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Post by threeback on Sept 16, 2007 11:46:58 GMT -6
How would you guys like to be in this situation? Our head coach cuts our starting QB and TE because: 1. The QB said that we aren't throwing the ball enough. 2. Because of the fact that we were preparing another TE (the QB is the TEs brother) for playing time due to the fact that the starter dropped two crucial passes that I would have caught on my WORST day (one on a 3rd and long and another in OT for the tying score)- the QB said that we were "black balling" his brother and that if his brother doesn't play, he won't. 3. "we weren't developing him" as a QB because we weren't throwing the ball 30-40 times a game, and his stats weren't good enough- we are a wing T team that has averaged 450 yards a game through the first 3 games.
So we have a starter's meeting before the game on Thursday night, and the head coach asks the two in question to clear the air- being as our team motto is "team first"- at which both players deny having said anything like that. One of our team captains then stands up and asks the QB why he said that "if the next play is a running play, I checking it to a passing play" in the huddle- at which point the QB denies it- making it extremely obvious to everyone that he is lying. So our head coach does what is best for the team and cuts both of them. After mentioning it to our administrator- the administrator states that he "supports him 100%".
The next morning (after a call from the school board member that is in the hip pocket of the QB/TEs dad)- the administrator backs our of his support and tells our head coach that he has to take the kids back- at which point our head coach tells him he would have to fire him.
Kids get word of this and throw in their jerseys and say that if he is fired and those two kids are re-instated, they will not play another game.
Principal calls up our head coach after having him escorted off of campus and has a meeting with us to make sure the game that was scheduled is played. We come out flat (imagine that) and lose 14-0 to a very good team. He has to meet with the principal on Monday to "discuss this situation"- meaning the coach will be given an ultimatum- take those kids back or you are fired. He will not sway from his decision, so in all likelihood he will be fired. All of us, his assistants, will take the same stand he will, and will be fired also. We have great support from the parents of our kids, and all have stated that all hell will break loose from this. We have taken this school from the laughing stock in our area to a respectable program, and my heart and soul aches for the kids that will be affected by this. We have a great group of kids, and I truly hurt inside for what is about to occur, but we absolutely will not waver in our beliefs as a staff- no matter what happens.
Please remember our head coach and staff in your prayers this weekend- we need all the help we can get.
We all need a job if anyone is hiring. My wife is 7 months pregnant- so I need a job with good insurance. LOL
God bless her- she supports me in my decision and said that no matter what, she'll be there for me.
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Post by brophy on Sept 16, 2007 11:56:46 GMT -6
so they fire you not only as a COACH, but also a TEACHER?
wow.
If not, then how big could that stipend be?
This is something the administration has to live with - interesting story, though.
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Post by wildcat on Sept 16, 2007 12:10:57 GMT -6
Are you tenured? Pretty hard to fire a tenured teacher, at least in Illinois.
One thing to fire a guy from a coaching position. Entirely different when it has to do with a teaching position...
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wccoach
Sophomore Member
Posts: 159
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Post by wccoach on Sept 16, 2007 12:22:04 GMT -6
I have respect for your stance and completely understand how you feel, BUT there is no way I would ever risk the health of my wife or soon to be child by leaving a job with insurance that would ensure the health of my family. There has to be another way to deal with your issue that does not leave your family in danger. Can your team reinstate these two players and not play them? How about have them in an area placed away from the team during practice and let them play"catch" while the team practices. Your HC does not have to play them during the games, does he? Can you move their lockers out of the area of the rest of the team and have them dress in another area? I would get together with the rest of the staff and find a creative way to separate these two and KEEP MY JOB! My father always told me to never leave a job until I had another to take its place. That is great advice for anybody, not just coaches. Your ultimate responsibility is to your family. Being a husband and father is a tough job that many times means you have to swallow your pride and do what is necessary to keep your family safe. Good Luck and I hope you can resolve this without hurting your family.
