Coach Bland (HOSED) by Humboldt

[ReitzFan]

To the administration of Humboldt High School.....you made a very BAD decision. You should not have bowed down to the preasure from a segment of the community. Very disturbing decision indeed.

[bearcat22]

Does Reid have any high school experience? I thought a job had to be posted for so many days, not two hours.

This is very strange indeed.

[VikingAlum]

It's disturbing that's the first thought, that the only reason this all happened is bowing to pressure from "a segment of the community."

[bearcat22]

Assuming Bland is telling the truth, and why would he lie, he heard "rumors" and approached the administration. Why didn't they go to him? Do they not have any guts? I don't know him but our coach likes him and that's good enough for me.

[BIGPURPLEMACHINE]

Look, nobody can deny that Coach Bland is a great person and a pretty good coach. He's great with the kids and always has pretty good teams. I think there is a lot of speculation here that is probably not based in any fact. This was not his "tenure year" and it's certainly not "good ol boy system" or politics working here. I'm sure this is a tough decision, and it's made even more difficult due to his reputation as a great person and stellar player. But look over his career, and I don't think you find any state championships or even very many deep runs in the playoffs. Maybe that's the reason and maybe not. Nobody knows what goes on in the school every day. As to the comment from the Milan supporter, Milan fired him after two seasons in which he has winning records and made the playoffs. I'm just saying that there are lots of factors to consider and I don't think anyone here knows why he was let go.

Naturally the Jackson Sun got the new coach's name wrong, but it's Dorrington "Junior" Reid. Coach Reid graduated from Humboldt in 1977 I think and went on to play for the UT Vols. He's a local legend in our program and has taught and coached the middle school team for years. He has outstanding teams at the middle school level every year and usually has no more than one or two losses in a season. His team won the new Gibson County conference title this year beating Medina Middle in the championship game. He is well respected in the community and a good person, just like Coach Bland. He will also be the first black head coach Humboldt has had, so no, I don't think it's the "good ol boys" calling the shots.

I hate it for Coach Bland as much as anyone, but I also know there are lots of people in those stands every week that are not content to lose in the first or second round of the playoffs. Let's just stop jumping to conclusions about the motive of the administration and see what comes of all this.

 

Lots of good points that I agree with you on. But there is one that you are mistaken about. Milan did not fire bland. He left on his on for personal and family reasons. I know because I played for Milan at that time!!!

[cardfan]

hey Tennessee is a right to work state. You have the right to hire and fire anyone at anytime. The problem i would have in this situation is that he had to approach the administration about it. He should have been the first to be informed.

[goldentide]

I don't know Coach Reid and am not putting him down. I do know, however, that winning middle school football games has no relevance to coaching at the high school level. My problem is with the way this was apparently handled. No coach should have to go to the administration to ask about "rumors." And then another coach is announced within two hours. Where and when was the job posted? I think the rules were not followed. Did anyone besides Reid get an interview? Or did Reid even have to interview? Were interviews held before Bland even knew he was fired? Let's just be honest and realistic here. Bland got screwed, and the administration did not adhere to the rules. Many schools would be happy to make it to the playoffs after winning the district for how many years? Mr. One Post. Is your name Reid?

[bearcat22]

Look, nobody can deny that Coach Bland is a great person and a pretty good coach. He's great with the kids and always has pretty good teams. I think there is a lot of speculation here that is probably not based in any fact. This was not his "tenure year" and it's certainly not "good ol boy system" or politics working here. I'm sure this is a tough decision, and it's made even more difficult due to his reputation as a great person and stellar player. But look over his career, and I don't think you find any state championships or even very many deep runs in the playoffs. Maybe that's the reason and maybe not. Nobody knows what goes on in the school every day. As to the comment from the Milan supporter, Milan fired him after two seasons in which he has winning records and made the playoffs. I'm just saying that there are lots of factors to consider and I don't think anyone here knows why he was let go.

Naturally the Jackson Sun got the new coach's name wrong, but it's Dorrington "Junior" Reid. Coach Reid graduated from Humboldt in 1977 I think and went on to play for the UT Vols. He's a local legend in our program and has taught and coached the middle school team for years. He has outstanding teams at the middle school level every year and usually has no more than one or two losses in a season. His team won the new Gibson County conference title this year beating Medina Middle in the championship game. He is well respected in the community and a good person, just like Coach Bland. He will also be the first black head coach Humboldt has had, so no, I don't think it's the "good ol boys" calling the shots.

I hate it for Coach Bland as much as anyone, but I also know there are lots of people in those stands every week that are not content to lose in the first or second round of the playoffs. Let's just stop jumping to conclusions about the motive of the administration and see what comes of all this.

 

Do you think it's right for the administration to not even talk to him before they had Coach Jr Reid in place to take the job? Do they not owe Bland the dignity of hearing it from them first? What kind of administration do y'all have over there? I'm not sure how long Bland has been there but looking at the last four years under him y'all have a record of 30-16 including a 22-2 district record. After that kind of success doesn't Bland deserve to be informed before the new coach is lined up to replace him? I have one word for your administration and that is SORRY. This is nothing against Coach Jr Reid because I don't know him either but this was handled in a way that STINKS!

[GCPioneer]

LOL, winning in middle school is ALOT different than winning in high school, lol... How is this not good ole boy system? A coach is fired, and probably wouldn't have been notified today had he not asked administration, and there's a new coach hired within 2 hours of it being publicly known....

[goldentide]

LOL, winning in middle school is ALOT different than winning in high school, lol... How is this not good ole boy system? A coach is fired, and probably wouldn't have been notified today had he not asked administration, and there's a new coach hired within 2 hours of it being publicly known....

 

Does sound fishy, doesn't it? I wish he would come to Peabody with Gaddis and beat the daylights out of Humboldt for many years to come. But could the two of them beat a winning middle school coach?

[goldentide]

I can't find the coacht topic on outstanding middle school coaches. Could someone direct me, please? LOL!!!!!

[GCPioneer]

Does sound fishy, doesn't it? I wish he would come to Peabody with Gaddis and beat the daylights out of Humboldt for many years to come. But could the two of them beat a winning middle school coach?

 

A coaching staff of Gaddis and Bland would be deadly in 2A football... I don't see Bland going anywhere as an assistant unless he really wants to take a step back thought. Bland is a legendary coach around here and will easily find another job and win there as well. Humboldt must've not have realized what they had in Coach Bland.