There has been much debate over whether Dave Brossart is the right fit for CovCath. After two embarrassing losses to rival Highlands the last two games, a losing season last year, and what's looking to be a similar season this year many think it's time for him to go.

 

These discussions usually thread jack threads intended to discuss the CovCath games so I figured it deserved it's own thread so have at it.

Is this his first year?

second

Since you asked and did not limit your post to be open to responses only from CovCath fans:

 

I can understand the CovCath folks being upset with Brossart. Whenever you have great pride in your school and your program loses games that you thought you should win or you lose by margins greater than what you expected, you get upset. And naturally you blame the coaches. Heck, just look at some of the comments being leveled at Marvin Lewis. Heck, look at some of the criticisms thrown at Mueller from time to time over the last several years about play calling decisions; and he has won numerous state championships. Its the nature of the beast that when teams lose, the fans take their disappointment out of the coach; particularly a new coach without a proven track record at a school.

 

But from someone who can look at things I think a little more objectively than a CovCath fan, from what I see, I'm not sure its the coaching. Now admittedly, I don't have an insider's perspective on the relationship the coaches have with the fans and the players and have not watched practices or know what kind of off season conditioning and training program that has been run at CovCath during Brossart's tenure. I've heard that some players and some influential supporters don't like Brossart. I don't know if what I've heard is true however. If true about the fans, I don't know if its a personality thing or Brossart tried to change some things that the influential fans didn't want changed. And if it is true about the players not liking Brossart, I don't know whether they have been influenced by the influential fans and parents upset with Brossart (its easier than a lot of people think for players "minds" to be influenced by comments made by adults. Create doubts in players' minds about a new coach that does not have a proven track record of success at a school, and things can spiral out of control quickly. I am very concerned about that issue with posts made by Highlands fans on here, as most people know, because of that very reason and that's even with Mueller's proven track record at Highlands. Kids are kids and if, because of comments made by adults and fans, an element of doubt creeps into kids minds, bad things happen. I learned that principle very clearly in the Marines where I was tasked with leading young Marines). So if the players have lost confidence in the CovCath coaches, I'm not totally sure its the coaches' fault.

 

Again, from an outsider's perspective, when assessing the talent CovCath has available to the coaches, the talent level on CovCath's team the last two years is significantly down from what I've typically seen at CovCath. Compare that with what Rodenberg had available in 05 and 06 (the 06 team was the most overall talented team I've seen in all the years I've watched CovCath) and you see a huge, huge difference. Hopefully even the most upset CovCath fan can see that. And I don't mean to be disrespectful to the kids on CovCath's current team. They seem to be playing their hearts out on every play and playing to the best of their abilities. But they just don't have anywhere near the speed and quickness needed to play "today's" football. It was grossly evident against Highlands and again evident against Beechwood last night.

 

I only saw the second half of the game last night (I was at the Highlands frosh game) but on numerous plays it looked like CovCath had players in position on defense to make the plays, but they simply weren't as quick as the Beechwood players and thus didn't make the play. When Van Sant got the ball, you saw it happen some times when Beechwood was on defense too.

 

If there are quicker players on CovCath's team that are not getting time, then its a coaching issue. If the coaches aren't developing speed and quickness to the fullest extent possible, its a coaching issue. If the coaches are voluntarily going with a style of offense and defense emphasizing strength over quickness, its a coaching issue. But if there aren't better, quicker players available, then its not coaching; if the coaches are doing everything they can to develop quickness and speed in their players but the talent just isn't there, then its not coaching; and if the coaches are going with the best system for the talent available, then its not coaching. Honestly, the administration will have to carefully and knowledgeably make those calls.

 

Against Highlands, I didn't think the coaches did enough to get the ball in Van Sant's hands more often. I think they did better against Beechwood, but some could argue he still didn't get the ball enough. To be fair, Pat is by far CovCath's best defensive player (and one of the best defensive players not only in N. Ky but from my observation, in the state) and is critically needed on defense, so I'm sure the CovCath coaches are careful not to totally wear the kid out on offense. Its a tough balancing act; one that every coach deals with when they have a stud player needed on both sides of the ball, including Mueller when he decides how much to use Collinsworth on O. Fortunately for Mueller, he has many more options on O (Roller, Head, Fennell, Crawford and soon Conner) and has more depth on D so as to be able not to be quite as concerned about Collinsworth as Brossart has to be concerned about Van Sant.

 

I just wouldn't be too quick to jump to the conclusion that its coaching or conclude Brossart's not the right fit for CovCath based on game results. Even premier programs like CovCath have dips in talent. I think the creation of the middle school football program at CovCath will go a long way in the future to minimize those dips. And I think people need to realize that Mooney is an exceptionally strong team, that Highlands team is really coming together well and is laden with speed, quickness and athletic talent, and the Beechwood team this year is very good and has more team speed on the field than any Beechwood team that I can remember watching in quite some time.

