Is Playtowin wrong for questioning lack of discipline if he sees players with Their helmets off and sitting on the steps Not paying attention to the game? I do believe last season someone posted that during a Varsity game a bench player was commanding tve attention of a parent to snag him a hot dog from tve concession stand. Just curious what the thoughts are on this and possibly how this could give Playtowin some legitimacy in his concern.

 

I will say the timing of this rant is probably Not good after the loss to Elder and tve fact that they lost 2 senior impact players for the season.

I don't think he's wrong at all, I just knew what direction this thread would take as soon as I read it. Some things in life are very predictable such as

1. I will never win an argument with my wife

2. I will eat too much on Thanksgiving

3. Bluebird feathers will be ruffled on BGP in the football forum at least once a month

We are talking two distinct and different things here. One is the changing of traditions and the other is a lack of discipline.

 

As to the taking off of the helmets on the sideline and the "non-uniform uniforms:, such is only a lack of discipline if the HC has rules against the taking off of helmets, etc. If the HC is fine with those actions, it isn't and can't be a discipline issue. Sideline stuff doesn't concern me. What I want to see is discipline on the field. Players doing their assignments each and every play; avoiding stupid penalties; no showboating; etc. That speaks much more to me than whether they take their helmets off while on the sideline. But if others feel differently, to each their own.

 

As to the changing of traditions, it's only natural for the has beens (like me) to want to see things kept the same as when we played. But just like the game as changed, so have the players. Besides, when Homer started the bike thing, it was part of the conditioning aspect of the game (no carbonated drinks either). These days, the conditioning sessions go way beyond any thing that Homer, Owen, Murph, Roger, Wilbur or Jack did. Back then, the off season conditioning sessions were called the 60 Minute Club, and guess what? They lasted 60 minutes (and as a participant back in the day, there was some standing around during those 60 minutes). These days the off season conditioning sessions last considerably longer than 60 minutes and there is very, very little standing around. The point being, the bike thing for conditioning purposes was no longer of needed value. There is no doubt in my mind, not even a little one, that the Highlands players today are much, much better conditioned than when I played in the 70s.

 

So the bikes are gone and the burrs are gone; players can take off their helmets while on the sideline. Good news is that the winning continues and the program conducts itself in way that makes this alum proud (see the thread involving the email from the Chris Columbus head coach for example). Such means much more to me.

People used to dress-up in their Sunday best to take a flight, now they don't even bother taking a shower.

Families used to sit down for a meal at 6pm every night, now it's maybe 1 night a week.

Teams used to practice in the heat with minimal water breaks and players would run every day until they threw-up.

Now someone would get arrested if they tried that.

 

Stuff changes. 15 years from now, someone will be saying how disciplined this year's team was.

People used to dress-up in their Sunday best to take a flight, now they don't even bother taking a shower.

Families used to sit down for a meal at 6pm every night, now it's maybe 1 night a week.

Teams used to practice in the heat with minimal water breaks and players would run every day until they threw-up.

Now someone would get arrested if they tried that.

 

Stuff changes. 15 years from now, someone will be saying how disciplined this year's team was.

 

Not if they lose!

To answer the question....absolutely not. The only tradition I know from Highlands is winning games and state championships. That's what they do and they do it better than 98% of the country. I don't look at their uniforms, socks, helmets..none of that. I look at the scoreboard. The people of Ft. Thomas are a class act when you are welcomed into their domain. Their kids have proven to be class acts on and off the field as well. Highlands has what most football programs aspire to and that should be on what the focus is on. We all want what Highlands has.

 

 

I can't wait until next year.

Once played on a team that had only won 2 games in 3 years. The next year we won 8. I would have been willing to do anything to go back and have worked harder. The biggest change was the coaching and what was demanded. 35 years later it still bothers me. Does it mean as much today to players, I do not know the answer to that. Highlands may not understand what it is like to only win 2 games in three years, but I can tell you that the hunger you feel from being beaten will make you work harder than you can ever imagine. Just a thought. It is easy to not appreciate what you have when it comes easy. But when you are winning everyone picks everything apart, just as they do when you are losing.

Hey, like Sweep says....if they aint talking bout ya then you aint doin nothin.

 

Oh wait a minute...that was Billy Ray Cyrus talking about his daughter Miley. Same thing I guess.

 

To be honest, when I am at games I am not paying attention to the sidelines or who is wearing green socks. I can honestly say that the kids that actually play in the games....they all look in uniform and very serious about the job they are performing on the field.

I know it may not be a popular opinion or it may just be my age, but I hate seeing players, in any sport on any team, wearing some random color that is not part of their uniform. To be honest, I don't understand why any team allows it. And, the only reason I can think of for a player to do it would be to say "Hey, look at me".

I agree with the uniform part. they all should wear same uniform, socks included. After reading all of the thread, I was thinking how funny is it that we're talking about players socks. I know to some it's more than that and I see their point. I just found it funny that we had a thread where the main topic is socks

 

Thinking Allen Iverson. "We're talking about Socks!"

We are talking two distinct and different things here. One is the changing of traditions and the other is a lack of discipline.

 

As to the taking off of the helmets on the sideline and the "non-uniform uniforms:, such is only a lack of discipline if the HC has rules against the taking off of helmets, etc. If the HC is fine with those actions, it isn't and can't be a discipline issue. Sideline stuff doesn't concern me. What I want to see is discipline on the field. Players doing their assignments each and every play; avoiding stupid penalties; no showboating; etc. That speaks much more to me than whether they take their helmets off while on the sideline. But if others feel differently, to each their own.

 

As to the changing of traditions, it's only natural for the has beens (like me) to want to see things kept the same as when we played. But just like the game as changed, so have the players. Besides, when Homer started the bike thing, it was part of the conditioning aspect of the game (no carbonated drinks either). These days, the conditioning sessions go way beyond any thing that Homer, Owen, Murph, Roger, Wilbur or Jack did. Back then, the off season conditioning sessions were called the 60 Minute Club, and guess what? They lasted 60 minutes (and as a participant back in the day, there was some standing around during those 60 minutes). These days the off season conditioning sessions last considerably longer than 60 minutes and there is very, very little standing around. The point being, the bike thing for conditioning purposes was no longer of needed value. There is no doubt in my mind, not even a little one, that the Highlands players today are much, much better conditioned than when I played in the 70s.

 

So the bikes are gone and the burrs are gone; players can take off their helmets while on the sideline. Good news is that the winning continues and the program conducts itself in way that makes this alum proud (see the thread involving the email from the Chris Columbus head coach for example). Such means much more to me.

 

As an old fart and the son of a much older fart was was a high-school coach, this probably sums it up.

Best tradition in all of Kentucky IMHO.

Best tradition in all of Kentucky IMHO.

 

Agreed, I haven't read much of the thread. I am not a Highlands fan, but don't dislike them at all and have a ton of respect for their program. But when I think of a long term traditional school in Kentucky, they pop into my heat first.

Some traditions change. Senior hits was one of them.

They could always go back to those god awful socks from the 80's. I do have to say I miss the Burr haircuts, I just really liked the team bonding that occurred with this and how upset a lot of the mothers got over the burrs. Just curious, what do players wear when they travel and to state game? Is there any kind of dress code?

I don't worry about if my son has his jersey tucked, or the right hair cut, or the right color socks.

I am much more concerned about him getting to practice on time, every day, all year long and giving one hundred percent.

That in my mind is the Highlands tradition. That is the life long lesson I want him to learn from this experience.