Feathers are being ruffled at C-M
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Feathers are being ruffled at C-M
How in the world can the Clinton-Massie School District actually do what they are doing and keep a straight face?
Do they realize they are doing more harm than good?
If you haven't heard, Clinton- Massie head football coach Dan McSurley didn't or just forgot to send in his paperwork before the deadline, and now
he has to re-apply for his head football coaching position.
Really?
Are you kiddin' me?
I found out about this travesty while reading the high school sports website JJhuddle.com.
I read about the Clinton-Massie school district's self-imposed deadline for coaches to apply for their one-year renewal of coaching contracts, which had a deadline of May 18, but McSurley and his football program have put Clinton-Massie on the sports map. Are you telling me the people in charge didn't realize there was a deadline and couldn't pick up a phone and give a call to their most successful coach? They couldn't say, "Um, hey, Coach, just seeing if you want to still win football games with the Clinton-Massie Falcons?"
They could say "Hey coach, we have this deadline that is new, something you might not be used to, and we are just checking in on ya. It is May 17, and our deadline is May 18. So do you want to coach for us next season?"
Trust me, I know about deadlines.
Heck, I have self-imposed deadlines when it comes to writing stories and getting them posted online, but it is safe to say everyone is capable of
missing a deadline one time or another. Trust me, I know.
McSurley is 81-15 since 2002 (111-46 overall) at the helm of the Falcons, not to mention he has led his team to not one or two playoff
appearances, but eight straight trips since 2002.
If McSurley isn't brought back as the Massie football coach, it will not only be a blow to the Falcon football program, but it will be a blow to the
South Central Ohio League as well.
It will be embarrassing!
The Falcons are four-peat SCOL champs and have lost just twice in their time in the league, standing at 28-2 since 2005 in the SCOL.
I only know McSurley from watching him coach from the sidelines for games against either the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers. I always
leave impressed with how tough and how disciplined his teams are, along with their rough style of football.
I've seen his teams score too many points in games (but players can't just stop playing), but I have seen some plays made by his players that I
won't soon forget.
Does anyone remember the 78-yard zig-zag, tackle-breaking quarterback scramble on a broken play by then-QB Logan McCormick in 2008 at McClain
Field? (He broke four tackles during the touchdown run.) I do. It was one of the most amazing high school football plays I've witnessed.
Whenever I have spoken to McSurley after a game, which I have on a few occasions, you can see the intensity he has for his football program.
In an article by JJHuddle managing editor Eric Frantz, McSurley said he just missed the Statement of Intent and that was it.
It states later in the article that C-M superintendent Dr. Mike Sander (who says this isn't a witch-hunt) told McSurley his coaching positions in not only football, but wrestling, were not going to be renewed.
The story also states all coaches were sent letters and follow-up emails as a reminder. Later, it says McSurley was dealing with personal family
issues during the time he needed to give his intent to coach this upcoming season.
And even though the superintendent said he knew how McSurley felt with personal issues, as he had some as well, the comment was, "You have to take care of business."
Give me a break!
Eighty-one wins (since 2002) isn't taking care of business? What about the eight straight playoff appearances?
McSurley started the wrestling program and has coached three wrestlers to state championships.
Of all the comments I read in the JJ Huddle story this one gets to me the most: "That was the first of my knowledge that he wanted to return."
The comment was in response to the day he met with the regional-playoff football coach in their first meeting since the deadline passed in May.
Maybe the four-peat SCOL titles weren't a clue?
Maybe this is a way to show the "former" Falcon coach the way things will be handled at Clinton-Massie, or it is all a big misunderstanding.
I would put money all the fans of Falcon football knew he wanted to return to the sideline. It is probably a safe bet that all his assistant coaches and players did, too.
There is one thing I do understand, and that is this is no way to treat a coach that has built two programs that have reached top levels of the state.
It's known Clinton-Massie is the best football team in this area until someone knocks them off the top of the SCOL and gets by them in the early rounds of the playoffs. (That is a simple fact.)
I understand the superintendent of C-M has to do what he feels is right for all the people he is in charge of, and that is fine too.
Since McSurley has to re-apply for his coaching position, along with what is sure to be other coaches swooping in - I mean, applying - for the
job, I do have one suggestion for the hiring of the next or same football coach before the meeting takes place. (A recommendation for the coaching job will be made on Monday, June 28 in a special meting.) Put McSurley's resume on top of the pile.
It will save everyone involved a lot of time and effort.
