Actual Eagle Fan

Quit saying you. I've already told you with 100% certainty that I AM NOT COACH BINKLEY and wouldn't want to be him thanks to folks like you. I guarantee I didn't lose those games you're talking about because I have never coached a game in my life and don't plan on it. I do not know the record with one hundred percent certainty, so I will not post a random number like you do. I will, however, say that to be at 500 you would have to win 14 games out of 28 per year. I can only think of one, maybe two seasons that VBHS hasn't won at least 14 games in a season out of the last 7 years. This year we're at something like 20 out of 29 games. Years like this put that percentage well over 500. Even though your math is not better at least you did put reasons for your opinion that coaching lost a game. As I have already said I think you're putting players down is terribly tacky. Respond to the folks here without putting down players. You never answer anyone's questions directly. You simply repeat the same old same old time after time. It's getting a little old. I must have hit a nerve with the statement you must be a family member of a player or a high school kid yourself because you failed to respond. I'll take that as my answer.

I can't answer that question because I am NOT Coach Binkley. If you read my posts you would have figured that out. I told you I'm not a parent, I'm not a player and I'm not a coach. I am someone who is fed up with folks running down high school girls and Coaches for their own personal gain. If you look at my post again you'll find that I said I wouldn't want to coach because I couldn't put up with folks like Bird 33 knowing how much time and effort it took with few rewards. The point was that I think his/her negativity is hurting the team. As I've said before I don't think anything is confidential and I don't know where you guys get your information but job openings in teaching positions don't come up in March and April. If you don't believe me take a look at the Van Buren website or newspaper. I did and didn't see any job listings. I think the girls and Coach B did an exceptional job and Coach Amy helped. If Bird 33 thinks this years team's success was all due to Coach Amy and not a combination of the three then why didn't Coach Amy keep them from losing those games that coaching lost, Bird 33? Just curious? I think the burning question is, "What's your problem Bird 33?" Either you are a family member of a girl who is not satisified with playing time or you're just a high school kid yourself. I think it is ridiculous that all of these questions of Coach Binkley's return are hinged on statements made by someone who posts things like Bird 33 has posted. No one else has said Coach Amy and Coach Binkley aren't coming back.

Now, not only are you a mathematics whiz that pulls winning percentages out of thin air, you're a fortune teller too. I checked the board's web site and there are NO job postings of positions available. I don't know where you get your information but apparently its not public knowledge. I have checked his percentage and it is over 500, which is much more than we can say for any other girl's coaches at VBHS in any recent years. I don't care who the coach is but I think the more you run your mouth the less likely that IF the position does come open we'll find someone willing to fill it that will put in the effort and stick around. I can't imagine putting the time it requires for so little money and having to listen to wise guys like you not only bash me but talk about my players online. I know I wouldn't want that job. Maybe you do but then again you probably don't have the education required to apply for the position. It's hard enough to read other schools putting down your players but when your hometown folks do it, it's just plain embarrassing. This is especially true when they are like you sounding like a broken record. If you want to say it is the coach's fault our team lost a game, fine, but back it up with facts. Don't say he lost the MTCS game and not give a reason for your opinion. I say he did not lose that game but our program did as a whole. We got in foul trouble and we didn't hit crucial foul shots in the second half. See how easy it is. Voice an opinion and give a reason. Don't bash coaches and players based on your personal feelings.

I just wanted to let you know if you want your daughter to play AAU many places have open try out dates to get on a team. There are some that take place in Cookeville. If you look on Coach T, he will also post about such dates. You do not have to have "connections" to get on a team. I'm sure if you ask around someone will let you know and like I said read on Coach T and he will inform you of nearby places with openings. Most kids I know on AAU teams are invited by coaches of teams who have seen them play. As for the open gym, etc. TSSAA has rules about when you can and cannot practice and that is one of the reasons girls cannot be forced to come to open gyms. Many of them also have other committments, volleyball, softball,etc. As for the boys in open gym, have your daughter to play with them. I guarantee she'll get better no matter what the rest of the girls do. Coach Pat Head Summitt makes her girls practice with boy partners to get better and I personally think she knows more about women's basketball than anyone. As for what is happening with positions, I have no idea and I'm sure no one else knows anything official; if they say they do I'm sure their speculating. Any school board will not do hiring, firing, or repositioning until summer. That goes for any where unless there is an immediate vacancy. Teacher/Coaches contracts are signed in summer. The School Board meetings are always posted in the newspaper. I do not know when the next one will be but I imagine if you called the Newspaper they could tell you, but as I said they don't do new hiring until summer. As for my prior comment about Coach Russell's job, I only meant that she did not have the duties/responsibilities of a head coach. I was responding to the fact that Bird 33 kept talking about how wonderful she would be as a head coach and I'm not saying she wouldn't but what was he/she basing it on? Once again I mean this in no slant to Coach Amy. The girls love her but has she ever had to discipline them, make them run or cut back playing time? If that were to happen would Bird 33's position be the same as well as some others who have posted? It's real easy to think the grass is greener on the other side but after we get there it's usually not. Besides, as previously stated she can't be unless she is a full time teacher at the school so why bring it up? Right now, those girls need to keep their heads up, be working out and getting ready for next year. Let the board worry about the Coaches. Players are ultimately responsible for themselves just like all individuals are. If a player wants to get better they will. I agree they need guidance in coaching but a good dose of hard work and desire will take them a long way on their own. You girls can do anything YOU WANT TO DO!

