[Luke The Drifter]

I agree with you about Johnny and how he's been treated in the past. But what I've been trying to point out and this is the last time I'm doing so is that he's a survivor and is still there and the pressure is off now. In my opinion, it's his to walk away from now and he's earned that.

I don't think it was a conspiracy to get rid of Ronnie Patton from the baseball position. He was told to do "something" from higher powers, didn't do it and consequences were put in motion. His successor wasn't on the job long thereafter and I might point out that the powers that be moved swiftly to go in a different direction by hiring Coach Johnson. That was a sound decision.

How many people would volunteer their time to coach summer ball without even being hired as a teacher? Not many. Most would want the position first - we're human, we want guarantees. Mark lived up to his end of the deal with the certification, the balls in the schools court to live to their end now. They obviously want him and I can't blame them. He has a real passion for the game and wants to succeed.

How many people applied for the job when Jennifer was hired? How many serious callbacks were given to candidates? I gather that you're a huge Ronnie Patton supporter. Shouldn't you be more upset that the school chose someone with zero coaching experience at any level to take the reigns instead of someone who's put their lives into teaching and coaching? The program is now back at square one and they are comfortable with Mark in position to build it back up again.

Again, I disagree about Johnny, now that he is a homebound teacher his job is in more danger than ever & the pressure is definately not off. His conflict with the administration is and will be a fight to the end. I'd even venture he would tell you that! Just the other day he was told he was not allowed back in the building at ACHS during school. Don't take my word for it --- ask around and see if I'm not telling you the truth. What kind of administration would do that to a coach that has devoted 25 plus years of his life to the program? I'll agree with one thing though Johnny is a survivor!

Ronnie Patton has told me on numerous occasions the only reason he was given for the firing by the administration was a parent complaint. I've even seen the email that was sent to him. This is why I think the "higher powers" need to hold the administration at AC acountable. Johnson was a sound decision, but look what had to happen for them to make it --- first, they had to fire the coach who just days before won the 1st ever regional title for the school! and I still say it was for no good reason! then they hired a SBDM's husband and later let him go. 2 wrongs don't make a right!

Now they've hired someone who doesn't have a teaching job for Girls basketball. And let me point out that Mark wasn't certified to teach to begin with (the 1st time he was hired), and was given time (2 years to be exact) to become certified in his feild before he was dismissed in the first place. So he did not hold up his end of the deal! Many other teachers in Floyd Co. have gone through this same process and to my knowledge Mark is the only one to have this problem.

No, I don't think they shold have hired someone with no coaching experience, but they should have hired someone who deserved the job! The job was not based on merrit! I'd say they didn't get any call backs for the job to tell the truth. No one wants to work for this administration at AC. Their reputation is known throughout the region. oh, I'd say very few would say it publically, but behind closed doors they are a joke! I've said once and I'll say it again. Hard work and dedication means nothing to the administration at AC.