Wheelersburg Football 2018 Outlook

[greygoose]

If we look at the Coldwater/MAC model, youth football isn't necessary.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/m ... D9Vm28yiJ/

But the interviewed, coaches prominently mention stability (again, it only has to be enough money) as a key to long-term success.

What I see a lot of from posters on here is what you see from a lot of people when asked about the roots of their success... They always tend to over-credit factors which they believe they or their coaches can control (a youth program) while ignoring/downplaying the factors which they don't (how many kids live close to the school and how many kids come from a situation that allows them to participate enough to buy into the program).

It like the case of a guy who claims to have incredible acumen as a businessmen, but neglects to respect the role that his father giving him a $4 million starter loan played .

I don’t believe the coldwater/MAC model has soccer in play

There's youth football in the area it's just not school affiliated.

[tigerfan98]

Simple Population, open enrollment. Ironton is divided into 3 regions in less than 15 miles. Coal Grove, Ironton, Rock Hill. Coal Grove and Ironton should be combined for sure, we are talking a 5 minute separation. Rock Hill could be separate because there are some people who live farther out there. Wheelersburg has all that real estate. They take any good kids from Hanging Rock Area all the way to Sciotoville. That's a huge stretch of population. Burg is winning so who wouldn't follow winning instead of losing. I'm not sure but the New Boston area I don't believe they have a football team either and I'm sure they could pick between East, Portsmouth, and Burg. The only OVC team that struggles that doesn't make sense is South Point they have a good stretch of population to pick from and it seems kids just aren't interested there. Proctorville is huge they get Huntington people and have a lot of people in there district. Gallia should be good again they have a lot of population to choose from. Portsmouth also has a big population but they have the Ironton problem. West, East, Burg, and Minford all options in that area.

[danicalifornia]

As someone who has checked baseball eligibility sheets with date of birth on them for years, a high majority of Burg Baseball players aren't 19 when they are seniors. On occasion it happens, but for the most part, that is just an old complaint that isn't relevant to their success.

Coaching and Culture are 2 huge reasons why they are successful. Money obviously helps, because it keeps kids being kids longer, but they have a great thing going and I can't see it stopping for quiet a while.

[Seabee_0586]

I think the Burg had a little bit of luck involved also in finding Woodward. The guy is one heck of a coach. Sure, he fell into a good opportunity- school with tradition, support from the community, always 70+ kids coming out for football every year....but he also knows how to run a program and get kids to buy in. Good coach + good program = high level of success.

Has any d-1 schools Tried to lure in the coach from burg yet?

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

again I ask is being a teacher in the burg district a requirement to be a coach there. I think sometimes school districts cut their own throats this way. as with ironton if what I heard is true. the coach there was asked to step down and refused, and another coach from what I heard threatened a union grievance. again this is here say, but from a very reliable source.

[ManitouDan2]

Good coaching plus HARD WORK from the student athletes . my Nephew was on one of the state champs in baseball. 3 hour workouts are not uncommon. They invest in winning 100% .

[fbnut]

again I ask is being a teacher in the burg district a requirement to be a coach there. I think sometimes school districts cut their own throats this way. as with ironton if what I heard is true. the coach there was asked to step down and refused, and another coach from what I heard threatened a union grievance. again this is here say, but from a very reliable source.

No being a teacher is not a requirement as far as I know. Several head coaches and assistants in different sports are not teachers

[fbnut]

Good coaching plus HARD WORK from the student athletes . my Nephew was on one of the state champs in baseball. 3 hour workouts are not uncommon. They invest in winning 100% .

3 hour practices would be considered a light day

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

again I ask is being a teacher in the burg district a requirement to be a coach there. I think sometimes school districts cut their own throats this way. as with ironton if what I heard is true. the coach there was asked to step down and refused, and another coach from what I heard threatened a union grievance. again this is here say, but from a very reliable source.

