Interesting Email to Football Night in America with Peter King

[coachH]

An Indiana high school football coach checks in, concerned. (I am withholding his name at his request.) “I found your tour of the Vikings facility both informative and eye opening. It really scares me to think about what we’re doing at the high school level. To see what teams like the Vikings are doing to protect their players is impressive. High schools, with no money, and not near the space, are not getting the same treatment. In your article you talk about a meeting room with 172 seats and only 42 will fill those seats at a time. In high school football, we have anywhere from 35 to 75 kids on a team, jammed into classrooms, makeshift meeting rooms, etc to watch film and meet. It makes no sense to me at all. The NFL has the money to test almost daily. We don’t, at least the schools I know about, have the ability to test at all. We ask a series of questions and if the player answers ‘yes’ to any of the questions, the player is sent home. The kids who LOVE football understand this and will always answer ‘no’ to avoid missing practice time. I’m really concerned.

“I know I’m in the minority when it comes to high school coaches. Most want to play, but the risk doesn’t equal the reward. High schools, like a lot of the colleges you hear about, need the football revenue so things continue ‘as normal.’ I see it with my own eyes, but it’s really said when adults put in charge of protecting and doing what’s best for our kids are more concerned about the almighty dollar. I love football. I love the life lessons. I’m just afraid we’re teaching the absolute wrong lesson this season.”

What a wonderful, real, stark and important email this is. Thanks for putting into words what so many coaches around the country who are being told there will be a football season must be thinking. We’re teaching the absolute wrong lesson this season. What a powerful message you are sending, Coach. I truly hope that some high school administrators in states around the country, particularly states where outbreaks are increasing, read this and think to themselves: “Let’s wait a minute here, and see if football in a pandemic, without the safeguards professional teams have, is really sensible.”

 

I read this article by Peter King every Monday, ever since it was called Monday Morning Quarterback about the the NFL. I saw this and thought it was interesting, especially considering all the debate on here about this topic.  

[tango]

Interesting.  Sure is a lot of uncertainty right now.     

[Mayo77]

[Titan32]

7 hours ago, coachH said:

An Indiana high school football coach checks in, concerned. (I am withholding his name at his request.) “I found your tour of the Vikings facility both informative and eye opening. It really scares me to think about what we’re doing at the high school level. To see what teams like the Vikings are doing to protect their players is impressive. High schools, with no money, and not near the space, are not getting the same treatment. In your article you talk about a meeting room with 172 seats and only 42 will fill those seats at a time. In high school football, we have anywhere from 35 to 75 kids on a team, jammed into classrooms, makeshift meeting rooms, etc to watch film and meet. It makes no sense to me at all. The NFL has the money to test almost daily. We don’t, at least the schools I know about, have the ability to test at all. We ask a series of questions and if the player answers ‘yes’ to any of the questions, the player is sent home. The kids who LOVE football understand this and will always answer ‘no’ to avoid missing practice time. I’m really concerned.

“I know I’m in the minority when it comes to high school coaches. Most want to play, but the risk doesn’t equal the reward. High schools, like a lot of the colleges you hear about, need the football revenue so things continue ‘as normal.’ I see it with my own eyes, but it’s really said when adults put in charge of protecting and doing what’s best for our kids are more concerned about the almighty dollar. I love football. I love the life lessons. I’m just afraid we’re teaching the absolute wrong lesson this season.”

What a wonderful, real, stark and important email this is. Thanks for putting into words what so many coaches around the country who are being told there will be a football season must be thinking. We’re teaching the absolute wrong lesson this season. What a powerful message you are sending, Coach. I truly hope that some high school administrators in states around the country, particularly states where outbreaks are increasing, read this and think to themselves: “Let’s wait a minute here, and see if football in a pandemic, without the safeguards professional teams have, is really sensible.”

 

I read this article by Peter King every Monday, ever since it was called Monday Morning Quarterback about the the NFL. I saw this and thought it was interesting, especially considering all the debate on here about this topic.  

The lesson should be follow science not fear.  This letter is a joke.  This whole thing is a huge exercise on how to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[Raven67]

On 7/27/2020 at 4:17 PM, Titan32 said:

“I know I’m in the minority when it comes to high school coaches. Most want to play, but the risk doesn’t equal the reward.

What risk is he talking about?

[Mayo77]

Here is thing that irritates me the most.   If you do not feel safe then don't go to your job!!!!!   Problem solved!!!!!   There are other job opportunities in this country.    If I was head coach and didn't feel comfortable I'd talk to AD about situation and have interim coach for year.   I wouldn't make fun or down someone who didn't feel comfortable.   Everyone has choice.  

[OldschoolFB]

On 7/27/2020 at 5:17 PM, Titan32 said:

The lesson should be follow science not fear.  This letter is a joke.  This whole thing is a huge exercise on how to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Titan is 100% correct. 

[Plymouthfan91]

On 7/27/2020 at 5:17 PM, Titan32 said:

The lesson should be follow science not fear.  This letter is a joke.  This whole thing is a huge exercise on how to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

If we follow science and not fear then we need to look at the numbers in Indiana.  Things are on the rise and we need to be safe.  If we don't consider slowing down we are a part of the problem.  To call this a joke means you are narrow-minded and don''t have a grasp on what in going on throughout the state.