Where do you guys see AHS football next year, 2 years, and even 5 years down the road? I would assume with all the flack that Smith has gotten that he will retire, but who knows.
Future of Albemarle Football???
- Thread starter spiketomandjerry4
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Assuming that the school is still open I think we should make another effort to hire Russell Stone. Don't know if he would still be interested the way he was treated, but if he is , he's who I would go after.
Buddy, I think Russell will find the same problem he faced before with no good partime jobs. He in my opinion is not an option.
I think AHS football will be just fine. Things will balance out after losing a lot of kids new coach Who was hired late etc etc. I personally believe that next season you will have more kids come out plus you will have an entire off season And that will make a huge difference.
Hope you are right Bulldognation but I fear that your school board will close AHS. I do not know why they wish to but they seem hell bent on it a few months ago. If anyone know why let me know. I hope they don't.
You and me both West!!! With the latest report out for grades AHS had improved and was only 3 pts behind NS additionally NS schools need more repairs than AHS, if our kids can keep working hard and continue to improve academically all the sudden you have a better performing school than NS and a school in better shape that can hold a 1000 kids as is (I believe that's the capacity). I think the argument is losing ground. IMO. The open enrollment over the summer for just a week is what confused me. It was either a wish that the majority of our high academic achievers would leave or an attack on our athletics with not having a football and men's bball coach (just a thought). Or maybe a test to see how many kids additionally we would have leave. I find it extremely interesting that they would include NS and WS and adding the mobile space into their capacity availability and increasing that capacity from what I believe opened at 80% with no mobile.
Essentially if they redistricted, simply redistricted you would have 100 kids added to AHS.
I think btango could give us some more insight into this than I could.
Here is the thing I know of AHS reputation. I can tell you first hand that we have a lot of great kids in this school. These kids are passionate and want to succeed. They are not scared to work hard sometimes it just takes people caring and working hard for them. They are not perfect and AHS is not perfect but these kids are great by majority. Also understand that these kids are frustrated because they feel that nobody really cares about them and they are being backed into a corner because they goto AHS. I know some kids who transferred because of that "drama". They didn't want to deal with it anymore. I also know kids after this year want to come back to AHS and others who wished yey would have not left. A perfect storm hit AHS I know this football season has been frustrating for everybody involved especially the kids but understand that AHS and these kids will continue to work hard to represent AHS. This is a rough season but I believe in these kids and I will continue to fight for these kids and this school.
So in regards to football, I believe that next year will be a better season, especially with having a full off season. I can't and won't say anything about this staff one because I'm not in the locker room but two because they didn't have a off season. You usually find out how good your coach is in year two when you have had a full year with your kids. Shoot atleast a full off season.
Keep your heads up Bulldogs and keep fighting better days are ahead.
Essentially if they redistricted, simply redistricted you would have 100 kids added to AHS.
I think btango could give us some more insight into this than I could.
Here is the thing I know of AHS reputation. I can tell you first hand that we have a lot of great kids in this school. These kids are passionate and want to succeed. They are not scared to work hard sometimes it just takes people caring and working hard for them. They are not perfect and AHS is not perfect but these kids are great by majority. Also understand that these kids are frustrated because they feel that nobody really cares about them and they are being backed into a corner because they goto AHS. I know some kids who transferred because of that "drama". They didn't want to deal with it anymore. I also know kids after this year want to come back to AHS and others who wished yey would have not left. A perfect storm hit AHS I know this football season has been frustrating for everybody involved especially the kids but understand that AHS and these kids will continue to work hard to represent AHS. This is a rough season but I believe in these kids and I will continue to fight for these kids and this school.
So in regards to football, I believe that next year will be a better season, especially with having a full off season. I can't and won't say anything about this staff one because I'm not in the locker room but two because they didn't have a off season. You usually find out how good your coach is in year two when you have had a full year with your kids. Shoot atleast a full off season.
Keep your heads up Bulldogs and keep fighting better days are ahead.
