Portage I Think Its Time.

[kmr]

Another great year and another loss in the semi's. So how good is coach Gouse of course he wins year and year out, but he has 60-80 kids going up vs 15-30 kid rosters. So the problem is not having enough kids and out of those 60-80 kids its evident they have some great athletes. So we can mark that off the list. Lets look at the comunity and school I think 3-4 months out of the year during football season Portage is one of the strongest supporters of a football program around. You can't get a better town atmosphere signs on every corner and house its great to see. The field/stadium is just old school HS football its the Soldier/Lambeau field of HS football. I get chills just walking into the stadium. His reg season record is phenomenal u would think maybe one year from back when Shope played and even before that to present time just maybe just maybe he would've won a district championship (look at Windber late 90's). Nothing after all these years so you got the backing and the players that leaves one factor the coach. Just think about it Portage. Oh yeah he does make me laugh w/ his off the wall comments.


P.S. Look to Ebensburg there is a coach who's been there and done that.

[Levelthefield]

KMR, I guess its time you applied for the job. Obviously you know more about the game than Coach Gouse. Also, you obviously have the time on your hands to devote to the off-season workouts, conditioning, 7-on-7's, clinics, etc.. Portage had a great run, no doubt about that. They had a great group of kids; no doubt about that. However, Bellwood-Antis just happens to have a better group of kids (football speaking of course). John Gruden, Bill Cowher, Bo Schembechler, or Woody Hayes could not have coached Portage to a win over B-A this year. So lets leave the coach out of this. Gary Gouse IS Portage Football. Maybe some year he will have the kids that will win a district title; but as long as McCort and their quad-A talent plays down, and as long as Hayes remains the coach at B-A, its a 2-horse race. Deal with it and leave Coach Gouse alone!

[Coach]

Wow...just wow.

I can't believe how some people are. You go like 20-2 over a two year time span and someone makes a post like this. Sure the team didn't win districts, but only one team will.


When will people get it? The head coaches in this area don't get paid much to do what they do. They pour themselves into their job and I really don't think you can win with people. Gouse is a GREAT coach. There are a ton of schools that would love to have a guy like him at the helm. On top of it all, Portage is a small school...often times much smaller than their fellow A opponents.

[D-Berries1000]

Wow.. if the past three years werent portages years then they never will have a shot at a title.. Portage will never have a group of seniors that never lost a regular season game.. sorry portage.. you put all your eggs into one basket, you've played the same kids for four years now and your going to have to deal with the inexperience of the next few years..

[Coach]

"You've played the same kids for four years..."

Yeah, you play your best kids. What was their record over the last three years combined? They had a GREAT group of athletes. Of course they played the same kids. They were an outstanding group. This group of kids did something special...just like the kids from Bellwood will have done something special if they lose this upcoming weekend.

[D-Berries1000]

Im with you 100%.. Im not sayin that was stupid.. Im just saying the next few years are reloading years..

[SteelersManiac123]

Coach Gouse is a great coach. About 10 Seniors have started as sophomores and haven't lost a regualer season game since then.

Im just saying the next few years are reloading years..

and everyone said that too when these seniors played as sophomores. Coach Gouse made it into an undefeated season. Coach Gouse did everything in his will to win this football game. These seniors left everything on the fields over the last few years. I except it to be a good one in mansion park next week.

[old school]

How can you say he has played the same kids for the past 3 years? Most of the starters were on the bench in the 3rd quarter.

Gary Gouse is a great coach and a great person who would do anything for his students, his athletes and his home town.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Gouse=Mr. Cliche and a legend in his own mind.

I didn't know if I'd go as far as saying he's a great coach...Great is a strong word.

I would say that he knows the community, knows the kids, and knows the politics. He's definitely savvy and well-schooled in those areas. These areas are all part of coaching.

In all honesty, although I bust his chops here, I do acknowledge his dedication, commitment, and willingness to be positive with his student/athletes.

However, if Gouse is as smart as many think he is, he has to know that competition is relative and that beating up on the WeakPac gives his players and fans a false sense of security heading into the playoffs. If he's really as smart as he thinks he is, he's not so blind as to believe in relative terms, Portage is an above average Western PA class A football team. Nothing more, nothing less.

With all this said, to imply that Portage should get rid of Gouse, just because Portage can't win games against real teams, is ridiculous.

[knowitall]

The PIAA should get rid of the state football playoffs and then we wouldn't have ridiculous posts like this.

Portage should be commended for once again winning their conference of similar sized schools in their area and not criticized for losing in a post season tournament.

It's basketball season.