So what rights do the players have? (Temple City LBs Andrew Gibson #2 & Tim Sanderson #5)
Good Morning!
T-Minus-192 Days until “The Mid Valley Classic”
Perhaps its time for high school sports to be be dumped.
Yeah, we’ve been here before but if a sport is important to a city or community, then let the city or community provide it. Let the schools go back to teaching the three ‘R’s” and save truck loads of money and energy.
This essentially cuts my own throat, but I have no doubt the sports able to pay for themselves will reappear.
Control will not be in the hands of the administrations or governing body like CIF, but in the individual.
Redundant? Yes, but this is a good discussion in light of what is going on at Temple City.
I have no doubt school and district are attempting to act in way that is best for the overall studentry.
Yet the individual seems to have no rights at all. If I’m a talented football player with a goal of getting some or all of my college education paid for then shouldn’t I have the right to pursue the best course possible?
Initial reaction says high school football shouldn’t be seen as a way to college. Prep football is an experience to be enjoyed and shared.
I won’t argue against that, but you cannot argue with the rising tide of local football players going to small colleges all over America not with the dream of playing in the NFL, but of getting college paid for.
In the Mid Valley area, which I would say extends from Bell Gardens/Burbank out to Diamond Ranch/Bonita, how many players signed Division One scholarships? Not many. We don’t have that kind of athlete, but you have a whole bunch who have been coached up and prepared to play small college ball.
I know, I go to their signings every February.
The chances of playing college football somewhere are better than playing college basketball or baseball. Playing being equal to having a portion of college at least paid for.
The head football coach, the staff, the program are critical in taking marginal talent to the next level.
So if I’m a talented football player, or the parent of a talented football player in say, oh I don’t know, Temple City…Why shouldn’t I have the right to explore the best possible options for my son?
(Note: I don’t have a son, but if I did his name would be Desmond and he’d be a southpaw)
Because of personality issues, budget issues, why should the decision making of others hinder the rights of others looking to better their situation?
My son shouldn’t have to lose a year of eligibility if he wants to transfer…and he shouldn’t lose a year of growth in the game because he’s being led by a well intended but sub-par walk-on football coach.
Let me share, while there are and have been very good walk-on football coaches, by and large these are young guys not ready for this teaching position.
Football is a teaching position we find acceptable to give to a walk-on, but would we turn Senior English over to a walk-on? Biology?
I’m still on both sides of the fence on this subject. I do agree football should be an experience first, I believe it should be enjoyed with your school, where you live.
But if your school, and your community has botched it…shouldn’t you have the right to explore other options without penalty?
Not with a gun to my back would I let my children be part of the Pasadena school system…if I had means to do something other. (Thats not a shot at the people, but the bureaucracy of Pasadena)
I wouldn’t let my son play football someplace that was a revolving door either…if I had means to do something other.
But its funny, in the land of the free and the home of the brave I don’t have the right to change schools…In effect I need special permission from some czar…
So dump prep sports…focus on best academic standards possible…and let the city elders demonstrate how important sports, football, truly is to a community.
And let athletes and families validate those programs by voting with their feet.
Stay thirsty my friends…
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