Hard to make a prediction until the controversy over consolidation/redistricting/whatever is settled and people aren't still wondering whether the school stays open.
Program can only improve on this season, unless of course the team has to start over again with a new coach. I assume Smith will stay - if so, great, and I wish him the best. If he leaves, the admin needs to find a candidate with rebuild experience, preferably from outside the county and with no personal stake in the BOE drama.
Program can only improve on this season, unless of course the team has to start over again with a new coach. I assume Smith will stay - if so, great, and I wish him the best. If he leaves, the admin needs to find a candidate with rebuild experience, preferably from outside the county and with no personal stake in the BOE drama.
Somtimes what we forget as old Albemarle fans/Alum is that noone applies to coach football at AHS. Talbert chose not to coach this year while all the rest of the staff was offfered a chance to do so and chose not to. Their choice had nothing do do with Smith but the fear of what was coming. Head coaching options were Stone which is retired and Smith who is in his retirement year. No other big names wanted to coach AHS from what I have heard. As a school we have 20 teachers turnover per year. The teacher tunover is a bigger problem than no staff coaching.
That's not true I know a coach who applied VERY good coach and never got a call back. Coaches 4a now but I'm not going to say names or what school but I believe he has a state title or atleast has been there. He was really wanting it as well. Also a teacher.
Have to think the job would get a lot of interest with the economy the way it is plus the strong foundation of the program. Seems like the current admin has a preference for people with ties to the school or Stanly County. Of course the timing of what went down last year no doubt made it hard to fill the position.
Yeah he applied I believe in July but I think the process was pretty much decided by then. It's tough to come in the program late. That's why I felt coach T deserved another year and why I feel like Coach Smith deserves another year.
I would have been happy with coach talbert this year, but I don't think Smith deserves another year. The guy flat out can't coach. Just look at his record. It speaks for itself.
We need a coach who can give the program some stability. The kids who are now seniors have had four different head coaches each year.
You, sir, simply have no clue. Win/Loss record cannot apply when all you've been to is losing programs. In every case, Coach Smith has turned that program into to a team that had to be reckoned with. Sure, he had a losing record at CATA, but are you kidding me? It's CATA. They have maybe 1 athlete a year to work with. You are, at this point, Albemarle. No one outside the city limits looks at that program they way they did 12-15 years ago. Did that happen all in one year? NO. Is it any one man's fault? NO. The biggest problem you are facing is the reality that the athletes at Albemarle are not the caliber of athlete that you were used to in the early 2000s. TA isn't walking through that door. The feeder system is not what it was, etc. It's going to take time to rebuild that program into what you want it to be, and it will not happen by simply bashing someone because what they do is different than what you are used to, or they don't carry them in the same manner of someone that's been there previously. To each their own. I can assure you this, given the proper time, Coach Smith will build a winner. However, I seriously could not blame him for walking away from the likes of folks like you. There are many good folks in the community of Albemarle and you are not a very good representation of them.
I don't think he will be able to give the school the proper time because I think he is very close to his retirement and you are wrong about Buddy Rich. I don't know anyone who is as big of a supporter of Albemarle football than he is. But like he said everyone has their opinion.
I remember many years ago when Albemarle/Thomasville went toe to toe every season. Those were some great games. I never went to any of them but I always loved reading the newspaper articles on Saturday morning. With that being said, I have noticed that high school football is down in our conference (CCC) as well. You need to keep in mind that coaches can only do so much. They can show you multiple times how they want certain plays to run, but they can't go out on the field and play for you. At the same time, if the players you are coaching aren't buying into the system, that can be a problem as well.
Agree with a lot of olrebel's post, but not the above. Before this season, AHS averaged 11 wins per year over the previous 22 seasons. They just won a state title six years ago. The drop-off in W-L record has been quick and recent.
Smith has done fine under the circumstances. He stepped into a very difficult situation. Not fair to evaluate him based on this season alone.
