Now, I'm generally not one to advocate political correctness, but perhaps in the county public/independent public/private debate it is necessary to retire the phrase "work harder" in favor of something less loaded.

 

Facts are that county public school supporters, when being offered reasons as to their school's lack of success, generally close their ears when they read/hear "work harder" from the supporters of a successful FB program. Nobody who's pouring themselves out for their program wants to be told they're lazy when they just sat down to check BGP at 10:30 p.m. after they just got done washing another load of smelly uniforms.

 

The problem, of course, is that those involved with the county public schools that struggle are indeed busting their butts to make their school successful. There just aren't enough people in the community committed to the success of the program; at least not at the level they need to be to change the culture.

 

So, for the sake of improving football across the board in Ky., instead of "work harder," supporters of successful programs should be saying "get more people involved." Because, at the end of the day, the lack of broad community involvement/participation/support the biggest difference I see between successful programs and struggling ones.

 

I'm Jim Schue and I support this message ...

Great post. That is the truth.

Now when you're talking about "getting more people involved" are you talking on the field, or off???

Now when you're talking about "getting more people involved" are you talking on the field, or off???

Probably Both .

Now when you're talking about "getting more people involved" are you talking on the field, or off???

 

Probably Both .

 

Definitely both. :thumb:

especially getting more kids involved having "fun" playing football, learning the fundamentals, and seeing what a blast it is to play for the high school

especially getting more kids involved having "fun" playing football, learning the fundamentals, and seeing what a blast it is to play for the high school

 

Right, but the kids don't care enough to get involved if the community (that means more than just the parents of the players) doesn't show interest. One of the biggest obstacles I see at the larger public schools is the overwhelming lack of community involvement. Usually the only people supporting the team -- both in the bleachers and in terms of volunteering for the program to work the concession stands, take ticket money, etc. -- are the parents of the players. Once their kid's graduated, they're ghosts.

especially getting more kids involved having "fun" playing football, learning the fundamentals, and seeing what a blast it is to play for the high school

 

I agree but getting kids to practice at a county school where parents have to drive them 20-40- miles round trip or kids have to ride activity bus home the same distance is a different animal. Schools with 75-98% free reduced lunch. Average household income is 14-$18,000. What Dudley Hilton has done at Bell Co could not be done by more than a handfull of coaches.

Now, I'm generally not one to advocate political correctness, but perhaps in the county public/independent public/private debate it is necessary to retire the phrase "work harder" in favor of something less loaded.

 

Facts are that county public school supporters, when being offered reasons as to their school's lack of success, generally close their ears when they read/hear "work harder" from the supporters of a successful FB program. Nobody who's pouring themselves out for their program wants to be told they're lazy when they just sat down to check BGP at 10:30 p.m. after they just got done washing another load of smelly uniforms.

 

The problem, of course, is that those involved with the county public schools that struggle are indeed busting their butts to make their school successful. There just aren't enough people in the community committed to the success of the program; at least not at the level they need to be to change the culture.

 

So, for the sake of improving football across the board in Ky., instead of "work harder," supporters of successful programs should be saying "get more people involved." Because, at the end of the day, the lack of broad community involvement/participation/support the biggest difference I see between successful programs and struggling ones.

 

I'm Jim Schue and I support this message ...

 

I would agree with some of what you are saying but I would have to add this angle. Most of the people on the private school side will say that they are just better coached or have better support when it comes to success of a program. What they fail to acknowledge is that talent usually wins games at any level. That being said, a private school like ST X or Trinity have much more talent to choose from yearly than any school in the state. Every kid from around the Louisville area, if they are talented in football, will choose from one of the two.

 

In a place like Ryle for example, we have great community involvement, a coach that works non stop to grow and improve the program, and we are developing a pee wee system to support better fundamentals and growth of the program. Even with all of that, we are still relying on players in a specific area to love football and be talented enough to compete. Not only are we relying on this player, but we are hoping that there are many of players in each grade that have that desire. Places like ST X and Trinity are hand fed these players every year. They have rosters and school classes that dwarf there opponents on the average.

While I agree with what you have written for the most part, there are many scenarios that private supporters also fail to acknowledge.

Maybe I really don't understand what you are trying to say. If I'm wrong please correct me. But I can name tons of city public schools that are not very good year in and year out. Paris, Paintsville ect ect. Now I can also name lots of county schools that are at the top in the state or region. Bell Co, Boyle, Hardin, Johnson Central Co, Caldwell Co. ect. ect.

I do here excuses that the kids live all over the county and it's hard to get them to and from practice! Things like that. But at the sametime I see them do well in other sports. ie. Basketball, football or track. But when I see some of the county schools thrive like the one's above I just don't understand the logic their throwing at me. Sure some counties are bigger then others. And the travel is greater but is that really an excuses. Just seems to me losers come up with excuses and winners work till the job is done!!

