Tribune-Review Article
Tribune-Review Article
Coaches need to compete or get out
By Goose Goslin
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, April 3, 2005
Here is a suggestion to all the public school coaches frustrated by the success of the private schools in PIAA competition. Get better, go coach at a private school or get out.
That may seem harsh, but here is how I justify it.
Government and governing bodies can not solve everything. Further, public schools, generally speaking, have much more in the way of resources than most private schools. If a public school coach can not win, then he or she needs to look first at himself or herself, then to the athletic director, and then to the school board.
It took decades for backward-thinking administrators to create an open playoff system, including all private and public schools in the commonwealth. That private schools have consistently won titles, especially in basketball, is just one of those things in life -- stuff happens. The recent attempt to give schools the option for private vs. public playoffs by Karns City superintendent Dr. Larry Henry and Lewistown girls basketball coach Kevin Kodish, may be well intended, but it sends the wrong message to the kids they are trying to help fashion into mature adults.
Life is not always fair, and I will bet those two and those in agreement with them have said that often to young people.
Further, I will bet any amount of money that they have followed with the old phrase learned at mothers knee: 'It isn't so much what happens to you in life that counts. It's how you react to it. It isn't so much how far you fall but rather how high you bounce.'
If those axioms are true, and educators are going to invoke them, then they better be prepared to live them, not just spout them.
Just in case the advocates of separation of public and private playoffs have not given it any thought, I point out that this is NCAA men's basketball Final Four weekend. Why is that relevant? It is relevant because the NCAA Tournament(s) are a mixed bag of private and public institutions.
How about private school Bucknell upsetting public school Kansas? I did not hear any whining about that. I do not hear or read any complaints that private school Duke is a consistent March Madness phenomenon.
Obviously, the high school coaches will argue that private colleges and universities have no boundaries in recruiting. My counter is that private high schools, by rule, are not permitted to recruit. I will agree that while the rules say no school can recruit, the privates probably do so to whatever level possible. It may not be politically correct, but the reality is that a lot of private schools have that ancient philosophy of 'if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin.'
So what? Beat them anyway. Stop focusing on what the private schools are doing and focus more on what you are doing with the resources of the public school system.
Among the questions I have for anyone who wants to go back 30 or 40 years is why don't you want to face the best? Why don't you want to beat the best?
Who cares where the players come from or where they live? How can coaches preach to their players to worry only about the things they can control and in the next breath whine about the composition of the oppositions lineup?
Find a way to succeed. Try harder. Coach better. Develop your elementary school, middle school and junior varsity programs better. Just do it. Be an example. Be an overcomer not a whiner.
By Goose Goslin
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, April 3, 2005
Here is a suggestion to all the public school coaches frustrated by the success of the private schools in PIAA competition. Get better, go coach at a private school or get out.
That may seem harsh, but here is how I justify it.
Government and governing bodies can not solve everything. Further, public schools, generally speaking, have much more in the way of resources than most private schools. If a public school coach can not win, then he or she needs to look first at himself or herself, then to the athletic director, and then to the school board.
It took decades for backward-thinking administrators to create an open playoff system, including all private and public schools in the commonwealth. That private schools have consistently won titles, especially in basketball, is just one of those things in life -- stuff happens. The recent attempt to give schools the option for private vs. public playoffs by Karns City superintendent Dr. Larry Henry and Lewistown girls basketball coach Kevin Kodish, may be well intended, but it sends the wrong message to the kids they are trying to help fashion into mature adults.
Life is not always fair, and I will bet those two and those in agreement with them have said that often to young people.
Further, I will bet any amount of money that they have followed with the old phrase learned at mothers knee: 'It isn't so much what happens to you in life that counts. It's how you react to it. It isn't so much how far you fall but rather how high you bounce.'
If those axioms are true, and educators are going to invoke them, then they better be prepared to live them, not just spout them.
Just in case the advocates of separation of public and private playoffs have not given it any thought, I point out that this is NCAA men's basketball Final Four weekend. Why is that relevant? It is relevant because the NCAA Tournament(s) are a mixed bag of private and public institutions.
How about private school Bucknell upsetting public school Kansas? I did not hear any whining about that. I do not hear or read any complaints that private school Duke is a consistent March Madness phenomenon.
Obviously, the high school coaches will argue that private colleges and universities have no boundaries in recruiting. My counter is that private high schools, by rule, are not permitted to recruit. I will agree that while the rules say no school can recruit, the privates probably do so to whatever level possible. It may not be politically correct, but the reality is that a lot of private schools have that ancient philosophy of 'if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin.'
So what? Beat them anyway. Stop focusing on what the private schools are doing and focus more on what you are doing with the resources of the public school system.
Among the questions I have for anyone who wants to go back 30 or 40 years is why don't you want to face the best? Why don't you want to beat the best?
Who cares where the players come from or where they live? How can coaches preach to their players to worry only about the things they can control and in the next breath whine about the composition of the oppositions lineup?
Find a way to succeed. Try harder. Coach better. Develop your elementary school, middle school and junior varsity programs better. Just do it. Be an example. Be an overcomer not a whiner.
Re: Tribune-Review Article
I bet the goose went to a private school I would like to know where he went to high school at.
Re: Tribune-Review Article
Based on the Goose's philosophy we should eliminate the four classes and every school should compete together in the same group.
I wonder if the small private schools would have better coaching and feeder programs competing against the likes of Chester, Schenely and Harrisburg.
Comparing Division I college programs to small high schools, now that is an interesting comparison. Oh by the way, when was the last time one of those NCAA private schools won the championship?
Amazing that they will let anyone write on a subject regardless of the their comprehension of the situation.
I wonder if the small private schools would have better coaching and feeder programs competing against the likes of Chester, Schenely and Harrisburg.
Comparing Division I college programs to small high schools, now that is an interesting comparison. Oh by the way, when was the last time one of those NCAA private schools won the championship?
Amazing that they will let anyone write on a subject regardless of the their comprehension of the situation.
The easiest thing to do in sports is hustle.
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HOLLYWOOD
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Re: Tribune-Review Article
I agree you can't compare High School to college in that sense, it is not even close or an agrument!! All small schools having the greatest players and/or Coach can't beat a good recruiting smaller school like Kennedy Catholic!! College is different, it is like comparing a D-IAA team which has I think 65 scholarships to a D-IA team with 85 scholarships!!
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WPIAL~Titan
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Re: Tribune-Review Article
I say make the Kennedy Catholics and Trinitys and North Catholics, and Bishop Carrolls and Serra Catholics play in AAAA...Then we'll see how good they are.
WT
WT
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HOLLYWOOD
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 2765
- Joined: August 21st, 2003, 1:07 pm
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Re: Tribune-Review Article
yes totally agree with you WT and thanks Ham!! Nice to be back in Action!!
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WPIAL~Titan
- Official BleacherCoach
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- Joined: September 5th, 2003, 6:15 pm
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Re: Tribune-Review Article
PSU is pretty easy to hate...Your sanctimonious coach truly believes he invented college football with his "GRAND EXPERIMENT" makes me wonder why anyone would want to leave college football to the Switzers and Sherrills of the world!!!
BTW, anyone wanna shoot a few ARROWS through my theory? EZ, everyone, j/k!
BTW, anyone wanna shoot a few ARROWS through my theory? EZ, everyone, j/k!