Rumors swirl around BC baseball
Gabriel Pruett
The Orange Leader
Rumors continue to swirl almost on a daily basis surrounding the job status of Bridge City baseball coach Billy Bryant.
The word has been Bryant will soon be reassigned by the Bridge City Independent School District after five years in the dugout.
BCISD Jamey Harrison on Tuesday assured this reporter Bryant has not been reassigned and acknowledged each coach is discussed after each year to be put in a better position to serve the athletes.
“There are always rumors,†Harrison said on Tuesday. “It is amazing what goes around."
Still, the rumors beat on throughout the week, leading to numerous phone calls and tracking down leads to practically nobody wanting to go on record with what has been said.
The only truths lie in what Bryant has accomplished while at Bridge City.
Bryant has delivered a 151-32 record (.825 winning percentage) with Bridge City, his alma mater, in his five years at the helm. Over the last four seasons is when most of the success has come.
Bryant was 72-42 at Buna and took the Cougars to the State Tournament as well, giving him an overall 223-74 mark.
Long playoff runs have been the theme for his Cardinals, as Bridge City relished in the fact of going to back-to-back state tournaments, then a trip to the regional finals the next season and this season a young Cardinals’ squad reached the regional quarterfinals. Bridge City also won the District 21-3A championship with a 13-1 record.
Should Bryant be reassigned in the near future, and the rumors end up being true, his departure would not be over a lack of performance.
The rumors usually fall on what seems to be minor differences with others within BCISD along the way.
Bryant has also been silent on the issue, stating he would wait to comment on the situation when school officials make an official announcement about his status.
Bryant, when questioned, did not confirm or deny the rumors which seem to be turning into the worst kept secret in the Southeast Texas sports scene.
The only fact which will remain true is rumors will continue to fly around, while both a coach and a community await a decision some think has already have been made.
To me, his record speaks for itself.
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