Now, I'm generally not one to advocate political correctness, but perhaps in the county public/independent public/private debate it is necessary to retire the phrase "work harder" in favor of something less loaded.

 

Facts are that county public school supporters, when being offered reasons as to their school's lack of success, generally close their ears when they read/hear "work harder" from the supporters of a successful FB program. Nobody who's pouring themselves out for their program wants to be told they're lazy when they just sat down to check BGP at 10:30 p.m. after they just got done washing another load of smelly uniforms.

 

The problem, of course, is that those involved with the county public schools that struggle are indeed busting their butts to make their school successful. There just aren't enough people in the community committed to the success of the program; at least not at the level they need to be to change the culture.

 

So, for the sake of improving football across the board in Ky., instead of "work harder," supporters of successful programs should be saying "get more people involved." Because, at the end of the day, the lack of broad community involvement/participation/support the biggest difference I see between successful programs and struggling ones.

 

I'm Jim Schue and I support this message ...

 

Amen. Dead on Jim.

I would agree with some of what you are saying but I would have to add this angle. Most of the people on the private school side will say that they are just better coached or have better support when it comes to success of a program. What they fail to acknowledge is that talent usually wins games at any level. That being said, a private school like ST X or Trinity have much more talent to choose from yearly than any school in the state. Every kid from around the Louisville area, if they are talented in football, will choose from one of the two.

 

In a place like Ryle for example, we have great community involvement, a coach that works non stop to grow and improve the program, and we are developing a pee wee system to support better fundamentals and growth of the program. Even with all of that, we are still relying on players in a specific area to love football and be talented enough to compete. Not only are we relying on this player, but we are hoping that there are many of players in each grade that have that desire. Places like ST X and Trinity are hand fed these players every year. They have rosters and school classes that dwarf there opponents on the average.

While I agree with what you have written for the most part, there are many scenarios that private supporters also fail to acknowledge.

AGREE!!!!

IMO, the 2 main ingredients to a successful program are X and O's and Jimmies and Joes. Private schools have a secret way of attracting both. When u get these 2 things, community support will come. After all,everyone wants to be part of a winning team!!

 

The only way for publics to catch privates is to unlock the secrets as to how they do what they do coming up w talent year, and then hire coaches to groom that talent.

I agree but getting kids to practice at a county school where parents have to drive them 20-40- miles round trip or kids have to ride activity bus home the same distance is a different animal. Schools with 75-98% free reduced lunch. Average household income is 14-$18,000. What Dudley Hilton has done at Bell Co could not be done by more than a handfull of coaches.

 

But the fact that folks like Dudley and Phillip Haywood and Mike Holcomb have been able to make it work just proves my point -- the community has to invest itself personally in the success of the football team. I understand times are hard. They're hard everywhere. Why not volunteer to support the local program and build it up to where it can be a source of community pride, something that helps people forget how difficult real life is?

 

Economics is a lame excuse and places like Belfry, Bell Co. and Breathitt Co. prove that. I can't imagine there are too many places in the state that have it rougher (economics-wise) than those places.

IMO, the 2 main ingredients to a successful program are X and O's and Jimmies and Joes. Private schools have a secret way of attracting both. When u get these 2 things, community support will come. After all,everyone wants to be part of a winning team!!

 

The only way for publics to catch privates is to unlock the secrets as to how they do what they do coming up w talent year, and then hire coaches to groom that talent.

 

I would agree with some of what you are saying but I would have to add this angle. Most of the people on the private school side will say that they are just better coached or have better support when it comes to success of a program. What they fail to acknowledge is that talent usually wins games at any level. That being said, a private school like ST X or Trinity have much more talent to choose from yearly than any school in the state. Every kid from around the Louisville area, if they are talented in football, will choose from one of the two.

In a place like Ryle for example, we have great community involvement, a coach that works non stop to grow and improve the program, and we are developing a pee wee system to support better fundamentals and growth of the program. Even with all of that, we are still relying on players in a specific area to love football and be talented enough to compete. Not only are we relying on this player, but we are hoping that there are many of players in each grade that have that desire. Places like ST X and Trinity are hand fed these players every year. They have rosters and school classes that dwarf there opponents on the average.

While I agree with what you have written for the most part, there are many scenarios that private supporters also fail to acknowledge.

 

To the bolded point and the post above it: Those kids do that because of lack of support at the programs they would have otherwise played for. If a kid at say, Henry Clay, looked up in the stands on Friday nights and saw more than just a handful of people there supporting him, he might not consider going to LexCath or LCA.

 

The Trinitys and St. Xs and LexCaths of the world thrive in large part because of their traditions of success, but they also feed off the poor support afforded to their public school rivals. It has to change somewhere, and nobody said it would be easy. Shifting the blame solves nothing.