Sportsmanship Taken Too Far?

[rollredroll]

I read this story today and couldn't believe my eyes. In a nutshell, if a Connecticut football team wins by more than 50 points in a game, the coach is disqualified from coaching the next game.

 

Link

 

I'm all for sportsmanship, but this is extreme.

 

Thoughts? (Vote "yes" for For and "no" for Against - sorry for the confusion)

Edited May 25, 2006 by rollredroll

[Big Country]

I read this story today and couldn't believe my eyes. In a nutshell, if a Connecticut football team wins by more than 50 points in a game, the coach is disqualified from coaching the next game.

 

Link

 

I'm all for sportsmanship, but this is extreme.

 

Thoughts? (Vote "yes" for For and "no" for Against - sorry for the confusion)

 

Whoever the moron who made that rule up is must have been perceived as a "nerd" back in the day. You are telling me that if a team like Trousdale Co. scores 5-6 TD's in the first half against a team like RBS that they have to tell the backups that play in the second half (when they finally get their opportunity to shine under the lights) to "not score". That pretty muchs makes them no more useful than a bunch of tackling dummies during the week of practice leading into each game. How do you know as a coach what you have in store for your future if your youngsters are not allowed to succeed (not given the rightful opportunity)??????

 

The first word that comes to mind when I see something like this is WIMP!!!!!

[Mc cowboy]

Whoever the moron who made that rule up is must have been perceived as a "nerd" back in the day. You are telling me that if a team like Trousdale Co. scores 5-6 TD's in the first half against a team like RBS that they have to tell the backups that play in the second half (when they finally get their opportunity to shine under the lights) to "not score". That pretty muchs makes them no more useful than a bunch of tackling dummies during the week of practice leading into each game. How do you know as a coach what you have in store for your future if your youngsters are not allowed to succeed (not given the rightful opportunity)??????

 

The first word that comes to mind when I see something like this is WIMP!!!!!

 

 

How moronic. What a wussy state. You mean to tell me if a kid who is a 3rd teamer is competing against a 1st teamer on another team and the 3rd team continues to score running the friggin straight dive the Coach is suspended for a game. This is a shame and i hope this does not filter down south. What an embarassment. This rule was either crated by a wuss or a woman. Or a combination.

[Guest dare_2_dream]

awful idea.

[Lost Old Dad]

That is almost as bad as awarding 'pity points'! It is a direct slap in the face of athletes there that actually work hard to get better than other teams.

 

I wonder how they would apply it to 'visiting' teams from out of state? Like what would they do if a team like Riverdale from two years ago had gone up there to play a game and put a real old fashioned 'Whuppin' on them? It was NOT unusual for that team to roll up 50+ points.

[bhs13]

BAD IDEA if a team goes up or wins by 50+ in a game the coach shouldnt get suspended he as well as the players should get congradulated for the big win and the hard work!!

Edited May 26, 2006 by bhs13

[cbg]

I don't like the rule but I do understand why they are now using it. Unlike most schools in Tennessee some of the other states have some programs that are very bad (probably not as good as our middle school programs) and the good teams (which are very good) are trying to put 100 points on the board by leaving their starters in the game when the score is 50-0 at the half. Yes, I know that the defense has the responsibility to stop the offense but the coachs have to show some sportsmanship & class which they have not been doing.

 

I have also heard that some states are going to stop the basketball games if one team is winning by 50+ in the 4th quater.

[bulluckfan]

Back in the 80's in a Florida State-Florida game, Steve Spurrier came up to Bobby Bowden and told him not to run up the score. Bobby told him that its Steve's job to keep down and my job to keep it up.

That is how football has always been played and how it always should be played

[SACDAWGS]

Back in the 80's in a Florida State-Florida game, Steve Spurrier came up to Bobby Bowden and told him not to run up the score. Bobby told him that its Steve's job to keep down and my job to keep it up.

That is how football has always been played and how it always should be played

 

Here's an excerpt from a coaching website I found. I remember in High School playing against Don Markham's Rubidoux Team (California). They were a machine that could score whenever they want. This was in the second round of the playoffs. Our team was not bad, we just ran into a buzzsaw. Several of us from our team went onto D1 and D1AA programs and others to play DII and DIII from that team. However, we could not stop a team that the whole offense went on to play D1 football. The Final score was 56-34.

The "Don Markham" rule was put in place in the state of Oregon. Coach Markham has a tendency to travel up and down the west coast. Usually, being forced out for accusations that seem to be known by everyone, but never fully proven. Yet, he wins whereever he goes. Here's the excerpt from

http://www.coachwyatt.com/texascoach96.html

 

Returning to the States, I introduced the Double Wing in Ridgefield, Washington, where, over the next three seasons, despite having below-average talent, we ran for well over 300 yards per game. Meanwhile, Don Markham, coaxed out of retirement in Bandon, Oregon, took the Bandon Tigers to the state Class AAA finals in 1991, his second year there. Along the way, his offense ran up such outrageous scores that rival coaches petitioned for (and got) the so-called "Don Markham" rule - any time a team gets on top by 45 points, the game is stopped.

 

The article goes on to say how Markham return to California and led a 1-9 team the year prior to his arrival to a 14-0 season and state champions and set the national record for scoring in a season at 880 points.

 

With all this, I still say it is the job of the opposing coaches to figure out and train their athletes to stop the other team. Just as much as it is for them to do the same to you.

Just as it was my high school team's job to stop Markham and we did for a little bit. Then they blew the whistle to kick the ball off to start the game....

 

http://www.osaa.org/forms/Varsity%20Footba...tive%20Plan.pdf

See the statement at the bottom of the form about the 45 point rule.

 

This to me is just plain stupid. It shows that there are those who never played or did and were not that good, are making policies. I sure wish life outside of Highschool athletics treated people in the same matter... What message are we sending our youth? Hey, when life gets on top of you, you can fill out a form and penalize it. Whatever happened to teaching our young to work hard through life's trials?

[biglon68]

Back in the 80's in a Florida State-Florida game, Steve Spurrier came up to Bobby Bowden and told him not to run up the score. Bobby told him that its Steve's job to keep down and my job to keep it up.

That is how football has always been played and how it always should be played

 

Great answer. I've experienced both ends of a lopsided score and I don't think it scarred me for life. Football is a tool to teach young men discipline, a strong work ethic and how to face challenges and disappoint in life.

[muffin]

I would like to see this change take place.

[smallin1way]

I would like to see this change take place.

 

That may be the stupidest thing you have ever said. It is a stupid rule that in no way needs to be inforced. Like someone else said I've been on the losing side (75-0) but I got over it and it didn't scar me for life. Let the kids play and whatever happens happens.