It's posts like this that keep Frances high on the guest list for the annual, "Coach Mike Flynn Golf Scramble and Clambake"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

j/k Frances... j/k

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

You mean to tell me that they've been having a clambake all these years, and I never knew about it?

 

Now I'm upset.

 

 

Frances

Well, I'll have to weigh in on this one. The following is my opinion, and I base it on knowing Flynn on a fairly good basis.

 

1) I'm an Ashland fan.

2) For my money, Flynn is an EXCELLENT basketball coach. In terms of X's and O's, he takes a backseat to no one in our Region (or in the state). There are other excellent coaches in the 16th, and I don't mean that last statement as a slight toward the others.

3) I've never spoken with Flynn when he wasn't generous with his time, and courteous. Is he the warmest person I've ever met? No. But he has never even come close to being rude. Not even in the ballpark.

4) I cannot speak to the comments about kids wanting to play for him, but I can tell you this - if I were still living in Ashland, I'd be tickled to death to have my son play for him. Without question, he has had some players over the years that didn't like playing for him. I guarantee you that that statement can be made about any and every coach that ever held a whistle between his lips. Every last one of 'em.

5) He is respected around the state, by his coaching peers. That is not a universal (nobody is liked by everyone), but it is a solid statement.

6) Every team he has had has improved from the beginning of the season to the end. In my book, that makes him a good coach.

7) We are each entitled to our opinions, and these are mine. I have no problem whatsoever with anyone on this thread disagreeing with me, but I didn't want someone reading this thread to think that Flynn is some kind of callous hack that simply rolls the ball out there come game time. In my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth.

 

At some point in time, Flynn will leave his position as the head coach at Ashland. When he does, I'm sure that they'll find another highly qualified person to take the reigns. Until that time, the kids that play for him will get fundamentally better, they will learn a lot more about the game than they think they are learning, and the vast majority will look back on it as a good time.

 

 

Frances

 

PS - Little Frances can play for Coach Hart any time as well. :thumb:

 

I basically agree with you :thumb:

You mean to tell me that they've been having a clambake all these years, and I never knew about it?

 

Now I'm upset.

 

 

Frances

I suspect it was due to your potential for wreaking havoc on the links... :eek:

 

 

 

But I'm certain you're still quite high on the guest list... :thumb:

Amazing what some losses do for the Tomcat faithful. Everyone knew that the cats would struggle this season with their schedule, so why is everyone so suprised. Already calling for Flynns head is crazy. Maybe Ashland is taking over for Boyd Co as "TEAM TURMOIL"?????

I suspect it was due to your potential for wreaking havoc on the links... :eek:

 

But I'm certain you're still quite high on the guest list... :thumb:

 

Sheesh!

 

You run a couple of golf carts into the pond on the #3 hole, shank a drive into the picture window on the clubhouse, get accused of shoplifting two golf gloves from the pro shop, and accidentally back your car over the Athletic Director's brand new set of titanium shafted irons, and the next thing you know, you've been labeled as being less than desirable on the invitation list.

 

I'm telling you, it was all a misunderstanding.

 

Frances

Amazing what some losses do for the Tomcat faithful. Everyone knew that the cats would struggle this season with their schedule, so why is everyone so suprised. Already calling for Flynns head is crazy. Maybe Ashland is taking over for Boyd Co as "TEAM TURMOIL"?????

 

No one is calling for Flynn's head. Its just an honest discussion.

I am suprised by all the players quitting, though. I'm not so sure that it is all the coaches fault though. Seems like kids now are coddled so much growing up that they don't know how to handle any adversity and their answer when they face it is just to quit. Just an observation on my part though.

I think there is some validity to what Kinglion said.

 

I don't think this is an isolated problem. Ashland isn't the only school that has kids quitting nor is it something that just started happening.

 

I think in Flynn's case he has been at Ashland for quite a few years. Over the course of a few years you are going to upset some people.

I wasnt the Fairview loss that brought this about. For the last couple of years there have been these rumblings. Coach Hart has only been at Ashland for 3 years and Flynn is in his 8th I think. In his first 2 years I think that Coach Hart's teams over achieved, especially in '04, by making it to Regional Finals in '03 and '04, which is basically the basketball equivalent of winning a game at Rupp, which Flynn has only done once. I know thats comparing apples to oranges, but Coach Hart changed the attitude about Ashland Football. He built a program, and its effects can been seen from the Ashland JFL to Verity, and to the Tomcats. When I was in high school Wayne Breeden built basketball into a program where you had 30 or 40 kids wanting to play basketball, and you actually had cuts. Its not that way now, I look at some of the kids that play now, and I think those same kids would have been the first ones cut back in the mid 90's.

Had Breeden not gotten a favorable call versus Russell in the region year his first year he was going to be let go. So it goes on Blazer Blvd.

