Beek

Being from a program that gets killed by transfers a lot. Not bashing on any of the teams who are the recipient of the players who are zoned for my school. For it is not their fault. Knowing what players who are zoned for my school and seeing them play for other teams proves that when you are down, you will stay down. If we had those players we could compete. they are stars and starters for other programs. 
Players and parents suffer from the grass is greener syndrome. Why would a player with good talent want to play for a loosing program? The true issue is lack of knowledge. It is just assumed that playing for a great program will get you offers, no matter who you are. Being the big fish in the small pond, vs the small fish in a larger pond. We have absolutely no problems getting offers for the kids in our program. For the last 8 years that I have been there. every kid who wanted to go to the next level and had the grades to do it received an offer. Now it wasnt the big D1 offer that they thought they were entitled to! But it was a best fit offer for their talent and cost to the family / student. After all  isnt that what we as coaches are truly supposed to do when it comes to higher education?
We also get a few transfers in as well. Its bound to happen and always a pleasant surprise. The biggest issue for us is the backlash from home-bound education this last year and students becoming academically ineligible. Because we all know kids worked real hard when able to stay home from school and do all work online!
The only real way to stop the transfer thing is to cut it out entirely. You must play for the school you are zoned for period! But we all know that isnt going to happen. Until something is done there will be a huge disparity in the haves and the have nots,  the  programs receiving transfers will continue to get better and the programs who loose players  will continue in their ways. 
This isnt a knock on the programs who continue to loose transfers. Those coaches work real hard to retain players and continue to try to build their programs. Some will make it out of that stigma and finally become a higher ranked, more wins per season and able to compete with higher level programs. others will not and its not for the lack of coaching or effort. It is truly the rules and the cards you are dealt.
Recruiting happens all the time, I hear it in the halls, i see texts from players on other teams. I see communications from staffs of other programs. Some will play by the rules, some think they are above the rules. But until there is integrity among coaches it will continue to get worse. 
Just my .02 worth

Being from a program that gets killed by transfers a lot. Not bashing on any of the teams who are the recipient of the players who are zoned for my school. For it is not their fault. Knowing what players who are zoned for my school and seeing them play for other teams proves that when you are down, you will stay down. If we had those players we could compete. they are stars and starters for other programs. 
Players and parents suffer from the grass is greener syndrome. Why would a player with good talent want to play for a loosing program? The true issue is lack of knowledge. It is just assumed that playing for a great program will get you offers, no matter who you are. Being the big fish in the small pond, vs the small fish in a larger pond. We have absolutely no problems getting offers for the kids in our program. For the last 8 years that I have been there. every kid who wanted to go to the next level and had the grades to do it received an offer. Now it wasnt the big D1 offer that they thought they were entitled to! But it was a best fit offer for their talent and cost to the family / student. After all  isnt that what we as coaches are truly supposed to do when it comes to higher education?
We also get a few transfers in as well. Its bound to happen and always a pleasant surprise. The biggest issue for us is the backlash from home-bound education this last year and students becoming academically ineligible. Because we all know kids worked real hard when able to stay home from school and do all work online!
The only real way to stop the transfer thing is to cut it out entirely. You must play for the school you are zoned for period! But we all know that isnt going to happen. Until something is done there will be a huge disparity in the haves and the have nots,  the  programs receiving transfers will continue to get better and the programs who loose players  will continue in their ways. 
This isnt a knock on the programs who continue to loose transfers. Those coaches work real hard to retain players and continue to try to build their programs. Some will make it out of that stigma and finally become a higher ranked, more wins per season and able to compete with higher level programs. others will not and its not for the lack of coaching or effort. It is truly the rules and the cards you are dealt.
Recruiting happens all the time, I hear it in the halls, i see texts from players on other teams. I see communications from staffs of other programs. Some will play by the rules, some think they are above the rules. But until there is integrity among coaches it will continue to get worse. 
Just my .02 worth

Good update!
According to my administration the grades are still not in. But they were able to obtain the scores and run the grades and predict exactly where the gpa will end up.  The end result is all of the kids who couldnt play last week are able to play this week and onward!
 

Good update!
According to my administration the grades are still not in. But they were able to obtain the scores and run the grades and predict exactly where the gpa will end up.  The end result is all of the kids who couldnt play last week are able to play this week and onward!
 

