I am talking about kids at the highest level of athleticism here. I've coached forty two kids who have gone to college for four years and paid zero dollars for it. They were all football players. Those scholarships do not exist anymore in any other sports except football and basketball. Coaches who keep those high level athletes from competing in any other sports are limiting them and keeping wrestling from seeing them in a singlet. That is just the reality of it. I think that is dead wrong in every respect, but I know it is happening because I know a lot of the guys that are doing it and have done it. Coaches are worried about their own sport and they don't have a heck of a lot of respect for the other sports or what those sports can do for their kids. I think it is a horrible thing to do to them but I know it happens and up here, in this city, it has happened for a long time. Parents have nothing to say about it. I know that because I am one and I have seen it happen. It isn't right, but it is a reality.
Randy,
1st- 42 full ride athletes- that is impressive. You must be a GREAT COACH or REALLY OLD
!! Just kidding- that is really tremendous but . . .
Those are the type of kids that need to go out for another sport. Those elite athletes are not going to sit the bench when they would help the team win. I guarantee the coach wouldn't throw away wins to try to prove a point. If those types of athletes (Bubba Starling for one recent example) would play multiple sports- that would open the door for the regular joes to do the same and pretty soon you've got a positive trend growing.
It takes someone to stand up to a bully- it is unfortunate that in this case the bullies are the me first coaches and the ones having to stand up to them are the kids- but that is what it would take. That is why I think parents need to be part of this solution- they need to advocate for their kids right to participate in the full high school athletic experience- not just do what one overzealous coach wants.
