Southeast Missouri State football practice concludes with surprise proposal

Southeast Missouri State graduate assistant athletic trainer Holly Reynolds looks at her engagement ring after being proposed to by wide receiver Tyler McLemore at the end of Wednesday's practice at Houck Field.

Jeff Honza ~ SEMO Sports Information

The Southeast Missouri State football team stood in a circle as coach Tom Matukewicz prepared to walk his team through a drill at the end of Wednesday's practice at Houck Field.

With a tire hoisted over his shoulder, Matukewicz was about to use graduate assistant athletic trainer Holly Reynolds to help explain the drill, but in reality, it was all just a bluff.

He instead directed Reynolds' attention to the video board, where her boyfriend, senior wide receiver Tyler McLemore, delivered a message he had prepared.

"What's up, Holly? I bet you didn't expect to see me up here," McLemore said to start the video. "However, on a serious note, I know we've been through a lot these last couple years, and I knew from the day I met you I wanted to make you mine forever. So with that being said, Hollyce Marie Reynolds, will you marry me?"

Surprised by the moment, Reynolds turned around to find McLemore down on one knee with a ring in his hand, and the two embraced each other as Redhawks players erupted in celebration.

McLemore had been planning to pop the question but wanted to get his coach's opinion, so he met with Matukewicz on Monday morning to talk things over.

"He told me he had bought an engagement ring and wanted to ask his girlfriend to marry him. He wanted to get my thoughts on it, and we talked and had a lot to say about it," Matukewicz said. "The thing we talk about is signing off on everything that you do. How you do one thing is how you do all things, so the thing I was just telling him was, 'This is a moment you'll remember for the rest of your life, so let's do something where you'll both remember and have something to talk about.'

"We shot a video and kind of put it together to surprise Holly, and it was a lot of fun."

Matukewicz said it was special to have shared the moment with the young couple, and he enjoyed getting to see his players' reaction to the proposal.

"They were just as excited, and that's a lot of fun to be a part of," Matukewicz said. "Tyler and I have had a lot of moments. I've been here a long time with him. I've had him in a headlock. I thought we were going to throw down a couple of times, but I've always stood by him. I love him. I'm glad that he found somebody he wants to spend the rest of his life with."

Southeast is currently taking part in summer drills, and Matukewicz has been pleased with the progress he's seen from his squad. The team has been working five days a week, with running at 6 a.m. followed by breakfast and weightlifting.

"The guys have done a great job. They've stayed out of the yellow shirts. We haven't had any off-the-field issues or academic issues, so I think that's a good sign," Matukewicz said. "Coach (Ryan) Napoli, our strength coach, is earning his salary. I need a stronger, quicker, faster team in August, and that's his job. And he's done a great job for us so far. We've just got to finish it out."