Bigger but slower. AHS has a fraction of the team speed it has had in years past, which makes a world of difference at the HS level. The reality is that as other teams have improved, the gap between AHS and the rest of the YVC has closed.
Correct, and perhaps I was harsh. I've coached against the man many times at a couple of his different schools, and he's always done an outstanding job everywhere he's been. I find it hard to believe he's forgotten how to coach football. It's just hard to watch him get eaten alive by the "sharks" when many of the issues that have led to the shortcomings of Albemarle football were in place prior to his arrival. I suppose I am saying, I hate to see a good man being kicked while he's down.
O.K. I've read enough, Do you guys miss me!?
@olrebel I've been on this board since 2010 I believe, so I'm fairly new compared to the rest of these vets on here, but Buddy is probably the #1 fan when it comes to Albemarle. He has seen Albemarle at it's lowest point probably before you were born, so ease up on the old guy
His point is and mines also, is that "Good" coaches applied for the job and never got a call back, and then all of a sudden the former NSH coach comes in while the past AD was a former player. That's a "Good ol' Boy" tactic. True or not true? Nation already said that a coach applied in July....no call. I know a person who I went to school with applied for the P.E. position....no call and that's alumni...! Whatever powers at hand felt like this was the best decision to make has backfired. If Stone came in with this record, yes we would give him a pass because he has a proven record and has "PROVEN" that he can turn a program around. Smith hasn't proven that and now he's at the end of his career...go figure. What? are we color blind here?
@btango Albemarle's offense and D line are probably the size of a 3-4A school, but slow and no movement up front.
@olrebel I've been on this board since 2010 I believe, so I'm fairly new compared to the rest of these vets on here, but Buddy is probably the #1 fan when it comes to Albemarle. He has seen Albemarle at it's lowest point probably before you were born, so ease up on the old guy
His point is and mines also, is that "Good" coaches applied for the job and never got a call back, and then all of a sudden the former NSH coach comes in while the past AD was a former player. That's a "Good ol' Boy" tactic. True or not true? Nation already said that a coach applied in July....no call. I know a person who I went to school with applied for the P.E. position....no call and that's alumni...! Whatever powers at hand felt like this was the best decision to make has backfired. If Stone came in with this record, yes we would give him a pass because he has a proven record and has "PROVEN" that he can turn a program around. Smith hasn't proven that and now he's at the end of his career...go figure. What? are we color blind here?
@btango Albemarle's offense and D line are probably the size of a 3-4A school, but slow and no movement up front.
Sway, it was mentioned before in another post but Smith came into a North Stanly program which was in horrible conditon. They won 7 games in the toughest 2a conference in the state. If I am remembering correctly from the previoius post, he was 7-4 in 98, which was increadible for North Stanly. He coached at Richmond County which was one of the best teams in 4a. I am sure that Smith is a great coach but may not know how to relate his knowledge to what our kids are capable of learning and performing. I researched his schedule last year at CATA when he was hired and he did wonders with athletes equivilant to Chathem Central in a tough 2a with Monroe, Mt. Pleasant, etc. I think if we can keep Smith he will be fine but with him being so close to retirement, I would guess he is going to enter with open arms. If I were put in his situation with fans who act the way they do, I would leave right after the season. We did a terrible job standing behing our new coach and athletes, who were all put in a terrible situation. Who will be our 5th coach in 5 years?O.K. I've read enough, Do you guys miss me!?
@olrebel I've been on this board since 2010 I believe, so I'm fairly new compared to the rest of these vets on here, but Buddy is probably the #1 fan when it comes to Albemarle. He has seen Albemarle at it's lowest point probably before you were born, so ease up on the old guy
His point is and mines also, is that "Good" coaches applied for the job and never got a call back, and then all of a sudden the former NSH coach comes in while the past AD was a former player. That's a "Good ol' Boy" tactic. True or not true? Nation already said that a coach applied in July....no call. I know a person who I went to school with applied for the P.E. position....no call and that's alumni...! Whatever powers at hand felt like this was the best decision to make has backfired. If Stone came in with this record, yes we would give him a pass because he has a proven record and has "PROVEN" that he can turn a program around. Smith hasn't proven that and now he's at the end of his career...go figure. What? are we color blind here?
