Last night I attended the Greenville School board meeting along with about 30 other people to find out who the new football coach would be. I am sure that is why they were there because I recognized quite a few of them, and they were either parents, student-athletes, or boosters of GHS athletics. We were informed that the new coach, allegedly Aaron Shaffer, would be named Head Coach. To everyone’s surprise, this announcement was taken off the agenda! Why? No reason was given (so much for transparency), and the board, after a very quick announcement, went on with their business.
To me, this looks bad for them. What was the reason? Would it have killed them to at least say something other than it was off the agenda? What in the hell is going on with the school board? This board has fumbled around ever since Coach Ford’s resignation. What is taking so long? My God, this group has now put the student-athletes who are going to play football in a terrible position.
One of the team captains, Aiden Manix, gave a statement that pretty much sums up the football situation in Greenville, Quote: “For those that don’t know me, my name is Aiden Manix. I am a junior at GHS, but for me most importantly, I am a captain of the football team. This next season I will be playing my last season of football with all my brothers. I won’t lie. After everything that has gone down, I have thought of transferring, but my love of my friends, teachers, and school just simply won’t allow me too. I also know many other players have thought about transferring too, but they are in the same boat as me, which is why I am here tonight with some of the guys on the team who have the same hunger as I do to win, but right now, we don’t even have a coach to help us win. We are so far behind the eight ball it’s almost embarrassing to be involved with. After we were far into the season we finally got into the weight room after I wrote a letter to our A.D. By the way, we won’t have a lifting coach in eight days. Until last week, we didn’t have a clue of who could possibly be our coach until Coach Shaffer, our A.D., threw his hat in the ring, but now we are back to square one because he is not getting approved tonight. We as a team need our coach now: we want the Greenville Football team to be the reason Greenville is successful from here on out. We want to be the change around here. Thank You for listening to me speak, and I urge you to hear me out and figure this thing out!”
Smart words and awareness from a High School junior who knows more than the board of education. What is the hold up? Oh, and don’t give me this crap about “Well, we are trying to find the right person.” After some of the decisions you have made lately, what makes me think you will find that person? Be honest, are you really trying to find a good young coach, or are you looking for someone cheap? The board’s decisions are a disaster for our young athletes, and last night’s delay, for whatever reason other than a personal emergency, will ring awful hollow with the crowd there last night and to me also!
I felt so sorry for Aiden and the others last night, and afterwards, I got them together and told them they had to be the leaders, it was not coming from this board, they were on their own. They all agreed it was up to them. They are the real leaders. They want to be the best, but the headwinds against them are awfully strong, but I believe they will do everything in their power to overcome the lack of support they are getting.
Greenville has been on a downhill slide for the last several years, and I find it funny that coaches here don’t last long. Why? It is time for the School board, A.D., and Superintendent to take a long, hard look at themselves and figure out what is wrong. When we are the largest school in the county, and we rank only ahead of tiny Mississinawa Valley in Teachers and coach salaries, something is desperately wrong. Where is all our money going? It sure isn’t going toward performance! Please, members of the board, get your act together for the sake of the students and the student-athletes of Greenville. We have waited far too long, and the comments from a team captain laid it out for you…..GET MOVING!
That’s the way I see it……from the sidelines.
