. John Oppliger, Susan Downey, Dr. Tom Bryant and a number of others that were a presence in my time as an athlete are attacking this pandemic day by day. I imagine their routines are slightly altered but they keep moving forward day by day.
 
The teammates I had while playing here are not far behind as they live their daily lives. The Neal Philpot, Andy Majors, Chad Miller, Jesse Owen, Earl Henry, Cole Vap, Germaine Race, Chad Weeks, Jermaine Carpenter, and Joe Taylor's of the world are not holding back their daily progress. Attack each day as if you are changing the world. This is the mentality we all were engrained with being a part of this football program.
 
Those days we shared back in the early 2000's are priceless memories I carry strong in my heart and mind.  So many fun times, countless celebrations, team activities, glorious times to say the least. I can still visualize Philpot holding the MIAA trophy high above his head at Arrowhead stadium immediately after we beat Northwest Missouri for the championship head to head.
 
The Friday night meetings we had the nights before games (some of those meetings would keep me up through the whole night because we were so juiced and ready to play). Watching Carp and Majors run past everyone like they were standing still; Race running through people like they were dust in the wind; our massive offensive line would compare to a herd of mature chianina bulls, a defense that had some of the toughest dudes I've ever been around. Glory days!!!!
 
One team I remember all so well was our 2004 team that resulted in National Runners Up. The people who were a part of that team wouldn't let today's issues puncture our goals or alter any vision we had. That group of individuals bonded together to build one of the most remarkable teams in NCAA history. The attitude we carried day after day was that we would not accept failure, period. We were held accountable by our coaches, captains, teammates, community members, etc.
 
The support cast that we all were cherished with was one of the most respectable and admirable things I have personally ever been a part of.  I have learned through my career that not every place is like Gorilla Nation. Sure we have our own flaws but they don't stick out near as much as other places I have worked at. When I first started my coaching career I thought every place was like Pittsburg State University. I was dead wrong!!! There is No Place like "The Jungle". We are quite spoiled here in Pittsburg, KS.

The tradition, expectations, and passion carried on by the past alumni, coaches and fans are bar none the best! We expect to Win. We expect to play for National Championships. We expect to produce and have the best coaches and players in the Country. Although at the end of the day we are all still humans. Some of the best people I have ever met were at this beautiful place we call GORILLA NATION!
 
The last thing that comes to my head about Gorilla Nation isn't the blessed playing career, achievements/accomplishments, titles/rings, etc. it is the fact that Coach Broyles and his staff gave a small town boy from Fort Scott, KS an opportunity. As a player I tried to do everything I could to repay him for that opportunity (I will forever be in debt to him for this). He has always been an inspiration to for me. I'll text him every Holiday and Father's Day thanking him. Now as a coach I try to still repay him and Coach Beck (another man I'll forever be in debt with) who hired me to come back to Pitt State in 2018 every time I step into my responsibilities as a coach for the Gorillas. I thank Coach Brian Wright for having me on his staff now.
 
If I haven't mentioned it yet "I LOVE GORILLA NATION". I strongly believe there are two things in this world that everyone wants to have in life. It isn't money, fame, mansions, cars, etc. It is Respect and Trust. The coaches I have had in my life taught me that. Both of those things are earned! But just how you earned them they can be taken away. Loyalty is another key component as well. I thank Coach Roth for teaching me that I can trust people and he showed me what Loyalty really was and is.
 
I was also taught you have decisions to make in your life that will affect who you are and what you are. Being a GORILLA is a decision that has made a successful impact in my life. A BIG Thank You is needed for the people of Gorilla Nation, past coaches, teammates, community members, fans, and my family (especially my wife Nicole and mother Julie, these two ladies are my rocks)!
 
The three things in my life that I truly care about are:  1. GOD; 2. My Family; 3. GORILLA NATION. Therefore, COVID-19 can kiss my backside! Bring on the Fall!
 
Josh Lattimer
 
Josh Lattimer is entering his third year as an assistant football coach (defensive line) at Pittsburg State University. Lattimer earned NCAA Division II All-America honors in each of his final two seasons as a linebacker for the Gorillas (2004-05). He finished his career with 395 tackles – the second-highest total in school history at the time. Lattimer was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame in the Class of 2018. Josh and his wife, Nicole, have four children:  Jeremiah, Natalie, Jack and Joel.

Please share your own personal stories/thoughts via email to dwilkes@pittstate.edu. We want to share them! (PSU Athletics reserves the right to edit content for space and appropriateness. We cannot promise to publish every submission, but we will do our best.) Thanks Gorilla Nation!
 
Through the Eyes of a Gorilla Archives
Vol. I - Dan Wilkes, Associate AD/Communications (Apr. 3)
Vol. II - Levi Wyrick, Football/Track & Field Athlete (Apr. 7)
Vol. III - Amanda Davied, Women's Basketball Coach (Apr. 10)
Vol. IV - Chris Hanna, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 13)
Vol. V - Jeff Moreland, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 15)
Vol. VI - Emily Hanenberg, Volleyball Athlete (Apr. 17)
Vol. VII - Ashley Balazs, Softball Coach (Apr. 20)
Vol. VIII - Peter Euler, PSU Alum/CC T&F Athlete (Apr. 22)
Vol. IX - Caitlin Demarest, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (Apr. 24)
Vol. X - Tyson Cushman, Baseball Athlete (Apr. 27)
Vol. XI - Oscar Gonzalez, PSU Alum/Men's Basketball Athlete (Apr. 29)
Vol. XII - Russ Jewett, Cross Country/Track & Field Coach (May 1)
Vol. XIII - Ronald Moore, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (May 4)
Vol. XIV - Emily Regier, Volleyball Athlete (May 6)
Vol. XV - Wendi (Rickson) Horak, PSU Alum/Softball Athlete (May 8)