Monday, April 9, 2012

Keep High School Football Honest

Two things to remember as you read this blog entry. One, I have as many "skeletons in the attic," as anyone. When I was a young football coach, I made many mistakes in judgment. Dishonesty in football will never improve. There are too may egos and too many entitlements.

Sean Peyton was denied his appeal today. Many pro-football teams have rewards for QB sacks, interceptions, big plays. Only one team had the "bounty" system. What goes un-noticed is that the Saints were warned and told to drop the "bounty" system last year. They did not and now are paying the price.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino has cheated truth his entire career. At Louisville, he denied interviewing for other jobs, when actually he was. He walked out on the Atlanta Falcons, after 13 games into the season. Most recently, he wrecked his motorcycle, but forgot to report that a 25 year female passenger was riding with him. No problem, except that is married with four children. His passenger just happened to be a 25 year old former volleyball player who recently went to work for him. Never called 911.

My friend, former Ohio State football coach, Jim Tressel lost his job because of coverups. If the truth were known, he really only told one lie that sealed his fate. Of course, the trustees and the overwhelmed ahtletic director over-reacted to the media. Tressel deserved better.

I listen to high school football coaches talk about workouts. Of course, no football coaching goes on at these workouts. One team rents a facility every sun to workout. Footballs are used. Three springs ago, I walked into a gym in April to find the whole football team running plays on both offense and defense. A few years ago a well respected coach was in attendance at his sixth 7on7 camp. He could not coach, so some of his former players were in charge.

Two years ago in Columbus, an assistant football coach met a family from a neighboring high school for dinner. During the course of conversation he gave many reasons why their son should play football in this assistant coach's system. The parents reported this recruiting attempt, and the coach was suspended for a year. Much the same happened at Toledo Whitmer, but the OHSAA did not want to battle a big school like Whitmer.

Two weeks ago I was talking with a coach about one of his high school sophomores running a 4.5/40 in front of me. I felt good, until he told me that his player was disappointed, because he has clocked 4.35. o you know what top college players run? Enough said. Last year, we measured a prospect at one of our combines and he was 6'0, but his mother was upset, because his doctor had measured him two inches taller during the week before. We were correct, by the way. Tell recruiters the truth.

With college football recruiters, please do not forget that they are in the sales business. They need to be successful. They may stretch the truth. Sometimes even lie. Recruiting reporters need you to talk to them, or they have no content. No content, means no stories. They are going to tell you how good you are, because they need you. Handlers" - People responsible for getting super recruits on campus are dishonest. They will tell recruits anything.

I am starting to ramble, so I will finish. High school football recruits be as honest as you can be. Recruiting is a dishonest business. Be honest about your times and meaurements. Be honest about your visits. Be honest about your intentions with regards to what colleges that you like. Be honest to your high school coach. Be honest with your parents on how the recruiting process is going. Most of all, do not lie to yourself. Be honest to yourself in what you expect of yourself.

Just like Bobby Petrino, lies catch up to you. When you hit the wall, it hurts.

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