CANTON Somewhere along the line between the invention of the microwave oven, on-demand TV and now, we lost our marbles. We lost our sense of appreciation in exchange for the need for immediate gratification.
Ohio State and Head Caoch Jim Tressel lost a game to Southern Cal two weeks ago, and some Buckeye fans — a term short for “fanatics” — lost what little credibility they had in calling for Tressel to be fired.
Tressel has won a national championship, and his teams have played for two others. He’s brought in more money to Ohio State in BCS bowl game appearances than any 10 previous Ohio State coaches combined. He’s beaten Michigan to the point where a win over the Wolverines isn’t cherished. It’s expected.
And some fans wanted him fired?
Alas, the world of Buckeye fan was righted when Ohio State thumped Toledo on Saturday. Tressel, in the process, tipped his cap to the irate fans and called a QB sneak for a touchdown. He still, by the way, is kicking himself for not calling that play against USC.
Soon, Browns fans will be calling for a new quarterback — again — after people’s champ Brady Quinn has started 0-2.
It’s now or never more than ever.
The fervor, though, hit closer to home this week.
McKinley High School head coach Ron Johnson has the nerve to be in charge of a Bulldog team that lost its second game of the season Saturday night.
Never mind that Fitch, which prevailed 28-15, is a very good football team. Never mind that McKinley’s two losses this year have come against teams with a combined 7-1 record.
McKinley fans, albeit a small number of them on the Internet, have called for Johnson to be replaced.
What?
Just 15 games into his tenure at McKinley, Johnson is weathering one of the worst storms he’s had to weather.
“People who care enough to care is what you need,” Johnson said. “It’s better than apathy. That will kill a program quickly.”
There’s a fine line, though, between caring enough and caring too much. Could Bulldog fans be verbally hitting Johnson because they love the Pups too much?
Much of the criticism on Johnson is play calling, particularly three consecutive quarterback sneak calls he made inside Fitch’s 1-yard line.
One coach calls too many quarterback sneaks, another doesn’t call enough.
First, if a play is executed correctly, it should gain about a foot and a half for a touchdown at least one out of three times. Johnson argues it worked twice. Asked if he would do anything different in that series of plays, Johnson held his ground.
“We were at the 6-inch line,” Johnson said. “No, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. We’ve got a 210-pound quarterback who squats 485 pounds, and he had 600 pounds behind him shoving him in and an offensive line that blocked for 400 yards rushing that night.
“You’re telling me we can’t get six inches? Heck no, I wouldn’t have done anything different. We felt we were successful twice.”
It’s absurd for anyone to ask for Johnson’s job after not even a season and a half. The people who have done that are only writing off their players, their team and, yes, their coaches for the rest of the season.
Never mind the team’s grade-point average has improved significantly. People tend to forget that talented players on past McKinley teams were academic liabilities to major college football programs. Already, Ohio State and several other Top 25 programs have offered junior defensive end Steve Miller.
“You want people to be proud of their program and not just proud of the outcome,” Johnson said. “You want everyone to be proud of the process of what our young men are doing and what they’re getting out of the program. You want everyone to appreciate what we’re trying to help our young men become.”
This week is an example for those players of what they shouldn’t become. Fair-weathered fans don’t carry a program.
Still, results are what will drive Johnson’s success or failure at McKinley.
“Winning is the bottom line,” Johnson said. “We gotta win, and we should win. Both games we lost, we should’ve won, and that’s on me. Our players will execute better when we coach better, and that’s our responsibility.”
Being better fans? That’s your responsibility.
M95845DackCoffee M95737
M95845DackCoffee M95737 M95969 M95546 Black M95546 M95273 Black M95273 Purple M95273 Red M95273Black M95273Gold M95273Purple M95273Red M95381 Black M95381 Blue M95545 M95545 Blue M95545K M95545 Pink M95545 White M93615 M95097Yellow M92803 M93710 M93712 M93759 M95050 Black M95050O Range M95050 Pink M95050 White M95056 Black M95056O Range M95056 Pink M95056 White M95350 M95356 M95377
Shop Misikko.com for your
Shop Misikko.com for your flat iron, hair straightener & professional salon styling tools & get FREE Shipping on any order of $50. <a href=www.chiflatironmall.com/chi-flat-iron-c-68.html>CHI Flat Iron</a>
<a href=www.chiflatironmall.com/ghd-hair-straighteners-c-71.html>GHD Hair Straighteners</a>
<a href=www.weechiflatiron.com/chi-flat-iron-c-80.html>CHI Flat Iron</a>
<a href=www.weechiflatiron.com/ghd-hair-straighteners-c-81.html>GHD Hair Straighteners</a>
<a href=www.chighdservice.com/chi-flat-iron-c-3.html>CHI Flat Iron</a>
<a href=www.chighdservice.com/ghd-hair-straighteners-c-4.html>GHD Hair Straighteners</a>
We pick and choose the absolute best hair straighteners,
YuanYang trade Co.,Ltd are
YuanYang trade Co.,Ltd are looking forward to help you save money by offering name brand shoes on top quality and low wholesale Abercrombie & Fitch wholesale Affliction Jeans wholesale Polo shirts wholesale Air Jordan Shoes china wholesale Wholesale Polo Shirts wholesale Ed Hardy Shirts china wholesale Wholesale Ed Hardy Jeans wholesale Versace Shirts Wholesale Fendi Bagsprice. Nike,Puma,Adidas,air Jordan, air force one , nike max
You guys are a trip....
