Aurorasports

That is a final score. Great Game Chiefs!!!

You've got to be joking !!! And why on earth would you want to remind the fans who are giving such positive support and the boys on the team who are playing their guts out, about the most tumultuous week in the history of Sequoyah athletics?

Anyone think its time to move this "discussion" back to the Sequoyah thread? GP must be dumbfounded at the hornet's nest that our game with them has stirred up in our own ranks.

I don't know where I found this, but we used to read it as part of our pregame prayers before Little League games: Athletes Prayer God, let me play well but fairly. Help me to learn something that matters once the game is over. Let competition make me strong but never hostile. Always let me help my opponent up. Never catch me rejoicing in the adversity of others. If I know victory, allow me to be happy; if I am denied, keep me from envy. Remind me that sports are just games. If through athletics I set an example, let it be a good one. [/size] - Gregg Easterbook Via beliefnet.com

The kids and the parents were the lucky ones to have you as a coach that really was in it for the boys for 8 years. I'll never forget one evening when some of the Juniors were still throwing and kicking the ball around after practice. One of the kids jumped over the fence in front of us to retrieve an errant throw. After he threw the ball back in, you looked back at the kids still on the field and said "God I love these boys!" Because of your leadership and positive attitude, this team went to every game thinking they were going to win (even though they didn't win many). And you taught them to play fair and be good sports whether they won or lost the game. Thanks for being such a good example of a "parent" coach!

My sentiments exactly. As respects "Life ain't fair....", in his second Cutter year my son was moved from QB (which he had played since he was a Cricket) to a fullback/runing back. He was so upset that he said he was going to quit the team. I told him that if he was going to quit, he had to go out onto the practice field, by himself, and tell the coaches AND his teammates that he was quitting. He asked me to do it for him, but I told him no. Within 5 minutes, he put on his uniform and went out to the practice field. I never heard another word about quitting after that. Once he was told that the team needed him in this position because of his size and speed, he settled in and put all his effort into his new role and eventually loved it. This was his first lesson in the "Life ain't fair.." rule and he became a better team player because of it. IMOP team sports should build character as well as athletes.

Very good point. I have never been a coach but have been involved in various aspects of our Youth League since my son started playing as a Cricket and my daughter started Cheerleading the next year. I have seen alot of kids being pushed by their parents to play. Some of them are crying as Mom or Dad is putting their practice uniform on and shoving them out onto the practice field. These are also the parents who hang aroung and watch practices, yell at their kids from the side of the practice field, thereby distracting them from the coaches instruction and then get upset when their sons do not do well and/or sit onthe sidelines during games because thei kids 1. Are afraid to hit or get hit 2. Don't understand the game or 3. Football may just not be their sport. On the flip side, I have seen boys who really want to play and could really be an asset to the team, whose parents either can't of won't take the time to get their kid to practice or games. I am proud to say our league makes every effort to get these kids to practice and/or games with either coaches or team parents picking them up and taking them home. We (and I am sure other leagues) also have Hardship Waivers if parents can't afford to pay the fees and we keep a tub of slighty used cleats of all sizes for kids to use if their parents can't afford them (kids usually grow out of the cleats every year at this age). Parent's can help their kids out more by contributing to the operation of the league, whether it is donating last year's cleats, distributing uniforms, being a team mom/dad, working in the concession stand, running chains, helping plan homecoming activities, do fundraising or offering to be a Board Member or Committee chairperson. Too often it is the same small group of people doing these jobs year after year while the rest of the parents sit on the sidelines. If these parents don't get involved, then they shouldn't complain about how things are run. My apologies for the length of this post, but having been there and still doing that (even though both of my kis are now in high school), it feels good to get these thoughts onto a forum where it might do some good. Parent's, PLEASE, ask a Board Member or a Committee person what you can do to help.

I believe the new 2008 Rules of the Sequoyah Conference changed the starting time of the Cricket games to 4:00, instead of 3:00 . Was the new time changed at the Certification Meeting or some other meeting or is it just a Madisonville time change?

How does that work? Does each team play a quarter or sets of downs with each team or do two teams play each other for an entire scrimmage. What time(s) will we be playing?

I agree that we should start another thread. Let's get the politics off this thread and instead use it for promoting/commenting on the return of unity, hard work and accomplishments (or constructive criticism) of this team. Although most of them had not other alternative, these new and returning players have chosen to come back to a team that has unknown coaches, unkown game plans and renewed bickering between the Vonore and Madisonvilee factions (the majority of these boys DON'T CARE which town they are from-they just want to play football!!!!). Let's use this thread to support and encourage these brave players who are showing the character mentioned previously.

SKS reports that there were about 36 there tonight, including the key players who were undecided and the 3 possible transfers. There are still a few non-starters who have not come back out yet. Coach Connors is coaching offensive and defensive lines, at least for now. Apparently they worked on a different offense today. Does anyone who was there tonight or has talked to Coach Satterfield in the last 2 weeks have any idea what he is thinking and why he would change what was working?

