The many things it takes to be successful as a sports coach

Winning and losing football: A matter of interest to all

My comments concerning fans and their knowledge (or the lack there of) usually solicits a negative (anger, hatred, or whatever) from readers. That leads me to say that my discussion in this section will really anger those proclaiming why their team lost or the mistakes coaches make.

Let me go ahead and “take the lid off” and say that it is the feeling here that the average fan doesn’t even have an inkling of what it takes to win a football game.

It was a question presented to Coach Roger Holmes of Dublin High last week on the Georgia High School Football Historians Society Association web page demanding my attention. The question and his answer should be of great interest to all loyal football fans.

Coach Holmes was presented with the question “What is the real difference-maker in winning and losing in Georgia high school football?” The coach listed in order four factors he felt were those that made the difference in winning and losing. Consider carefully his answer as he said 1) “Talent of athletes”. Recently Coach Diane Smith was charged with the reason she had won so many games in her career was she had very good athletes. Exactly, and this is one point for which I admire the Coach. She is constantly congratulated on various accomplishments and her answer is always the same: “I have had some very good girls come through my program.” Only an idiot would make a charge that the successful coach has acknowledged for as long as I have known her.

2) Quality of coaching staff: There is a statement from deep in Bible history stating that a King died leaning on his staff. Now, of course that was his wooden staff but the same can be said of head coaches in any sport. We live and die leaning (depending) on our staff. I constantly lament that the laziest coach I know was allowed to stay on my staff. It could also be said that he might be the most inept. A great staff will make things good happen and a poor coach will distract from the job needed to be successful.

3) Coach Holmes then added “Administrative support to make No. 2 happen.” All coaches would agree on this point. A supportive principal (without interference from assistant principals) are a treasure without measure. I have sat in principal’s offices with suggestions being made that I knew originated in the mind of an assistant principal who had a vested inter- est in a matter. Without exception the assistant principal had been far less than successful in his coaching career.

4) Tradition and community support: Since my interest in Calhoun High football began in the middle 1940s I have seen very good community support for the Jacket football program. A glimpse of good accomplishments could be recalled for all coaches. The three years of Coach Lindy McGee’s tenure in 1952, 53, 54 were the best years put together over long years. There has been no interruption in the establishment of tradition since Coach Hal Lamb began his program at Calhoun in 1999. Someone noted recently that many playing on the 2017 Jacket team were not even born when Coach Lamb began his long and impressive record of 16 straight region championships. A one word comment: Amazing.

In few words let us notice that with the success on the field the community expectations have been happily forthcoming. Facilities and equipment at CHS are at a level hard to imagine a generation ago. We will include Coach Holmes last factor (No. 5) of financial resources in the discussion with No. 4. Can’t we say “We have come a long way?” Providing athletic activity for our young is costly. How I appreciate all the booster clubs and their members of the schools in Gordon County as they labor to make possible what is necessary for our youngsters.

Comments about the Incident at the Old Ball Park

Many people already are aware there was an incident (unpleasant) at the Calhoun High softball field last Thursday. The observation was then later made by a person involved that Jerry Smith would probably write about the incident in his column.

Yes, I choose to make a comment or so. Much could be written and positions advocated and other positions attacked. I choose to do neither. Let me quickly say a few words and close the subject for public consumption.

My main comment is I am glad I was not there to hear or see the things said and actions performed. I have strong convictions and positions on the matter; those will not be a factor in my comments.

I now tell why am I glad I wasn’t there? With exception every person involved was someone I had both long admired and loved and others were young people who were more recently injected into my life and I had come to be great fans and admirers of their play. One person involved was one whenever I heard him discussed, my offering of the man was that “… was good to me and he was good for me.”

Heartache and disappointment are the two feelings I feel. I will refuse to let my heart change toward people I have admired for such a long time. I hurt because careers are waylaid by reason of wrong choices.

The sadness of the incident was softened by reason of a victory over Ringgold later that afternoon and three victories without a loss in the tournament at Dalton on Friday and Saturday.