ohreally

Where did you get the idea that Mr. Booker thought he was bigger than he team? Many players (myself included) find out they are not as good as they think they are. Perhaps, this was a very timely revelation for Mr. Booker. Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Booker learned more from Friday night than any of us.

Well, excuse me. It looked intentional to me, too. But, I thought Woody said it was an accident. He was caught up in the heat of the moment and made a mistake.

1). No 2). Yes 3). Yes 4). Black letter law... it is called aggravated assault accident or not. 5). Woody Hayes

just1np, Please, let me help you get your facts straight. There was never a newspaper ad that tried to get rid of the coach. There was a newspaper ad that asked specific questions concerning incidents involving Oak Ridge football. Nowhere in the ad (which I have seen) was there a demand for the coach to leave. The newspaper refused to run the ad because they thought the questions about the football program were "too controversial". I hope all the future coaches who consider Oak Ridge don't hear about the goal post incident. It would be terrible to find out that a couple of boys got drunk and did something stupid. I'm sure this has never happened anywhere else. f9d

I don't have a dog in this fight either. I will stop commenting about it, because nothing will make the coach step down. Furthermore, I don't think he should step down... it would set a poor example for the players. The Oak Ridge detractors who post on this site should cease posting derogatory comments about the coach. It is a waste of time to run the coach down during the season and nothing will be accomplished. To TankTalk... What would you call it if you did not want to call it "frustration mode?" After all the hard work that went into preparing for the first game I would be frustrated if I weren't successful. You tell me what to call it and I will follow your lead. Perhaps, I used the word "frustration" in error and you can provide a better word. GWAVE1 brought up an interesting point... APATHY. It would be a travesty if no one cared whether the team won or lost. It would be devastating if no one cared enough to attend the games. It would be heartbreaking if the players looked to the stands and asked for support from the fans and the fans did not care enough to respond. If failure to succeed breeds apathy, all the tradition in the world will not heal the wounds being inflicted in Oak Ridge. Good bye and good luck to all! [Edited by ohreally on 9-1-02 10:47A]

Truly amazing! Did you attend the same classes as SirPettus?

ELA, Just to set the record straight, there was a movement to oust the coach in Oak Ridge during the off-season. Questions were raised when Oak Ridge failed to make the playoffs in 2001 with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses. A group of people tried to put an ad in the local newspaper that asked some pointed questions about the leadership of the Oak Ridge coaching staff. The newspaper refused to run the ad. Things went downhill from that point. Coaches were threatening fans at basketball games. Slanderous statements were being made back and forth. Mike Blackerby (Sports Editor of The Oak Ridger) and David Clary (Voice of the Wildcats on AM1290) were both accused by Coach Lussier of leading a conspiracy against him. Paranoia ran rampant throughout Oak Ridge. All this crap and more occurred during the off-season. Now, all those Oak Ridge detractors are whispering "I told you so" after the humiliating defeat at the hands of the 3A Anderson County Mavs. Everyone in Oak Ridge who cares about high school football is in frustration mode. [Edited by ohreally on 8-31-02 6:32P]

I agree. This is neither the time or the place to call for a coach to resign. It is a waste of time to suggest resignation because it ain't gonna happen. The whole Oak Ridge football saga will work itself out. Opinions posted on this site mean nothing... they are only opinions. But, thank God we have the right to post our opinions. Thanks to coacht.com we have the format. just1np, I was interested in your line of thinking when you said, "If people don't scream for your job on a web site, then why should you do it to them?" What are you trying to say? Most jobs are not performed in the public eye where every move is closely scrutinized. My little job means nothing to anyone but me. No one except my boss and my clients care what I do or how I do it... they just want the job done right! But, for those individuals who work in the public eye they have to take the bad with the good. Politicians, public officials, and coaches are always going to be blamed when things aren't going well. There will be no public outcry when the boy forgets to put fries in your bag at MacDonalds. But, let a coach make a mistake and we will have the immediate cry, "Off with his head!" That's the way it is. [Edited by ohreally on 8-31-02 4:18P]

mrsoddydaisy, Hold on tight and I will put together the Oak Ridge saga as I know it. I will write it up and post it soon.

Let me point out a few reasons why Coach Lussier will not resign. The gate last night was tremendous, thus there is no immediate money concern. Anderson Co. brought a lot of fan support which offset the number of no-show Oak Ridge supporters. Coach Lussier does not see the loss as a coaching problem. Bobbi won't let him resign. It is too big of a status symbol to be the Head Coach of Oak Ridge football. AND... NO ONE wants to admit that there is the slightest chance that the Catpack was right! I wonder where the Catpack is now?

I wonder if the "CATPACK" will come to the game wearing their t-shirts.