You're right dodger, it's about the kids and NOT ABOUT YOU. Please admit for one moment at least that you may not know everything there is to know about football and that you don't see every day's practices so it's IMPOSSIBLE to know what you all are claiming to know (O isn't the best, there are 'better' players on the bench, yada yada yada).
Going for the block on the punt in the Wayne game wasn't a bad decision. The Kid himself ran into the punter. Poor judgement on a play where the kick was already away and his angle was poor. Could he be coached better on HOW to block punts? Probably, but in the end the execution is what failed and not the play call.
Johnson has tweaked the offense a couple times now and is setting the guys up with the best possible chance to succeed. THAT is what a coach does. He's made mistakes to be sure, but all coaches do. Cut the guy some slack and stop being back-seat coaches.
Everything goes back to the coaches
I'm at the game last night watching this Head (cough) coach Johnson. He appears only to be focused on his quarterback. Example...After yet anouther series of bad play calling and a McKinley punt. Johnson walks by all the rest of the team to talk to his quarterback. Ignoring what is happening on the field. After 5 plays Johnson wanders towards the sideline and stairs blankly out on the field. This would seem normal in most cases, but after every offensive series this takes place. Coach Johnson ignores everyone except his quarterback. Is Johnson the quarterbacks coach or does he coach the ENTIRE team? He looks more like a quarterback coach then a head coach. I'm ashamed to say it but please go coach from up in the pressbox. Watching the train wreck that is Johnson coach from the sidelines is too much for any football fan to watch. I wouldn't be surprized to see Johnson tie the quarterbacks shoes, or wipe his nose for him the way Johnson mother hens over his quarterback.
Johnson has tweaked the offense...that is too funny. Because it needs more then tweaking at the quarterback postion. Cut him slack...Johnson wanted this job, coaching at McKinley, he should raise his coaching up to a winning standard, not a .500 team. I see too much talent on this team. The kids who play defense are fantastic and give Johnsons poorly thought out offense a chance to win every game. So no no slack will be cut for Johnson or his Favorite the bad "O".
Expectations & Realizations
Let's face it fans......for better or worse Johnson will be coaching the Pups because the school board must honor his contract. I would assume that the Board does not have the funds available to buy out his contract considering the current economic times.
Confidence in your team is great...but why does Johnson make so many unwise 'hype comments' about his team. Comments like...'This is the best defense I have ever seen; Our goal is to go 1-0 for 15 weeks in a row; We have 6 College Division 1 prospects ; We are excited about playing Fitch because their offense plays into the strength of our defense'. ...and there are many more. So expectations are so high...when he doesn't deliver....fans are upset and rightfully so. Take a page out of Lou Holtz's Book of Humility! Holtz always talked like he wondered if his team could even compete with the opposition...then went out and won most of the time.
In the high school preview published by the Rep, it showed that McKinley had 47 returning lettermen! I think Massillon & GlenOak had 10-12; Hoover had 19. The Pups also have something like 18 of 22 starters back from last year's team. Their last 2 Freshman teams were not only undefeated, but most of their wins were by 2 touchdowns or more. Foster ran the spread offense to perfection...because he has the athletic ability that is needed at that position. He looked awesome vs Massillon's frosh. There is a lot of talk and criticism about Kyle O as McKinley's starting QB. I feel sorry for the kid....cause Johnson is asking him to play a position that he apparently does not have the skills to do! He may be strong....a good leader etc....but he is not very quick on his feet and not that accurate of a passer...he was actually better last year. You must have a quick, fast & accurate QB (like Wayne & Fitch do) to run the spread successfully. The QB MUST be a running threat!
