[jetpilot]

I have no particular coach in mind, so I'm not sure how you can say I'm upset that the coach I wanted didn't get hired. I was not supporting any specific coach to get the position, but I know that Pikeville could have done better.

To me, it seems they took the easy way out and just hired a guy that was already there. Not to mention the fact that Pikeville ran off a perfectly good coach a few years ago. Why did they run him off? Because he wasn't winning state championships. Has Pikeville done any better with these last two coaches? No, they've done the same or worse.

I am not putting down any of the players. They work hard and should continue to work hard. But they are not being taught even some of the simplest aspects of the game, such as sportsmanship. And just to clarify, I am not saying the Pikeville players are being unsportsmanlike, I am saying that when their coach doesn't show it, that will eventually trickle down to the rest of the team. Just because the game is football and you get to hit people, doesn't mean that things like class and sportsmanship shouldn't be taught or modeled.

This is a discussion forum. People are entitled (within the rules) to get on here and voice their opinions. If someone else's opinion is going to dishearten a player then they should stop getting on here and reading what you call "crap." If they are not mature enough to take criticism and turn it into something constructive, then that right there is another thing these kids need to be taught. This is NOT the "everyone support Pikeville football forum and only talk about the good things" site. We are all entitled to our opinions and again, can voice them as long as it is within the rules of the site. It is my opinion that the football program is going in the wrong direction, at no fault of the players.

To answer your question, no, reading things on here would not have a negative effect. It should make you work harder to improve. Should the kids fold up when they get booed at an opponents field? Do they get disheartened and "negative" when they get heckled? Nope, they take that and use it.

I don't feel I'm being part of the problem. What is the problem exactly? Are you saying that since people are criticizing Pikeville for poor choices that's what's causing the troubles? Hardly, we are seeing these things and offering up our two cents on them. I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid. Criticizing the way the program is being run is not "part of the problem." But trying to avoid problems with the program and then turning it around and putting the blame on those of who are voicing our opinions, is turning a blind eye to the real situation.

Great post, you have pretty much summed it up. If you are failing you are going to hear about it and the powers that be at Pikeville don't want to hear about how they are failing. Too bad for them.:redboxer: