LMitch

South Doyle had injuries also - 1st & 2nd team QBs were hurt for starters.

I just want to add my two cents worth. I have never posted to a message board before - but when I learned of this one and some of the things that have been said, I thought it time to do so. As a parent, I am very pleased with the coaches at South-Doyle. I am a parent who told my son when he was in 8th grade that I would not allow him to play football because of the behavior I was seeing out the previous head coach of the program. I am very pleased with the teaching of my son on and off the field by this head coach and his assistants. Jonathan wasn't always a starter! He wanted to quit the summer before his sophmore year. Through the efforts of the coaches as well as my wife and I, he stuck with it. He became a better player, person, and is now (in my unbiased opinion) a fine young man. I think the coaches contributed to that. The life lessons taught are invaluable. Yes, these coaches were there when tragedy struck our family. Yes, they were there at the hospital when his mom died and again after his injury during the probable season-ending surgery (after midnight after a tough game). If they didn't care about him as a person, they wouldn't have been there for that surgery- after all, he most likely wasn't going to be back on the field. In my view, this team has gotten a little better every year under this coaching staff. A culture is not typically easily or quickly changed. As I watch the games, the team progresses during the season. Of course, the team will have very disappointing down games (Powell this year) - but speaking as a 20 year coach of different youth sports, I have learned that every season there are games like that. You never know why - it just happens, even if the coach did everything the same or better. But I have learned to teach the players to keep on going and next week will be better. And sometimes, the next week after the horrible game, you pull the great upset (Central). And then, some day when real tragedy strikes - your mom dies, or you suffer a season ending injury - you know the sun will come up tomorrow, you will persevere, and still be a contributing member of society. The really great thing about sport is that it teaches valuable life lessons. Even within a game the lessons are taught. I've seen Jonathan make a really bone-headed play, only to return the next series and make a great play. Sometimes it works the other way - lest we get too big-headed, after the great play we sometimes make the critical mistake. But through it all you NEVER give up! Yes, I like this coaching staff. I look forward to Jonathan's little brothers, Caleb and Sam, playing for them. Every Friday night, I'm sitting about halfway up on the north 40-45 yardline if you want to talk about it. Lynn Mitchell Father of #6, Jonathan Mitchell Proverbs 3:5-6