No being a teacher is not a requirement as far as I know. Several head coaches and assistants in different sports are not teachers

that is interesting to know. thank you.

[ALLthatJAZZ]

I think they PUSH their athletes in the manner with which they get them all to believe in Pride-Unity-Sacrifice-Honor.

[Wburgfan]

To answer a couple things.
First, Woodward came to Wheelersburg as a teacher in 2003 and joined the football program as an assistant under Tony Lewis. There was really no luck involved. A person looking for a teaching job where he can be successful. I'm sure he looked at Wheelersburg's football program and saw the history and that helped make his decision to apply there. Success will also bring people towards your program.

Second, you don't have to be a teacher to be a coach but teacher do have "dibs" on coaching position before they look outside.

[trojandave]

Portsmouth's 10 year football record: 35-65, last playoff appearance was 10 years ago, 2007.

Ironton and Wheelersburg are the greatest athletic programs in the history of the SE district. Multiple state championships in various sports:

Ironton: state titles in football (1979, 1989) golf (1995, 1996, 1997), baseball (1972), multiple track state champions, several Final 4 appearances in girls basketball, 3 Final 4 appearances in boys basketball (1994, 2005, 2013)

Wheelersburg: state titles in football (1989), baseball (1996, 2014, 2015), multiple track state champions, state title in girls softball (2016) 6 Final 4 appearances in boys basketball (1982, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2006, 2007).......I hope I got the baseball years right

No other schools in the SE district can match those records or even come close to them for that matter.......with one exception........Portsmouth HS boys basketball, I will claim, is the single greatest sport in the history of the SE district.......4 state titles, 4 state runnerups, 15 state appearances (3rd most all time), 16-11 record in state tournament play (3rd most wins), 2nd most decades making the state tournament, 8th winningest program in Ohio history (1,434--760), only 1 losing decade in history (2000-2009, 100-121).

Portsmouth's overall athletic program doesn't come close to Ironton and Wheelersburg's. The Trojans do have a current state champion in track, Lynsey Shipley, and a tennis state champion in 1951 (Dick Klitch).

Sustained success can be attributed to a number of factors, and can be viewed as a somewhat complex mix of community involvement, tradition, expectations, family support, financial resources, academic achievement, and coaching. Take a couple of those factors away, and chances are it will negatively affect an athletic program. Wheelersburg has all of the aforementioned factors. I mention academic achievement because I really believe it affects athletic performance in many athletes, because it enhances self-discipline and focus on tangible goals.

[iGoForBandMoms]

In my opinion it is Work Ethic. Football sets the excitement, pride, and the tone for all of the other sports.
Coach Woodward's work ethic leads the way. He is the hardest working & most dedicated coach in BURG football history. No question. His assistants...every one of them...are MASTERS of their specific craft.

Coach Estep ... His work Ethic... I dont even need to say it.
Coach Ruby... Just go watch ten minutes of a softball practice.

There is no magic, no secret, no money, no influence, no nothing except for Hard Work. It is not expected it is demanded. There is no other way.

[trojandave]

iGoForBandMoms is absolutely correct about hard work. In the end, hard work can make a great athlete. It certainly helps, though, to have great family support. I remember just last year, watching a Portsmouth Junior High basketball game at Rock Hill, only 3 parents showed up, and I'm not a parent. Kids want to see their family in the stands. Wheelersburg has that great family support. That encouragement from home in whatever a child chooses to participate in can make a world of difference.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

Portsmouth's 10 year football record: 35-65, last playoff appearance was 10 years ago, 2007.

