Academics & Character Support

Coach,
Without getting into any elongated answers, would like to comment on the relevancy of your paragraph that pertains to the athlete that thinks talent alone will get him where he wants to go. Long years ago, the college scouts would come to us and say; "who do you have that can help us win". But, their first stop is always at the Dean's office these days, wanting to see GPA's!!! Do they have the right core classes? Have they passed the ACT yet? What kind of a person is he? Will he be on the field when the big game is about to be played, or will he be in the slammer because he doesn't know how to make the right life choices? A scholarship for an out of state player at any major Div.1-A university is worth 100,000.00 easily these days. Do they actually think that they are going to give that kind of money to a kid who has a poor track record, be it academically or socially? IMO, that is what really needs to be instilled in these kids heads to day, and in the 7th grade, not their Senior year when it is way too late!
I coached in a ghetto in a large metropolitan city and enjoyed more success at that school that any other I worked at in a 40 year coaching career, bar none! But, for all the success we enjoyed, I saw kids walking the halls who could have been anything they wanted to be on a football field talent-wise, more interested in selling drugs! The nations greatest asset is it's youth. We are making inroads in reaching them early these days, but we have a long, long way to go. To lose a single young person to the scourages of this world is an absolute, crying shame! Do what you can do to make a difference, one player at a time.

J.C.Easton