 

Honestly, with the exception of Scott, from what I've personally observed or been told, every team that CovCath has played this year has much better speed than CovCath. And speed and quickness IS the name of the game these days. Its why CovCath won state in 06 and why CovCath is struggling the past two years in my opinion. A coach can do some things to develop speed and quickness, but not as much as some people think. Unless CovCath's coaches aren't doing what they can, I don't think you can blame the coaches for the lack of quickness and speed that is causing them to lose games.

 

But that's just my opinion on the coaching issue, an opinion that some CovCath fans will disagree with and the administration won't and shouldn't give a hoot in Hades about when they contemplate Brossart's future with the Colonels.

 

PS: the above post is certainly worthy of my nickname, the Great Pontificator! LOL.

Leatherneck,

 

Great post. These are some tough truths that everyone has to consider before anyone throws the coach out with the bathwater.

Leatherneck,

 

Great post. These are some tough truths that everyone has to consider before anyone throws the coach out with the bathwater.

 

Thanks scout. As a strong supporter of my school, I think I can emphathize with what the CovCath supporters are feeling, but the administrators who are hearing the complaints and will be forced to make very difficult decisions have to take the emotions out of their decisions, and the CovCath fans upset with their coaches need to step back, take a deep breath and try to fairly analyze their thoughts, which I know is much easier said than done.

Awesome post, Leatherneck. This, unfortunately goes on at all levels of sport. I was told just last night of a JFL coach who was voted out of coaching because his grade school team hadn't won in three years. I realize everyone wants to win, but sometimes the knee jerk reactions and the instant gratification complex takes over and some really good coaches get the ax. We as fans, supporters and parents need to also look at what the coach offers our athletes. As my wife said, "In three years, no one will remember who made what play." Now, we may remember something spectacular, but in the grand scheme of things, what kind of kid are we putting in college and in the real world as the result of whomever their coach is/was. Don't get me wrong, I am an avid supporter of my program and the kids, but I always try to keep the most important things in mind and to me that is the student/athlete's future. Sports, especially football, were very good to me and allowed me to strive for and attain life goals. I just would like to see coaches that are good to the kids be given a chance to prove themselves. Is this the case at CovCath? This is for you guys in the administration at CovCath to determine. Just remember to look at it from what the coach offers your kids, not what he offers the fans.

Brossart will be fine. Just like any program with a new coach, you tend to have to graduate all the players from the previous regime in order to get your philosophy bought into. Cov Cath will always have the athletes to compete, Dave's team will turn the corner next year. This team will be much better going down the stretch this year, but may be too late to make a run in the playoffs.

Since you asked and did not limit your post to be open to responses only from CovCath fans:

 

I can understand the CovCath folks being upset with Brossart. Whenever you have great pride in your school and your program loses games that you thought you should win or you lose by margins greater than what you expected, you get upset. And naturally you blame the coaches. Heck, just look at some of the comments being leveled at Marvin Lewis. Heck, look at some of the criticisms thrown at Mueller from time to time over the last several years about play calling decisions; and he has won numerous state championships. Its the nature of the beast that when teams lose, the fans take their disappointment out of the coach; particularly a new coach without a proven track record at a school.

 

But from someone who can look at things I think a little more objectively than a CovCath fan, from what I see, I'm not sure its the coaching. Now admittedly, I don't have an insider's perspective on the relationship the coaches have with the fans and the players and have not watched practices or know what kind of off season conditioning and training program that has been run at CovCath during Brossart's tenure. I've heard that some players and some influential supporters don't like Brossart. I don't know if what I've heard is true however. If true about the fans, I don't know if its a personality thing or Brossart tried to change some things that the influential fans didn't want changed. And if it is true about the players not liking Brossart, I don't know whether they have been influenced by the influential fans and parents upset with Brossart (its easier than a lot of people think for players "minds" to be influenced by comments made by adults. Create doubts in players' minds about a new coach that does not have a proven track record of success at a school, and things can spiral out of control quickly. I am very concerned about that issue with posts made by Highlands fans on here, as most people know, because of that very reason and that's even with Mueller's proven track record at Highlands. Kids are kids and if, because of comments made by adults and fans, an element of doubt creeps into kids minds, bad things happen. I learned that principle very clearly in the Marines where I was tasked with leading young Marines). So if the players have lost confidence in the CovCath coaches, I'm not totally sure its the coaches' fault.

 

Again, from an outsider's perspective, when assessing the talent CovCath has available to the coaches, the talent level on CovCath's team the last two years is significantly down from what I've typically seen at CovCath. Compare that with what Rodenberg had available in 05 and 06 (the 06 team was the most overall talented team I've seen in all the years I've watched CovCath) and you see a huge, huge difference. Hopefully even the most upset CovCath fan can see that. And I don't mean to be disrespectful to the kids on CovCath's current team. They seem to be playing their hearts out on every play and playing to the best of their abilities. But they just don't have anywhere near the speed and quickness needed to play "today's" football. It was grossly evident against Highlands and again evident against Beechwood last night.

 

I only saw the second half of the game last night (I was at the Highlands frosh game) but on numerous plays it looked like CovCath had players in position on defense to make the plays, but they simply weren't as quick as the Beechwood players and thus didn't make the play. When Van Sant got the ball, you saw it happen some times when Beechwood was on defense too.

 

If there are quicker players on CovCath's team that are not getting time, then its a coaching issue. If the coaches aren't developing speed and quickness to the fullest extent possible, its a coaching issue. If the coaches are voluntarily going with a style of offense and defense emphasizing strength over quickness, its a coaching issue. But if there aren't better, quicker players available, then its not coaching; if the coaches are doing everything they can to develop quickness and speed in their players but the talent just isn't there, then its not coaching; and if the coaches are going with the best system for the talent available, then its not coaching. Honestly, the administration will have to carefully and knowledgeably make those calls.

 

Against Highlands, I didn't think the coaches did enough to get the ball in Van Sant's hands more often. I think they did better against Beechwood, but some could argue he still didn't get the ball enough. To be fair, Pat is by far CovCath's best defensive player (and one of the best defensive players not only in N. Ky but from my observation, in the state) and is critically needed on defense, so I'm sure the CovCath coaches are careful not to totally wear the kid out on offense. Its a tough balancing act; one that every coach deals with when they have a stud player needed on both sides of the ball, including Mueller when he decides how much to use Collinsworth on O. Fortunately for Mueller, he has many more options on O (Roller, Head, Fennell, Crawford and soon Conner) and has more depth on D so as to be able not to be quite as concerned about Collinsworth as Brossart has to be concerned about Van Sant.

 

I just wouldn't be too quick to jump to the conclusion that its coaching or conclude Brossart's not the right fit for CovCath based on game results. Even premier programs like CovCath have dips in talent. I think the creation of the middle school football program at CovCath will go a long way in the future to minimize those dips. And I think people need to realize that Mooney is an exceptionally strong team, that Highlands team is really coming together well and is laden with speed, quickness and athletic talent, and the Beechwood team this year is very good and has more team speed on the field than any Beechwood team that I can remember watching in quite some time.

 

Honestly, with the exception of Scott, from what I've personally observed or been told, every team that CovCath has played this year has much better speed than CovCath. And speed and quickness IS the name of the game these days. Its why CovCath won state in 06 and why CovCath is struggling the past two years in my opinion. A coach can do some things to develop speed and quickness, but not as much as some people think. Unless CovCath's coaches aren't doing what they can, I don't think you can blame the coaches for the lack of quickness and speed that is causing them to lose games.

 

But that's just my opinion on the coaching issue, an opinion that some CovCath fans will disagree with and the administration won't and shouldn't give a hoot in Hades about when they contemplate Brossart's future with the Colonels.

 

PS: the above post is certainly worthy of my nickname, the Great Pontificator! LOL.

 

 

We've actually got another nickname for you over here in Park Hills...

 

 

 

:lol:

We've actually got another nickname for you over here in Park Hills...

 

 

 

:lol:

 

 

Fair enough.

There has been much debate over whether Dave Brossart is the right fit for CovCath. After two embarrassing losses to rival Highlands the last two games, a losing season last year, and what's looking to be a similar season this year many think it's time for him to go.

 

These discussions usually thread jack threads intended to discuss the CovCath games so I figured it deserved it's own thread so have at it.

 

Maybe the fans need to chill out and realize that they may not be the right fit for Coach Brossart. Sometimes we over estimate our kids abilities and we take this game to serious. I know I have been quilty of such. Let's back off and let the kids be kids and enjoy the highschool years. It is only a game.

The answer is flat out no.

Brossart will be fine. Just like any program with a new coach, you tend to have to graduate all the players from the previous regime in order to get your philosophy bought into. Cov Cath will always have the athletes to compete, Dave's team will turn the corner next year. This team will be much better going down the stretch this year, but may be too late to make a run in the playoffs.

 

I didn't see Coach R do that, and he followed a legend at CovCath!

So if CovCath alway's has the players to compete, then what has been going wrong the last two year's?

We've actually got another nickname for you over here in Park Hills...

 

 

 

:lol:

 

Sir?

Sir?

No, he was knighted, "Sir Typesalot".