Ironton and Wheelersburg are the greatest athletic programs in the history of the SE district. Multiple state championships in various sports:

Ironton: state titles in football (1979, 1989) golf (1995, 1996, 1997), baseball (1972), multiple track state champions, several Final 4 appearances in girls basketball, 3 Final 4 appearances in boys basketball (1994, 2005, 2013)

Wheelersburg: state titles in football (1989), baseball (1996, 2014, 2015), multiple track state champions, state title in girls softball (2016) 6 Final 4 appearances in boys basketball (1982, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2006, 2007).......I hope I got the baseball years right

No other schools in the SE district can match those records or even come close to them for that matter.......with one exception........Portsmouth HS boys basketball, I will claim, is the single greatest sport in the history of the SE district.......4 state titles, 4 state runnerups, 15 state appearances (3rd most all time), 16-11 record in state tournament play (3rd most wins), 2nd most decades making the state tournament, 8th winningest program in Ohio history (1,434--760), only 1 losing decade in history (2000-2009, 100-121).

Portsmouth's overall athletic program doesn't come close to Ironton and Wheelersburg's. The Trojans do have a current state champion in track, Lynsey Shipley, and a tennis state champion in 1951 (Dick Klitch).

Sustained success can be attributed to a number of factors, and can be viewed as a somewhat complex mix of community involvement, tradition, expectations, family support, financial resources, academic achievement, and coaching. Take a couple of those factors away, and chances are it will negatively affect an athletic program. Wheelersburg has all of the aforementioned factors. I mention academic achievement because I really believe it affects athletic performance in many athletes, because it enhances self-discipline and focus on tangible goals.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL POST DAVE,PORTSMOUTH'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM'S SUCCESS COULD NOT BE QUESTIONED. THEY ARE AWESOME AT BASKETBALL

[Redball]

As far as the coach having to be a teacher question, the way I understand it is like previous post said teachers have "dibs". Where Ironton may have an issue is getting rid of a teacher coach to employ a non teacher coach. I was always under the impression if a teacher wanted the job they would automatically get it over an non teacher.
As far as Burg not having that many 19 year olds on the baseball team when I graduated I was 17 so just because they aren't 19 doesn't necessarily mean they weren't held back a year.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I understand. thanks.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

it seems so far removed now. seeing ironton football teams that were far superior to the majority of their opponents coaching wise and physical ability. the boys were stronger, quicker, better coached, more disciplined and regimented, lived in the weight room.and they rarely ever shot themselves in the foot. and played much more difficult schedules than they currently do.the discipline was there, rarely ever was there a personal foul. it's no knock on the ovc, just a fact. gone are the desales, the wattersons, the hartleys, belfry, ky.the Zanesville's, logan,lancaster, Jackson, Athens, Marietta, warren and the like.and we went 4-6. it's not the shock that it would have been in the past it has been a very visible drop in production and mediocrity. losing almost all out of conference games for the last 4 years aside from a defeat of Russell this year. and the burg has been mopping the floor with us. I miss the ole days.

[522Pirate]

That to me is the most surprising thing to see about Ironton's football teams..the penalties and how out of shape they seem. A down year or a couple of years in the talent level can be expected sometimes, but the mental mistakes and being out of shape are surprising.

[yabbadabbadoo]

To me it is two big things
1-Whatever sport a Burg team is playing they believe they are going to win the matchup ahead of them. Some call it being cocky I call it being confident. It is put into the mind of every Burg athlete that they will win every game. Is it a hug disappointment when they lose, sure but the Burg coaches don't brow beat them because of a loss, they dissect that loss and they work on what they will need to do the next time they play that opponent. Case in point. The first time Burg played Bishop Hartley in the playoffs they pretty much got owned. Burg played Hartley again the next year, made the adjustments and only lost by 7 in OT in a game they probably should have won.

2.Burg coaches treat their players with the same respect they expect out of the players towards them. You very rarely see a Burg coach yelling or screaming at a kid after he made a mistake. You see the coaches talking to that player, talking to him what he did wrong and what he needs to do to fix it. Now practices might be a different story but you never, ever publicly humiliate a kid in front of the fans and his fellow students. Quickest way to lose a player IMO. They are just kid you know and they are playing whatever sport they are playing because they love the game.