Take a look around Blankenship Field if you go to the Anderson County/Oak Ridge game this Friday night. As you wait for the game to begin, take a moment and note of how much Oak Ridge Football has changed in the last few years. Also, ask yourself this question... What other activity in Oak Ridge draws this kind of crowd? No event in Oak Ridge can bring as many people together as a home game for Oak Ridge High School at Blankenship Field. The tradition of the Friday night home football game must be saved! Oak Ridge must restore some or all of the fan relationships that were destroyed when the current head coach took the helm.

Anderson County will be ready.

Education... where are we going wrong?

rabidwildcatfan, Nice post.

rabidwildcatfan, Thanks for the compliment! You are too kind. It is evident there are functional illiterates graduating from high school and attending college. I pity the kids who write like they talk. I agree with you... coaching is not the only problem in Oak Ridge. Changing coaches will not automatically produce positive results. Your friend, Stanton Stevens is a top-notch human being as well as a first-rate coach. Coach Stevens is absolutely right... some of the kids in Oak Ridge are out of touch and Oak Ridge needs to figure out why. Coach Stevens is a very perceptive individual who knows how to mentor and motivate. His record at AE speaks for his ability to turn a program around. Concerning football... What is different today compared with 5 or 10 years ago? Oak Ridge still has a great deal of talent. The Boys Club football teams continue to be successful. The middle school teams continue to be successful. The ORHS Freshman team seems to have a lot of FUN and success. Thus, the talent base seems to be constant. I hate to say this (and I thought I never would) but, I think the problem in Oak Ridge is attitude. Oak Ridge has a bunch of conflicting personalities who all want to be "right". Unfortunately, everyone can not be right. Many 14-18 year old kids find it difficult to deal with a dominating, micromanaging, and dictatorial coach. The kids get scared away by their own spoiled, coddled, and immediate gratification attitudes/personalities. Furthermore, I think Oak Ridge has a coach that likes to see certain kids fail. It may be my imagination, but a majority of the kids that fail are NOT Anglo-Saxon. If this is not the case just my imagination, I apologize. [Edited by ohreally on 8-26-02 6:00P] [Edited by ohreally on 8-26-02 7:43P]

No one is? No one is what? What are you referring to?

If you will carefully read what I have posted on this thread, you will recognize the fact that we agree. You will only need to use one of your 5 senses to understand what I have written. Read every line in my posts and you will understand the following: If the situation in each high school is the same with problem athletes, then it is the coach's decision whether or not to go out of his way to try to help direct a kid down the right path. Apparently, in Oak Ridge there is a coach that exhibits zero tolerance for unacceptable behavior. Are the "zero tolerance" methods of that coach successful? You be the judge. 6 wins/4 losses and no playoffs in 2001 (plus dwindling fan attendance). 2002 season is now here, so I guess you'll find out how the coach's methods effect the team.

I think you understand what I am saying. My whole point is that things are no different in Oak Ridge than they are anywhere else. It is the coach who makes all the calls! If the coach wants to offer a chance to those kids that need direction or if the coach wants to slam the door on any kid who makes a mistake... it is only the coach that can make the decision. Are you with me?

Oldcat, You hit the nail on the head. Things are different than they used to be. In the past, kids could look to their coach as a mentor. The coach was someone parents could look to for help outside the family structure. However, today we have a problem. In order to be on the team you have to stay out of trouble and make your grades. If a kid gets in trouble and is not on the team, the coach is powerless. It is easy to give up on those kids who don't know how to act in today's society. It is difficult to change unacceptable behavior. The bottom line... you can't "coach" the kids that aren't on the team. [Edited by ohreally on 8-25-02 11:30A]

I think I can "safely" say that Mr. Teasley gained a wealth of knowledge as he walked the halls of Oak Ridge High School. 3Teasley0, you must be proud. "Losing" talented players to various pitfalls seems to be a growing problem in Oak Ridge. Grades should not be a problem... but they are. Other sports should not be a problem... What other sport competes with football in the fall? Players who get in trouble with the law should not be a problem... but, sadly, it is a problem. What could Coach Lussier possibly do about losing talent? I am sure Coach Lussier has a set of challenges and problems unlike any other coach that paced the sidelines of Blankenship Field. How are Coach Lussier's problems (i.e., losing talented players) different from the problems of any other coach? Either the problems are different these days or it is the way the problems are dealt with. [Edited by ohreally on 8-26-02 11:24P]

finalsay, I agree with you! Mr. Clary deserves a substantial raise.

finalsay, My bad! I'm a little confused, but I can blame it on my age. My insinuation was in error. What was I thinking? You did pose some interesting questions to Mr. King #62. I hope Coach Lussier and Matt's mom allow him to answer your questions. I think the answers may be more interesting than his previous statements.

Furthermore... Coach Lussier is lucky to still have David doing the show after the way he was treated by Lussier last year. [Edited by ohreally on 8-22-02 11:15P]

You missed nothing except an excellent job by DCCATVOICE! DCCATVOICE is without question the most patient, cool-headed individual I know. Good job David!