BRIDGES: Now is time to support WBHS program

Last week the Bulldoggs traveled to Mt. Airy for a region game with Habersham Central. Yes, there was a chill in the air. Yes, the game was somewhat of a long distance from Winder. Yet, the turnout of fans on the WBHS side of Raider Stadium was nothing short of embarrassing. Someone mentioned to me at the game that fall break probably kept some people away. To me, that also is not an acceptable excuse. If anything, that should have made it easier for fans to have been at the game supporting the players.

I can tell you first hand the amount of work second-year head coach David Wagner and his coaching staff have put into this program. While fans show up on Friday night to watch the games, Wagner and his coaches work seven days a week. There is so much more that goes into overseeing a high school football program than even people with actual knowledge of the sport know.

It’s not about standing on the sideline Friday nights and sending in some plays. It’s not about waving a magic wand and having your team go from 0-10 to 8-2 or 9-1. Wagner may not be a magician, but he is a sound football coach and has been involved with enough successful programs to know what he’s doing.

And another thing: can we please stop with the yelling words of advice from the stands? (My favorite from last Friday came on a fourth and less than a yard for WBHS when a “coach in stands” yelled “PASS IT!!!!”) This type of behavior doesn’t help the team. It doesn’t help the coaches. I have never meet one coach who decided to run a play because someone sitting in the bleachers thought it would be a good one.

I understand it can be emotional when your team is not as successful as you would like. I get emotional about it as well, although my emotions are put into supporting the team and wanting them to do well. Your “words of advice” for the coaches and players are not needed and, quite frankly, sound downright foolish.

Leave the coaching to the coaches and allow the players to get their direction on what to do from them. The WBHS football program needs your support right now. Your criticism and lack of attendance at games is not helping. We all want the team to win and be successful. I can assure you, however, no one wants it more than the coaches and players.

Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can send comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.