Team Observer

Mr Observer, I have been to all the games and I have heard the grumblings, but I have not heard anything directed at players. Everything that I have heard had been directed at the WC leader. Maybe you are setting with a different group (getting kinda thin where I am setting). I began going to WC games; the first winning season (under Alexander when Elrod came), and yes the wheels came off when Coach Alexander and Elrod left. That year was hard to understand and here is what makes it that way; there was a godd group of returning players. The next year with basically the same group of players; they had best season in WC history, and then followed that with another good season, and then the WC leader sends the coach packing (*note many parents/players think that the "old" (with respect!!) coach had a lot to do with that turn-around). Whether it is true or not.......or that you agree or not; that is what many think!! ( I do). Has there been too much ill-spirited grumblings?...............that would be a large YES!! So, get up for the Bears...........a win here could salvage much from a down year; after the way we played last week; it can happen!! Mom - I have never questioned that Elrod had a positive effect on the team. He did. He motivated the boys & they wanted to play for him. What I have questioned is the midseason actions of the parents & the effect that all of this has had on the players. Ask them. They know all that has gone on & they hear the negative comments on the sideline. At this point, every WCHS fan has an opinion. Some are good, some are bad, but most need to be left unsaid until after the season. That has been my point all along. There is a time & a place for everything & now is not the time and games are certainly not the place. So, come on Cats show the Bears what you are made of. You can do it!!!

Let me ask you one question, if you do not mind. Have you had a son play for him? Yes. Go figure. I'd bet the only reason your son got to play is because you brown nosed traye aric with booster club money. WC 7, I asked Team Observer that question, because of my sons' experience playing for the man. It was not a good experience! I really feel that TO is not a a parent; he probably wears a whistle (LOL), or is a very close relative. WC must have some good defensive coaches; the defensive game plan was apparently excellent vs Hendersonville. Hendersonville has been scoring on offense well in all games. Ya'll just need to see if he can buy a refresher course on that new offense. Their might be some buyer's remorse on the purchase of that product!! Does anyone know who actually bought that stuff for him? I really had no idea that a coach could or would "buy" a pre-packaged offense; kind of embarrassing if it does not work go Bucs Interesting assumption from WC07 - Of course, you know what they say about assuming. As previously stated, I have supported the Wildcats from the beginning through the very lean years to the better years to the 2-8 year back to the good years & now a down year. To my recollection, there has been only one year as bad as this one where the fans are concerned . . . the 2-8 year. During that year, the fans acted the same - yelling at the coaches & blaming the players with statements like, "if your son would (fill in the blank), we would win. As a parent of someone who has played for WCHS, do I wish it could have been a better football experience? Yes. However, it is not my place to decide who goes or who stays and it sure isn't my place to act like an idiot in the stands. It is my place to support my team through thick & thin. It is my place to yell for the team when they do good & hurt for them when they don't.

Neither Rapid. Just a fan who has been around since the beginning & is embarrassed by the actions of the parents this season. Do I totally agree with everything? No, I don't. Should the coaches be gone? Don't ask me. It's not my decision. I do know that the nonsupport for the coaches has gotten into the boys' heads. Let me ask you one question, if you do not mind. Have you had a son play for him? Yes.

Team "O" You must be a relative or close friend...............WC now listen carefully...........cut your losses!! go Bucs Neither Rapid. Just a fan who has been around since the beginning & is embarrassed by the actions of the parents this season. Do I totally agree with everything? No, I don't. Should the coaches be gone? Don't ask me. It's not my decision. I do know that the nonsupport for the coaches has gotten into the boys' heads.

It seems to me that "iknowsomething" knows nothing. I guess you weren't there when wilson central was first built and they had to seperate the Mount Juliet district, and how both Mount Juliet and Wilson Central were awful. I guess you weren't there when Coach Alexander's wife had premature twins and the medical bills were so great that when Cumberland offered to pay him double the salary of Wilson Central and to pay off the medical bills that had accumilated he did what was best for his family. I guess you didn't see that did you? SO NEXT TIME keep your mouth shut until you get your facts straight. Last time i checked the tennessee vols didn't have a bad season due to a complaining fans. If so, the coaching staff wouldn't have been reconstructed. The parents will complain, however, they are not on the field coaching or making plays. I guess the 08 season should be attributed to the parents for the great support, because without them the team wouldn't be able to play well. I guess that is what mount juliet got this year that made them better. Mount Juliet had the same struggles as us 8 or so years ago, but look at where they are today. And why do you ask? Because of coaching. That is the difference between us and mount juiet is coaching. I am in great support of wilson central. I love our players!! and that is when i look on the website and see an 0-7 record i get upset. our players deserve a better coach and deserve better all around. So maybe you should rethink your previous statement and relize what the true problem is. First - WC07 use your spellcheck. Your lack of spelling is making the entire school look bad. Second -- Give it a rest. Does anyone like the way the season is going? No. Is trashing the coaches doing any good and bringing wins? No. Third -- Remember, Coach Alexander threatened to leave the year before he actually did. Why? Because of the poor excuse of a principal the school had to endure during the early years. Why didn't he leave you ask? There was a meeting in the stands after the season with players, Coach Alexander, the principal & yes, SUPPORTIVE parents. It became very clear then Alexander should stay and the principal should go. He did stay for one more year. Sadly, the principal stayed longer than Alexander. Thank goodness WCHS now has Travis Mayfield! Fourth -- Many of us who are still WCHS fans endured the 0-24 record. Did we scream from the stands at the coaches & the players? NO!! Did we support the team? YES. Fifth -- It is not the fans' job to decide who should go & who should stay. It is the fans' job to support the players on the field & off the field. I have heard there was a meeting to have the coaches fired mid-season. Now, that's going to do a lot of good. I have heard there is a petition going around to have the coaches fired. Another smart move by people mid-season. Do those involved in all of these shenanigans not realize it is having an effect on the morale of the team? Once again, give it a rest. Support your team!!!

