Granted, I have only seen the first two through to actually happening. My Golfing for a Cure Tour is off to a successful start, and 2011 promises to be a great year. The Athletic Hall of Fame is also a reality as we inducted our first class this past Saturday night. The others, well I am actually working on a couple and the rest are still in the idea stage. Give me some time, please. They will all happen. Things have to be intentional in life.
Today, I would like to discuss one project that has never progressed by the idea stage. I have actually thought about this for quite some time, but it took an email from Dr. Scott Sutherland to sort of reinforce my thinking on the project.
Let me lay the foundation by letting you in on a little secret. Athletics and academics have long paralleled each other in many ways. However, just in the last two decades or so has the academic world taken notice and incorporated several athletic practices. Let me give you some examples.
First, it was 25 years ago, and the week of semester exams at TCHS. I had a quick practice scheduled for my girls basketball team. One of Trigg County’s all-time great teachers approached me in the hall and said, “I can’t believe you are having practice this week. Don’t you know they are going to start publishing our school’s test scores in the paper at the end of the year?” I responded, “Yes, I heard that, but did you know that they have been publishing our basketball teams scores in the paper at least twice a week for the last 50 years?” ACCOUNTABILITY!
Second, sports teams have long held pep rallies before the big game to pump athletes up and get the adrenaline flowing. Now, it is routine for schools to hold school-wide pep rallies before achievement tests in order to psyche up the students. ENTHUSIASM!
Third, athletic teams have always had coaches in charge of specific areas. Example, football has line coaches, backfield coaches, secondary coaches, special teams coaches and coordinators. Now, it is common for schools to staff specialist in reading and writing to supplement the regular teaching staff. Retired educators have even been employed as CATS coaches. ASSISTANT COACHES!
Fourth, we have scrimmage or practice test that prepare us for the real thing. SCRIMMAGES!
Fifth, after all test results are in, a ranking of schools in each region is compiled and published. A list of all schools and where they rank is sent to all of the schools in the region, as well as newspapers and radio stations. LIKENTHOUSE RANKINGS AND ASOCIATED PRESS RANKINGS!
Sixth. a banquet with much fanfare is held for all of the academic award winners at the end of the year. SPORTS BANQUETS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR NEARLY A CENTURY!
Lastly, this is where I am headed with all this. The next big idea is for Trigg County to ...
Tune in next week to discover the answer. Same time, same station!
Enthusiasm Makes the Difference Mike Wright is the head coach of boys basketball and cross country at Trigg County High School. Emails concerning Coach’s Corner can be sent to jmcgill@cadizrecord.com.
