Coach’s most important assistant sits in the stands

PALMER — Rod Christiansen has scored more than 100 wins during his 20 years as head coach of the Palmer High School football program. Many credit part of Christiansen’s success to the assistants he keeps around him. Nearly a century of football knowledge is on the sidelines at Machetanz Field.

But Christiansen’s most important assistant is located just beyond the sidelines in the stands — his wife, Temple.

Temple Christiansen has a long-lasting relationship with football. Christiansen was cheerleading captain at Soldotna High School and went to the University of Georgia during the same years as former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

Later she married Rod.

Not only is she in the stands for nearly all Moose varsity games, but her four sons all play football. Collin is the starting defensive end for the varsity team. Cameron suited up for his first varsity game Friday against West Valley. Adam and Aaron both play MYFA football in Palmer.

“I don’t live, eat, breathe football, but I feed, clothe, transport football players,” Temple Christiansen said.

To say Christiansen watches a lot of football is an understatement. She attends four football games each week, but that experience even goes beyond going to the games.

“I’ve seen a lot of game film on my living room TV,” Christiansen said.

With that much exposure to football, Christiansen is more than just your average football fan, or even football mom, for that matter.

“I’ve picked up a lot by osmosis,” she said.

Sit in the stands next to her and you’ll be amazed at her football IQ. She’s seen just about everything that can happen between the goal posts.

“As a mother, I’ve seen every one of my boys lying on the field (injured), and wondered how bad is it?” Christiansen said.

Christiansen has seen every trick play in the book, every comeback, big hit and spin move. She’s witnessed two state championships, one each on the high school and youth level. Not much is going to surprise her.

“The most moving thing I’ve seen was last year. I was struggling with cancer, and we beat North Pole,” Christiansen said. “After the game, the North Pole head coach came across the field and delivered a get well card that had been signed by the entire North Pole football organization.”

As for the future of Palmer football, who better to prognosticate than the woman who’s watched past and current Palmer football players grow and evolve in the game?

“They always seem to improve a lot throughout the season,” Christiansen said. “They always seem to pull through. They always seem to get to the playoffs.”

It’s too early to know how far the Moose will get this season, but Palmer football fans know one thing for sure, Temple Christiansen, the mother of Palmer football, will be in the stands.

Tim Rockey is a senior at Palmer High School.