FWCOACH2010

It is amazing to read some of this stuff.  But it is the society we live in.  "My baby didn't get a college scholarship!!!!!!  Has to be the coach's fault."  I will say again, I know plenty of recruiters that roll through NHS and they all say the staff is a class act and are open and honest about each kid.  They are gracious with video and information.  Not sure what else a coach can do.  If you are unhappy with the process, subscribe to one of those recruiting services for about $3K, get more letters than you care to read and still have no scholarship to show for it.  SMH.

Point being Mayfield, quit hammering coaches.  An opinion is one thing, an opinion that could affect a man's livelihood is another.  I am sorry you took offense to the comment about size of your son.  Not meaning to make it personal but I see that I did.  In general, that is what we as coaches find.  Parents get mad that their kid didn't get a football scholarship or a chance to play at the next level and blame coaches, yet their son is not nearly big enough to even think about playing beyond high school.

 

And, just so you know, I have a son who is 5'9", 160#'s that was a 2 year starter on a 5A team that played in the State Championship game.  I understand as a parent and a coach that he is a very good football player.  I also understand as a coach, he is not a college football player.  I am fine with that.  I know it has nothing to do with coaches but everything to do with physical characteristics.

The ridiculous part is blaming high school coaches for kids not playing at the next level.  Excuse me, insinuating is a better term.  Which would you consider better, a losing team with 10 kids receiving scholarships (would like to know what schools these kids are going to) or a winning team with only 2.  What coaches do a better job?  What coaches work harder for the kids, ALL THE KIDS!!!!!  Give me a break Mayfield.  And to say it touched a few of the older people in the community?  Maybe the ones like you who do not get it.  I have tried to put it in term you could understand in several posts.  You just have an axe to grind because you 5'8", 155# kid didn't get any offers.

Anybody who argues against 7v7 just does not want to do the work it takes.  If 7v7 is no good, why do it every day during the season or in the Spring?  Colleges and pros do it basically year around.  I guess the argument could be said for summer league basketball or pick up games.  How about fall baseball?  Why not hit the waits instead of wasting time practicing what you do.

Has this Rave fella ever coached at the high school level?  College coaching looks great and makes admin and committees oooooo and ahhhh....however, coaching at the college level is completely different than coaching at the college level.  Seen it too many times with the college coaches thinking they are going to bring in "the college way of doing things and out coach all those lowly high school coaches."  About mid way through the season, the teachers have eaten them up, eligibility and the paperwork for eligibility is done wrong if done at all....you don't get to pick your players, gotta play with what you are dealt.  I have coached at both levels and I can tell you without hesitation, 80% of college coaches would not make it at the high school level.

Yes Razor.  You are correct.  I didn't address that side of the coin.  I focused more on the scholarship situation.

Mayfield-  I don't know a single coach at Nederland but, I know their reputation and know people who recruit that area.  Those coaches do all they can for their kids.  If a kid chooses not to play because he doesn't get a football scholarship, then what else can a coach do.  I posted it earlier, most kids really do not want to plat college football, they want a college football scholarship.  Some may go off to a D-3 school for one semester thinking they are gonna play as freshmen and about week 2 they realize they are not and cannot.  I use D1 as an example because that is what parents think of.  I am not sure what axe you have to grind Mayfield but when it comes down to it, coahes don't get kids scholarships or opportunities, talent does.  You better hold on to that staff because they are winning with lesser talent.

Back to the original statement-  I am sure Nederland had a bunch of great kids that were coachable and executed the game plan.  They played hard and new how to win.  Iknow they have the stud going to A&M and I bet he was a difference maker.  However, being coachable, smart, and a good football player does not get you a scholly.  You have to be a difference maker.  The kid that stands out above and beyond everyone on the field.  As well as have the frame that fits your position.   Everyone is an all-american in their parents' eyes.

 

As a coach, we do everything we can to help a kid out.  What parents do not understand is we cannot push a kid as D1 if he is not D1.  When we have coaches come through, we are realistic about what type of player he is.  If he is a hard worker, we tell them....if he is a great student, we tell them...if he is a student of the game, we tell them.  Their job is to evaluate talent level.  If i tell a recruiter 5 kids are D1 talent and none of them are, how much stock will that recruiter put in what I say when I do have a real D1 kid.....

I think FBS/FCS are allowed 1 non-Q on scholly.  I may be completely wrong on this but I am pretty sure that was what it was a few years ago.  That kid has to be very special though.  Most will not waste $ on that.