Obviously you feel everything lays at the feet of Traye Aric. Does he drop a punt, miss a block, get a penalty called, fumble the ball, etc? I don't think so. If Kerry Collins throws a pick, do you blame Jeff Fisher or Kerry Collins? Kerry Collins. My point is the coaches can do all they can do, but when it comes down to it, they never set foot on the field. A lot of the problems this year are coming from home. If the parents would be more supportive both at home & at the games, the players may have a better attitude. Remember, these are kids & whether parents realize it or not, what they say at home does get into the players heads. If a parent is slamming the coaches & other players at home it carries onto the game field. Parents get your attitudes right. It may surprise you how the attitude of the team will change! As a former player of traye aric, i know exactly where to place the blame. 0-6 isn't due to the players. I was on one of the good teams of traye aric, and let me tell you this. The players on that team, made the plays to win. It was not due to traye aric that the team was any good, it was due to the players. yes, the talent has leveled out at wc. However, the talent is not an 0-6 record. So i would like you to take a seat and remind yourself of what a high school coach is there to do. and that is to win games. In any aspect of football, it doesn't matter how bad your players are, if you cannot win a game then you need to go! Look at any team (Lions, 49ers, tennessee vols) These coaches couldn't win and now they are gone. That is why traye aric should be fired. You did play for WC, but the best I remember you were part of the 2 & 8 year. A year when like this one, perhaps some of the players read about themselves too much in the paper. A year when the players were more interested in "I" rather than "team". Some of that goes on this year. You are correct. The talent has leveled off. Is that the coach's fault? How? He has to do his job with the talent he has (remember - recruiting in high school is against TSSAA rules). With all that said, what would be your solution? Instead of consistently criticizing the coach, offer some suggestions that will carry onto the field!!!

Obviously you feel everything lays at the feet of Traye Aric. Does he drop a punt, miss a block, get a penalty called, fumble the ball, etc? I don't think so. If Kerry Collins throws a pick, do you blame Jeff Fisher or Kerry Collins? Kerry Collins. My point is the coaches can do all they can do, but when it comes down to it, they never set foot on the field. A lot of the problems this year are coming from home. If the parents would be more supportive both at home & at the games, the players may have a better attitude. Remember, these are kids & whether parents realize it or not, what they say at home does get into the players heads. If a parent is slamming the coaches & other players at home it carries onto the game field. Parents get your attitudes right. It may surprise you how the attitude of the team will change!

Go to the Wilson County School Board's website. You can open, view & print the proposed budget. The first page is "Area of Consideration for Potential Cuts From the General Purpose School Fund 2008-09". The top 3 - Eliminate new school buses - $800,000; Eliminate new bus routes - $150,000; Eliminate coaching supplements - $593,160. Interestingly enough though at the bottom 2 unbudgeted items that will have to be coverd by FY 2009-10: 20% increase in Electricity - $521,000 - understandable -- We all feel that pain; Payment of $1,350,000 to KBJM Architects - So, let me get this straight. We can pay for an unbudgeted item of $1.35 million for an architect, but we can't make sure our children have decent buses, adequate bus routes or pay our coaches & club sponsors. Sounds like Wilson County has its priorities mixed up. This proposal will effect countless number of children in Wilson County. Stand up people of Wilson County. Let your voices be heard. Support your children, their schools & all the programs. Contact the School Board & your county commissioner.

Wilson County sends our thoughts and prayers. May God comfort and guide the families through these tragedies.

Great post 2P.

I have been from the start and continue to be a Wildcat fan . I can answer your question . . . the record was 0-23 or 24. The first two years were very very rocky (year two there were barely enough players for the O & D to practice at the same time), but we had a hand full of kids that stuck with it and helped to start building a football program. Then, Coach Alexander came and really kicked the program into gear. Three wins the third year, a first-round playoff in the 4th year, and last year brought the best record ever. Same players as last year? Where are Henry, Nevill, Williams, M. McChurch, Lopez and others. Those guys have graduated and now it is time for the seniors to step up and lead the team and earn their positions. That is the problem. Some of this year's seniors are more concerned with their amount of play time on both sides of the ball than whether they win or lose. (Guys, this isn't Charlie Daniels and only the best 11 will see the field at any given time). I wish this team could get it together, but that will not happen as long as there is the discord among the players and the parents screaming at the coach from the stands. Come on Wildcat fans, support a program that has been down, then up and is facing adversity again. Be there for your kids. Be there for your community. GO WILDCATS!!

Word on the street is they will use the old MJHS for a middle school. However, when the new school is built, they will rezone the other high schools once again (All from MJ, some from Lebanon, don't know if WC will be affected because of Providence). The old MJE building is for sale. Lowe's reportedly was looking at the property, but that fell through.

Up until 5 years ago, there was Mt. Juliet and Lebanon. When Wilson Central was built they took part of Mt. Juliet students and part of Lebanon. If a student attends middle school at West Wilson or attends Southside, they are zoned to WC. Mt. Juliet Middle feeds MJ. The rest go to Lebanon.

No problem testing athletes, but why don't they test the band? They represent the school also.

You're right. It's called survival of the fittest. With that said, hopefully, coaches see there's more to it than winning or losing. Coaches, along with parents, have the responsibility to teach kids ethical behavior, respect for others, etc. Once again, high school athletics is a lesson in life. As far as second teams taking a knee. No one expects a coach to put in a second team and say don't score. Athletics is a competition. Life is a competition. Athletics should help teach participants how to compete in life.