Sounds to me like some of the boys want playing time just because their older than someone else.

I always thought that the most talented kids play weather that being 8th graders or 11th. Grade school is when everyone plays not at higher grade levels. Should you concentrate on 8 good players or let everyone in the school play. This doesnt make since. I believe that this is how its always been in basketball ( NBA, College, or whatever) Thats like saying Lebron cant play more than a guy that has been on the team for 5 years. Find something else to complain about Ashland fans. I think that I have heard these comments from UK fans to( I am a huge UK fan by the way.) Ashlad fans need to relax because I truley believe that we will be there in March.

Listen Ashland should feel fortunate to have Mike Flynn. I think he has done an admirable job in his time at Ashland. I was absolutely blasted when I gave my appraisal of this particular Ashland team earlier this season. The fact that they are able to complete with no bona fide post player should tell you something about his ability to coach. Before anyone mentions that McDavid is a good post player please understand that I'm talking about a Cody Black/Brett Miller type of player when I say post player. No disrespect to McDavid intended he is an outstanding player.

 

As far as player development I think most schools are guilty of choosing "players" too early. It happens not only in high school basketball but as far down as Little League Baseball. Kids are labeled earlier in their lives as athletes or non athletes. It is right but it is what it is.

I agree, Flynn is a good coach. Even though me previous may sound like I dont think so, Flynn is one of the best coaches in the region.

I always thought that the most talented kids play weather that being 8th graders or 11th. Grade school is when everyone plays not at higher grade levels. Should you concentrate on 8 good players or let everyone in the school play. This doesnt make since. I believe that this is how its always been in basketball ( NBA, College, or whatever) Thats like saying Lebron cant play more than a guy that has been on the team for 5 years. Find something else to complain about Ashland fans. I think that I have heard these comments from UK fans to( I am a huge UK fan by the way.) Ashlad fans need to relax because I truley believe that we will be there in March.

 

What he said. :thumb: :thumb:

 

Frances

How many seasons has Coach Flynn been the head coach at Blazer?

How many seasons has Coach Flynn been the head coach at Blazer?

 

Since the '97-'98 season.

Mike Flynn is way too good of a guy to be at Blazer. He is as good a guy as you will ever meet and a darn good coach also.

Shame on you guys only worried about winning.

Since the '97-'98 season.

Thanks… that’s what I thought, but I wanted to be sure.

 

When you consider:

 

The downsizing at Armco/AK Steel...

The relocation of Ashland Oil…

A subsequent loss of several thousand good paying jobs resulting in a population decline in Ashland from around 32,000 in the late 1970s to around 22,000 today…

The fact that most of the families that moved away were headed by young to middle aged working parents of school aged kids looking for better jobs, leaving a higher percentage of older households without kids.

It is very reasonable to assume that the available talent pool is one-third to one-half of what it was 25-30 years ago… or 50 or 70 years ago for that matter.

 

Yet, in eight seasons as head basketball coach, Mike Flynn’s Tomcat teams have delivered:

 

7 of 8 possible appearances in the 16th Region Championship game

2 Regional Championships

5 Region Runners Up

6 District Championships

2 District Runners Up

165 Wins to 76 losses for a winning percentage of 68.5%

The only other coach in the region to come close to these numbers over the same eight year span was Roger Zornes while at Boyd County.

 

I’m hardly a Flynn apologist, but I do respect him, and IMO you guys should be kissing his feet…

 

...and hope he doesn't wake up one morning and realize he could deliver the exact same results somewhere else and be praised as a hero.

WELL, having been on both sides of this discussion, I hesitate to even say anything, but I guess I've always had trouble just keeping my mouth shut.

Anyhow, when your kid is not playing and it bothers him, it is natural for the parent to "blame" the coach for making the wrong judgement. The reality is, the coach wants to win and he really doesnt care who he plays in most instances if it will help him win. There is always a conflict when a younger player is just as good as an older player, and it is usually in the program's best interest to go with the younger player. Parents complain that their kid "never gets a chance" when the reality is they get a chance every day in practice and that is when you earn your playing time on game night. Coaches

can get in trouble by setting false expectactions with the player and therefore the parents. It is a snowball effect. The player gets disenchanted, starts hustling less, then playing less and Parents start complaining more.