I wasnt the Fairview loss that brought this about. For the last couple of years there have been these rumblings. Coach Hart has only been at Ashland for 3 years and Flynn is in his 8th I think. In his first 2 years I think that Coach Hart's teams over achieved, especially in '04, by making it to Regional Finals in '03 and '04, which is basically the basketball equivalent of winning a game at Rupp, which Flynn has only done once. I know thats comparing apples to oranges, but Coach Hart changed the attitude about Ashland Football. He built a program, and its effects can been seen from the Ashland JFL to Verity, and to the Tomcats. When I was in high school Wayne Breeden built basketball into a program where you had 30 or 40 kids wanting to play basketball, and you actually had cuts. Its not that way now, I look at some of the kids that play now, and I think those same kids would have been the first ones cut back in the mid 90's.

 

AT, I just read this post, I kinda skimmed over it the first time. I think Hart is a genuinely nice guy. I have not had much interaction with him but my experience was much like Spindoc described.

 

It's interesting that you mentioned Wayne Breeden. I have never been around a more knowledgable basketball person that coach Breeden, an absolute basketball genius. My personal relationship with him was a very positive one in that I never had any issues with him but he was no Prince Charming. He was very demanding of his assistant coaches and players and I think had he stayed much longer there would have been many of the same "problems" you see today.

 

In other words I don't believe that Mike Flynn should be blamed entirely for the kids who have left Ashland's program. I'm sure there are some instances where that is the case but that is not unique. I really believe it is the nature of the beast.

AT, I just read this post, I kinda skimmed over it the first time. I think Hart is a genuinely nice guy. I have not had much interaction with him but my experience was much like Spindoc described.

 

It's interesting that you mentioned Wayne Breeden. I have never been around a more knowledgable basketball person that coach Breeden, an absolute basketball genius. My personal relationship with him was a very positive one in that I never had any issues with him but he was no Prince Charming. He was very demanding of his assistant coaches and players and I think had he stayed much longer there would have been many of the same "problems" you see today.

 

In other words I don't believe that Mike Flynn should be blamed entirely for the kids who have left Ashland's program. I'm sure there are some instances where that is the case but that is not unique. I really believe it is the nature of the beast.

 

You are right about Coach Breeden. I played briefly for him before breaking my ankle my freshman and junior years. His basketball knowledge is second to none, and at times he was a complete basketball maniac that would put the fear of God in you in a matter of seconds. Personally I thought he was a fantastic Coach, and to me he just seemed on another level. I know that everyone respected him, and wanted to play for him. I dont know if that can be said about Flynn. I would love to see Breeden back on the Ashland sidelines someday, but I know he is not big on sharing athletes with other sports, so I dont know if he will ever coach in high school again. I agree with you that it is "the nature of the beast" but I would just like to have a coach that the players loved, and loved playing for.

Amazing what some losses do for the Tomcat faithful. Everyone knew that the cats would struggle this season with their schedule, so why is everyone so suprised. Already calling for Flynns head is crazy. Maybe Ashland is taking over for Boyd Co as "TEAM TURMOIL"?????

I dont think that its team turmoil but its fan turmoil. At Ashland they are used to winning and have to find other excuses than the clear ones. Ashland lost 12 games and went to the sweet 16. Ashland fans get over it. Ashland isnt the best team in the region but could be due to Flynn. I hope he stays and not let you AShland fans run him off.Good job Mike!!!!!!!!

Alot of the above kids mentiond would make it in Flynn's system.

This is what I've overheard from Tomcat basketball parents. Most of the kids consider it a great honor to be chosen to play basketball at Ashland, a program rich with tradition. These kids go out and work hard everyday. Granted there are differences in talent levels and some kids are going to get, and deserve, more time. But it seems like from about the 7th grade up, it is already known what kids will be getting the serious looks when it comes to development of their skills and time played. How do you know what kind of player a kid could become, even through their early years in high school, if you don't work to develop that talent? The emphasis is put on 7 or 8 players, the rest are there more or less as practice dummies. The top 8 get to watch the game film, they room together on road trips, sit together on the bus, get special ankle wraps, and until this year were segregated on the bench from the rest of the team. There doesn't seem to be much feedback on what they need to do to improve. They are expected to work hard, sit the bench, and be happy doing so. It's like going to work but never getting a paycheck. I think a lot of the problem starts at the jv level. That seems to be when the kids really get discouraged and you have to wonder about the fairness at times, on who is getting playing time, etc. It is very demoralizing to 10th and 11th grade boys when 8th and 9th grade kids are brought up and they end up getting more time than those who have been there day in and day out. The current freshman team, which is a large class, only has 8 on their roster this year. Is this another sign of kids realizing they will not be given a chance, so why bother?