Good update!
According to my administration the grades are still not in. But they were able to obtain the scores and run the grades and predict exactly where the gpa will end up.  The end result is all of the kids who couldnt play last week are able to play this week and onward!
 

Thank you very much, I attribute that to the new head coach, as of last year. He was my assistant. But when I got the head football job, I stepped aside for him. He is a awesome coach. He is who made the wrestling program, I was just the facilitator. Now i just assist. 

If what I said was taken in a way to dishonor the Osceola Ad,there was never an implication of cheating. What i said truly was not intended that way. I coach against him in wrestling and have much respect.  In my opinion I feel he would fight for his kids, not illegally, but in the correct way, where other ad's seem to try to disqualify kids rather than fight for them. I apologize if the words i used were taken in any other way. Meaning he would contact guidance and work with the counselors and try to figure the gpa's. That is fighting for the kids, Not saying, The kids should have tried better in the past and when the grades eventually get posted , maybe they will be high enough

I am totally about the student - athlete, student comes first always.  Our teams average gpa last year was a 2.8. With this issue that we have now it only affects 5 players, which means I only have 5 players below a 2.4 gpa. So it seems we are working in the right direction

I do that personally. I keep up with all the kids grades. 

Good thing we won the game anyway!
From what I was told, St Cloud had the same issue last friday night. At least that was what I was told. 
It is a large case of CYA, but in my opinion, without logic applied. Calculate the gpa, with a "0" or "f" and if its above 2.0 the kid is good. 
My principal also sees it that way and is supposed to be working on that fix. 
I am being told it is the state, not the county!  So that may be the first incorrect thing I am being told. My ad has the best electron microscope for anything that is not exactly what the ad wants. Takes my players off the field for mandatory study halls, during practice time. 'because we dont want them to become ineligible", Doesnt matter if the kid has a 3.9, still has to attend. If you dont go to study hall, you may end up not playing!  My ad thinks ad stands for athletic disciplinarian. I know why it is tough here and why so many coaches leave. This situation is very tough to handle when you are always being thrown a curve ball at the last minute. This is but just 1 of many things.  Now on a positive note, the ad truly means well and thinks what is being done is in the best interests of the students. 

I am totally about the student - athlete, student comes first always.  Our teams average gpa last year was a 2.8. With this issue that we have now it only affects 5 players, which means I only have 5 players below a 2.4 gpa. So it seems we are working in the right direction

Cocoa 10
Edgewater 9
Valdosta 8
Ponte Vedra 7
St Thomas 6
Godby 5
Trininity Christian  4
Deerfield  3
Bloomingdale 2
Gibbons  1
My teams statistician and advisor (aka my son, was consulted on these picks)

We have tried progress reports. some of the teachers say its too much work. the administration says it cannot mandate that teachers help with progress reports. These are kids who by all rights have a 2.0 but it cannot be proven by record due to the lack of imputed scores. ( I also tell the kids, Had you worked harder and had above a 2.5 you wouldn't even been in this situation to begin with). But the teams overall gpa isnt that bad considering that only 5 players are affected. 
Math is math. that is my point, yet kids cant play!  So this should also affect Osceola!  bet it doesn't! Their AD probably fights to make their kids eligible, not just say, well they kids should have tried better in the past!
 

According to MAX Preps (according to state rankings as on 8/14/2021)
1. Osceola  12th
2. St Cloud 251st
3. Toho 239th
4 Harmony 278th
5. Liberty 362nd
6. Gateway 439th
7.  Celebration 440th
8, Poinciana 452nd
 
