Heard Newport is struggling with its numbers to field football this season. We (Holmes) usually play them in football, always a good rivalry. Any Newport people who can offer reasons for the low numbers for football?

What I am hearing is that the district is consistently losing enrollment and could eventually be absorbed by Dayton or Bellevue.

Didn't they just pump a bunch of money into the high school?

What I am hearing is that the district is consistently losing enrollment and could eventually be absorbed by Dayton or Bellevue.

 

That makes zero sense. Newport is larger than Dayton and Bellevue. Yes they have lost enrollment but are still much larger than those two districts. No really sure where your info is from but again that has zero credibility. Newport just reconfigured the district and built additions to the high school to house 7/8 graders.

 

As far as the low football numbers I have no insight into that at all.

Didn't they just pump a bunch of money into the high school?

 

I heard the same, built an addition to high school to house 7th and 8th graders. Problem is, 7th and 8th graders don't increase a football roster in high school. If they only have 20-25 players total, that is a problem.

What I am hearing is that the district is consistently losing enrollment and could eventually be absorbed by Dayton or Bellevue.

 

This is just plain incorrect. Newport is much bigger than both of those schools. I could see Dayton shutting its doors in the next decade due to low enrollment and the city deteriorating as it is doing presently. Bellevue is a very small city but has a great community. The problem for Newport appears to be people are leaving that city in droves, the land is being used for business-only purposes (Levee, new mall on Grand Avenue), and the few residents remaining are not encouraging kids to play sports. That is bad news for Newport football.

That makes zero sense. Newport is larger than Dayton and Bellevue. Yes they have lost enrollment but are still much larger than those two districts. No really sure where your info is from but again that has zero credibility. Newport just reconfigured the district and built additions to the high school to house 7/8 graders.

 

As far as the low football numbers I have no insight into that at all.

 

Can I quote you on that?

 

In other news @uselessinfo says "That makes zero sense."

Numbers are an issue with many football programs across the state. It is becoming an epidemic.

Numbers are an issue with many football programs across the state. It is becoming an epidemic.

 

Yes, they are. Getting tougher to get kids out and keep them out.

Numbers are an issue with many football programs across the state. It is becoming an epidemic.

 

Yes, they are. Getting tougher to get kids out and keep them out.

 

This is a video game generation. TV's and video games are the new babysitters. Kids don't play outside and parents don't take time to play with them.

This is a video game generation. TV's and video games are the new babysitters. Kids don't play outside and parents don't take time to play with them.

 

Truth to that.

 

Other side of that coin is this generation you could say is required/expected to put in more time than any that have come before them as well. Stuff never stops. Summer? What is that? June "workouts" 3-4 days a week. Three full weeks of July is now for practice 5 evenings a week. School starts the 1st week of August...some places August 1st.

 

Fact is...when you add up all of the other things they could (and, let's face it..should be doing during those times of the year) be doing...it's just not that attractive.

Yes, they are. Getting tougher to get kids out and keep them out.

 

Coach, I'm not asking specifically re. the Newport situation, but on a more global scale. Do you think some of this is related to the concussion issue?

yes numbers are low. Hard to have numbers when kids don't want to practice but rather just play. As for the merger, that's been "in the talks" for every bit of 20 years. I have a greater chance of hitting the powerball than that ever happening. Newport is in a tough situation with kids, it is what it is.

Coach, I'm not asking specifically re. the Newport situation, but on a more global scale. Do you think some of this is related to the concussion issue?

 

 

Yes. That and the heat stuff. And, there are many more options for kids today and most of them are not near as tough as playing football.

This is a video game generation. TV's and video games are the new babysitters. Kids don't play outside and parents don't take time to play with them.

 

I still say kids are working harder than ever at sports. Year round lifting programs, at home film study with Hudl, spring ball, early summer practice. I think it's misconception that kids are lazy and spend too much time indoors. The reason you don't see kids playing outside is because they've always got some organized sports activity to do.