Florida assistant player of personnel Kevin Barbay knows Larry Neumann well.

He should, considering he was the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback for a majority of the 1998-2000 seasons.

Neumann and his former signal caller have stayed close over the years with Barbay spending time at his former coach’s house when he comes into town.

Nederland had success under Neumann with Barbay as quarterback. He went 9-4 as a sophomore, the Bulldogs were 11-2 co-district champs his junior year, and his senior year saw another 11-2 record.

“The biggest thing about Larry Neumann is he is an excellent motivator,” Barbay said. “All the teams and successes come from him getting the kids to believe in themselves. Coach Neumann tried on a daily basis to try and create chaos during practice. He put us in so many adverse situations that when the game came around, we had seen everything already.”

All the time spent at practice and games together is why Barbay can barely believe come next football season, Nederland will have a new coach for the first time since Neumann took over in 1993.

“It is going to be weird,” Barbay said. “I remember the day he got the job. I really spent a lot of time with my uncle (Curtis Barbay) in Newton but I remember when coach Neumann took over. I remember coach (Bob) August before coach Neumann and I remember the feeling then to where the program is now is unbelievable. It is going to be strange without coach Neumann there.”

Barbay might not get to watch the games in person, but he does listen to the games on the radio as much as possible from either a hotel room or home if the Gators play in Gainesville.

“It is just so hard in this day and age to coach and stay around one program that long,” he added. “I know one thing, a majority of the community will be thankful they had the years with Larry Neumann as head coach of the Bulldogs.”

Barbay’s reason goes deeper than football games and wins and losses.

“You can’t count how many people he has touched in the community,” he said. “From Nederland, Port Neches, Groves and Beaumont, you can find people and guys who played under him that are now productive citizens. Of course he loved to win just like any coach, but one of his real goals was to produce better citizens for the community. I know I have moments daily and so do my past teammates that things come up, and I am reminded of a lesson taught to me by Larry Neumann.”

One day, Barbay can call Neumann for advice on how to enjoy retirement and what hobbies to pick up in his spare time.

Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe