timlan2057

I'm not sure how hard graduation hits Newton ... ... but with the coaching situation stabilized with a man who understands Newton football, I'll pick the Eagles (the ones who wear purple) for 2011 District Champs--and another deep playoff run.

[quote name="tjcfan08" post="914252" timestamp="1290267354"] I applaud you Kville99 and I couldn't agree with you more..The timing of this thread is wrong..Coach Barbay was a Legend in Newton and it goes way deeper than some of you think..He was not just a Coach and that showed every year when the stadium was filled with ex players and their family deep into the playoffs..This will get the coverage it needs, I just feel that now after his team is out and while his son is still playing you guys need to understand!!! And yes it is called Respect!!!!!!!!!  Shall you rest in peace Curtis Barbay, you will be greatly missed by all............... [/quote] tjc, I decided to respond since you brought this up again. You have your feelings about this thread.  I respectfully disagree. We are Newton fans, Newton citizens and Newton parents.  We love this program and we honor Coach Barbay.  The reason we discuss it is that we are concerned with the direction of our program and who the new HC/AD is going to be. No one is discussing this in a lighthearted manner.  It's an honor to Coach Barbay that fans are concerned about the continuation of the program he worked decades to build. Coach Barbay has been duly honored and praised. He of course will continue to be.  I'm sincere in asking--what makes you think he won't? And with all this talk of yours about "lack of respect" and "hurtful to family"--as far as this thread? Again, I respectfully disagree. Curtis Barbay was a coach.  His sons and his nephew are coaches. They understand the occupation. In my opinion, Curtis Barbay would be happy about the fact that the NISD and Newton fans are concerned with his successor.  I think he would be encouraging of this discussion. You are correct that Curtis Barbay was a molder of young men and helped them to be successful after football.  I am sure the next Newton coach will follow in his footsteps here. It would be a disservice to Coach Barbay's memory if that were not the case. Curtis Barbay was also a winner and built a winning program. To see that program slide into mediocrity with the wrong hire would be almost as big a disservice to Coach Barbay's memory as if the next coach was not a molder of young men. So I fail to see how this thread and this discussion is in any way not honoring Coach Barbay's memory.

[quote name="ChampionEagles" post="912903" timestamp="1290179451"] [quote author=ZATARRA link=topic=76311.msg912879#msg912879 date=1290177579] Should he even apply? [i]I mean if Newton hires anyone other than "WT" there's no way they could be successful, right???[/i] [/quote] You seem to be a wolf in sheeps clothing. Feigning to not know anything, then wanting to give an opinion based on something and seeking acknowledgment of being correct. W.T. has given many dedicated years to Newton and is a heck of a coach. Everyone thinks his going to Kirbyville was the first time he has left. Wrong. This has nothing to do with his coaching ability. Newton needs the best coach available FOR THEIR PROGRAM. T[b]he football program at Newton is firmly established and proven and IMO just needs a little tweeking. The last thing we need is to hire a coach that don't fully understand that.[/b] The kids need someone they can respect and play for. W.T. could be that man. [/quote] I do agree with the bolded part. Of course, we as Newton fans, parents, faculty, students and players need to realize Coach Barbay is gone, and it would not be fair for us to expect his successor to do everything exactly like Coach Barbay. But at the same time, the next coach at Newton will realize that the program does not need to be built again from the ground up. Offensively (though one season is a small sample size), the Eagles still seem to be quite successful and productive running Barbay's Wing-T offense.  Though the spread is now the coming thing, Coach Barbay realized that most high school defenses cannot consistently stop the run.  I think it would be a lot of wasted time and effort for a new coach to come in and completely change offensive systems. Defensively, I don't think the problem is the system, as much as perhaps attention to detail. But bottom line: Newton's offensive and defensive systems don't need to be completely overhauled, but adjusted.  Personality-wise, the new man must be strong enough to make his own mark on the program and begin his own traditions. AND: probably most important--the new man should be given authority throughout the school district to do as Barbay, and make sure his system is run from PeeWee football, Middle School, and on up.

[quote name="ChampionEagles" post="912903" timestamp="1290179451"] [quote author=ZATARRA link=topic=76311.msg912879#msg912879 date=1290177579] Should he even apply? [i]I mean if Newton hires anyone other than "WT" there's no way they could be successful, right???[/i] [/quote] You seem to be a wolf in sheeps clothing. Feigning to not know anything, then wanting to give an opinion based on something and seeking acknowledgment of being correct. W.T. has given many dedicated years to Newton and is a heck of a coach. Everyone thinks his going to Kirbyville was the first time he has left. Wrong. This has nothing to do with his coaching ability. Newton needs the best coach available FOR THEIR PROGRAM. The football program at Newton is firmly established and proven and IMO just needs a little tweeking. The last thing we need is to hire a coach that don't fully understand that. The kids need someone they can respect and play for. W.T. could be that man. [/quote] I agree.  Zatarra seems like he's purposely feigning ignorance about Coach Johnston to take a shot at him. I did not see this thread before I started mine.  I'll just repeat, I hope that the aforementioned "small-town politics" does not prevent Newton from hiring the most qualified coach possible.

[quote name="Cowboys" post="914036" timestamp="1290230756"] I'm not a Cameron Yoe supporter, but you have to give them more credit than what you are currently giving to them.  Newton was good this year even after Coach Barbay's passing (albeit not the same).  Things could have been done differently, but I don't think much could have been done to stop what Yoe did to Newton.  For that matter, judging from their performances this season, I will not be surprised if they win state.   Coaching has been fine in Newton.  Many teams would have folded up after the events of this season.  They came and competed every week.  That is all you can ask of a staff in this situation. I agree that Newton will need a good coach to lead them, but that is the same with every program.  Questioning the ability of the assistants after a season like this is ludicrous, especially with a program like Newton. Everybody on this board talked about this district and how tough it would be.  Put Newton in Region 4, and they are in the state semis.   All in all, Cameron Yoe will kick everybody's a$$ on their way to a state championship.  Newton will hire a competent coach and compete well next year.   [/quote] Cowboy, I frankly am puzzled at how you can say I am not giving CY "enough credit," considering I said they were a juggernaut. Like you, I think they should be the odds-on favorite to win state. But tell you what: The Yoemen are on a collision course with Daingerfield.  If they skull-drag Daingerfield and the rest the same way they rag-dolled Newton, then I'll say that I was wrong.  But I don't think they're going to hang 70 on anyone else. My point is:  standards are high in Newton and even with the tragedy of losing Coach Barbay, a Newton squad being totally humiliated should be unacceptable--and this attitude is not one that demeans academics or character-building.  Yoe is awesome, but so was Daingerfield the last two years and Tatum the year before that. Marlin used to be the team that sent Newton home, now it seems like northeast Texas is Newton's stumbling block.  Newton was outmanned against Daingerfield twice and Tatum once, but they competed and fought.  That was the story of Newton under Barbay.  An Eagle defense being shredded for 42 points by halftime should NEVER happen.  Newton has had defensive problems that are separate and apart from losing Coach Barbay. I hope small-town politics does not prevent Newton from hiring the most qualified coach possible.  I want to see Newton continue their winning tradition and high standards--not slip into mediocrity.  Hiring the right coach is crucial.

[quote name="Kville99" post="914006" timestamp="1290229347"] Before you start speculating why don't you sit back and think about what you are doing.  That is bringing up a coaching change in a program that is still in the playoffs.  Kind of disrespectful if you ask me.  I hope this thread goes away fast. [/quote] By the way Kville, once again I say--you're entitled to your opinion. But as far as this thread disappearing 1) this is a sports message board, which ostensibly allows folks to express their opinion.  In the NFL and in college, active coaches are speculated upon for jobs on message boards all over the country. I seriously doubt your opinion re my "taste" and "manners" is going to carry much weight, considering moderators of this board are speculating the same thing on another thread.  Here's the link so you can tell them too:    [url=[Hidden Content]] The point--which the thread starter there makes--is that the job is now posted on the NISD website.  They apparently didn't take your advice to wait until after the state championships.

[quote name="Kville99" post="914006" timestamp="1290229347"] Before you start speculating why don't you sit back and think about what you are doing.  That is bringing up a coaching change in a program that is still in the playoffs.  Kind of disrespectful if you ask me.  I hope this thread goes away fast. [/quote] Uh ... right. I'm sure they're going to make the hire based on what I or anyone else posts on a message board (or when I post it) but hey, you're entitled to your opinion re: my post. I'm sure the speculation started not long after Coach Barbay's funeral, actually, and that hasn't affected Kirbyville's season. You're obviously a Kirbyville fan. Good luck next week. And uh ... don't worry.  I'm sure Coach Johnston will remain focused on the task at hand; my posts--or others' posts--on a message board notwithstanding.

... I suppose it's proper to speculate on Coach Barbay's successor. I think this job is W. T. Johnston's to turn down. Other than Barbay himself, Coach Johnston has had the most impact on Newton's being one of the most feared small-school programs in the state.  And ... his absence is being felt as much between the hashes as Coach Barbay's.  Coach Johnston's defensive schemes made Newton a powerhouse.  Even without the loss of Coach Barbay, the Eagles' defense hasn't been the same without Johnston.  He is a difference-maker as a coach--something you cannot say about many coaches. I don't know the ins-and-outs--I suppose Coach Johnston left because he wanted to be a head coach.  It seems set up perfectly; he's DC at Kirbyville.  I don't know why he wouldn't want to return to Newton as head man--and why anyone in the NISD wouldn't be jumping for joy to have Johnston take over the program. If Johnston isn't interested, if I am Ms. Leach, Mr. Metz, and the NISD, I open up applications not only statewide, but nationwide.  Perhaps one of Coach Barbay's sons would be the man--but bottom line, Newton's winning tradition is too valuable to put in the hands of someone who needs "on the job training."  It is not having priorities out of whack to want Coach Barbay's successor to be a coach who has already proven he can win district titles on a  regular basis, and compete for state titles.  I hope Ms. Leach understands this.  If not, I hope some others there are vocal about this. This is a crucial hire.  Newton is not loaded with great athletes over and above other 2A districts--and I especially wonder how many Kirbyville players these days are from the Newton school district.  But Barbay built a program.  The wrong hire and Newton can be transformed into a mediocre or bad program in one or two seasons. Congratulations to Cameron Yoe, they are a tremendous team.  I don't mean to demean them by saying this game tonight was NOT Newton football, and the NISD leadership should be up in arms.  Again, that does not mean priorities are skewed.  Newton has been outmanned before and lost before, but I don't remember Newton being humiliated and embarrassed like this, and it is totally unacceptable.  Frankly, this defense stinks--at least for a program that is one of the best 2A teams in the state year-in-and-year-out. I hope the new coach is allowed a free hand with staff because apparently some coaches are indeed under-performing. Johnston is my first choice, but I hope whoever is walking the sidelines next season can continue what Barbay has built in Newton.  It is taken for granted that the next coach will first of all be a teacher and a builder of young men. But in addition, at Newton, he needs to know how to win district and state championships also.

Will this game be played in Huntsville? It's about equidistant between the two schools. Oops. Sorry.  Just noticed--Spring.

I will of course pick with the heart and pick Newton. Cameron Yoe is a juggernaut and Newton will have to pass the sternest of tests to advance ... but Newton is used to playing and beating "unbeatable" teams. Hats off to the Eagles ... they won in bi-district in what has been a tough and poignant season for Newton.   Anything from here is lagniappe.