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Post by coachd5085 on Sept 16, 2007 13:03:14 GMT -6
Go Braves---tough situation.
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moball
Junior Member
Posts: 254
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Post by moball on Sept 16, 2007 13:22:45 GMT -6
Surely it takes more than one board member to fire a coach. Are the rest of the board members going along with this also? If it is as you say and you have the support of the rest of the community, stick to your guns. Call their bluff. They are not going to fire anyone in the middle of the season and risk a total walkout of all players and coaches. This is as much a headache for them as it is for the coaching staff.
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Post by phantom on Sept 16, 2007 13:39:51 GMT -6
Maybe I missed it but you didn't do anything silly like resign your teaching position, did you? As others have said, it's hard to fire a tenured, contracted teacher in most states.
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Post by coach31 on Sept 16, 2007 15:12:09 GMT -6
Coach,
And I thought we had a rough weekend. I don't know what the teacher's contracts are like in your area, but I would be in contact with a lawer and my union rep. I hope this works out for you.
We too are a delaware team and hear alot of "experts" that think we should throw it more. So I know the feeling.
Best of luck. We don't pay well but we are always looking for good wing-t guys here in PA
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Post by midlineqb on Sept 16, 2007 15:50:07 GMT -6
It sounds like to me the patrons run the school since the administration doesn't have the balls to stand up to them. They're taking the easy way out. DO NOT RESIGN YOUR TEACHING!!! I don't know of a state that can fire a tenured teacher on what you've said has gone down. I has to some kind of immoral issue for them to fire a tenured teacher. Hang in there on the principle of the the thing on the football field. Sounds like you have the support of the players and the parents of the players.
Ours prayers will be with you.
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Post by ajreaper on Sept 16, 2007 17:06:16 GMT -6
Take them back then sit them and as WC stated set them aside during practice and move their lockers elsewhere. Humor those who think they can call the shots.
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Post by threeback on Sept 16, 2007 20:46:32 GMT -6
I am tenured and they cannot touch my or any of the assistant coaches' jobs. I would NEVER jeopardize my kids or my wife- love 'em too much, so even if he fires me from coaching, I'll still be good as far as the teaching is concerned. I definitely will be leaving this school if he stays as administrator- no way in hell will I work for a man like this.
Found out good news today- he cannot directly fire us- it has to be a majority vote by the board. It's election year, we have had nothing but support- so I hope we'll be OK.
My phone has been ringing off the hook this weekend. Nearly every player on the team has called me and told me he loved me and no matter what, they'll support us 100%. Parents of kids I coached 3 and 4 years ago called me up and thanked me for "making their sons the men that they are" and they'll raise 10 kinds of hell if we are fired. Cried like a baby when each kid and parent told me that. Even though I've slept a total of about 4 hours this weekend, I've come to realize that's why I coach.
I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for ya'll input.
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Post by coachcoyote on Sept 17, 2007 0:55:23 GMT -6
Work on the other Board members. If the parents are supporting you, have them call the Board and state their intentions of talking them down for re-election if they continue their stance. Stick to your guns on the issue of the kids. Another parent knows better. Yeah. Right.
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Post by davecisar on Sept 17, 2007 4:18:47 GMT -6
Awesome, threeback!
BEst of luck.
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Bowne1
Freshmen Member
Posts: 43
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Post by Bowne1 on Sept 17, 2007 5:48:02 GMT -6
I was once forced to take a kid back like this. No problem he went into the game right after two cheerleaders and the pom-pom squad.
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Post by mitch on Sept 17, 2007 9:43:09 GMT -6
I just have to tell you how much I respect you and your staff's loyalty to the head coach and program. That is what being a good assistant is all about.
AWESOME.
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coachf
Freshmen Member
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Post by coachf on Sept 17, 2007 9:47:19 GMT -6
Is there any media involved? They can put the pressure on a board worse than anything else. Especially during an election year. You have to assume most of the parents are on board with you guys.
