While I agree with much of your post, I don't agree with the bolded part. Tom certainly had his supporters and they were real. His players and their parents thought very highly of him. There were many others that while they didn't like him or agree with all of his methods, thought he was one heck of a coach. He still, to me, is the best Xs and Os high school coach that I have ever seen. Tom liked to say there were football players and there were kids that wanted to be on the team. Tom didn't want to deal with the latter group. He never cut kids as some have alleged over the years. He did make his practices very tough, although in hindsight I'd probably say that Mueller's practices aren't too far off from Tom's; heck they may be just as tough particularly Weinrich's defensive practices. I heard a lot of people claim that Tom made his practices so tough to run kids off that he didn't think were football players. But if a kid loved football he could make it through the practices. I had a nephew on Tom's teams. Nephew was and is a great kid but frankly wasn't very talented football wise. Played the entire 4 years but rarely saw the field. He was a big kid. Practices were particularly tough on the big kids because of all the running. In spite of that and in spite of the kid knowing he'd rarely see the field, the kid hung in there. I will always respect him for that. If he could do it, almost any one wanting to be on the team could have done it. Tom clearly had a Charlie Bradshaw mentality. That upset those parents whose kids choose not to deal with Tom's toughness. As we've seen elsewhere, when parents start grumbling and second guessing coaches, it's not long before the coach is doomed. I think Tom understood that he was irritating a lot of people in Ft. Thomas but felt that as long as he kept winning state championships, all would be well. I don't know if Tom left on his own accord; it doesn't really matter. But I'll agree that his departure was for the best of the football program. Dale has a completely different attitude towards those players that "aren't football players". Dale believes with hard work, committment and coaching those kids can become football players. Looking at Dale's record and watching kids as seniors that just didn't look like football players as freshman, sophomores and even juniors, Dale's approach has proven true.

 

Pretty good summation of Tom's M.O. Leatherneck. :thumb:

While I agree with much of your post, I don't agree with the bolded part. Tom certainly had his supporters and they were real. His players and their parents thought very highly of him. There were many others that while they didn't like him or agree with all of his methods, thought he was one heck of a coach. He still, to me, is the best Xs and Os high school coach that I have ever seen. Tom liked to say there were football players and there were kids that wanted to be on the team. Tom didn't want to deal with the latter group. He never cut kids as some have alleged over the years. He did make his practices very tough, although in hindsight I'd probably say that Mueller's practices aren't too far off from Tom's; heck they may be just as tough particularly Weinrich's defensive practices. I heard a lot of people claim that Tom made his practices so tough to run kids off that he didn't think were football players. But if a kid loved football he could make it through the practices. I had a nephew on Tom's teams. Nephew was and is a great kid but frankly wasn't very talented football wise. Played the entire 4 years but rarely saw the field. He was a big kid. Practices were particularly tough on the big kids because of all the running. In spite of that and in spite of the kid knowing he'd rarely see the field, the kid hung in there. I will always respect him for that. If he could do it, almost any one wanting to be on the team could have done it. Tom clearly had a Charlie Bradshaw mentality. That upset those parents whose kids choose not to deal with Tom's toughness. As we've seen elsewhere, when parents start grumbling and second guessing coaches, it's not long before the coach is doomed. I think Tom understood that he was irritating a lot of people in Ft. Thomas but felt that as long as he kept winning state championships, all would be well. I don't know if Tom left on his own accord; it doesn't really matter. But I'll agree that his departure was for the best of the football program. Dale has a completely different attitude towards those players that "aren't football players". Dale believes with hard work, committment and coaching those kids can become football players. Looking at Dale's record and watching kids as seniors that just didn't look like football players as freshman, sophomores and even juniors, Dale's approach has proven true.

 

I would agree with this about 100%. Duffy believed he could win state championships as long as he had 11 "football" players on his team. He didn't need any more players. Don't forget Coach Weinrich played for Duffy so maybe some of his tough practice techniques has rubbed off on him. Anyone been to the "County Fair" lately down in death valley.

Edited July 22, 201016 yr by littleluck55
Wanted to add something

No Highlands team has been faster than the 1989 team. I'd be surprised if they have anyone today that runs a forty in the sub 4.5's. Highlands had 3 in 1989. 1992 had 6 in the 4.5's and 1 in the 4.4's. The one was a kicker, but ended up being a football player the next year. The offense's today would be un-comprahendable to both of those teams. Even with each of their's respectable speeds. I'd almost say that Gallecio would run circles around these teams. He was "that" fast.

