ELA

Hey... I'm an outsider too, even though I have lived here for two years. I agree with your logic, but the folks here don't really think that way and it is their school system. I think the decision to consolidate has been made in the minds of many, but no one will come out and say it publicly in an election year! Small town politics keeps things very interesting. These are good people who just want what is best for the county! They are afraid to make too many decisions that upset their constituents, so they waffle a little (in the public's eyes) even though they know the right course of action to take. I wish they would vote on the new school colors and mascot next month, but who am I to push the issue?

For those of you who have been asking... here is the new football website: http://www.celina.i8.com/ We will continue to update it as the weeks go by...

EDWARD... you may be right about the money, but remember HS is a part of Clay County and the school board controls everything, including access to all funds! When the County Commission voted to fund the new county high school, they told the school board how they expected the money to be spent. We may not always like our "marching orders" but we do have to fall in line and march to the beat. I respect the rights of everyone in the county, but I do think we are too small, and too poor, to fund two high schools when counties twice our size only have one high school to fund! I think it is just as far for people in the Eastern part of the county to drive to the new high school as it is for those from HS? [Edited by ELA on 7/19/02 11:19A]

Some have asked about the Bulldogs 2002 website. Well it's not much to see (yet), but here is the location: http://www.celina.i8.com/ It contains pictures of most of the team and will have more added in the days and weeks to come.

In NCAAA Division I and I-AA... no football team will even miss a few thousand dollars (of the millions they make every week) to be sent to the women's softball team. If the cost of tuition goes up 3-4% over a ten year span to help fund women's sports, so be it (it is the cost of doing business). Football and basketball are the only sports that make large sums of money at most colleges and high schools in America. Does that mean we should do away with all of the sports that don't cover their budget? Things have worked out well over the last thirty years with only a few problems. I don't hear many people complaining about this at the national level. It is just a fact of life in todays society.

Some of us teach this game and coach because we love the game. It is not about OUR careers... it is about the kids! I have seen young men stop using drugs, stop getting drunk every weekend, and turn their lives around because of one thing... the love of football! It is about more than winning games, it is a sport that can teach you a lot about life! That is why I coach, not for state championships, not to read my name in the Sunday paper... simply for the kids! Coaches who think like I do will coach anywhere there is a need and someone is willing to pay us a salary that we can live on. IN point of fact, where I coach, my salary is lower than the RBS head coach! Not everyone in the world is driven by the all mighty dollar. Most of us who get into education do it for a lot of reasons that do not directly involve money.

EGO... We do agree on one thing... the COWBOYS! I grew up just down the road from Dallas and I have been a life long Cowboy fan. Of course, I remember the days when Dandy Don played QB, and as a kid I went to the games to see Roger throw the ball! The main reason football will never be shut out is because it is the largest money maker of all the college and high school sports. I don't really care about swimming teams, but that is just me. The last two schools I worked at always took money from the football budget and gave it to women's sports ($1500-3500 a year) and we just learned to live with it! We also allowed women to join the team even though we did have a volleyball team (none of them lasted through the end of the summer). Girl's Soccer (in the larger schools) takes away the better kickers, so that rules out a few who would kick (like the girl from Dickson County a counple of years ago). You must look at what TITLE IX has done for women's sports. You take the good with the bad, but to say it is bad because some men have been forced to live without a few dollars... well the ladies have a saying for you. I was lucky to have two healthy boys, but if I had two daughters, I would have wanted them to enjoy athletics just like my boys! I believe in equity! Osama Bin Laden would not like TITLE IX, but of course he pours gas on women and sets them on fire. In public education, we educate the wealthy and the poor. We don't turn away those with special needs, and we try to make sure everyone gets a chance to participate in sports. It is not always just about winning! Sometimes it is about being there! [Edited by ELA on 7/19/02 9:14A]

DOGPOUND... I agree, but you will note that there was no public discussion about the name change, and the vote was made by the School Board at the end of the meeting. I wish they would put together a committee of students, parents, teachers, and coaches to discuss the matter, and to bring suggestions back to the school board for their approval. It seems like a good idea, but that doesn't mean anyone will listen.

It is my understanding that Girl's Vollyball is the fall equal to Men's football. Most people really don't understand TITLE IX. It has three main parts... equal pay for coaches of female sports, percentages for funding requirements, and equal access of allocations for the percentage of females attending the institutions. It applies more to college but can be examined at the high school level. Let me turn it around... I have allowed girls on my football teams in the past! I have no problem with TITLE IX.