I have coached at the college level and the high school level.  I can tell you that parents are so misinformed and have such ludicrous expectations that I could talk about this for days.  Here is the break down:

 

D1 FBS-  95 scholarships in football.  CANNOT break them up.  If you get a football scholarship to one of these schools, IT IS A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.  I would say 99% of the schools honor it for 4/5 years but will pull the scholarships of athletes that have continuous problems.

 

D1- FCS- 65 sholarships in football.  CAN break them up.  Most of their scholarships go to kickback players from FBS schools.  They will sign a few HS seniors each year but very few are awarded full $$$$.  They usually offer enough $ to cover what financial aid does not.  Most FCS kids are FBS talent but may be an inch too short or 5 lbs too light.  I can tell you, that FCS wants to sign FBS players as much as possible.

          SIDE BAR-  Not sure what schools you are looking at but Pell $ does not cover the cost to go to school.  Not even close.

 

D2-      35 Scholarships.  CAN break them up.  These schools many times are more talented than the FCS schools.  Their rosters are loaded with  kickbacks from FBS players that ran into troubles.  These schools pick up the JuCo kids that didn't take care of their business to qualify for D1 schools.  Most if not all these schools spend their money on transfers and do not offer any football money to HS seniors.  Many times, they offer $500 but that is not a football scholarship.  That is school money any student can get.  Be very careful about sending your athlete to play at these schools.  Quote form a D2 head coach- "The cesspool of academics that is D2 athletics."

 

D3-  ZERO football scholarships.  This is where most of the high school players fall.  If you ever get a chance to go to watch a D3 game, you need to go.  There are some very talented kids on the field and all of them (in general) were one of the best players on their high school team.  if a kid truly wants to play college football, there is opportunity at this level.  What most D3 coaches find is that kids do not want to play football, they want a scholarship.  Very sad that this is where our society is but a scholarship is seen as a badge of honor now and if an athlete does not get one, then the coaches didn't work hard enough for him.

 

JuCo- Various #'s of scholarships.  This is where the non-qualifiers are.  If your athlete isn't FBS or FCS, they won't play here either.

 

NAIA-  Another great option for most HS seniors.  This is a dying level of competition.  If your athlete is offered a scholarship to an NAIA school, look at the costs to see how much is out of pocket.  Usually it is cheaper to go to a D3 school then to go NAIA.  Also, there are not many NAIA close to TX.

 

Hope this helps and again, this is just tip of the iceberg stuff.

Forgot Carthage....sorry

Celina, Southlake, Lake Travis, Gilmer, Refugio, Mart?, Cedar Hill.....there may be more and maybe some didn't win 7v7 championship but they definitely played deep in the tourney.....that argument is not a good one.  Lets look and see how many football state champions don't do 7v7.

Sorry H-D, that wasn't your post.  You just agreed to it.  Just didn't want you to think I was picking on you.

And by the way H-D, what is wrong with practicing timing with QB and WR all summer long.  On top of that, how about getting coverage work all summer long as well as competing all summer long.  You can teach kids how to win and compete in 7v7.  It has benefited us everywhere I have ever been.  Going to camp improves the individual kid, 7v7 improves groups of kids and teaches them how to play together.  It also teaches them spacial awareness and concepts.

HMMMMM....I can assure you the parents of H-D have more than the inner city school I worked at and we played in a Thursday night league ($300/team), 4 SQT's, The State 7v7 (2 days so add hotel room), a national 7v7 in Tennessee, and 3 non-SQT tournaments.  The kids started raising money early spring and we hit the streets seeking sponsors.  If you want it to happen, it can happen.  Just takes a coordinated effort and it has to be important.  I have heard coaches say they don't do 7v7 because it isn't real football or whatever reason.  To me that is just saying "I don't want to work to make this happen."  Have a nice day.

Any level school can compete in 7v7.  The school cannot pay for any expenses with 7v7 in the summer or school year.  All expenses have to be paid by the athletes.  So explain to me again why small schools cannot compete in 7v7.

From everything I am reading on here, he can play.  School will come around showing interest and he will be at the next level if what I am reading is true.  He will also get the love you on here when he produces (not saying he hasn't already) but not to the point of recognition.  Many kids mature late or are seen as average until their senior year and they come out ballin.  I have coached many of them that have gone on to have excellent careers in college and even had two that were unknowns until their senior year that are playing on Sundays now.

This will not be a popular response or may hurt your feelings but, I can tell you from experience, if a kid can play, colleges know who they are. It doesn't matter if he is blogged about or getting stars. I do 't know the kid and anyone can have a highlight cut up. If the kid is a D-1 player, D-1 schools know him.