First of all I have not said anything against Coach Amy and bashed anyone with the exception of possibly whoever Bird 33 is. I apologize to HER if she may have read my post and thought that. If you look back at my previous post to get YOUR facts straight, I said I believe Coach Amy did a wonderful job. I truly applaud anyone who so freely gives of their time to help kids especially when it does not involve their own children but just out of their love for kids and sports. So, thank you Coach Amy. I also never accused her of missing games or open gym. If you read my post it said with her employment situation it would be impossible to make 3 p.m. practices and be on that bus to RIDE with the girls to the games. When you are a coach you have to be the first in the gym and the las one out and be able to be at the school if problems arise, for scheduling, etc. I have personally asked those involved with the team and at the school and as far as they know Coach Amy is welcome back with open arms in the voluntary capacity if she so desires. Bird 33 is the one that started the speculation and strife by accusing the Coach and school officials of not hiring her back when she was never hired in the first place. Everything she does is as a volunteer and makes her more special in my book. The bottom line is this, it does not matter what TSSAA policy is it cannot supercede additiional rules of the Board. Coach Amy CANNOT be a full time paid coach in Van Buren County unless she is a full time teacher. It is absolutely ridiculous to keep trying to stir that up no matter what your feelings are about the current coach. Bird 33 has in my opinion hurt the team no matter who the Coach is by causing rumors, insulting specific players and the Coach. He/She has sounded like a broken record, Hire Amy Russell, Talk to the Board, etc. when this cannot happen. The season is over it is time to start fresh. We need to quit speculating and start supporting. Coach Binkley or whoever the head coach is good luck this year. Coach Amy I hope to see you on the bench supporting our athletes. Girls work hard in the offseason and please do not listen to all of these nasty rumors. Bird 33 grow up!

This is my very first post I usually only read what everyone else has to say but I'm very put off by all of the speculations that have arisen. I would also like to respond to some very specific comments made by Bird 33. First of all, you use some funny math for your percentage. Most years our girls ball team does not play 30 games and there have been very few years if any that we haven't won at least 14 games and years like this one that we won 20. So by my calculations Coach Binkley is over 500. I would also like to point out that we had some great wins this year. For instance, beating Celina for the first time since the 1970's, beating Forest the defending state champs and making it to the second round of regional tournament. Way to go Coach B and girls. Another belief you seem to have is that to be a good coach you have to be a good player. How about Coach Roy Whited who led the White Co. Warriors to state titles and never even played high school ball much less college? Or is he not good either Bird 33? As for the speculations about Coach Amy, I have some problems with several of the things you have said. Coach Amy has done a wonderful job this year with team building and motivation which was her role. Coach Amy has not run any of the practices or game plans to the best of my knowledge. Once again no offense to Coach Amy but you don't know what she is or is not capable of you are basing your opinion on the "warm fuzzy" feelings she has worked on with the girls not basketball. It is also silly to speculate that she could be head coach. I have done some research and being a substitute is not a full time board employee and therefore could not be a full time coach. Coach Amy has a great, full time job with the Federal Gov't., I do not think she would give that up to coach. There is NO WAY that she could continue that job and Coach. Her work schedule would not allow her to make 3:00 practices and to be on that bus with those girls to head out for EVERY away game. There are plenty of games that our bus leaves right after school or earlier. I do not think Coach Amy can make it from her job in Chattanooga to handle that schedule. As for if Coach B is going any where or not all of you are just speculating. No one knows who may be retiring, resigning and/or not rehired by the Van Buren Board and until those jobs are posted this summer all of you are just guessing. Why not just wait and see what happens instead of starting rumors? Furthermore, a Coach is just a Coach. The rest is in the hands of the players and no offense to the players, but are you working as hard as you can? Are you playing AAU in the off season? Are you working out on your own? Are you going to Open Gym? Bird 33 seems to think that you are because everything is the Coach's fault. Girls, I do applaud you for a great season and I can't wait to yell for you next season no matter what the situation. I'll be there cheering you on, not yelling about the Coach and complaining about you, because I am an Actual Eagle Fan not a disgruntled parent.