Maybe, just maybe in my world… wrestling state titles and kids having the chance to win an individual state title, means just as much to them and their families as a football state title means to others. I have always given the kids the option to wrestle or not during football. Anyone who says different is a liar. It seems to me that those wrestlers are major contributors on Friday nights. How about this novel idea? Let kids be kids. Let them support their school and their respective sports every opportunity that they can. I fully support the football team, it’s players, coaches and staff. I truly hope they win it all. I’ve personally missed less than a dozen games in the last 21 years. I Coached football at Robbinsville for 4 years. What I don’t do is hide behind some alias on a forum and bash other programs at The Ville that have the same goals. I’ve dedicated the last literal 20 years of my life to this community and to insinuate that my program somehow lessens the football teams chances or focus is quite frankly idiotic. How about you post you real name and contact me and we can discuss your ignorant comments further. Or you can continue to be a forum Troll that doesn’t have a clue. Coach Todd Odom. 828-735-
It's a slippery slope, but imagine you have a vital piece of your team , during the vital part of your season, participating in another sports preseason, and that kid gets hurt ,"rolls an ankle , tweaks a knee...etc." that particular player being out could cost your team a chance to win, that would cause major tension between staffs, for me the best rule I have seen you cannot participate in an upcoming sport until your previous sport is finished.
This happened to us and it hurt 40 teammates that needed him to win a title.
Gary Thompson
Gary I appreciate the reply and your willingness to speak on the topic. Truthfully, many people from my town and yours agree with what you said. But what you “imagined” is every wrestling coaches reality. My reality. We have a shot at the state title this year and have been in this position for the last several years. Ankles, knees, shoulders, wrists are all injuries during football season that have cost kids and teams shots at state titles in the wrestling world. In my opinion, kids are either going to get hurt or not. Can’t change that destiny. Whether it be snowboarding, motorcycles, shooting a layup, or playing hide and go seek. That’s why it doesn’t bother me one bit for my wrestler to play football. I can’t change someone’s destiny. There again, my opinion on the injury possibility. Obviously in WNC, most people consider football the king. I don’t live in that world. For the record, I love the sport and encourage everyone I can to play. But wrestling is just as important. Just want to say that again… just as important. So is basketball, track, golf, XC, baseball, softball and any other sport we want to mention. I don’t put participating in one specific sport ABOVE the others. In my eyes they are equal. What really matters to me isn’t the championships. It’s about providing kids opportunities to become better husbands/wives, dads/moms, and citizens in their communities who will give back. Any coach worth their salt focuses on that, and if they do, the winning comes as a by product. Those opportunities only happen by allowing those kids the option to crawl on the bus whenever they can. Allowing kids at anytime to do the sports they love, represent their school with pride, and make memories. This to me far out weighs any negatives.
Any Coach at any school in any sport should encourage participation any time that they can. 1A schools especially have to share athletes amongst the sports. Will there be some potential conflicts possibly? Yes, but I personally try to schedule to minimize the impact on the football team. Even my practices start after football gets done . What I don’t want anyone to ever do, is to deny an athlete that one moment, that epic ripple in time that defines/changes/impacts their life.
Thanks for reading.
Todd Odom