Musical chairs has nothing on the high school coaching ranks, and it’s partly our own doing.
Instead of judging these guys on things such as character, work ethic and providing our kids with a solid role model, what to we do? We judge them on wins and losses.
We question their wisdom (because we know the game better than they do). We accuse them of favoring one kid over another and never fail to aim our perfect hindsight right between their eyes when something goes wrong.
In Texas, we have elevated a high school sport to the level of a major college and build monumental stadiums to prove it.
Secondly, we allow some real dregs to hang around, simply because they win. Fortunately, we haven’t been subject to that in the Big Country of late, but it won’t take you long to think of some out-of-the-area slime ball who shouldn’t be allowed near kids.
Third, good coaches, when seeing a group of thin classes on the horizon, often choose to bolt on their own to protect their resumes. If they don’t expect loyalty from you, why should they be loyal in return?
Are there exceptions? Yes, and I’ll throw one at you: Coleman’s John Elder.
With David Yeager serving as the head coach and his youngest son, Kevin, as a four-year starter at quarterback, football has long been a family affair in De Leon. But that will be taken to a whole new level this fall.
