embarrassedsaintsfan

The letter jacket decision has been reversed after many complaints from parents and students. What I am hearing most recently was that anyone could buy the jackets that players use for letter jackets (without the letter) even if you aren't an athlete. I am also hearing that there are many middle school students looking to leave Briarcrest not just because of footbal, but the whole atmosphere has changed since Bill McGee came to the school. In addition I have heard that most, if not all, of the assistant coaches won't be coaching there next year either. The main one that needed to go other than Hamstra was the offensive coordinator Dodd Gengenbach and the defensive coach McGee. They will NOT be back on the sidelines and they have been told that. Gengenbach was the WORST excuse for an offensive coordinator in the history of high school football. It is no wonder St. George's fired him. He was horrible, didn't know what players to play in which positions and called the stupidest plays anyone has ever seen. In short he is a total loser. Coach Powers is a fine man and a good coach, however given the current administration's view on athletics he is going to have a very tough time turning it around, but I hope he can because like I said he is a good man.

I don't recall anywhere in my question where I said that Briarcrest must fire Coach Hamstra. All I asked was if anyone had heard what they were going to do. I am well aware that he has a family and I wish him no ill-will, however what about the obligation a coach or a teacher or administrator has to do a good job at their job. Why do does no one get upset if a math teacher's contract is not renewed because too many students were failing their class because they were a lousy teacher> I am sure that just as many parents complain about poor teachers as do about a bad coach, or at least they do at private schools. In my line of work if the guy that is supposed to pick up trash doesn't do what he supposed to do we replace him with someone who will the job. But I guess in today's society doing a good job is not as important as not "hurting someone's feelings" Maybe that is why the administration won't allow varsity athletes to wear their letter jackets to school anymore, because not all of the students have one. It might make someone "feel bad" So all of the coaches who aren't good at their jobs should just keep on do a bad job because we don't want to hurt thier feelings by making a change. This all goes back to having lower standards for some segments of society than for others and not expecting as much from some. If a coach is willing to coach then he should be willing to take responsibility for doing a bad job. Or maybe we should just turn varsity athletics into church ball and let everyone play the same amount of time each game and give everyone trophies at the end of the season. Then it really won't matter if the coach does a good job because we still get a trophy and everyone will feel good. And that is my $.02 worth.

Speakerbox2, everything that you said in both of your posts is exactly right. You are so right when say that there has been a change in the directionof the school in general. I am not saying it is good or bad, but it is definately changed. It is my feeling, as well as many others, that winning and athletics are not as important as they used to be. What has also increased is the "politics" at Briarcrest. We have too many parents and donors that give money to the school with the expectation of having certain things done the way they want them, i.e. which kid gets to play and what coaches are hired. Don't you think we would have faired better the last two seasons if Phil Massey or Major Wright had been hired instead of Coach Hamstra? I have heard that certain parents prevented Massey and Wright from being hired and now certain parents are demanding that Coach Hamstra be fired. Lastly it saddens me that Briarcrest has become what it has as it used to be a lot different.

Has anyone heard if Briarcrest is going to hire a new football coach or a new staff?

Question: Can Briarcrest upset MUS and knock them out of going to the playoffs? Your thoughts.

I was at that game and from what we were told it was a significant injury. While I would have liked for the game to be completed I think it was the right decision to end it in the 3rd quarter. We were told the injured player's parents were not there and he needed immediate medical attention. I know if my son was 200 miles from home and was injured that badly I would hope that football would be second on the coaches minds. So while I have questioned some of the Briarcrest coached decisions this season I agree with how they handled this unfortunate situation. Briarcrest had a player break his collar bone in the first half. My prayers go out to the injured player and wish him a speedy and full recovery.

I totally agree with you, as that is what we have going on at Briarcrest. Too many 140 pound sophomores playing ahead of 200 pound plus seniors all because the coaches are afraid of the underclassmen parents. It is really sad that the parents there have way too much influence on who plays and what coaches weren't hired.

In my opinion, Father Ryan is a very good team. They beat us with their second string quarterback. I was very impressed with them on both sides of the ball. They are fortunate to have their new coach as they are much improved, unlike us. Also I was very impressed with their fans. They were very friendly and gracious winners over Briarcrest. I appreciate their attitude and congratulate them on a fine year so far and wish them the best of luck the rest of the year. I do hope they make the playoffs and go far.

It is not Coach Freeze's fault Ole Miss is so bad this year. When he left Briarcrest two years ago we were state champions. He is a great offensive mind and a very good coach. He can also coach girls basketball. Briarcrest won several girls state championships under Coach Freeze. One of his girls teams was ranked 9th in the country by USA Today at one time.

Eric Watson is a very fast and slippery running back. He ran all over Briarcrest. John Michael Skinner is a very good quarterback and doesn't seem to make a lot of mistakes. I haven't seen MUS this year, but they don't seem to be as good as they have been the past two years. I think CBHS will win this game.

With the Saints headed into the last four games of the season, what are people's thoughts on the coach and what should be done with the program?

Big Mike is a great kid and was a great player the Saints. It is one time that Briarcrest did the right thing football-wise. Not that they have done anything right football-wise in the last two years, since Coach Freeze left for Ole Miss.

They have a lot of issues, none of which will be solved until after the season is over.

Treadwell may be the worst team in TN, but Briarcrest is right there with them. When are they going to fire their coach? How do you go from state champs two years ago to one of the worst teams around?