In closing, a head coach MUST be on the sideline, NOT up in a press box!! The head coach duties are to organize the team, delegate responsiblities to his assistants, and motivate his players. Coordinators belong in the press box. The head coach, who is the team's AUTHORITY figure...belongs on the field! I watch the sidelines...there is little motivation...no one to even challenge the refs on a bad call let alone encourage the kids. Can you imagine the likes of Woody, Bo, Lombardi, Cower, Holtz or even Chuck Kyle of Ignaius in a press box...and not on the field? Memo to the coaching staff: "You have all of the tools to still be great this year. Be smart. Get it together...and please get it done before Massillon beats us.... again!'
Excellent
Well said. Now we have to hope the coach can read, and do some reflection..and hopefully change his ways.
BECAUSE ITS NOT TRUE
Have you considered that possibility? The kid's dad teaches at the school and coaches on the staff. What are the odds he doesn't live right here with his son?
The fact is
The fact is that the kid is riding the coat tales of some dillusioned coach who thinks that this kid will lead them to the promise land. A state championship. Why should a coaches son..get automatically be the starter. The other kids aren't as talented? Lets not loose focus. "O" isn't the answer at quarterback. Yet "O" is given the starters postion...why his dad is an assistant an old friend of Johnson. Johnson is a coach who chooses to coach up near the press box...off of the field UNLIKE Jim Tressell. Johnson is no Tressell. Tressell woke up and benched Justin Zwick a family friend and put in Troy Smith who won the National Championship. Will Johnson wake up...I doubt it.
Quarterback lives with coach????
After all of the grief and coverage Hoover got when Erick Howard was living with Coach Hertler...why has there been nothing on this?
Yes, Coach better
I agree with our soon to be Ex-coach Johnson, Coach better. McKinleys First loss can be bamed on bad coaching. The Coach had a young man go for a block on a punt. It resulted in a penlty and a first down and the momentum swung to the other team. Result McKinley lost. Last week against Fitch a coach calls A quatrter back sneak three times. The same QB that lives with the coach. I find it odd when the more then capable running backs ran the ball to the goal line that the coach decides his "QB" is going to run it in. Be fair to the Kids who brought it there give them a chance. Result...coaches bad choice swings a close game and the Bulldogs lose.
Todd Porter have you lost your mind? Does Jim Tressell or any other HEAD coach, coach from the "Press box? Johnson coaches from up in the coaches box. Find anouther head coach that does that and I'll buy you a Gyro from Papa Gryos. Jim Tressell has won on every level he has coached. Johnson has not. Johnson's team lacks fire. How can they get fired up if the head coach is so distant. Todd you let the stark county community and the repository down. You have given a weak effort in your comparison between National Champ head coach who is on the side lines and Johnson who remains hidden in the coaches box high above Fawcett stadium out of touch with his players and the game. Coach Johnson will be gone when his boy, the big "O", graduates. I'm hoping that the big "O" graduates early..... like this spring.
In closing, coach Johnson open your eyes the big "O" doesn't have it. He can't make a read. He stairs at his recievers. O Learn to look off the defender. Let young men who are more talented and deserving then a kid you brought with you to McKinley. Todd I guess for now You'll have to let Johnson buy you a Gyro. Lord knows you've given him enough praise. He must owe you something for the comparision to Ohio States Coach.
At least know what you're talking about before posting...
... why post bold-face lies? Also, kids go for blocks on just about every punt. Did Coach Johnson run the guy right into the punter as well? Just curious
No lie...go to the games...go to Walthers and watch film
No they don't go for a block on every punt. Watch the game films. The kids only do what the coach tells them to do. Notice how the offense and defense stay on different sides while on the side line. The coach told the kid to go for the block. The kid did as he was told. He tried as best as he could, but fell short and wound up running into the punter.
It's for the kids
I agree he should be fired.Mckinley football is one of the best in the nation.and when we are losing games because of a coaches play calling.then he should be fired.It's not about him it's not about the fans it's about these kids.It's great these kids grade point averages are up and colleges do look at that but they also look at wins and loses while they are on that team.And some of those kids would never get to go to college unless they get a scholarship to play football.and if the coaches are losing games and not get the school prestige set to a high standard like mckinley should be then the big colleges is going to overlook these talented players.by the way coach on the 6 inch yard line and a quarterback sneak does not work the first time shouldn't we give the ball to a bigger player to get in it in there oh lets say a running back or fullback or lets say that we should try a screen pass.we do have other players other than a quarterback.and get some of them kids off of that bench because some of them are way better than some of the starters you have playing.so quit thinking this program is about you or the fans it"s not.IT"S FOR THE KIDS.that puts thier lives in your hands.you either make them or break them your choice.