BD31

My family moved to Lumberton a little over 5 years ago and I was so excited that Credeur was the football coach and the AD. I was also excited that my boys were going to get to play youth football. At the time the Beaumont program youth program had not started so neither of them had been exposed to the game. I grew up playing football, played in high-school and one year in college then came back to Lamar to play before the program disbanded. I tell you this only for context. I know what it's like to be around football at all levels. And I'll say this about the youth program in Lumberton...There are some good men teaching some sound fundamentals. But at the same time there are way too many who think they know football because they downloaded an offensive and defensive scheme off some internet site that was going to make them the next great youth football coach. They may even have a little success from it and now all of sudden they are experts and "know" how our middle school and high-school programs should be run. That progresses into calls to the real coaches with complaints about not running the right system or not doing this or that right. A coach would naturally believe these calls and complaints to be jokes. But these jokes don't quit coming and in fact  become more vile and "bullified." They become character attacks full of hateful lies. These coach wannabes convince others that they are in fact the holders of keys that will unlock the secrets of winning football games. These other's form small groups to get people elected to the school board and their stated intention being to run Credeur off. Any of this sound familiar? Well ya'll got what you wanted. Now what are you going to do? You probably don't have a clue. Or do you? Could all of this been started because of deeper agenda? Could it be that they want a man who will run things according to the way they want it run? To have a coach that will play their kids in the position they (the parent) deems necessary. Don't worry about the team and what's best for all. No little "Jonny" is going to play quarterback or linebacker (just name one other than the line) because that's where I want him to play. Never mind that he's really a lineman and would be a huge benefit to the team there. Our problems in Lumberton will not go away until the selfishness by so many gets under control.

[quote name="Search" post="1398312" timestamp="1367004661"] And I could care less about what other schools are doing.  My kids go to lumberton.  But if you tell me he is a good coach because we went to the playoffs once or because we is a good guys, I will reply with he's not going to the playoffs, the team is not doing well and he does not care.  If you want to give me technical football reasons for why he is a good coach then explain them. [/quote] If you think Coach Credeur didn't care about winning, about the program and especially about the kids he coached then you've just proven to me that you have no idea what you are talking about and you certainly don't know anything about Alvin Credeur. Is he a perfect coach? Of course not. Did he make mistakes? Of course he did. And he'd be the first to tell you he's not living on any past success or acolades. Everything they wrote about him and what he taught the kids can be found in that article from Dave Campbell's. Given time he'd a turned this program around. It was happening. Most of the kids I know (not all) had a great attitude about the future and knew Credeur wanted to win as bad as they did.

[quote name="WASTEOFTALENT" post="1398299" timestamp="1367001403"] This in response to...."[b]They've never been competitive in football....except under Credeur[/b]" '89...6-4  i believe they beat the 3rd ranked 3a team in the state that year '90...7-3  only 2 teams made the playoffs way back then...only 2 district losses '91...8-2  again, only 2 teams made the playoffs...how awful is that...no playoffs I am sure there a few more examples...so post them if you know them... if that isn't competitive.....what is? [/quote] Didn't mean any disrespect to those three team. So over the last 47 years or so they've had a few good years before Credeur but that doesn't make my point any less valid.

For all you haters...this was from Dave Campbells. We'll be making a tour of Texas over the next few weeks, holding presentations at gyms and cafeterias from the Panhandle to the gulf coast to recognize the seven teams (one for each classification) that we thought most strongly exhibited the Army's seven values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. Remember our Army Strong Team of the Week award? Well, this is the same concept, except extrapolated out over the trials and tribulations of a full 10-game season. Didn't follow Lumberton this year? That's OK -- we did. [b]We were watching when they opened their 42nd year of high school football at the beginning of 2007 -- 42 years without a single postseason appearance[/b]. We were watching when they started the season an impressive 6-0, including an improbable 8-7 victory over rival Dayton, a team that had beaten them 55-7 just a year before -- yes, the same Dayton that went on to make the state semifinals this season. We were watching when the Raiders clenched their first-ever postseason by handily beating Nederland in the regular-season finale (snapping their 11-year playoff streak), and, yes, we were watching when they even toppled reigning 4A-DII state champion LaMarque in the second round. We saw it all, and we loved it. Think there's a sense of respect and duty between this team and its community? SGT Jason Custer, the Army representative on-hand for last-week's ceremony, hadn't even handed the trophy over to head coach Alvin Credeur before those in attendance (which was more than 100 people) were offering a hearty standing ovation. Heads were nodding as we talked about things like courage -- the courage to take a team where it had never been before -- and selfless service -- the dedication of players and coaches to those around them who offered their unflinching support. When coach Credeur starting talking about how this team had "made an investment" in their own success, we started nodding, too. These Lumberton Raiders were exactly what we had in mind. Coach Credeur will be missed! Lumberton's loss is another teams big time gain!

