COLUMN: Two years not enough time to pass judgment on coach

Mr. Bridges,
It seems that the ugly side of Journalism has also reared its ugly head and while not only disappointed I am surprised. You speak of a snake that crawls out from under a rock, but the one eyed snake of yellow journalism is always out but I just never thought that a local small town reporter would stoop that low. I stand corrected. I know that this column is your opinion but I was bothered by how your opinion was based on your feeling for a friend but contained little or no facts. To say that the resignation of Coach Corley was neither justified or warranted shows how little you know about the politics of high school football. Understanding the game, being on the sideline, writing about the events are one thing but the politics of this Friday night ritual is a whole new level of understanding. Football teams across the south drive communities. It is a source of pride. Something Winder-Barrow has been missing over the past five or six years (maybe even farther). When Coach Corley took a head football position he also took on the chance that he too may face the same fate as his predecessor. Nobody was stabbed in the back and nobody should be surprised by this action. Anyone taking on a head football coaching position knows that they must produce a winning program or be replaced. In the two years as head coach at Winder-Barrow Coach Corley produced a 1 – 9 season and this year a 2 – 8 season. Fans that are not part of Coach Corley’s circle of friends do not call this growth. We call it another loosing season. Fans are tired of this.
You say that “anyone with any level of understanding of football has to see the improvements this fall” and that “several games were competitive.” I grew up playing football for a father that was a head football coach. I have uncles and brothers that are also coaches. I understand football and I whole heartedly disagree with you. Winder was not competitive; we were soundly defeated most of the time. You are correct when you say that building a successful program does not happen overnight, but something needs to happen. Coach Corley didn’t have to win all his games but showing us a one game improvement isn’t what parents and fans were looking for. Where is this growth you talk about? As parents and fans we need to see it. Don’t just tell us it is happening.
To insinuate that the administration at Winder-Barrow is making decisions based on the successful program at Apalachee is absurd, but since you brought it up. Why is that program so successful? They may not be in the state playoffs every year but have had winning seasons more often than not. Apalachee draws from the same type of students and athletes that Winder-Barrow does and they have built a successful program without ever being the bottom of the region. The difference is coaching.
You boast of your experience of being around top high school coaches like that has given you vast knowledge of the intricate details of this sport and winning programs. You say this to give some credit to the misinformation that you are spouting. Well if you had this knowledge then there would be no need for your article. You would understand that it takes some visible, tangible, growth to keep a job as the head coach of a football program.
When you use jargon like “pull the rug out from under Corley” or “his coaching staff has been building toward 2010” you make makes no since. First of all as I stated earlier that anyone taking on a head football position has to know that they must produce. Coach Corley has not done that. Secondly “building toward 2010”, give me a break. How does that make the current seniors and their parents feel? Like any coaching staff would choose to neglect current teams and focus on one years graduating class. If that is the case then they deserve to be replaced. What if Corley remained and did do well enough to have a 5 – 5 season next year. That is producing some visible growth but then the next year are we back to square one.
I really enjoyed how you lashed out at the Board of Education. Like they have anything to do with this but to add insult to injury you had to go and call them stupid as well. Obviously being a sports reporter doesn’t mean that you have an understanding of a high school athletic program either.
Finally, I also agree that over the past 7 years that Corley has coached in Winder he has conducted himself well. He has been a man of character and a positive influence in our community as a teacher, and a mentor, but has not produced what is necessary to maintain his position as the head football coach. Coach Corley will hold his head high as he finishes out the school year. Others, like you Chris, should allow him to do so as well and stop turning his situation into a soap opera.
You question others ability to sleep at night for the decisions they make. So I question you, do you loose sleep at night when you step away from journalistic integrity and use your position to sway people’s opinions unjustly?