Reading threads like this make me lose my mind. There are a few comments on here that make sense but some of you have no clue what you're talking about, yet you run your mouth as if you do. If Tarkington is so awful then why waste your time and words running down their kids and their community just because you're used to doing so on this site because nobody calls you out or will say anything.
First off Carpenter didn't "get run out" of Tarkington. He left for better opportunities because he had a goal to be a 6A head coach. This just in, there is probably no football coaches that aspire to do great things that want to make a career out of coaching football in Tarkington or insert any 3A program, even if it is your hometown.
Second, Newton even though his kids go to school here isn't leaving his gig because he loves where he's at and what he has going on. He hasn't applied so NOBODY has "turned him down". So you can stop beating that dead horse.
Third, Belt is currently at Tarkington helping with offseason and softball for whoever put that he's at Anahuac.
Fourth, Howard got ran off because kids just kept quitting. I personally liked him but my kid wasn't in high school at the time so I can't give 100% accurate statement as to what was the final straw but talking to other parents, not many people cared for him or his coaching style. Which is similar to the current situation.
Coach A was ran off because him and nobody else could get along. That went for coaches, kids, parents, etc. Again my kid isn't in high school so I don't know what really went on, but let's just say, I've heard the list of reasons people didn't like him.
Lastly, Bass didn't leave because he got ran off. There were other factors at play, including he got a 6A OC job, one of the better talent pools recently was graduating and some that didn't have to do with football at all.
The thing is, the reason Bass and Carpenter were some of the more successful coaches here didn't have as much to do with X's and O's as it did with the type of people they were. They were people that kids wanted to come out and play for. I think some of you don't understand the reality behind how important it is for schools like Tarkington to get the "right" kids to come out and play all the sports. Tarkington wouldn't have success at anything if they didn't have some athletes. Which isn't the case as they've been fairly successful at basketball and baseball throughout the years. But just like any other small school, talent is cyclical. So even if you get the right kids out, they may be younger as is currently the case and you're right they need consistency. They need consistent coaching that pushes to get the best out of them and keeps the fire burning to want to play sports vs other things such as work, hunt, etc. There is a reason that most of the people love it out here so much. Their kids don't grow up on the streets or somewhere that they don't have a back yard where they have to have sports to be entertained. They have land and the ability to ride four wheelers, hunt, play outside in general with their friends and many other things to do. That doesn't make them "inbred" or "rednecks" like some dumb*** said. It makes them fortunate.
Rant over. Go back to gloating about your school's "greatness" and everyone else's downfalls.
Very good post. Most people talking trash are ones that don't have kids that are affected. This could easily be true for a lot of the smaller districts in the area. Hull, Hardin, Shepherd, Hardin Jefferson, Kountze, Kirbyville, WH etc.. Even bigger schools like Livingston and Cleveland, all will have dry years where talent is sparse. Tarkington has some good years, but talent in regards to schools they play is not on an even playing field. Hardin Jefferson had one of the best coaches in East Texas but had trouble the last few years, because they don't have what Silsbee, Jasper, and WOS have. I do believe Tarkington a chance to win some games with the right schedule. In regards to coaching I do believe they need someone that can recruit and keep kids out, but they must have parent/community support or they will fail.
Tarkington Open
in High School Football
Posted
Very good post. Most people talking trash are ones that don't have kids that are affected. This could easily be true for a lot of the smaller districts in the area. Hull, Hardin, Shepherd, Hardin Jefferson, Kountze, Kirbyville, WH etc.. Even bigger schools like Livingston and Cleveland, all will have dry years where talent is sparse. Tarkington has some good years, but talent in regards to schools they play is not on an even playing field. Hardin Jefferson had one of the best coaches in East Texas but had trouble the last few years, because they don't have what Silsbee, Jasper, and WOS have. I do believe Tarkington a chance to win some games with the right schedule. In regards to coaching I do believe they need someone that can recruit and keep kids out, but they must have parent/community support or they will fail.