[quote name="Search" post="1398273" timestamp="1366995405"] I also got sick to my stomach, but it was from watching how bad the team was last year.  I'm sure some former players have great memories of Coach.  What's your point, cause hes a great person then hes a great coach??  I can tell you that as this info circulated in Lumberton High yesterday, many (did not say all) of the football players were excited to here the news. Hmmm? [/quote] Believe me, there wasn't anybody more sick at his stomach about the last two years than coach Credeur. He recognized some of the problems that caused those years as well and was working on fixing them. Given time he'd have brought the program back around. It's funny how short peoples memories are...just a few short years ago Lumberton was the Army 4A team of the year in Texas. Go back and look at our history. Credeur was probably the most successful coach Lumberton has had for football. They've never been competitive in football...except under Credeur.

[quote name="SETXBaseball2016" post="1398247" timestamp="1366990146"] Here is a facebook post from a Lumberton parent: The news of Coach Credeur leaving makes me sick to my stomach! I consider myself one of the fortunate ones who got to play for Alvin Credeur. The things that we learned about life and being a responsible, productive member of society far outweigh 3 State Championships and the approximately 35-40 wins (but who's counting) on the football field. I also played baseball during those years for Credeur and twice we made it to the state championship game. With Credeur, we learned that no one is bigger than the team. If you didn't buy into that philosophy, then don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. If he would have asked us to, we would have run through a brick wall for him. He is a great leader and a great man. He is the same today as he was over two decades ago. The only thing in my mind that is different is the quality of parenting on display today. If my kids had played for him, I would have been thankful that I didn't have to worry about anything. I could do my job, and he and his staff could do theirs. I could sleep well at night knowing who I had left in charge of my kids for hours each day was going to do as good, or better, of a job than I could do with them. They would have learned things like having Poise under pressure, Responsibility, Integrity, Discipline/ Dedication, and Excellence both on and off the field. P.R.I.D.E. is something that was preached to us every day and if you didn't like it, they told you to "pack your sh*t and get out." The difference was they knew we couldn't leave because our parents wouldn't let us quit. The coach was right and the kids were wrong. Boy, how things have changed. Our parents didn't question anything and our moms and dads didn't try to coach the team and tell him who should be playing what. Everybody didn't bank their kids future on getting an athletic scholarship. They planned on their kid going to college and learning lots of life's lessons while in high school, and if they were lucky enough to get some offers, then they thanked God for the blessing. Now, most parents think their kid is special and if they don't get a full ride to a D1 school, then the coaching staff is to blame and has failed to provide what they are "entitled" to. It's a real shame that mine will not be learning these life lessons from Alvin Credeur! He is not only a great coach, but also a great, christian man !! Coach Credeur will not be the one who suffers from this. The real tragedy is the generations of kids that won't get to learn those same lessons from him. It's a sad day. [/quote] Perfectly stated!

BigCountry66 has got it right. Parents who think they are God's gift to the football world made Coach Credeur's life and coaching experience really hard. He handled all the naysaying with grace and dignity. He never once got down on the level of some of these parents. It enfuriates me that people who have no idea what kind of a man he is could basically force him to leave. He is a good man and a great coach. The irony of it all is the fact that he loves Lumberton, loves the kids and wants to win just as much, if not more than the parents who have treated him so ungraciously. The kids I know at Lumberton were really working hard for him and are heartbroken for the loss. They understand though that He's only doing what he had to do. It's funny, I saw more maturity in 15-17 year old kids yesterday then in some of the "wiser" parents. Good luck coach...we love you.