I have no problem with affirmative action or Title IX! I think we are seeing womens sports explode across the nation because of Title IX funding! I have always been in favor of a total split between public and private schools because of my background (Texas). It has always been split there, so for me, it is a natural. Having said that... Panfan and I came to an agreement about a year ago that the multiplier (used in several states) may be a better solution in Tennessee than a total split? The only reason I offer it as a possibility (something I didn't favor two years ago) is because of my discussions with private school supporters like Panfan who think it is an honest adjustment to make. You and Volunteer General seem to be the only private school supporters who don't like it and I'm sure there will be others who see your side of the argument. I hope that clears up any questions I have failed to answer. As a moderator on the football board and girls basketball boards, I find myself scan reading more and more, looking for improper posts, not always reading for pleasure. I hope that clears that up for you.

EGO... I still don't have a clue about what question wasn't answered? I don't read every word in every post, so forgive me if I haven't answered your questions. As I have stated, football is my passion, that is why I spend so much time on this website. My problems aren't unique, but they are a part of being a high school coach. My feelings about public/private issues dates back to the years when I didn't coach against private schools! It is not personal for me... I just think the current system is going to change! We can either be a part of the change, or watch it happen from the sidelines. I would rather be a positive part of the change if I can!

Thanks CoachT... well said.

systemic Pronunciation: sis-'te-mik Function: adjective Date: 1803 : of, relating to, or common to a system : as a : affecting the body generally b : supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery c : of, relating to, or being a pesticide that as used is harmless to the plant or higher animal but when absorbed into its sap or bloodstream makes the entire organism toxic to pests (as an insect or fungus) [Edited by ELA on 7/18/02 9:02A]

In answer to your comments about the Metro athletes, I've seen some of what you are talking about. Teams loaded with great speed and athletic ability but no willingness to work together as a team. Metro and inner city schools have very unique problems that require a special kind of coaching staff (APPLES and ORANGES TO SMALL RURAL SCHOOL). "Systemic" is a business term that is used to define problems that are innate within the "system" or structure of an organization. I am one of only two head football coaches who posts on this web-site on a regular basis. I think many more read and enjoy looking at this site and I have no doubt that many others post without anyone knowing who they are or from what school they work at. My goal in talking about small school problems is to encourage other coaches to join in the discussion. Every profession has problems like mine and far too often we fail to "talk through" our problems. I agree with your analogy about talking to kids and encouraging them to work harder, I have done this for over 12 years! Don't assume I don't do certain things just because I don't post them on this site. We use a point system at my school to encourage kids to show up for weight training with rewards for those who score the most points. The real problem with small school athletics is you don't have large numbers of athletes to "push" each other players at key positions (systemic). At a large high school (by the way, I have worked at 5A, 4A, 3A, and middle schools before taking this job at a small 1A school) you could have five talented TB's who could fill a niche, therefore, everyone has to work hard to compete for the position. At a small school you don't always have those numbers, therefore, when a kid looks around to "size up" the situation, he may think to himself, "who is going to take my place if I don't work hard this summer?" I try to show them the "big picture" but you can't force SOME kids to work hard if they choose to be lazy! Every professional coaching class I have ever attended addressed much of what we are discussing in these threads. WORK ETHICS are not easily taught, in fact, most are learned over years of personal growth. Most teenagers don't have a clue about what it takes to succeed in life, therefore, their days are filled with video games, cell phones, and fast cars! Others are too busy trying to hold down a part time job to pay the car note and/or insurance. If a kid isn't starting by the time he starts driving a car, you may loose him all together unless he really loves the game and being a part of the team. These are problems every coach knows and deals with on a daily basis! We just don't make it a habit of talking about them to the general public! [Edited by ELA on 7/18/02 9:12A] [Edited by ELA on 7/18/02 9:15A]

I don't even like to hear the word, consolidation, but there are some things in the world that we can't prevent... like taxes going up!

Today, we had all but three of our kids in weight training! Even all of the "coon hunters" were present. They play because they love the game, or because they like to be a part of something special on campus, but not for me, or my rules. I simply try to live by the established TSSAA rules and ethics governing this sport. I love this game and it is my driving passion! I work year round to be a better football coach and I think I know where to draw the lines! It is hard for some of you guys to talk about being a coach when you have never been a head coach. Even when I was an assistant coach, I thought I knew exactly how to do things "the right way," but things look a lot differently when you carry the clip board and wear the whistle. In my 45 years of life, I have found that to be true in almost every thing! In regards to fundrasing... most school boards have policies limiting fund rasining efforts to those approved each year by the board, or DIRECTOR of SCHOOLS. I have to submit a form for every bus trip, and fund rasing program that takes place. The DIRECTOR can stop or eliminate any fund raising program he doesn't like for any reason! That is the reality of life in public education all across Tennessee. [Edited by ELA on 7/17/02 10:50P]

Some kids are driven to better themselves. That drive comes from seeing others lead the way before them, or through watching their parents or other role models do the same. Others simply don't have the drive, but... may in fact, be great physical athletes none-the-less. Not everyone is driven by the same desires! I've seen hundreds of great athletes who hated the weight room and yet excelled (to a point) without it; whereas, I know of other athletes who worked their "buns off" for years to just earn a starting spot on the team. SELF MOTIVATION is one of the greatest things in life, but very few teenagers have it! I wish the rules weren't set up this way, but they are! We must all learn to play by the rules.