 

The 2004 Highlands team would have something to say about that. School record in the 4 X 100 relay. A second faster than the previous school record.

State Championships for each coach Birdsfan??? As that is the measuring stick in Fort Thomas?? That is where Eicher didn't measure up to coaches that came before him or followed him.

I'm not defending his coaching record; however, it's worth noting that he did have an 11-1 team in 1986 that was knocked out of the playoffs in a one point loss (in double overtime) to Duffy's Danville Admirals. Otherwise, that likely would have been a state championship team. His other teams were 5-4, 7-3, and 6-4.

Edited July 22, 201016 yr by Birdsfan

Didn't Duffy get a fabulous offer from Henderson: Salary, house, car, country club membership, radio show, no teaching classes...? I also remember his initial introduction to Highlands where he stated: "I'm not here to run an intramural FB program."

I'm not defending his coaching record; however, it's worth noting that he did have an 11-1 team in 1986 that was knocked out of the playoffs in a one point loss (in double overtime) to Duffy's Danville Admirals. Otherwise, that likely would have been a state championship team. His other teams were 5-4, 7-3, and 6-4.

 

I would say this was one of the main reasons he was fired. I would say the 86 team had the best talent to never win a state championship at Highlands. One of the more talented teams they have ever had. And to follow that up with a 7-4 record and not make the playoffs, see ya later.

I would say this was one of the main reasons he was fired. I would say the 86 team had the best talent to never win a state championship at Highlands. One of the more talented teams they have ever had. And to follow that up with a 7-4 record and not make the playoffs, see ya later.

 

I don't recall Duffy being fired. In fact I'm pretty sure he wasn't. I believe he was ready to move on to a larger school. Both his children had graduated and I think he was looking for another challange.

I don't recall Duffy being fired. In fact I'm pretty sure he wasn't. I believe he was ready to move on to a larger school. Both his children had graduated and I think he was looking for another challange.

 

Uh Sweetie, I think the post was referring to Eicher getting fired if I am not mistaken.

Uh Sweetie, I think the post was referring to Eicher getting fired if I am not mistaken.

 

Sorry:isurrender:

Duffy's '92 team was loaded with talent. They had at least 4 guys starting on that team who went D-1 and several others go on and play successful in lower levels of college. They had 8 hard core seniors who all started and a talented group of juniors on that team. Duffy was the right guy for that time, and the program was handed off to the best possible candidate who took the reigns and hasn't let up since. A lot of hate goes to Duffy for personal reasons from some people in this town. Those who played for the guy had/have respect for the man as a coach and a sometime flawed human being (just like the rest of us). Sometimes we get our vision a little clouded with recent succes (rightfully so), but that '92 team was very, very good. Is there another Highlands team that had 4 D-1 players starting at one time on it? (This would be a good question for JBWill).

I'm not defending his coaching record; however, it's worth noting that he did have an 11-1 team in 1986 that was knocked out of the playoffs in a one point loss (in double overtime) to Duffy's Danville Admirals. Otherwise, that likely would have been a state championship team. His other teams were 5-4, 7-3, and 6-4.

 

I always wondered if that wasn't a MAJOR factor in Highlands going ater Duffy. That and his success in '84 and '86 vs. the 2 NKY king pins HHS & Cov Cath.

I always wondered if that wasn't a MAJOR factor in Highlands going ater Duffy. That and his success in '84 and '86 vs. the 2 NKY king pins HHS & Cov Cath.

 

I know for a fact that such was a major factor in why Highlands went after Tom. If you can't beat him, hire him.

I know for a fact that such was a major factor in why Highlands went after Tom. If you can't beat him, hire him.

 

:thumb:

A bird, literally, told me that you can find county fair in Walton Verona. There are state laws against what Duffy's boys used to go through in practice. You're not even allowed to have back to back two a days anymore. They had three a days.

Edited July 23, 201016 yr by Ram
Rule 13

This was usually by his doing and his choice and not a result of the supporters of the program. I will never forget as long as I live the day I walked up to him immediately after his hiring and introduced myself and welcomed him to Ft Thomas and to the Highlands fraternity and offered a "Mans" handshake and he snubbed me and walked away like a little kid. Needless to say, that began a very interesting love hate relationship for me of HHS during those times. Go Birds 20n10

 

I don't necessarily blame Duffy for the encounter you describe. He may have thought you were welcoming him into some kind of "good old boy" network he wanted no part of. I'm not saying that was your intent, simply it may be how he perceived it.

 

But, my post was not a knock on HHS supporters at all. Duffy alienated much of the community and his colleagues. It wasn't the other way around.