New Oldham County's Coach???

Col Mike, I was not trying to ruffle your feathers. My kids currently go to Locust Grove Elementary. I do know Mr. Upchurch, he is a fine man but when you have a sports team with a $0 budget in a public school, I see a problem with that since the school system gets over 30 MILLION dollars from our property taxes alone a year. Yes, perhaps 90% won't play after their senior season so what? so we can take the emphasis off of sports? Athletics is very important. It helps build character, a strong work ethic, drive, confidence and I could go on and on. Just because we aren't training future hall of fame professional athletes doesn't mean we shouldn't put some more emphasis. When a team goes to the sweet 16 in boys basketball and they don't even let out the feeder schools, there is no emphasis. There are no organized sports until 6th grade, there is no emphasis. Thank goodness for OCYFL and Upward. I was just told recently that the middle school coaches don't even get paid. All volunteer work. God love them.

 

When I say powerhouses, I was speaking more toward basketball since this is a basketball forum as well as illuding to football since I had first hand knowledge of the football budget when a friend started to apply for the OC job when it came open and he was told of the $0 budget for football. (needless to say he didn't apply)

 

As far as other public schools that charge to play, I would like to know just how many. Because I am sure that the ones that don't far out number the ones that do. With 60 Million dollar budget (its on the website) for the school system you would think that wouldn't be the case. My kids are getting a good education but with 60 million they should be getting it all!!

No offense taken; I'm sure none was intended. Having covered Oldham County HS / South Oldham HS / North Oldham HS sports for over 30 years, and currently having two athletes in the system (oldest son plays baseball and runs cross country for Oldham County HS and the youngest runs cross-country for East Oldham MS), I know the system about as well as any. (and if you want to talk about a low budget sport, talk with me about cross-country sometime!) I agree that it isn't perfect. But I know of precious few that are. You wouldn't believe all the complaints I hear from folks in other systems throughout the state about things they deal with that make Oldham's concerns seem pretty puny.

It's the old "you don't know what you've got..." situation...

There was actually a thread about a year ago on BGP about this very thing - charging kids to play HS athletics. You'd have found it very interesting - and surprising.

But we've gone off-track...my apologies to all. AND BEST OF LUCK TO COACH MULLINS!!:thumb: