Brewer manager finds 'labor of love'

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
FLORETTE - Jake Gann knows when its game day.
While it takes the Brewer basketball manager a little time each morning to wake up, Gann is ready to go early when the Patriots are playing.
Gann, a former student at Brewer High School, has been a team manager for Patriots head coach Sam Brown for nine years, starting with the Brewer basketball program when he was a student at the school.
Gann handles his duties with pride, making sure everything is right for the Brewer players.
And when its game day, Gann is ready to go.
Gann began his managerial career when he was a mentally challenged student at Brewer and quickly made himself a valuable commodity in the Patriots’ program.
He handles all the managerial duties, including getting the gym set up for home games. He even does a little bit of coaching for Brown.
In short, Gann does whatever is needed around the Brewer basketball program.
During the day, Gann now works at Terrell Industries in Hartselle as part of a disability program.
But his first love is, and always will be, Brewer basketball, according to his mother, Lydia Gann.
When he was younger, kids used to put him on their shoulders so he could shoot baskets. He’s bigger now, but he’s right there every afternoon with a basketball in his hand as the Patriots go through practice.
And on game nights, Jake is right at home around the basketball court.
More importantly, however, is that few people who meet Jake Gann ever forget him.
During his nine-year stint as the Brewer manager, Gann has only missed a few games because of illness. Last season, he was unable to be on the bench because of an upper respiratory ailment, but his parents did bring him to the game and let him sit in the balcony.
But the Ganns weren’t able to keep him away for long. His love for the game and his job is something special.