WCMessenger.com: Inquiring minds want to know

WCMessenger.com Sports: Sports Columns

Inquiring minds want to know

By Robert Morgan | Published 5-Aug-07

Ten months of non-stop sports begin Monday with the opening of fall practices for football, volleyball and cross country. The only thing better than this time of year is the state track and field meet.

One of the best things about kicking off a school year is watching many questions get answered as the seasons progress. Whether itís how many yards the Bridgeport defense will allow or who will be the first coach at Decatur to get run out of town, the gossip in the bleachers is sure to begin Monday.

Therefore, I want to get one step ahead of the game. Here are just a few of the questions I have going into the 2007-08 school year.

Oh yeah, I will answer them as well.

Good luck to all Wise County athletes (and coaches ñ you will need it), this season.

I thought the Decatur ISD bought a new scoreboard for the football stadium?

That would be correct. The district purchased a beautiful, larger scoreboard with all the bells and whistles last year. In fact, this expensive upgrade was even delivered last year as well.

The company that was hired to install this fancy piece of equipment did not have time all spring or summer to get around to it. However, there has been some shifting of dirt around the old one this week.

If the district had replaced the contractor like it does female head coaches, the job would have been done by now.

Will Chico win a football game this year?

Head coach Pete Hart always finds a way to win at least one game. You can also expect the Dragons to push a couple other teams to the limit again this year.

The biggest concern in Chico will be the numbers game. Not only will the program be lucky to field a junior varsity team, but finding 18 guys to put on the field for varsity is now getting tougher.

Itís a shame that there are parents and students out there who will not be a part of the program because they think Hart is the problem.

Does Wise County have a good shot at a third straight year with a cross country state champion?

Wise County has a solid chance every year. The Decatur girls, who fell a little short of repeating as state champs last year, have the best group coming back. Seniors Chelsea Turner and Tara Natale are not expected to return this year, but a solid incoming freshman class is going to surprise some people - me included, Iíve been told.

The Decatur boys lost nearly everyone from its back-to-back state title team, but the cupboard is never bare for coach Chuck Greever.

The Alvord girls, who struggled with numbers last year, are always a contender.

Paradise will struggle getting out of regionals. However, headliner James Hodges is back for one last hurrah and he is a good one.

Who is the head volleyball coach at Decatur?

Despite many rumors (much because of the crazy work of those within the district), Brent Hand is returning for a fourth season. He is the only coach in the programís history to get the Lady Eagles into the state playoffs ñ and will likely be the first to resign this year.

District officials suddenly become silent on situations that are negative and this has been one of those times. Superintendant Gary Gindt refused comment on why this has been an ongoing discussion throughout the summer.

Three people within the DISD told me the reasons were marital problems and parent complaints about job performance.

If personal issues have anything to do with the ability to coach or teach, then everyone should be fired because struggles are a part of life. How about those within the district today who have had past marital problems, or even those who live a gay lifestyle? Heck, how about someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one? All of those are problematic ñ depending on who you ask.

If parental complaints have anything to do with a personís ability to coach, every coach should be released from his or her duties because every coach has critics. I know the feeling all too well.

Will Bridgeport try to outscore or stop opponents defensively this year?

Anyone who thinks fixing the defense has not been a priority in Bridgeport is crazy. Still, the team has fielded the worst defense in the county the last three years by a huge margin.

The coaching staff and players will tell you it will be better this year. But, then again, they say that every year. However, the Bull defense has matured the last two years while using freshmen and sophomores in the heat of the battle.

Mix in a new defensive coordinator with those seasoned veterans and I think you will see a third-place playoff team. This will be the most improved team in the district and the Bulls can look forward to knocking off rival Decatur in a couple of years.

What is the Messenger sportsí predicted finishes for football this year?

Getting those answers will be easy. Just pick up a copy of the special 2007 football preview section that will be published Thursday, Aug. 30.