 
In My humble opinion. Please dont see this as ego or anything else. this is my personal take, 
and I could be horribly be wrong!
in order of my personal opinion knowing what i think I know.
1. Osceola they will continue to dominate unless there is trouble with coaching change, they have 3 of my former players.#greenergrass
2. St Cloud, they may rise to the task. great coaches and staff and kids. it is Osceola's to loose. No offense to 
Brian Smart, great coach, but coaches cant play the game! #schoolofchoice
3. Harmony, great coach, great kids, just think they may be out played by the above, I am known to be wrong!
4. Poinciana, Hate to say this or sound arrogant. (not in the same class as the above county teams, yet!) The games will prove me right or wrong. I mean no offense to my county coaches.
5. Celebration, new head coach, great energy, and a much tougher schedule than Point! (could steal a win from the top 3 in my list, including myself) do not  think 1 off season will overcome the talent. just my humble opinion. He is doing great things there! (the answer to this will be week 2)
(Celebration has already beaten St. Cloud in Fall classic. they seem to be the real deal, Goes to show what I know, or thought i knew.  May have to update the list accordingly. But Ill wait until a few more games are played. We were missing many players this last week due to state grades not being put in)
6. Toho, Lack of players and new coach (no disrespect, just the fact of NEW) will hurt this program.  Unfortunately kids are looking for the golden ticket. Loyalty doesn't exist. (my program included). Too bad kids can just transfer where they want to go !
7. TIE  Gateway and Liberty, (even though I have never beaten either. Gateway is plagued with transfers and lack of participation, Unofficial information) Liberty is struggling, in my opinion after a late coaching change. I know both coaches, both made good choices, they will feel what have felt for the past 2 years. 
I am not a Sh*t talker, I try to tell it to my kids , staff and the world how I see it. I am not a expert. I am a realist. We may look at this thread 3 months from now and say WTF was he saying!. It is just a opinion. I have the greatest respect for my county coaches, because we all struggle from the same issues. Demographics hurt, but Liberty has history on its side, Never lost to Poinciana!

Exactly my thoughts, we have done just that. Independent. No need playing schools way over our head. I have respect for those teams, I am just tired of being everyone's homecoming date! We feel that we are headed in the right direction. Numbers are looking good for the first year after the "lockdown". Our demographic has not changed. We are who we are. Finally we have a few incoming vs outgoing transfers. Lost a few to greener pastures from last fall only time will tell for those kids, some have transferred to 2 schools after leaving us! Overall I feel we are better than we were last year. Kids are pumped, there is a buzz about the players. Better than I have ever seen in the 8 years here.  I make no guarantees. We have a schedule with teams that are mostly within our abilities. For the first time I feel we have the ability to win  every game on our schedule. Will we do that , absolutely not. But we can compete. We have some strong opponents. Hope the kids are up to that. Part of the slow process of pulling this place out of the basement . I knew it was going to take many years to establish something here. I am committed and so are my coaches. We just take it one day at a time.  As far as a fundraiser. Good luck! We have tried many avenues, but participation and community values make that different. Our AD would never consider letting us go out of state. I feel I am always fighting the "establishment". But what the heck, keep pushing for the kids. It is what we do! When you are not at a "football school" there is always an issue! That is a reason that keeps poinciana where they are. 
 

As far as Football is concerned. Poinciana had tried to get games with both but lost out due to scheduling. The orange county Ad had a lot to do with their scheduling. I know one of the coaches and hoping they will do well!
 
Still trying to rebuild poinciana. This will be my first year with a schedule that I was able to negotiate. Hopefully we will do well. With our long time rival (Liberty)  having to find a new coach after the spring, hopefully this will do well for us. I feel this is a respectable schedule , knowing who we are and the level of competition. We will be challenged ! but have the ability to win a few games this year. not stuck in a unwinnable district (bartow, winterhaven, george jenkins, all good teams but over our heads)
Poincianas schedule:
KOC Cypress creek
Week 2 Celebration
week 3 Mulberry
Week 4 Lake region
Week 5 Tenoroc
Week 6 Foundation Academy
Week 7 Davenport
Week 8 Haines City
Week 9 Parrish Community
Week 10 Akelyns Angels
Week 11 Liberty
 
We are still trying to find our beginning. Winning 7 games in the last 2 years is a good start. Better results than the last many years. But we are still behind the sticks when it comes to athletes. Not disrespecting our kids. But so many of the kids zoned for Poinciana are going to other schools including our rival!

Exactly my thoughts, we have done just that. Independent. No need playing schools way over our head. I have respect for those teams, I am just tired of being everyone's homecoming date! We feel that we are headed in the right direction. Numbers are looking good for the first year after the "lockdown". Our demographic has not changed. We are who we are. Finally we have a few incoming vs outgoing transfers. Lost a few to greener pastures from last fall only time will tell for those kids, some have transferred to 2 schools after leaving us! Overall I feel we are better than we were last year. Kids are pumped, there is a buzz about the players. Better than I have ever seen in the 8 years here.  I make no guarantees. We have a schedule with teams that are mostly within our abilities. For the first time I feel we have the ability to win  every game on our schedule. Will we do that , absolutely not. But we can compete. We have some strong opponents. Hope the kids are up to that. Part of the slow process of pulling this place out of the basement . I knew it was going to take many years to establish something here. I am committed and so are my coaches. We just take it one day at a time.  As far as a fundraiser. Good luck! We have tried many avenues, but participation and community values make that different. Our AD would never consider letting us go out of state. I feel I am always fighting the "establishment". But what the heck, keep pushing for the kids. It is what we do! When you are not at a "football school" there is always an issue! That is a reason that keeps poinciana where they are. 
 

