GoBirds4

35 minutes ago, gbballfan21 said:

Shame on Beechwood for doing what thousands of high schools around the country do every year.
 

Luke Slusher graduated in December last year and enrolled early at WKU. He took the classes necessary to get the credits to graduate early. 
 

I’m assuming the Robinson kid was on track to graduate early at his school in Miami, which would mean he would only have to take certain classes at whatever school he went to. It’s actually pretty simple to understand. 
 

However, to imply that “the Fort Mitchell School” is changing rules just for this one kid is absolutely laughable but, not above what the fans of the school in Fort Thomas have become. You guys need new hobbies. 

I am glad Beechwood is allowing him to graduate early. Many schools around Kentucky have to get over themselves and get with the times. The student athletes are the ones being hurt by this rule. While Highlands may have a “path” to graduate early they sure don’t make it easy or accommodating to do so. If there are two athletes even on a colleges board and they can get one 6 months before the other, who do you think they are going to take? Opportunities are missed due to this. Early graduation is becoming the norm for many athletes that have college aspirations. Kentucky as a whole is very far behind in this aspect. 

7 minutes ago, hector607 said:

My favorite part is the linebackers dropping 7 yards at the snap like they do when the pads are on. 

My favorite part was watching Highlands play man 80% of the time, playing as physical as they would with pads and pressing each receiver. Can’t recall a linebacker playing safety. 

3 minutes ago, hector607 said:

This has been a historic off season for Highlands. I remember when Dale would go ahead and hang the banner when they did well in 7 on 7. 

Nothing wrong with trying to re-energize a program that has needed a serious shot in the arm. These kids have needed to learn how to win again regardless of the setting. Average teams don’t win 64 team tournaments whether it’s 7 on 7 or not. Trophies aren’t given out in July but we will find out a lot in the next month. 

5 minutes ago, brooksville said:

And he is already being paid $16,000 for doing those things as head coach.  

That’s a coordinator stipend in most states. 

32 minutes ago, gbballfan21 said:

 

not sure what’s false across the board. Maybe there isn’t one this year but I know for a fact, from someone within the athletic department, that he puts his name on all of these camps because he receives ALL of the profits. 
 

That’s shameful but Highlands sold their soul for this 

He doesn’t receive anything close to all of the profit and he puts money back into the team as well as paying his entire staff for helping. 

14 minutes ago, gbballfan21 said:

I’ve been told he keeps majority, if not all of the money raised for the camp to boost his salary. 
 

I really hope that’s not true. 
 

I also saw his name on a 7 on 7 Middle School tournament, where he also reaps the benefits financially. 
 

That doesn’t sit well with me 

This is false across the board. There is no 7 on 7 this year anyway. 

11 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

We're back on this again?

Yes, closed door meetings don't need to be public information.

Not something that needs to be discussed here for the betterment of all parties. There will be a Highlands Football Camp as well as a FTJFL Camp.

For what it's worth, Highlands has only given up 30 points one time this year in a shootout. They have lost 3 games by 1 score and lost to Ryle by 14. 4 running clocks were put on them last year. Could they be 5-3, 6-2, 7-1? Maybe. Do we all want them to be 10-0? No doubt. Coach Sphire has only been here for just over 6 months and improvements are obvious. Young kids are playing significantly in bunches. They are averaging 300+ yards per game offensively and 10 more ppg than last year. A switch cannot be flipped in 6 months into a championship caliber team, but improvements are obvious. The weight room is the difference maker and a full off-season will be huge moving forward. Go Birds!

Are we also forgetting that Nick Saban personally wrote him a letter congratulating him? He has connections to the college world that very few coaches have. He has gotten two former players jobs at Alabama among many other programs. If a player wants to play on a 7 on 7 team on their own time, I’m sure Coach Sphire wouldn’t care. But as soon as that team becomes more important to the players than Highlands and they are missing workouts/practices, then there is a clear problem. 

15 minutes ago, Brcatz said:

Not what I'm hearing from Parents, but I guess not everyone is always on the same page.

 Parents have also been used to their kids being home by 4:30 after school during football season and having .500 seasons. Coach Sphire was hired to win championships. Those don't just appear out of thin air. Things are going to change and some parents may not like the time commitment. I assume all the kids understand what is being asked of them. Everything I have heard indicates that players are able to play different sports etc. but when you are able to be at football practice, you better be at football practice. 

2 hours ago, Brcatz said:

It's really Sad the new coach won't let kids be kids and play Extracurricular Sports, such as 7v7 Football. Is being very controlling of the kids from what I have heard.

So I am guessing who ever wants a low paying part time job as strength coach will have to be willing to do whatever he is told. Not gonna be an easy find.  

Quite the opposite. Coach Sphire seems to be all for players playing or participating in any extracurricular sport they choose as long as it does not cause you to miss any team events or practices. Pretty standard operating procedures. If a player wants to go participate in an extracurricular and choose to miss practice then they are making a decision to put the team 2nd. Either you do what is expected of you to benefit the team or somebody else will step into that gap.

Not to mention Coach Sphire has had well over 200 players go on to play college ball. I think he has a good idea of what he is doing.