Informer

With all the negativity toward coaches on this message board as of late, I thought I would try to turn the tide a little. I just want to take an opportunity to thank all the coaches around this area for the job they do. Coaches are overworked and underpaid for the influence they have on young men and women's lives. I have been blessed to have had very good coaches in my life and even more blessed that my children had great coaches in their lives. It is amazing to me how much good these people do and how it always seems to be overlooked. Heck, these people spend more time raising other people's children than they often do their own. They spend many many months out of the year taking other people's children home from practice or games instead of picking up their own children from school or whatever may be happening at the time. They are mentally and physically drained with nights lasting into the wee hours of the next day only to get a few hours of sleep and get up and do it all again. They wait up at the school with "little Johnny" for however long it takes for "little Johnny's" ride to show up even if it is hours after they have returned from a trip. These coaches receive stipends for the tons of hours they put in that add up to less than $1 per hour for the work they do outside of the classroom. Why do they do it? It is not for the money and it is not for the fame (as you can see the type of recognition they have received here lately :). It is for the self satisfaction of knowing that they can make a positive difference in a child's life. It is for knowing that they may be the one person that a child can depend on to be there for them. It is for the phone call they get 20 years later from a former player that says "coach, I am successful because of the lessons you taught me". Coaches deserved to be respected and looked upon by our society as men and women who shape children's lives and lots of times at the expense of their own families. It is a shame to think that a coach or their reputation could be attacked because one or several people disagree menial issues like playing time or a play that was drawn up or a philosophy about style of play. It is absurd to think that any outsider feels justified in attacking men and women who sacrifice their own family time to spend quality hours with other people's children. Try to remember these things next time you rush to judge a coach who you think is "doing it wrong".

Someone correct me if I am wrong here but, I believe both of Sutherland's assistants have been head coaches. In fact, I believe one of them was his assistant at EC and followed him as the head coach there. Regardless, I believe both assistants have had successful playoff experience as head coaches. If Sutherland really did pass the board during that timeout then, one would think there is a certain level of trust and respect there that would make him feel comfortable doing that.

no they don't

Really now. You don't think if Hayes is taken away from OF their dynamic changes? Seriously? I took the quote regarding Benard and Robinson as shots at the coaches that if they did not have those players they would not be in the discussion for coach of they year. My point was that you could say that about any coach if you take away his best player. My response was completely tongue in cheek.

That, right there, is one of the most brilliant statements of all time. Wow! The depth and knowledge you exude. I would suspect that if you take away the best player from any team "there wouldn't be anything or anyone to discuss".

This might be the most ignorant statement of all time. Yeah, it is real EASY to get to Austin SIX times and win it all twice.

there is no easy road in the playoffs. have you looked at the bracket? why would anyone want to have to play an extra playoff game if they don't have to? I guarantee you, both of these teams showed up to win last night.

I am not judging. I am going on what information was made available to the public and that was that he was suspended for the year. Based on their record and performance without him versus with him, you may want to rethink that question.

Player's opinion? Seriously? How about the fact that a decision was made and now it should have to be lived with. If anything, the players see now that if you are good enough............well, you know the rest.

I haven't seen the '08 team play but, knowing that the '07 team won the state championship I don't believe the '08 team has any right to be in the same discussion with the '07 team until they EARN the right.

Technically, they could line up for the jump ball and then concede if they choose to.

I agree to an extent. A more stern punishment early on in his career could have prevented a lot of what has happened. However, it was made public that he was suspended for the season. I'm sure they'll come back now and say "no, no, we meant REGULAR season". It looks real bad to go back on it at this point. It comes across as a "win at all costs" attitude.

Each district sets their own precedent in this case (district minutes/rules). This district policy (21-3A) says: If two teams are tied for first place they will be deemed co-champions and will play-off for seeding purposes in the play-offs. There are three options in this situation: 1) teams play 2) coin flip (BOTH schools must agree to this) 3) if school A wants to coin flip but school B refuses a coin flip then school A has the option to concede the first seed to school B

Second chance? Try fourth or fifth

Actually, there is a rule that states (don't know if it is district or UIL) that cheerleaders are to be stationed a minimum of 10 feet from the basket and all to one side. I have been to games at BC before and the cheerleaders spread across the entire end of the floor. Perhaps stationing them on the BC side of the basket (per the rules) would help prevent further incidents.

Silsbee by 18