Sharkbait

You get what you pay for.  At least you hope you do.

I know a lot of thought and prayer goes into a move like this.  Coach Jordan has had tiger blood running through his veins forever and has banged heads with St Joe as a player and coach, to take the helm of your fiercest rival must be quite a strange feeling.  He is a fantastic coach and I am not sure the administration at Blountstown appreciated just how appreciated just how good he is.  If he takes the job at Port St Joe  he will enjoy great support and be very appreciated.  PSJ should have about 17 seniors next year so there will be a lot of talent to work with too.

I heard a bunch of players have been getting phone calls and text messages from a fella over that way.

It is now official. http://www.wjhg.com/content/sports/Palmer-steps-down-as-Port-St-Joe-football-coach-470157593.html
Coach John Palmer has resigned as head football coach at Port St Joe.  I talked to him last night at the football banquet and he was in good spirits and looked the best he has in some time.  I wish John the best and thank him for his hard work and his leadership and guidance he has provided over the years to so many young men including my son.  Coach Palmer leaves quite a legacy with his 2 State Championships and multiple playoff appearances.  The next coach has some very big shoes to fill but I am sure he will be up for the task.

It is now official. http://www.wjhg.com/content/sports/Palmer-steps-down-as-Port-St-Joe-football-coach-470157593.html
Coach John Palmer has resigned as head football coach at Port St Joe.  I talked to him last night at the football banquet and he was in good spirits and looked the best he has in some time.  I wish John the best and thank him for his hard work and his leadership and guidance he has provided over the years to so many young men including my son.  Coach Palmer leaves quite a legacy with his 2 State Championships and multiple playoff appearances.  The next coach has some very big shoes to fill but I am sure he will be up for the task.

It is now official. http://www.wjhg.com/content/sports/Palmer-steps-down-as-Port-St-Joe-football-coach-470157593.html
Coach John Palmer has resigned as head football coach at Port St Joe.  I talked to him last night at the football banquet and he was in good spirits and looked the best he has in some time.  I wish John the best and thank him for his hard work and his leadership and guidance he has provided over the years to so many young men including my son.  Coach Palmer leaves quite a legacy with his 2 State Championships and multiple playoff appearances.  The next coach has some very big shoes to fill but I am sure he will be up for the task.

We have experienced drastic changes in the past 25 years.  Those changes have made some of us very uncomfortable on a number of fronts.  Why would we not expect sport to change drastically as well, and likewise elicit certain mixed feelings? 
It has been said that sports are a reflection of the society in which we live...a microcosm.  The changes we see in our game today are linked to changing values and norms in our society and underlying tensions related to those changes often show their face in sport.  Our challenge is to figure out which of these changes are "good changes," and which are a warning of a future train wreck.
For some of these kids, sports are possibly the only setting in which they feel empowered to express themselves and their individuality.  Sometimes their behavior frustrates us, but I think we need to remember that we have created this stage for them, and some kids really take advantage of that opportunity to express their dramatic talents.  
As a coach, teacher or mentor, my job is to look for that creative genius in a kid and nurture it.   It may manifest itself in a manner that is foreign to me.  I am not a big fan of rap music, but I have come to appreciate the creativity in it, and recognized that by doing so I might make a connection with a kid and tap into that creative genius...and unleash it to do greater things . If I don't have a keen eye and open mind, I may miss that opportunity. 
 
    
 
   
 
 
        

I think coaching is probably the biggest difference.  It seems to me that coaches here rely so much on the athletic ability of their players that they don't focus as much on fundamentals and discipline.  I know some of the schools on the list have really good coaches but during the season you play a lot of poorly coached teams and you end up ill-prepared for a well coached team that matches you athletically.

As far as the Tampa schools go  I really don't  understand the lack of success outside pf Plant. My alma mater Armwood is a paper tiger every year it seems and the drop off from there is ridiculous. Every year you have a team (TB Tech this year) that looks like they are ready to step up but always fall short.  There is plenty of talent but nobody seems to be able to get anything out of it.

As far as the Tampa schools go  I really don't  understand the lack of success outside pf Plant. My alma mater Armwood is a paper tiger every year it seems and the drop off from there is ridiculous. Every year you have a team (TB Tech this year) that looks like they are ready to step up but always fall short.  There is plenty of talent but nobody seems to be able to get anything out of it.

Port St Joe has 4 state titles  '71, '84, "05, "14.

Port St Joe has 4 state titles  '71, '84, "05, "14.

Regarding Jacksonville public schools, I think it's a combination of the good privates taking talent and, also, coaching. It is interesting to note that St. John's County, which is a southern suburb of Jacksonville, has done better with their public schools than Duval over the last 20 years. 

A slight correction. Apopka has won three state titles: 2001 vs Northwestern, 2012 vs Cypress Bay and 2014 vs Columbus.
 So one Orlando area big school should be on your list above. 

Yeah but I got straight As in history.  Coach was awesome for my GPA 

Yeah but I got straight As in history.  Coach was awesome for my GPA 

Congrats 4 A Madison finally won the 1 A Championship

Madison County depth was the difference Blountstowns talent was just as good just not enough depth.

Anybody got an unattached sister, daughter, ex wife/girlfriend, neighbor, or co-worker with a driver's license willing to travel to Lake City and entertain a nice young man who spends way to much time educating lost and confused souls still living in the past. A fund has been set up ( Tiger Greet and Heat ) to help facilitate a bonding of hearts, mind, and body for our north Florida friend who doesn't leave his computer keyboard nearly long enough to expand his possibilities for engagement.  

You know I love you Babyboy

I shared that on the board a couple of weeks ago.  Palmer has been at practice and upstairs during the last game and in the locker room pregame and at the half.  Josh Dailey is performing HC duties and running day to day operations but Palmer is taking a bigger part in things over the last week and a half.  I don't know what next year holds but PSJ will have about 20 seniors.  I do know that after the news story broke that there were multiple coaches from successful high schools and some D1 college assistants that made contact with the school about the job.  I do know that the job is not open at this time and the school is not actively seeking a replacement for Palmer.  Ideally everyone associated with PSJ would like to see Coach Palmer get a clean bill of health and return to his duties.

Looks good to me.  8 state champions is too many, go back to 5 classes and go to evenly numbered districts and regions

Looks good to me.  8 state champions is too many, go back to 5 classes and go to evenly numbered districts and regions

I have noticed traditionally "black" schools getting flagged more in games when you have an all white officiating crew.

As the proud father of young man that has played Varsity football since the 8th grade I reflect on these past few years and come to realization that every game from here on out could be his last in high school.  It is bittersweet thinking of the progress he has made  as a player and as a man.  Friday nights will not be the same next year.  Honestly my stomach has been in knots all day as gametime approaches.  I can just imagine how all the senior players on every team feel,  the drastic change that the end of something that they have poured so much heart and soul into to end.  I hope everyone can make it to a game tonight and as you cheer the victors tip your hats to those young men who have played their final game.