TSSAA HANDBOOK - SENIOR DIVISION BYLAWS - Article III Open Facilities: A school may open its facilities to all students in their school and coaches may serve in a supervisory capacity only. No practice schedules may be followed, the facilities must be open to everyone in the school, and coaches may serve in a supervisory capacity only. Definitions 1. Practice -- Coach and player(s) together with instruction, teaching, coaching, etc. going on. 2. Open facilities -- Coach serves in supervisory capacity only. There is no teaching, no instructions, no coaching, etc. 3. Tournament -- A competition of three or more teams and three or more games, matches, etc., where there is advancement to determine a champion. It is held on successive days with no regular season games being played during the tournament. 4. Dead Period -- No coaching, observing, or contact between coach and players. All indoor facilities of schools must be closed unless approved in writing by the Executive Director. 5. Weight Training/Conditioning Program -- Permitted at all times except during the dead period. During the off-season, it must be open to all students, cannot be required, and must be a program that would benefit all students (not sport specific).

Vol Gen... no one is saying athletes shouldn't work harder, but there are "systemic" walls that are created in some schools. These walls can't be breached unless the administration supports the coaching staff! It's real easy for all of you to talk about a system that you don't know about, rather than being on the ground floor in a small rural school like RBS! I've been trying to tell you that coaching at a private school is different from coaching at a public school! EGO has already proved to us by his statements that summer workouts are "mandatory" in his private school; even though the TSSAA rules forbid this! You guys understand some of "the game" but coaching is a different matter all together. In the real world of rural public schools, you must "play the hand that is dealt to you." Sometimes you can overcome some obsticles, but for the most part, you find yourself stuck for a time! Some programs have a "wealth" of talent and can overcome certain "systemic" disadvtages, whereas others (like RBS) continue to float in mediocrity no matter who owns the title of "head coach." These are not excuses, just facts that are hard to comprehend. EGO, I don't have anything to do with RBS football, in fact, they are a major rival of the school where I work... I just know a little of what they are going through and I don't think a person from a private school can really comprehend all of these problems. By the way... EGO, when I said private schools should just "work a little harder" I was being sarcastic, because that is what you guys have told us for two years!

EGO... it is against the TSSAA RULES! No weight training sessions or summer workouts can be mandatory until the start of the official season! Any coach who makes it mandatory is breaking the rules. The NCAA has the same rules for all of their sports, and every state has some rules about mandatory or guided practice in the off-season! IN Texas, the football coaches aren't allowed to observe their own player in the weight room in the summer!

GoRealEagles... unfortunately, this is the state of football in many small rural school programs. I am lucky to have 90% of my team in weight training this week, but many schools are way down in numbers and having lots of problems with their programs! I wish it were not true, but it is! I don't want to see small schools like RBS lose football because they could have a good team with the right people and support!

Katel... you are correct! The new colors could be GOLD AND WHITE for all I care! If that would make the transition better, I'm all for it! Some have also suggested we call the new team the CLAY COUNTY CARDINALS since our youth football team already goes by that name.

Let's take it one day at a time... but who knows what will happen in Good Ole Clay County! I would think (from the football side of things) it would be preferable to play with the local teams we know (Trousdale, Jackson, York, Baxter, Livingston, Smith Co, etc.) than to be in a region with Goodpasture and D. Lipscomb, but that is putting the horse way ahead of the cart! We will cross that bridge when we come to it! As of right now, there is no official public policy about the merger of the two schools, but like Fish stated, everyone knows it will happen down the road. The question I have is when? Will it force us up a classification, or will we remain in 1A for another round? All I know is that for the next three years (2002-2003-2004) we will still be playing in Region 4-1A! Lord knows we have struggled at this level, much less jumping up to AAA!

There are some guys who take those kinds of jobs! Some are coaches near retirement who want one more challenge before they go out! Others are young energetic coaches who are looking for that first head coaching job! Finally there are guys like me, who have retired from one career, went back to college, coached around the state for a decade before landing a head coaching job at a very small school! There are all kinds of reasons for people taking a cut in pay to take a job like the one at RBS. Monterey wasn't a great program until just a few years ago. Granted... there aren't many success stories of schools being turned around, but it does happen. One thing is for sure, it will take the right coach, and the right group of talent to make the difference. No coach can win without talent!

I too hope RBS keeps football! It is fun to travel to RBS and I am looking forward to week 8 of this year. I hope they find what they need to field a good team.