BumblebeeTuna

Well, it would appear, this thread has symbolically died along with our hope for a clean, fair process at RW. Coach, I'm sorry it didn't work out. We've been trying. BTW, if we find out we have spent all this time on here and you didn't apply, we're going to have words. To any school out there looking for a top-notch, class guy - Mike Woodward - 542-(just kidding). Farewell thread and good luck to Coach Woodward and his staff and Coach Shuman and his staff. 05 Raptors signing off.

I'm not sure how this became a Hillsboro thread, but I guess it's symbolic that the thread dealing with the RW football search would deteriorate. If you could take that back to the Hillsboro thread it would be nice. I just want to say (in case it isn't already obvious) that I am very disappointed in this process. We want to hold ourselves up as one of the premier schools in the premier region in the state and yet when it comes time to find a new leader for the flagship athletic program, it is shown to be a farce. It is quite obvious that Vaden wanted Shuman from the time Coach Rector shut the door to her office. Dr. Vaden, it's bad enough that you want to hand over the reins to the wrong person, but to take the easy way out rather than hold yourself to a higher standard like you always expected us to - that's cowardly.

WHY would she want to eliminate him!? That's what's totally eluding me here. He's an excellent teacher (ask the math dept at RW), he's great with players, he's great with coaches, he's great with parents. What's the deal?

That's why we need the parents to step up here and let Vaden know, because she is totally clueless here. I'm not a parent, I just know from my experience that I'd rather have Woodward lead the program. If Woody's not a finalist that's on her as much as not giving him the job if he is a finalist. I'm not sure what your point is.

I have no issue with Vaden making the final decision. I agree that parents and boosters are more important to the program's success than the principal, but the final decision should be hers. My issue is this - if Wooward interviewed (and I don't even know if he did) and didn't make the final round, then something's fishy in Raptorland. If he was a finalist and she didn't pick him - fine - I'll agree to disagree. But there is NO WAY there are 4 people better suited to run the program. My hunch, assuming that what kerplunk said is true about the commitee, is that the commitee wanted him (and maybe other(s)) as a finalist and she didn't. THAT I would have a problem with.

No offense Rappy, but you are mistaken. Coach Daniels was the spread guy and Coach Woodward was the OC when he was there. While Coach Shuman had a lot of input, Woodward was calling the offense when we were there.

Let me answer this one for you. They would pick the guy wearing blue and white now.

I fear you are right and, if so, it is a sad day for Raptor football. As for the teaching part, Coach Woodward is a great teacher. As for football, he was, basically, Coach Rector??™s asst. HC when he was there and no one is more perfect to lead the program than him. Nothing big against Coach Shuman, but he isn??™t Woodward. Not even close. I got on the phone and talked to several people in the RW community this afternoon and most were shocked to find out that Woodward??™s not one of the finalist. I think a lot of people just assumed he was next in line. There are going to be some very upset people in the community when this becomes official. This isn??™t a knock on Coach Aydelott or Blade, either. They are, I??™m sure, very fine coaches, but they aren??™t ours. Woody is ours and we want him. I know he and Vaden didn??™t part on the best of terms, but she should really put her ego and personal feelings aside and do what's right for the program, the school, and the community. Isn??™t that what leaders do? Someone with brain cells in the front office is going to snatch him up and it??™s going to be Antioch AND RW??™s loss. Whatever happens, good luck Coach. On behalf of your former players and the community - thank you for all you did for us, and if this went down the way I suspect it probably did, we're sorry - for you and for us.

Happier at Antioch than he would be at RW?! Not sure I get that. Blade's been a head coach for 2 or 3 years. How is that a lot of experience?

OK, I have never posted here, but this forced me to. If the names offtackle posted are correct and Crazy Vaden hires Shuman, the big 3 in that region will become the big 2 because RW is going to plunge into the mediocrity that is Cent. and Indy. My question is this, why did no other former Rector staff members apply and if they did why the ___ is Shuman on the list and they aren't. I can't imagine that Woodward wouldn't want out of that paradise that Antioch must be. If he applied and didn't make the cut and Shuman did, Vaden truly has a football IQ of about 7. Offtackle, I hope you are wrong or my alma mater is in serious trouble.