Sweeperboy

No single person is bigger than the program. So not sure why this is a concern...

I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Sphire and his son Hayden today. I don’t think he sees the same thing as some on here. This is why I love a new coach that doesn’t know anyone in Ft Thomas, just sayin...

Congrats to the Birds, very impressive performance. And people say Highlands doesn’t have the athletes anymore...

Is that what it takes to win a game? Wow!

What s the all time record between these two? Who has those numbers, probably pretty even right?

From what I have gathered, this man means serious business and came as highly recommended as a coach could be. He is coming to Ft Thomas to lead a campaign to reclaim something that has been missing for some time now.

Lol, I agree with your take 100%. Let’s say this, sadly there are kids playing now who don’t know who Dale Mueller is let alone Red Dog.

Since November and being without a leader, I wonder where we are as a program. I have heard about private groups working out, etc etc but I want to share somethings. As young adults, one of the most difficult challenges is instilled through discipline and how we work to prepare for the unknown. I remember meeting with my college coach and actually working out for him. My son did the same thing for his college coach. In both cases, I remember how much I didn’t want to let my coach down and how hard I wanted to improve and show up at College camp in the best shape possible. For me, I wanted my coach to say “ Wow! Iam glad I recruited this kid” or wow I didn’t realize what I was really getting. Plus, I sure as heck didn’t want to disappoint myself or my family and friends. We all hope the Highlands young men are doing the same right now, working themselves to be the very best. I believe most are but some may not be and could be falling into complacency. When Coach Sphire arrives, he will know immediately who has been working and who hasn’t , this is just some of the experience he brings to the table. Food for thought for those young men that read BGP, if you think you worked hard last year, you need to work 3 times harder right now and do “whatever is necessary “ to be be prepared when you meet Coach Sphire. It’s quite obvious the bar for success is much higher than what you might have thought was acceptable to succeed in the past. Imo, CovCath and the best in Ky are playing at about 3 notches or more higher than you played last year. An argument could be made that the gap was slowly closing as some scores were closer than others but I respectfully disagree, actually CovCath has played Highlands as hard as they had to and the outcome was never in jeopardy. This is what great programs do, they make you think “man we were so close” or “if we could have just stopped them on that 3rd and inches” things that are just not going to happen with tremendously disciplined teams. Also, as mentioned earlier in this thread, the best athletes and hardest working young men will most likely rise to the top. However, for those that thought you didn’t get a fair shake in the past and those that claimed coach just didn’t like me or was evenly skilled with 2 other guys at the same position. Now is the time to change that label, do what’s best for the program, and finish your HS career strong. This years team will be remembered as Coach Sphire’s first team and you will most likely be remembered as his favorite in due time. My college coach gave me something to think about when he said “Don’t show up to summer practice to get in shape, show up to summer practice to show off what you have been doing for the last 5-months”. Go Birds!!!

Congrats Cameron.

I love it!

RIP coach from Ft Thomas. Russell had quite the teams back in late 70s and early 80s and we never took an McGlone team for granted.

You’ll have that on these big sports forums... sorry. Maybe @ColonelswearBLUE will move my post.

I remember meeting with my college coach and actually working out for him. My son did the same thing for his college coach. In both cases, I remember how much I didn’t want to let my coach down and how hard I wanted to improve and show up at College camp in the best shape and as sharp as I possibly could be. I wanted my coach to say “ Wow! Iam glad I recruited this kid” as I sure as heck didn’t want to disappoint. I hope the Highlands young men are doing the same right now, working themselves to be the very best. I believe most are but not all. A handful of Sr leaders need to rally your team and don’t embarrass yourself, you might not want to hear this but last year you embarrassed yourself and the program. Bob will know immediately who worked and who didn’t, that is the experience he brings that others couldn’t bring. Food for thought for those young men that read BGP, if you think you worked hard last year, you need to work 3 times harder right now and do “whatever is necessary “ to be be prepared when you meet Coach Sphire.

That game final score was 12-7 Highlands. Highlands dumped the ball 3 times on 3 different times inside the 5. The score was not an indication of the whooping that Highlands gave St X that night. Very easily and should have been minimum 32-7. Didn’t matter as a win is a win. That Highlands team was special and perhaps Dale’s overall best team ever from top to bottom imo.

Feel free to go start a new thread on your ongoing mourning but let’s not pollute the Koolaide please. If you all really care about these young men and the program then you will move on.

Cincy St X was #1 in nation heading into Ft Thomas that year. They just had their way in Louisville and headed to DCM for the Ky trifecta and got sucker punched ending their National title bid.

Highlands 2009 campaign was ugly for many. They would have won any classification State final that year without argument.

Awesome, glad they both will be in the school walking the hallways encouraging the best and all athletes in the school to play football.

For me, all of the above mentioned is most probably very close to a 100% true analogy. However, what is so beautiful about a new coach and a new coach that doesn’t know the Jimmy’s from the Joe’s or the legacy names etc, etc, is the fact that “he” and “he” alone will make the calls that will give the program the best shot at winning and winning big again. A very good coach that is experienced as Bob is will immediately see the talent and athletes and evaluate where they have been or are going and will get the best out of a kid even if it means having a kid move to a new position. I hope as parents that everyone is telling their kids to do whatever is best for the team and that there could be a very good chance that a young man maybe asked to change positions. There will have to be sacrifices and some maybe much bigger and more noticeable than others.

Move on folks, nobody cares about what happened in the past other than we need a coach that can build on top of the building that was built before them and I believe the administration as others have said hit a “grand slam” Lets start supporting Coach Sphire, the young men and the program more than ever before. Highlands football will be great again!

And for 1 of the 4 people who liked what he stated I am sure you were liking the part to go get Wolfe.

I did not realize his son will be joining him but thx. What does his son coach?

He was mentioned but we were laughed at for even suggesting he would or could be hired at Highlands. What do I know...

What does this mean?