(48)Ironton @ South Point(0)

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

In all seriousness, I've heard from very reliable sources that Mark Snyder is very interested in coming home to Ironton to coach. Stay Tuned Folks....

mark and his wife have a stunning home right there overlooking the great lakes. he works for mark dantonio at Michigan state. he has been a head coach at marshall and had stints at several schools as a defensive co-ordinator.and won a national title as osu's d-coor in 2002 with tressel.and he's been at south florida, texas a&m,and Michigan state. so I spect he is financially set, and they love it in Michigan. the only reason he would ever leave I expect is to come home to coach. I know him purty well back in the day before he got married he actually dated my sister. I think that may be the only way out of this mess, but I think those are pipe dreams by us tiger fans. I would truly love to see it though.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

Mark Snyder, wouldn't leave Mich.St. to coach Ironton He makes like a half million dollars to coach there,
well Ironton doesn't pay anything close to that.

I actually meant to say that in my post. but I thought it was 600,000. I may be wrong. hard to leave that for high school wages.he and his wife travel all over the country currently.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

You guys are smoking something. Snyder isn't coming back. His girls are grown and not living in Ironton. He has very few ties to the area. And as far as "giving back" to the school, he never met his pledge of $15k for the field turf. So, no I don't think it is gonna happen.

sorry Charlie but Mark met his pledge of 15K.......

I knew he had as well. but hard to argue with alllllllll the experts. yes they went to ironton, graduated with my sister. but I would love to see this happen. but currently him and beth are livin the dream.

[BubbleGumTiger]

You guys are smoking something. Snyder isn't coming back. His girls are grown and not living in Ironton. He has very few ties to the area. And as far as "giving back" to the school, he never met his pledge of $15k for the field turf. So, no I don't think it is gonna happen.

sorry Charlie but Mark met his pledge of 15K.......

I knew he had as well. but hard to argue with alllllllll the experts. yes they went to ironton, graduated with my sister. but I would love to see this happen. but currently him and beth are livin the dream.

just another hater from the Burg who
doesnt know his A$$ from 2nd base//////////////

[79Tiger]

Nothing against Mark Snyder, but what has he done that makes anyone of you believe he is "the one" to turn things around at Ironton. Isn't that what he was hired to do at Marshall? He may well be the one but many of you are putting the cart before the horse.

[farmer]

Like there are few people who can turn Ironton around and who the people in Ironton will even give a chance to turn it around.

[12gauge]

Nothing against Mark Snyder, but what has he done that makes anyone of you believe he is "the one" to turn things around at Ironton. Isn't that what he was hired to do at Marshall? He may well be the one but many of you are putting the cart before the horse.

Obviously he didn't cheat like Pruitt did

[BigCarlito72]

Can I ask a serious question? Ironton folks. What's wrong with you? Let's remove all comedic connotations from that question for just a few sound minutes where we apply critical thinking. Ok. Deep breaths. Now, listen.

Between 2005 and 2012, Irontons enrollment declined by 100 students. Currently they sit at approximately 400 students. To put THAT in perspective, this weeks opponent South Point has an enrollment of approximately 421 students making SP the bigger of the two schools.

Irontons population is averaging around a steady 2% decrease with no signs of increasing. There is no tangible economic draw to build from. Irontons average age demographic is older males. 30% of that lists as disabled and not actively participating in the work force.

Take another deep breath.

Per the avg 2% population decrease and given the 100 student drop in enrollment at Ironton high school between 2005 - 2012 ( thats 7 years) in 5 - 10 years Ironton high school will decrease from around a 400 student enrollment ( presently) to about 300 or so.

Last deep breath.

Your future of Ironton football = a few years of single A ball until you reach a time when you are too small to warrant state funding and consolidated with larger lawrence county schools in order maximize state funding to a school in that area.

Dear Irontonians;

The game you have lost and will continue to lose until you have nothing remaining to lose has nothing to do with the coaches, the school, the players or the field.

You have lost the game of socio - economics and it was the biggest game of your life.

[BigCarlito72]

And for future reference.....

The future of your sports revenue will be generated by....


Get ready for it.....here comes the 21st century Ironton.

SOCCER.

[farmer]

Now Ironton is getting another hotel. Which should also include some restaurants coming. Then again there are some people who make comments like above who do not want to give Ironton a chance or any coach a chance.

[BigCarlito72]

Hotels? Those are minimum wage jobs and barely above.

Hotels and restauraunts do not increase population. Industry does. Do you understand at all what I mean by that? At all? Smh

[BigCarlito72]

Hotels and restauraunts do not bring in families and inspire economic growth.

Here is a good example. In the late 90's the Bridgeport/Clarksburg wv area brought in the fbi center which in turn offered 6 figure jobs. That brought in families who bought new homes that were being built. New sub divisions being constructed and thusly the high school enrollments in that area increased.

Careers = industry.

Hotels and restaraunts = low paying jobs and no growth.

What planet are you living on?

[farmer]

They sure do not hurt and is part of business wanting to locate or expand in Ironton. Or just to help attract a good coach as you want.

[BigCarlito72]

Ok. The answer is no. You do not understand socio -economics.

Noted. Smh

[farmer]

Socio- economics yes I understand maybe not to the level you know or think you know. It may not be the great paying jobs but it doesn't hurt and gives more to build on. Giving more options for the city is a plus instead of a negative as you want to think.

[BigCarlito72]

Its not a matter of opinion. Do you get that the 2% decrease on avg is FACT?

Do you get that the enrollment decrease is FACT?

Do you understand that hotels and restaurants do not increase population?

Its not about how you feel. Why is it so difficult for Ironton people to seperate how they feel from FACTS?

What makes you people unable to make that distinction?

How you feel is irrelevant. Ironton is NOT growing economically and when you cease the process of growth you begin to die.

Its not personal. Its just the truth.

Prepare for it.

[BigCarlito72]

The median age in Ironton = 41 years old.

Ironton currently grades out at a D+ in housing.

The # of owner occupied homes in Ironton is around 5 % lower than average.

Average income = 20,300.00 - thats about the same as a full time retail employee.

4.5% unemployment rate.

You grade out at a C on jobs.

You have a population of a little over 10,000 and declining and only a little over 1,000 of those are actually family households.

Ironton is dying. It is what it is.

[farmer]

So just close Ironton instead of trying to improve. Hotels and restaurants do not increase population but can be a positive to bring in people to the area as well as new business. Sure can not hurt to have them.

[farmer]

You got all the numbers and research but that does not mean that life has go the way you say it will. Just like in football. Work hard as a team doing the right things can change the future. Doesn't hurt to try to change the future instead of give up.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I appreciate the figures that carlito has provided. I have no idea of their accuracy. but it sounds pretty spot on. but ironton is a tough group of people, plant workers,and a resilient town. I still refuse to realize this program can not be greatly increased by the right guidance. granted it may never be what it once was, but who knows.