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50Murf
Sophomore Member
Posts: 212
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Post by 50Murf on Sept 17, 2007 11:35:55 GMT -6
Threeback -
It is GREAT to hear that you are tenured - you now can stand up for your beliefs, and still take care of the family.
It is even better to hear about all of the former players that support you, and the parents of the players, both past and present, who also support you.
I wish you, your HC, and your staff nothing but the best of luck!!
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Post by ajreaper on Sept 17, 2007 12:59:16 GMT -6
LOL, the school board and that member who's helping turn this into a crap storm may wish they'd not if you can get 10% of those parents and former players to vocally rally to your cause- school boards hate attention and board members hate being in the minority. I do not know about your state but in mine school boards set policy for the district- they have absolutely no standing- legally anyway in what you describe.
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Post by theghost on Sept 17, 2007 18:25:11 GMT -6
Well, it's Monday WTF happened. I won't sleep tonight unless I know.
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Post by threeback on Sept 17, 2007 21:30:52 GMT -6
Here is the deal. Because of the stand of our HC and us, the board didn't want to venture into uncharted grounds of trying to hire seven coaches in 4 days to coach a game (my gosh, I'm an either brave or a complete idiot for following through what I said I'd do-although I think it's the latter). The only problem is that we had to give a little too- which, for the sake of our seniors, I didn't mind doing. Kids will not be "officially" back on the team until the head coach deems that they have bought into what we are trying to do. Meanwhile, one cannot practice for two weeks due to conduct, the other has to come to practice Monday through Wednesday and cannot attend any Thursday or Friday functions because it is preparations for game day. He is officially demoted to 4th team and must work his way up the depth chart- all the while following a contract that will be impossible for him to follow. One will hang himself and the other will follow- although hopefully all this will occur by game 8 or 9.
What really hurts me is the fact that one of them had a chance at the next level- and I really cared about the kid- but obviously different agendas prevailed. Everything that one kid said at the meeting was a regurgetation of the father, which makes me want to kick the father's #^$ that much more.
So in the end, we win-sort of. We get to coach the great group of seniors that we have for their senior year, but we have to put up with the #&$^ of the others- but in all honesty- I will bear that with a smile for the happiness of our seniors.
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Post by threeback on Sept 17, 2007 21:35:06 GMT -6
Forgot to mention- we had a doggone revival at our school this morning- students protesting, parents picketing- it was great. Local TV station at our school interviewing parents. I was in class when the agreement was finally made, and I could hear the cheer of the parents and students from my class. Couldn't help but smile.
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Post by saintrad on Sept 17, 2007 21:39:44 GMT -6
woohoo 3back....ever need a wing-t job just give me a holler
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Post by threeback on Sept 17, 2007 21:50:57 GMT -6
By the way,
I'm getting shat-faced drunk right now, celebrating our "victory". If you want to check out our program, got to hlbfootball.com. Check out the video section to see the kids we have. I'm the tall, goofy looking SOB in the coach's section. If you want to check out the whole story, either go to houmatoday.com or nola.com and check out the prep football forum.
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Post by saintrad on Sept 17, 2007 21:54:28 GMT -6
i take it you are the OC then?
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Post by threeback on Sept 17, 2007 21:56:25 GMT -6
yep
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Post by saintrad on Sept 17, 2007 22:03:11 GMT -6
almsot as goofy looking as me
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Post by threeback on Sept 17, 2007 22:07:31 GMT -6
LOL
I'm better looking in person though (I think)- pictures do no justice.
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Post by coachcoyote on Sept 17, 2007 23:14:16 GMT -6
Sometimes, the good guys do win.
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Post by lochness on Sept 18, 2007 5:13:42 GMT -6
Unfortunately, it's situations like this that exist in every state that drive good, qualified coaches away from the game.
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Post by groundchuck on Sept 18, 2007 8:22:36 GMT -6
Unfortunately, it's situations like this that exist in every state that drive good, qualified coaches away from the game. 100% correct. I think it is getting that way in education in general too. |
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