@btango Albemarle's offense and D line are probably the size of a 3-4A school, but slow and no movement up front.
@spiketomandjerry4 was he the head coach or OC at Richmond? Coaching there and being the HC or OC is on 3 different levels. Also, North Stanly has always had athletes, we just had better athletes and a better coach for that 21 year stretch. I'm not taking anything away here, but when he was at CATA and if you claim he had athletes comparable to CC in 2A, then are you saying that our athletes are no better than CC at the 1A level? That might be true, but then again the kids have to buy into what he is teaching them...if he is indeed doing that, and I believe he is just not in the best way.
I wonder how did Albemarle get into this mess. Is it the kids, the parents, a combination of both? I wonder. My barber son chose to go to North Stanly this year because he was tired of all the mess at Albemarle: Bullying, fights, etc. and needed a break from all of it.
I wonder how did Albemarle get into this mess. Is it the kids, the parents, a combination of both? I wonder. My barber son chose to go to North Stanly this year because he was tired of all the mess at Albemarle: Bullying, fights, etc. and needed a break from all of it.
Smith was a varsity position coach at Richmond during the 1990's.
Everyone I spoke to thought he did a very good job at CATA. CATA and AHS have very different type of kids for the most part. Teenagers are teenagers but I think some situations flourish with one style while another may wilt away with it.
Scott Smith is a great guy, a solid man, who cares about people, and does things the right way. Very respected in The Triad area as an AD. Whether he was the correct hire for the job remains to be seen but at this point it is not working the way Albemarle people wanted it to. The problems at the school are much deeper than football. Everyone I have communicated with tell me the parental involvement is not strong enough and there is a blatant issue with discpline. That is the majority of America's urban schools. I have told the parental involvement dropped further because so many of the ones that were involved saw the issues and problems and decided it was time to move on.
Everyone I spoke to thought he did a very good job at CATA. CATA and AHS have very different type of kids for the most part. Teenagers are teenagers but I think some situations flourish with one style while another may wilt away with it.
Scott Smith is a great guy, a solid man, who cares about people, and does things the right way. Very respected in The Triad area as an AD. Whether he was the correct hire for the job remains to be seen but at this point it is not working the way Albemarle people wanted it to. The problems at the school are much deeper than football. Everyone I have communicated with tell me the parental involvement is not strong enough and there is a blatant issue with discpline. That is the majority of America's urban schools. I have told the parental involvement dropped further because so many of the ones that were involved saw the issues and problems and decided it was time to move on.
Yes, Fred Styles was the HC. About 1984 season Jerry Osborne took over a few years followed by Dan McSwain before Little's first run.
Read on the front page of the Stanly News and Press sports page about Albemarle kicking 4 players off the team after the North Moore game. I'm not sure this is breaking news and really should be in the paper at all. I'm sure there are kids that have been kicked of their respective teams at other schools in the county before this but they failed to write an article about it. It looks like another chance to have a negative spin on Albemarle.
@sway1532 I am not sure what is the root of the evil at AHS, but I believe in my heart that AHS will get it fixed from the county office down. And yes, if you have ever seen a CATA team play the athletes are smart but athletically on the same level as SD, CC, UA, SS. I really do think our kids just dont get his program. I am sure if he would stay it would filter down but I would assume that may not happen.
@btango thanks for the insight on Coach Smith.
@Dogs9 Two of the four players last year either quit after game 2 or was kicked off for stealing. They failed to mention the helmet throwing and cursing that I witnessed with my own eyes. All of the players probably involved needed this reality check, IMO.
@btango thanks for the insight on Coach Smith.
@Dogs9 Two of the four players last year either quit after game 2 or was kicked off for stealing. They failed to mention the helmet throwing and cursing that I witnessed with my own eyes. All of the players probably involved needed this reality check, IMO.
