Amy Roh/Tribune
Hastings High head coach Rick Ripperger celebrates
September 29, 2011 at Lloyd Wilson Field.

The relationship between a coach and his players is a special bond. The relationship between a father and a son is an inseparable bond. But the relationship between a father/coach and a son/player — well, that can be as complicated as love gets.

"I think the greatest challenge is just letting him be a football player and realizing that they’re just like everybody else,” the coach said. “From a parental standpoint, you want them to do their best. And I’ve been hard on Tyler over the years, and I expect a great deal from him because that’s the way I was raised.”

To read more, see Tuesday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.>>>