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Post by coach31 on Feb 11, 2011 10:53:55 GMT -6
Coaches, We are in the midst of finding out that our school will be combined with our arch rival to start next school year. I am guessing we will have a new name/mascot/colors/identity. No word yet on staffing. We've had the upper hand of late (20-4 over the last 24 years) in the series. Do any of you have any ideas or suggestions as to how we can come together before august?
Thanks in advance
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Post by Chris Clement on Feb 11, 2011 12:02:30 GMT -6
Obviously, your new mascot should be the Liger. It's pretty much my favourite mythological animal.
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Post by leighty on Feb 11, 2011 12:18:12 GMT -6
The answer to your question lies in "Remember the Titans."
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Post by coachbrek on Feb 11, 2011 12:25:10 GMT -6
typically the kids are fine, most know each other already, there may be a few personality clashes but no more than you can have on any team. From my experience the kids are normally excited about it and come together quite well but if there is friction between coaches, administration and parents its a mess. So and so favors kids from town A, town B kids only play defense and special teams etc. Parents sit in different parts of the stadium, and don't intermingle. The best thing that can happen is win, win big, and often. It is amazing how fast winning can bring it all together.
It's the adults who make consolidations a nightmare. I have been around and involved in enough to know that it should be the very last resort to consolidate.
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Post by coach31 on Feb 14, 2011 10:28:32 GMT -6
Thanks for the advice. I guess I should have added: They have decided to have all of the teachers/coaches/administrators from both schools reapply for their jobs. The problem from a football standpoint is that it could take months and we(they if I lose my job) would be really behind. Anything you could add would be great
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Post by seagull73 on Feb 14, 2011 10:43:28 GMT -6
I played under this exact circumstance my 10th grade year. HC wouldn't allow any gear to be worn from the previous school. He set the tone early and it was never a problem.
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Post by Chris Clement on Feb 14, 2011 10:55:34 GMT -6
If they're merging the schools, shouldn't you need (roughly) the same number of teachers? Why have everyone reapply? As for coaches, I would appoint the most politically astute coach as HC/"Program Overlord" and have him run things with a good bit of politic, and hope he can walk the fine line.
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tackle
Sophomore Member
Posts: 129
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Post by tackle on Feb 14, 2011 13:58:51 GMT -6
I would think football would be the best medicine for this kind of merger. A shared since of pride and accomplishment on friday nights would build the new shared identity of the two schools. Something that parents, students and alumni could share.
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mojoben
Sophomore Member
Posts: 148
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Post by mojoben on Feb 14, 2011 21:54:26 GMT -6
One of our local schools has consolidated and will be officially together as just one school next season. They already had the two middle schools play together in football, volleyball and basketball and things have gone pretty smoothly with a lot of success.
One high school is a current 8-Man power in Kansas, but the other is coming off of a one win season, BUT not long ago was a 11-Man (2A) power with multiple State Championships. One would expect the athletics at the new school to be very good. The kids seem to be adjusting very well and as a whole the adults are doing better than expected. Things really get real next season when the high school is just one. Then we will see if the adults can swallow their pride. Luckily most of the communities involved are heavily related to one another in the first place. lol Also will be interesting to see if they will be a 8-Man program or a 11-Man squad?
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