I wasn't defending the players for what they did. I agree with the decisions that were made but I still don't think it deserved the front page of the sports section. Whether they realize it or not these high school athletes are role models for younger kids in the community and they need to be held accountable for their actions good or bad.
Just my opinion, but any coach that reads these boards and takes it personal or seriously, probably in the wrong profession. Not withstanding anything slanderous of course. But criticism for schemes and play calls? Get outta here. Time to grow a thicker skin. And any principal that forms an opinion of a coach, based upon reading anything here, is probably in the wrong profession too. Most fan bases have 8 to 10 fans on here if they are lucky. We are entitled to our opinion and it is just that, our opinion.
I agreed wholeheartedly with what dogs9 and WMfootballfanatic just posted. First of all The Snap should print an apology for what they just printed about the 4 players suspended from Albemarle. As a former coach just send an editioral to the Snap about this incident saying this happens at other schools in the county and it doesn't make the front page of the sports section. Why Albemarle? Seems to me there is major push by some people to give Albemarle a black eye any way they can. I think a lot of people at the school are trying to turn things around and if certain people would leave them alone they can do it.
As for coach Smith I believe him to be a good man that really knows his x's and o's and how to coach. I just don't think he ever connected with the kids this year and could not sell them on his scheme. Therefor what you see on the field is the results of that failed effort. Like foot says any coach should be able to take crtizism as it is part of their profession. I have been to every game I can make this year and supported the kids playing even throught this dismal season.
Do better days lie ahead? I think so but the BOE will have a big say so if we are able to get that chance.
As for coach Smith I believe him to be a good man that really knows his x's and o's and how to coach. I just don't think he ever connected with the kids this year and could not sell them on his scheme. Therefor what you see on the field is the results of that failed effort. Like foot says any coach should be able to take crtizism as it is part of their profession. I have been to every game I can make this year and supported the kids playing even throught this dismal season.
Do better days lie ahead? I think so but the BOE will have a big say so if we are able to get that chance.
@WMFootballFanatic well said.
Best of luck to the Bulldogs tonight. I'm still riding with UA to win this one.
Best of luck to the Bulldogs tonight. I'm still riding with UA to win this one.
I agree with most of what you say, but what other professions really have this type of framework for people that do not perform the job to criticize and critique behind an anonymous (mostly) screenname? Granted it's possible to do this, but how much traffic do we see on the "grocery store clerk" message boards. People have a vested interest, sure, but (to quote Cris Carter) C'Mon Man....we're not talking about highly paid Division I or NFL coaches. We're talking about high school coaches and teachers who make far less than they deserve and sacrifice countless hours from their own families to be a part of the lives of the young men they coach. Forums such as this are great, but when used to run down anyone involved in HIGH SCHOOL athletics, it's never a good thing. If you really have such problems, wouldn't the best thing be to speak to that individual personally?
I respect your opinion WM. It's just that my opinion doesn't quite match yours.
Good luck to all the young men at all of our respective schools taking the field tonight!
Yes he was at Richmond for one year with Hal Shuler. Shuler was an assistant at LR back in the early 1980's. Great guy, sharp administrator.
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Ol' Rebel I certainly respect your opinion as well, just not in 100% agreement. But, I do see where you are coming from and agree to a certain extent. I like to read the comments in the newspaper too, like the Charlotte Observer and stuff. Someone has an opinion on everybody and everything I guess. And some people do take it too far.
Albemarle's ADM is 411. South Stanly at 461. Something must be done. The issue for Albemarle is South. AHS can survive with redistricting. South cannot. You can save one of the two schools but the only way to save South is if more people move into that district.
So no discussion of the beatdown by UA last night? Assuming the score on ncpreps.com is correct, that's the worst loss of the season by a mile.
Team is demoralized and losing focus. Hope they can get it back against South and go out on a positive note.
Team is demoralized and losing focus. Hope they can get it back against South and go out on a positive note.