SKS received a call last night from a "bench" player from a rival school (to be unnamed for now). He and two others are considering transferring to Sequoyah and are meeting at "conditioning" this evening for a tour of the our facility and to talk to other players and whichever coaches are there (Coach Satterfield is on a preplanned vacation this week). The boy he spoke to is home-schooled and says he runs a 4.7 40. Don't know if the other 2 are home schooled, but supposedly have speed also. One of them is a former Vonore Little League player. They are considering this move because "they just want to play football" and are willing to work really hard to be given the opportunity. Will let you all know how it goes when he comes home. /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

That is correct. Coach Satterfield also told me that yesterday. SKS was told his name, but has since forgotten it. Apparently he went to UT for 4 years, went to the Titans and his career ended when he blew out his knee. I think coach is interviewing him today.

I am also very proud of the stand that the boys took last Thursday (although my son was away at UT Camp). It's very unusual for a group of teenagers to stick together as a team to support the coaches that they trusted, respected and considered part of their football family, instead of worrying about "what will the new coach, the parents and the administration think of ME, if I go along with the group". My son had phone calls and texts all weekend from teammates, "adopted" dads and ex-coaches from most of the sports he has played. And then there were all the differing newspaper articles and even the TV news report. He was so confused by Saturday night that he didn't even want to talk about it any more. Last night was decision time: go to weightlifting this morning and meet with Coach Satterfield or explore other options. Several phone calls and texts from his closest teammates late last night (during my "I think this is what you should do speech") helped him make the choice to continue at Sequoyah. Thank you to the parents of these boys (and you know who you are) for helping them make the decision to go back as a group. The boys met with Coach Satterfield after weightlifting this morning and, to his credit, Coach told them that he respected them for their actions last Thursday. My son says he seems like a good guy. Coach asked them to help get some of the other players to return. This seems like a rather tall order for an almost 16 year old, but he has already made some calls because he believes it's for the good of the TEAM. I am still very angry about the way things went down last week. These young men should never been put in a position to have to make these decisions at their age. I can only hope that the School Board will review every aspect of the staffing of coaches for the entire County, so that nothing like this ever tears apart any athletic team again. I am extremely proud of the boys who went back this morning and hope that most of the others will follow. This team made so much progress last year and I have faith that they will come out of this adversity with a renewed hunger to show that they will win (alot!!) or lose on the field based upon their own REUNITED efforts, using what they learned last year and the additional knowledge that they will hopefully be given this year. Time to focus on beating those Cats. GO CHIEFS!

Does anyone have any idea what is planned as far as "conditioning" next week? Are the boys (presuming some of them will be back out there) supposed to show up for weightlifting in AM on M,W,F and drills at 6:00 T,T? Or are they taking the week off until the dust settles and there are some actual coaches to supervise?

I was really shocked and sickened when I read this. It's taken me a good 15 minutes to compose myself to respond. I have only been in Vonore for 10 years, so I was not here when the High School closed. I know nothing about Mr. Satterfield except what has been written on this thread. I am disgusted that the Madisonville/Vonore thing has reared its ugly head again. I really thought that issue had been buried last year and that we had finally come together for the sake of the boys. According to my son, none of the players care where they came from. They have kept on working hard since Coach Summey was fired, except that there was "less tension" at the practices with Coach Gregory, et. al. continuing to work on the conditioning, strength and plays that were initiated last year. These boys really respected Coach G., hence the letter to Mr. Lowry with all their signatures (which was thought up and written by a senior player, not a parent!). I don't think hiring Coach Satterfield would have been so bad. Not many of them even know who he is except what they were told by their parents. But to have the entire rest of the coaching staff resign because of this hiring (and it is pretty obvious that Mr. Lowry had to know this would happen) is going to devestate most of this football team. I can only hope that Mr. Lowry and "Coach" Satterfield have the sense to do whatever it takes to get some, if not all of these assistants to sign back on, so these kids don't feel like they have to start over after a year of hard work and tremondous progress. Talk about pulling the rug out from under them!!

Does anyone know what time the Red/White game is tomorrow?

Does anyone know when the Lift-a-thon for the baseball players will be held?

Do any of you know if there is any truth to the rumor that was going around school on Monday that the JV games for the rest of the year have been cancelled?

Would any of you who attended Coach Summey's 22nd meeting regarding Middle School football, please give us a report.

The November Booster Club meeting has been changed to Monday, November 19th. Reminder from the President, need to turn in Reverse Raffle tickets soon and we still need door prizes. The RR dinner is November 3rd. Contact a Board member if you have any door prizes to offer.

For Chiefs fans planning the trip to Howard, address for internet directions is 2500 S Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37408. Should take 1 1/2 hours (less if you drive "75" on I75). GO CHIEFS!

Booster Club meetings are usually on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. Next meeting is November 20, 2007. Reverse Raffle dinner is November 3rd at 7:00 pm, also in the Cafeteria. Contact a Booster Club officer if you want to buy a ticket (if anyone needs details on this or wants to join the Club, please post a note and I will respond privately) I am sending a reminder email to all the Booster Club members now.

Big doings at Sequoyah Friday night!!! Bean supper from 4:00 to 6:00 in the cafeteria. $5.00 for beans, slaw and cornbread. Proceeds to benefit football & baseball. Come eat before the game and then join the tailgating party in progress for camraderie. It is also Football Homecoming night. And last, but not least THE GAME-can the boys make it 3 wins in a row?!?! /hungry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":hungry:" border="0" alt="hungry.gif" /> GO CHIEFS

Chiefs Supporters Needed: Booster Club meeting Tuesday, October 16, 7:00 pm in Cafeteria.