texastiger

great post bearbryant! I think some of our internet guru's are going to question the hire no matter who it is. Rankin, Bolton, Crouch, Dyer, Burke, etc. Some people will like them and others will start slamming them before the coach even signs a contract. That's why we blog and they coach though. LOL. The one thing for sure is that none of us will have a vote in who LC-M picks.

The petition include MMS and LC football, baseball, Basketball, Soccer, etc. Girls too because my niece and four of her friends signed it yesterday. Don't knock this guys experience. To say he has none is a slap in the face. He's been praised and slammed and can handle it just like any other coach. He's coached 5 undefeated teams in the last seven years and took more heat for that then our varsity did. There's guys on every varsity staff in our district that can't hold a candle to our jr high coaches at MMS and LC. Apparently these guys are more adequate for the job though - because they have "experience". I disagree.

Hey 77 - that's the same question Lumberton asked when they were looking at Credeur. The kids wanted him but he was still known as the jr high coach. Look where they are now. Experience seems to be the popular answer to LC-M's problem - I would take a look at a coach the kids will bust their butts for too. Burke has been at Mauriceville for years and most of those as the jr high AD. He's not as in-experienced as you think. He could have been on the varsity staff the last few years but was smart enough not to get caught up in that mess - and what a mess it was. He didn't leave to go coach high school at another school because he is LC-M all the way. It's time to promote this guy to the job and let the critics see what can happen when the right man is hired for the job.

The boy's and girl's athletes already have a petition going around to have Coach Burke from Mauriceville get the job. They also have a group that wants to go before the board and ask for Burke personally. The kids obviously have a lot a faith and trust in this guy to go to such measures. Who to say this guy can't get the job done. Just because some think they need a high profile coach to come in doesn't necessarily mean they have the kids best interest in mind. The kids know who they want to play for and who can get the job done. It appears that Burke is their #1 choice. Why can't the kids have a say in the matter?

I like the idea of Coach Burke taking over. All the talk of getting some high profile coach or somebody that's been around for years and years isn't the direction we need right now. The players want him and so do a large number of parents. He's already got the kids respect which is the #1 priority. A lot of kids that haven't played are ready to come back too if he gets the job. Good things tend to happen when players believe in their coach. Why not give him a shot. Does anyone know if he's actually said he wants the job?

Well, Life is good in Bear land. I am glad Moody resigned early enough where LCM can start looking and get someone in to start getting the program on the right track!!!! Is anyone from inside the district looking at the job??? Varsity or lower levels applying?? I hear the kids are hoping for one of lower level coaches to step up but not sure who that would be. Just hear say.... I hope the program gets back on its feet since no more BOJO!!!! Our Bears are tough and the kids wanted the changed -- now they have to step up. Step 1 was new coach -- that is happening. Step 2 is getting all kids who want to play out --- should be happening. Lots of exciting changes and hopefully all good!!!!!! Bears need to pull together and show 20-4A that they can compete!!!!!

No one is trying to say MMS is the best team out there. If you ask me it's C.O. hands down then Lumberton, Vidor, and WO-S may be just as good as anyone. We're just trying to say "good year boy's - we're proud of you". MMS puts together a good schedule year in and year out. No one is making excuses about not playing bigger schools either. They are not in the 4A district so they play who they can sometimes. If St. Anne wants to play CO and Bmt. schools then go ahead. We are not trying to compare the two. And remember it is junior high. Does anyone other than us parents know if St. Anne or MMS won or lost? Not really - most eyes are on Friday night. Does anyone really care - Not really. So please don't take this as a parent trying to say his son's team is better - I have seen them in years past and even had my son's coach say that St. Anne was the best team MMS plays year in and year out.

Hey bassman - obviously you're not a Panther fan and are not going to say anything nice about the kids or the program. It's negative comments like yours that hurt the kids. Your apparently bent on putting down the MMS kids and thats not what this post is about. As a parent, we were simply trying to commend the kids on a good season. Two hurricanes and a lot heartbreak in a community where we had a football team bring a little "good news" with it's season. So go ahead and tell us how good you are and how unworthy we are to even step on the field. I am still proud of my son and his friends no matter who they played. GO MAURICEVILLE!

I understand 77 - but what about the coaches at the junior high now? I now the coach at MMS has been there forever and at times coached solo. This year he had help from a freshman in college and they still got the job done. I think some credit should go to that guy for finding ways to get the job done year in and year out. And LC has some coaches that have been coaching for a while also. I have been hearing that a lot of people are trying to blame the junior highs for the high school teams lack of success. I think these kids get there ready to learn. The ball is dropped once they get there. Anyone agree with me there? Didn't the baseball staff coach freshman football this year?

Both MMS and LCJH feed into LC-M - a 4A school. LCJH has about 500 kids and MMS about 225. There is a difference in numbers. PLAIN AS DAY. Just about every 7th and 8th grade boy at MMS plays. Less than half of the boy's play at LCJH. That is why the numbers look even on a Tuesday night. My kid plays and always gets jabbed whether MMS wins or looses. That's a shame for the kids. It seems that there will always be negative comments made but nevertheless - MMS will always find a way to have a successful program. I'm sure if they went out and got slammed by CO or Lumberton or some other huge 4A school, some people would find joy in that. Shame on them - they're not fans of kids. I'm glad for my kid, the rest of the kid's, and the Mauriceville community. The negative doesn't come from over here.

Hey Bassman - You said MMS "should probably quit play St. Anne also" Who exactly has MMS "quit" playing? Could you clarify that statement. 75% of the time? - 2002 MMS 1-0 vs. St. Anne, 2003 1-1 vs. St. Anne, 2004 0-2, 2005 DNP, 2006 1-0-1, 2007 0-2, 2008 2-0. Thats 5-5-1. How did you get 75%. Do the math bassman!

LCJH and MMS are two different schools - size wise. One is a 4A the other a large 2A. Not the schools fault just the way it is. PN and Groves are the same size. CO and Central are the same size. LC and MMS are not. duh! So you think a 2A school should play a 4A schedule? For what? There is a reason schools are classified by size - A LEVEL COMPETITION FIELD. Some people are always going to find a reason to put down MMS and it's kids for being successful. Can't we just say "good job" and hope these kids can keep it going in high school.

Hey jackhammer - No need to move schools. LC-M has the talent. MMS and LCJH put out great teams year in and year out. They've had the same coaches for like - forever and the players play hard for them. They just need to keep playing hard and playing together in high school. The Bears are down but not for long!

hey senior77 - from watching Friday night games it appears that most of the Mauriceville boy's are on the field. Heck - two thirds of the sophomores starting this year and one freshman (first freshman since Earl Thomas played two game before jumping to WO-S) are former Panthers. The only seventh grade team they played was Lumberton about 5 years ago. They played Newton, Deweyville, Kountze, and Silsbee the past few years and St. Anne is a dang good team for being a private school. Anyway - thanks for the complement but don't knock the boy's because they don't play too many 4A teams. They only had 21 8th graders this year. CO and Lumberton had over 80 each and LC has a lot more to choose from also.

Hey jackbquick - Mauriceville played Groves (24-0), Barbers Hill (23-7), St. Annes twice (50-14, 24-0), and Legacy Christian (44-0). They didn't play LC because LC-M admin chose not to. It would be a good game and a close one because LC is a strong group too. LC-M should have another strong freshman group next year. Mauricville does not play in the 4A district because they are about 200+ kids behind the next smallest school in the district.