Waiting for the big day

Pam Hahn, Blue Springs South’s secretary to the athletic director, remembers David Cook well.

“I know him as David Cook the student,” said Hahn, who Tuesday morning was spearheading the sign-up for tickets to Cook’s possible concert at 4 p.m. Friday at Blue Springs South High School Stadium.

Hahn – who described the onrush of students when tickets became available as “more of a mob than a line” – said she is more familiar with Cook’s younger brother Andrew, who was her office aide his senior year.

“I knew David as Mr. Jaguar (Cook won the all-male talent competition),” Hahn said. “All the kids liked him, and he was very involved as he was in plays and baseball.”

Last fall, Cook visited the high school. That was when he needed to make one more “American Idol” cut before he could perform live during Hollywood Week.

“I thought it was so nice that he came to see us all like that,” Hahn said.

But Hahn knows fame can change people.

“Not David,” she said, pointing at the back of a menu with some writing on it. “Andrew recently gave that to me; said he would have done it on a picture of himself, but he didn’t have any.”

The menu is from the Buca di Beppo Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.

It says: “To Blue Springs South High School, Thank you all so much for all the support! Can’t wait to come home and say hello again. GO JAGS!”

Beneath it is David Cook’s signature.