Who made who?

[lakersfan24]

Once again, you're shortchanging the FH athletes. People have said it already, FH is a community where the young kids dream of playing football one day. That starts out playing youth football, and middle school which most kids do. People need to realize DonBo is by no means winning with scrubs or with any less talent than any other LHAC, infact usually more. Sure they don't have many D1 athletes, but they have a TON of solid highschool football players, especially on the line. When was the last time you saw FH get beat upfront or not be the most talented upfront? Answer-2007, and they went 4-6. Like I said, Bailey is a great coach, but the community and his environment is probably more responsible for FH's success. The success at Jtown was when Jtown was huge. The success at Vo-tech happened while Vo-tech had kids from all over going there. It's no cooincidence. Sure these coaches helped, but coaching is one small detail.

[Crimson09Crazy]

By no means is Forest Hills is a college football powerhouse, but they do put people in school to play on most seasons.

It is a top program in the District and should be well regarded among the whole state. I think bailey has a little more to do with it then you think. He's done a good job and made the program what it is. Could they have done it with another coach? yea maybe. But who knows, it may not have been as good of a porgram.


it's not like Aliquippa, They have Revis,Law, Baldwin all to boast through the past 15 years along with countless other great athletes. I think anyone on here could have coached a team with that talent. Forest Hills doesn't have that talent, they just have solid football players. And my belief it takes a good coach to lead a bunch of hardworking kids rather then have teams with superstars like the Quips have. So Mark Zmijanac has all the WPIAL titles and the state runs, but he is nothing without Darrelle Revis and company.

Whose a better coach, Zmijanic or Bailey.

I'd say Bailey.

[pats39]

One small detail? I assume you just mean actual Xs and Os

In most schools, you cant recruit your players and get new talent every year. Players are developed and utilized in a way to compliment and fully use talents, which IMO is the most important factor in a successful HS football program.
(Unless you can recruit or your kids are SO talented, development doesnt matter)

[Crimson09Crazy]

i agree, development is KEY for any High School program.

[lakersfan24]

Crimson, what's your point? FH is not comparable to Aliquippa and does not play nearly the competition they do. That comment was irrelevant. Sure I think Bailey has some to do with it, but he's not the founder of FH football like many think he is. I'm not saying ANYONE could have done what he's done.. but I'll say OTHERS could have. FH is a lot like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the pride and community is what makes them great. Not Bill Cowher or Mike Tomlin.

[HasBeen]

Good Thread.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Dont you think winning has something to do w/ a community backing the team? How do college programs get built? They didnt have 110k seats in Happy Valley the day they played their first ever football game.

The kids are in every school. As Moldo said, sure, there's a Poldiak here and there. There's also a McTavish or a Vescovi here and there, though. Every school has a great player here and there. Its the other 21 that matter, and that is where Don's success really lies. He is able to get the average white boy away from his TV or out of the stands and participate in football. That doesn't happen at Somerset or Westmont, no offense to any of their coaches or fans.

Those 21 other players are where you win. Don can take those kids and make them serviceable, producing football players.

[lakersfan24]

and Bailey is responsible for getting those kids to play? I never once saw him out trying to get anyone on the field.Or is it the kids parents, who are predominately working class and past FHers themselves? Remember, FH's success isn't just Don Bailey, it's a bunch of little people who do the little things (middle school coaches and assistants who get paid little to nothings) who teach the kids how to win and what to do even before Don Bailey speaks 1 word to them, and then Don Bailey is credited with all of this success. Like I said.. great coach, but he's not the be-all-end-all of Forest Hills. If someone else was coach, do you really think those kids would be watching tv and sitting in the stands? Because I don't. I know the average FHer.. and these kinda people existed in these parts long before Don Bailey did. As an ex FH player myself, it's somewhat offensive to hear the classic "Don Bailey wins with no talent". PLEASE, just because we have no D1 players or kids running sub 4.5 fortys doesn't mean we don't have the best highschool talent around. Once again.. look at our line play every single year. We are either #1, or #2.. and when we aren't its a huge issue. Blame that on kids not watching tv or sitting in the stands all you want.. but FH has had the best lineman in the area for a long time, and that's where HS football is won.

[youngbuck]

This has been a great thread, excellent arguments on both sides

[jack daniel]

This has been a great thread, excellent arguments on both sides

one of the best threads i've ever seen on here