Exactly my thoughts, we have done just that. Independent. No need playing schools way over our head. I have respect for those teams, I am just tired of being everyone's homecoming date! We feel that we are headed in the right direction. Numbers are looking good for the first year after the "lockdown". Our demographic has not changed. We are who we are. Finally we have a few incoming vs outgoing transfers. Lost a few to greener pastures from last fall only time will tell for those kids, some have transferred to 2 schools after leaving us! Overall I feel we are better than we were last year. Kids are pumped, there is a buzz about the players. Better than I have ever seen in the 8 years here.  I make no guarantees. We have a schedule with teams that are mostly within our abilities. For the first time I feel we have the ability to win  every game on our schedule. Will we do that , absolutely not. But we can compete. We have some strong opponents. Hope the kids are up to that. Part of the slow process of pulling this place out of the basement . I knew it was going to take many years to establish something here. I am committed and so are my coaches. We just take it one day at a time.  As far as a fundraiser. Good luck! We have tried many avenues, but participation and community values make that different. Our AD would never consider letting us go out of state. I feel I am always fighting the "establishment". But what the heck, keep pushing for the kids. It is what we do! When you are not at a "football school" there is always an issue! That is a reason that keeps poinciana where they are. 
 

As far as Football is concerned. Poinciana had tried to get games with both but lost out due to scheduling. The orange county Ad had a lot to do with their scheduling. I know one of the coaches and hoping they will do well!
 
Still trying to rebuild poinciana. This will be my first year with a schedule that I was able to negotiate. Hopefully we will do well. With our long time rival (Liberty)  having to find a new coach after the spring, hopefully this will do well for us. I feel this is a respectable schedule , knowing who we are and the level of competition. We will be challenged ! but have the ability to win a few games this year. not stuck in a unwinnable district (bartow, winterhaven, george jenkins, all good teams but over our heads)
Poincianas schedule:
KOC Cypress creek
Week 2 Celebration
week 3 Mulberry
Week 4 Lake region
Week 5 Tenoroc
Week 6 Foundation Academy
Week 7 Davenport
Week 8 Haines City
Week 9 Parrish Community
Week 10 Akelyns Angels
Week 11 Liberty
 
We are still trying to find our beginning. Winning 7 games in the last 2 years is a good start. Better results than the last many years. But we are still behind the sticks when it comes to athletes. Not disrespecting our kids. But so many of the kids zoned for Poinciana are going to other schools including our rival!

For Poinciana sake 14-56 as of today, one more game to go this season wednesday.  Of the 14 wins 7  (7-12) compared to (7-44) have been in the last 2 seasons. We are working on turning this program around finally and beginning to make progress. We lost at least 2 games that we should have won this year. No excuses! Classifications have been unfair to Poinciana due to the criteria based solely on total student body number. Which I understand. But as we know it is not a true representation of our populous.  Poinciana Is now and will be in the foreseeable future independent. We had this done a few years ago, but the AD who thought he knew everything, felt that Poinciana should compete in districts. So he put us back. We left a very bad 5a team and were reclassified as a very bad 7a team. Go figure! Our goal is to finally get Poinciana to be reasonably competitive at first, then we will rethink district play down the road. Why be in a district where there is no chance of winning a game or two, or even being competitive.  Being independent gives us total control of our schedule. We have scheduled like teams for the first time next year. Hopefully the results will be better. If not wins, just being competitive help a lot. This is a work in progress. It took 25 years to get this bad, wont get better over night. Especially with school of choice, why would someone choose Poinciana?  We have to win before they will come.  Hopefully I can update this wednesday night with 8 wins in the last 2 years!  EDIT, wednesday's game has been canceled due to the other team having Covid!

I almost require the football players to play another sport. It does them better. Wrestling has always been great for the line. Track and basketball and baseball for the skilled players. It helps them to be well rounded