I'm sure his resume will take care of business.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.
How in the world can the Clinton-Massie School District actually do what they are doing and keep a straight face?
Do they realize they are doing more harm than good?
If you haven't heard, Clinton-Massie head football coach Dan McSurley didn't or just forgot to send in his paperwork before the deadline, and now he has to re-apply for his head football coaching position.
Really?
Are you kiddin' me?
I found out about this travesty while reading the high school sports website JJhuddle.com.
I read about the Clinton-Massie school district's self-imposed deadline for coaches to apply for their one-year renewal of coaching contracts, which had a deadline of May 18, but McSurley and his football program have put Clinton-Massie on the sports map. Are you telling me the people in charge didn't realize there was a deadline and couldn't pick up a phone and give a call to their most successful coach? They couldn't say, "Um, hey, Coach, just seeing if you want to still win football games with the Clinton-Massie Falcons?"
They could say "Hey coach, we have this deadline that is new, something you might not be used to, and we are just checking in on ya. It is May 17, and our deadline is May 18. So do you want to coach for us next season?"
Trust me, I know about deadlines.
Heck, I have self-imposed deadlines when it comes to writing stories and getting them posted online, but it is safe to say everyone is capable of missing a deadline one time or another. Trust me, I know.
McSurley is 81-15 since 2002 (111-46 overall) at the helm of the Falcons, not to mention he has led his team to not one or two playoff appearances, but eight straight trips since 2002.
If McSurley isn't brought back as the Massie football coach, it will not only be a blow to the Falcon football program, but it will be a blow to the South Central Ohio League as well.
It will be embarrassing!
The Falcons are four-peat SCOL champs and have lost just twice in their time in the league, standing at 28-2 since 2005 in the SCOL.
I only know McSurley from watching him coach from the sidelines for games against either the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers. I always leave impressed with how tough and how disciplined his teams are, along with their rough style of football.
I've seen his teams score too many points in games (but players can't just stop playing), but I have seen some plays made by his players that I won't soon forget.
Does anyone remember the 78-yard zig-zag, tackle-breaking quarterback scramble on a broken play by then-QB Logan McCormick in 2008 at McClain
Field? (He broke four tackles during the touchdown run.) I do. It was one of the most amazing high school football plays I've witnessed.
Whenever I have spoken to McSurley after a game, which I have on a few occasions, you can see the intensity he has for his football program.
In an article by JJHuddle managing editor Eric Frantz, McSurley said he just missed the Statement of Intent and that was it.
It states later in the article that C-M superintendent Dr. Mike Sander (who says this isn't a witch-hunt) told McSurley his coaching positions in not only football, but wrestling, were not going to be renewed.
The story also states all coaches were sent letters and follow-up emails as a reminder. Later, it says McSurley was dealing with personal family issues during the time he needed to give his intent to coach this upcoming season.
And even though the superintendent said he knew how McSurley felt with personal issues, as he had some as well, the comment was, "You have to take care of business."
Give me a break!
Eighty-one wins (since 2002) isn't taking care of business? What about the eight straight playoff appearances?
McSurley started the wrestling program and has coached three wrestlers to state championships.
Of all the comments I read in the JJ Huddle story this one gets to me the most: "That was the first of my knowledge that he wanted to return."
The comment was in response to the day he met with the regional-playoff football coach in their first meeting since the deadline passed in May.
Maybe the four-peat SCOL titles weren't a clue?
Maybe this is a way to show the "former" Falcon coach the way things will be handled at Clinton-Massie, or it is all a big misunderstanding.
I would put money all the fans of Falcon football knew he wanted to return to the sideline. It is probably a safe bet that all his assistant coaches and players did, too.
There is one thing I do understand, and that is this is no way to treat a coach that has built two programs that have reached top levels of the state.
It's known Clinton-Massie is the best football team in this area until someone knocks them off the top of the SCOL and gets by them in the early rounds of the playoffs. (That is a simple fact.)
I understand the superintendent of C-M has to do what he feels is right for all the people he is in charge of, and that is fine too.
Since McSurley has to re-apply for his coaching position, along with what is sure to be other coaches swooping in - I mean, applying - for the job, I do have one suggestion for the hiring of the next or same football coach before the meeting takes place. (A recommendation for the coaching job will be made on Monday, June 28 in a special meting.) Put McSurley's resume on top of the pile.
It will save everyone involved a lot of time and effort.
I'm sure his resume will take care of business.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.
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