Tarkington is open

[Old Ape]

On the Football coaching side you have a much easier district than what Belt was having to go against. On the District support side of it you have absolutely NONE! 

 

[CDub86]

Absolutely true! There’s a much better chance of being competitive since we’ve dropped but there is little to no willingness to make our district appealing from this administration. Frustrating!

[oldschool2]

2 hours ago, CDub86 said:

Absolutely true! There’s a much better chance of being competitive since we’ve dropped but there is little to no willingness to make our district appealing from this administration. Frustrating!

Just out of curiosity.. what suggestions do you have to make the district appealing?  Money?

[CDub86]

It’s going to take money, it’s no surprise that our facilities are the worst in the area. It’s going to take a combined commitment of administration and community.

[bulldog16]

So where did Toby go? Another job/Retire? Doesn't sound like he was forced out or run off. Hope he lands somewhere.

[CDub86]

Haven’t heard, apparently the decision was made late and he informed his coaches after. No one has info or isn’t sharing.

[2wedge]

On 3/25/2026 at 10:08 AM, Kegger said:

Retired. His 2 sons are coaching now. Oldest was a finalist for the CP job (he was the DC there) now he is going to be DC at Atascocita. Other son was at Dayton last I heard. Stan did not do a bad job at all during his time there. 

Exactly. He was good at Tarkingon considering the situation. No clue why people were so interested in making a change at the time. 

[Reagan]

9 minutes ago, 2wedge said:

Exactly. He was good at Tarkingon considering the situation. No clue why people were so interested in making a change at the time. 

Maybe this:

2016  Tarkington                  3-7-0 F
2017  Tarkington                  1-8-0
2018  Tarkington                  2-8-0

[kirkwood29]

Serious question, when was the last time Tarkington won enough games to be apart of the UIL HS football playoffs for 2-3 years consecutive? 

[Reagan]

13 minutes ago, kirkwood29 said:

Serious question, when was the last time Tarkington won enough games to be apart of the UIL HS football playoffs for 2-3 years consecutive? 

2014  Fourth Place   Brandon Carpenter  7-5

2015  Fourth Place   Brandon Carpenter  4-7

2016  Fourth Place   Stan Howard            3-7

They won district back in 1956...

[CDub86]

Gotta love those 5 team divisions!

[PNGFaithful]

Tarkington will never be successful. I grew up there. People don’t want to spend the money to build facilities. All they do is complain. 

[CDub86]

44 minutes ago, PNGFaithful said:

Tarkington will never be successful. I grew up there. People don’t want to spend the money to build facilities. All they do is complain. 

This exactly!

They had a chance to improve the district and upgrade/build new facilities but didn't want to pass the bond. I know that was not for athletic facilities but still an improvement. The bond would've added very little to school taxes. I know that people in the community have issues with people on the school board. Small town drama and such lol.

[Kegger]

Is there any new growth coming out that way?

[CDub86]

2 hours ago, Kegger said:

Is there any new growth coming out that way?

Several new neighborhoods being built in the area. Definitely growing.

[Separation Scientist]

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[CDub86]

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[Kegger]

7 hours ago, CDub86 said:

Several new neighborhoods being built in the area. Definitely growing.

The right few neighborhoods, and the right type of kids moving in can completely change what the district looks like athletically. It also can change the enthusiasm and willingness to vote for bonds.

[CDub86]

1 hour ago, Kegger said:

The right few neighborhoods, and the right type of kids moving in can completely change what the district looks like athletically. It also can change the enthusiasm and willingness to vote for bonds.

Absolutely true and I know a lot of people looking to get into the area, more and more each year. 

[89Falcon]

39 minutes ago, CDub86 said:

Absolutely true and I know a lot of people looking to get into the area, more and more each year. 

Yet, the enrollment in the school is declining. There are kids in the area right now that go to other schools because of the district, program, and facilities. 

[CDub86]

38 minutes ago, 89Falcon said:

Yet, the enrollment in the school is declining. There are kids in the area right now that go to other schools because of the district, program, and facilities. 

Also true, wasn’t much but decline is decline. Guess that’s where the administration and community comes into play. Until that rift is fixed it will probably stay status quo.

[2wedge]

On 3/26/2026 at 3:07 PM, Reagan said:

2014  Fourth Place   Brandon Carpenter  7-5

2015  Fourth Place   Brandon Carpenter  4-7

2016  Fourth Place   Stan Howard            3-7

They won district back in 1956...

You often miss the forest for the trees. Not a soul on earth is going to come into Tarkington and make them an above .500 team right now. The point I'm making is, at least Howard loved it there and wanted to keep investing in the kids. People with champagne dreams that maintain a Natural Light budget will run a guy like off, hire the next Johnny Come Lately, who is also unsuccessful, and do that again and again and again. In the meantime, the program dwindles to nothing because there is no continuity or relationship between the HC and the kids to make them even want to play football in that town anymore. A few cycles of that and you are DOA. Tarkington is nearing DOA. 

[Reagan]

32 minutes ago, 2wedge said:

You often miss the forest for the trees. Not a soul on earth is going to come into Tarkington and make them an above .500 team right now. The point I'm making is, at least Howard loved it there and wanted to keep investing in the kids. People with champagne dreams that maintain a Natural Light budget will run a guy like off, hire the next Johnny Come Lately, who is also unsuccessful, and do that again and again and again. In the meantime, the program dwindles to nothing because there is no continuity or relationship between the HC and the kids to make them even want to play football in that town anymore. A few cycles of that and you are DOA. Tarkington is nearing DOA. 

I was answering a specific question with a specific answer!  

[CDub86]

1 hour ago, 2wedge said:

You often miss the forest for the trees. Not a soul on earth is going to come into Tarkington and make them an above .500 team right now. The point I'm making is, at least Howard loved it there and wanted to keep investing in the kids. People with champagne dreams that maintain a Natural Light budget will run a guy like off, hire the next Johnny Come Lately, who is also unsuccessful, and do that again and again and again. In the meantime, the program dwindles to nothing because there is no continuity or relationship between the HC and the kids to make them even want to play football in that town anymore. A few cycles of that and you are DOA. Tarkington is nearing DOA. 

Oh you could visibly see the lack of eFFort given by the players and some coaches. The only life we saw was the Jasper game and that was the wrong kind of enthusiasm.

Edited 17 minutes ago by WOSdrummer99