Some kids figures it out early and go someplace where they can play, other kids quit and concentrate on another sport or academics. The Coach gets

blamed for kids not wanting to play, its a never ending cycle that is going to happen on just about any 15 member varsity team out there, and especially on one that has seniors or juniors on it that are not playing. Football teams play 22, and that is a lot bigger number than 5. Coach Flynn is only guilty of doing his job the best way he knows how and doing what he is paid to do. On any competitive team, there are going to be kids disapointed with playing time. They can either work harder, quit, or go play some place else. Thats the great thing about America, you have options. Unfortunately, sometimes you only learn by going through the Experience. Hindsight is always 20/20 but I have learned that you are probally going to disagree with about any coach

on some things, that is normal, what you have to realize is that most Coaches are just trying to do their best, but at the end of the day they are still the Coach, so relax and realize that whatever you are going through, it is being repeated by thousands of parents and players all over the country. I realize that my thinking on this issue has evolved with time. I think thats called maturity. My advice to other parents would be to

Relax and be glad its just basketball!

Relax and be glad its just basketball!

 

That line coming from you!?!?!?!? j/k :lol:

Thanks… that’s what I thought, but I wanted to be sure.

 

When you consider:

 

The downsizing at Armco/AK Steel...

The relocation of Ashland Oil…

A subsequent loss of several thousand good paying jobs resulting in a population decline in Ashland from around 32,000 in the late 1970s to around 22,000 today…

The fact that most of the families that moved away were headed by young to middle aged working parents of school aged kids looking for better jobs, leaving a higher percentage of older households without kids.

It is very reasonable to assume that the available talent pool is one-third to one-half of what it was 25-30 years ago… or 50 or 70 years ago for that matter.

 

Yet, in eight seasons as head basketball coach, Mike Flynn’s Tomcat teams have delivered:

 

7 of 8 possible appearances in the 16th Region Championship game

2 Regional Championships

5 Region Runners Up

6 District Championships

2 District Runners Up

165 Wins to 76 losses for a winning percentage of 68.5%

 

The only other coach in the region to come close to these numbers over the same eight year span was Roger Zornes while at Boyd County.

 

I respect Coach Flynn, and I’m hardly a Flynn apologist, but IMO, you guys should be kissing his feet…

 

...and hope he doesn't wake up one morning and realize he could deliver the exact same results somewhere else and be praised as a hero.

 

Very good post. But there is one correction, Flynn missed the Region Championship 2 times 2000 and 2005.

Very good post. But there is one correction, Flynn missed the Region Championship 2 times 2000 and 2005.

Oh...

 

Well that changes everything...

 

 

:flame:BURN HIM!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

For every 10 possible coaches that might be a step up, there are easily 100 that would be a step down.

 

You guys need to keep things in perspective. :thumb:

I'll agree with shooterx3 - but it's important to note that far too many parents think about one kid only - theirs. The coach (in this case, Flynn) is working with 15 kids, and he is trying to develop all of them, to be able to contribute to the best of their abilities, and within their limitations. Sadly - so very sadly - some parents never can get past their own bias for their child, and aren't mature enough to give the coach credit for their son being as good as he is.

 

I'll leave the "options" that shooterx3 discussed alone.

 

Frances

I find it humorous that many of you are wondering about the abilities of Mike Flynn.

There is no greater ambassador in Kentucky High School basketball than Mike Flynn.

He won at Warren Central, he won at Covington Holmes, and he has won at Ashland. One of the few coaches to win a region title at 3 different schools.

He has won practically playing a myriad of styles, offensviely and defensively.

He is one of the best practice and prep coaches in the state. Solid X and O guy.

He cares about his kids and he cares about the game of basketball.

For the players that quit...I say you can stick your hand in a bucket of water and swish it around for two hours and not a drop will come out...we can play with you or we can play without you, but we would like to have you.

Has it ever crossed the minds of TomCat fans that Ashland just doesn't have the depth of talent that it used to?

If the fans run off Flynn it will be their loss...