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Christmas cheer??
12.23.05 (9:58 pm)   [edit]
Guess I have wonderful friends--not sure if they meant well or not. My replacement wound up as coach of the year and started talking about the tradition of success she started when she took over. I guess the 2 30-win seasons and the 20-12 team (with 5 sophs starting) she inherited didn't count.

Of course, also highlighted in the article was the daughter of the parent who chucked influence around--and that she played the critical role in their success.

And if that's true, I'll cut my left testicle off with a butter knife. Heck--even better, I'll put some salt on it and eat it after that.

* *
On the other hand, I heard from a student form a couple years back who was a pain in the butt--tracked me down via email from talking to a couple people and wrote me an email (a HUGE surprise to me) thanking me for what I did in high school and forcing them to do the assigned work and not let them slack--because it helped him through his A.A. degree with a 3.5 and is helping him now at a 4-year school.

And then hearing the same thing from a couple other students. ANd then a mom and former student we ran into at Pizza Man last night, and then again--a relayed thank you from a student I convinced NOT to play volleyball and to pursue her interest in cross-country. By this time next year, she'll be some place big-time in college track--which is cool.

And nice that these people remember me. That's the ultimate fear--with someone else taking credit for what I built, I fear being forgotten. Guess I shouldn't focus on history so much as a profession

FOund out too that there will only be two seniors next year and only four juniors on the entire squad. The rest have quit or will quit. Grrrrr.

* *
But again, I should be thankful to be writing this from home during Christmas break. The wife and kids are healthy, my parents and the inlaws are healthy, as is Julie's brother and my sister/Matt and their daughter.

Jolly Roger products are advancing. I'm finishing up my third novel--now to get them published!!! and I'm still teaching--and those kids got the message and learned stuff, so I am not a failure!!

--And for my replacement teacher (who won't ever see this): SHowing a movie as "prep for finals" isn't effective. Then again, neither is a 25-question multiple choice/fill-in-the-blank final. But I guess that's the "teaching" needed there.
 
volleyball
12.01.05 (2:56 pm)   [edit]

The season here is over.  Actually it ended a few weeks ago, but the Big Dance is now past.  The team that eliminated us in the District Final (Johnson County) wound up national champions.  The cool thing is that during the season, we were the only team in the district to even take a game from them.  To me, that shows things are improving.  ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS need to take steps gradually and not rush them.  Last year (first year here) we got beat in the playoffs, this year we get to the district playoff.  Now the next step is at least the Regional Final.


Recruiting is going well.  Two are signed already, and all seven of the freshmen have returned their letters of intent, so we already have as many people for next season as we had for this year--and the heart of recruiting season is still not here!


* *
It is still amusing to see how things are back home and how credit is taken by my replacement.  Better still is telling other coaches that your own players are weaknesses behind the player's back and nice to the player in person.  Grow up! (This coming from a man writing about something 400+ miles away)  It was amusing over Thanksgiving to see how the team awards were handled there.  The awards are no longer based on numbers or stats--instead, it's last names.  One award went to the school secretary's daughter, another went to the daughter of the wealthy donor who got me fired, and another went to another wealthy doctor/parish member.  Absolutely amazing and convenient.*

*The doctor's daughter did actually deserve the award though for spirit and work ethic, but sometimes you have to wonder if that or the name got her the award (I know what the answer SHOULD be to that).  After all, if it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck...it is most probably a duck.


* * *


Big recruiting weeks here before Christmas.  Got a great athlete coming in tomorrow and another flying in next Friday.  We finish that off with another visit/recruit coming in the last day of finals.  Wow...we could be at 12 people before we've even hit 2006!  Woohoo!