Portage Football

[WPIAL~Titan]

Mike Smith is a green hornet legend.

Surely he could not have lost his coaching job.

[QuoteTheRaven]

Mike Smith is a great guy. I know him personally. He built JV up from basically nothing and with less than a 25 man roster as of recent years he has been able to keep the Hornets competitive. He is a GREAT coach and does AWESOME with what he has to work with. I'd love to see what he could do with a team with talent like Bellwood-Antis or Tyrone. If JV gets rid of him they are stupid. He is their "Chosen One" if you will say. He's from JV, played for JV, played D1 football for PSU, teaches in the district, and is their head coach. Sometimes the best way to handle the situation is to let it cool down a little bit and address it when everyone has a level head. Not just jump on impulse and make irrational decisions that in the end bridges are burnt and people will ultimately regret. Remember there is always two sides to every story...

[JVfan]

I haven't really heard the whining from fans described here. There's always going to be a few grumblings from parents, especially about more playing time for their kids or wanting their boys featured more in the offense--but I figure that goes on everywhere. For the most part, most are happy with Mike. I think every fan at small high schools understands that you have to wait your turn. Its impossible to be solid every year with such low numbers.

I think its worth mentioning--I've heard Mike has applied for numerous coaching openings the past few years--including Hollidaysburg and definitely the Huntingdon job. Seems he's been ready to move on for sometime now--maybe just to see what he could do with larger numbers.

Also wanted to mention that Bill Clouse had a long and successful tenure at JV. Two D6 championships--had the team ranked no. one in the state at one point--played even with BA. I don't think Mike Smith exactly put JV football on the map.

[QuoteTheRaven]

I haven't really heard the whining from fans described here. There's always going to be a few grumblings from parents, especially about more playing time for their kids or wanting their boys featured more in the offense--but I figure that goes on everywhere. For the most part, most are happy with Mike. I think every fan at small high schools understands that you have to wait your turn. Its impossible to be solid every year with such low numbers.

I think its worth mentioning--I've heard Mike has applied for numerous coaching openings the past few years--including Hollidaysburg and definitely the Huntingdon job. Seems he's been ready to move on for sometime now--maybe just to see what he could do with larger numbers.

Also wanted to mention that Bill Clouse had a long and successful tenure at JV. Two D6 championships--had the team ranked no. one in the state at one point--played even with BA. I don't think Mike Smith exactly put JV football on the map.

I myself don't know all the history of JV football just late-90's until modern day. But I always remember JV being an average football team until Mike Smith took over in 2004 and then BOOM!!! 2004 they had the #1 defense in the state of PA, only giving up 20 pts ALL regular season and their offense just scoring AT WILL against EVERYONE they played. And even in the years that followed up until now JV has had some VERY VERY good solid teams, making it to the district championship in 2006 and being competitive every single year. But I know Mike Smith personally, he is a great guy. Has helped me out tremendously in learing some coaching strategies. I know he has been trying to apply for numerous jobs as of late: Hollidaysburg, Altoona, Huntingdon, and Tyrone but can you blame him when you have a roster of 20-25 kids. Smith is the best thing JV could have giving their numbers and I hate to see them get rid of their hometown guy on bad terms if the rumor is true. Because he will be very successful somewhere else if that's what happens in the end...

[WPIAL~Titan]

Unless he did something illegal, immoral, or is covering up something (a la Paterno) then there is no way a school like JV should get rid of Mike Smith.

[S Cube]

Wasn't JV pretty dang good in 02 also? I remember them winning a playoff game at Everett that year. They had an excellent lineman (Whitacher?) and a QB that was like 6'5" and could sling it (Boyd?). Was Smith the coach then?

[QuoteTheRaven]

Wasn't JV pretty dang good in 02 also? I remember them winning a playoff game at Everett that year. They had an excellent lineman (Whitacher?) and a QB that was like 6'5" and could sling it (Boyd?). Was Smith the coach then?

JV usually always does have a good passing game. I'm not sure if Smith was an assistant coach in 02 but I know he took over as head coach in 2004.

[chuckfinley10]

When Smith played TM our announcer walked over during warm ups and politely asked for the line up, Smith immediately tore into him saying, he was trying to get his team ready and using less than cordial language. Our announcer defended himself saying he was just doing his job then walked away. Later Smith sent a assistant who gave the line up to the announcer and tried to smooth things over. Bottom line Smith has no class and no respect for anyone he thinks he can push around. The announcer then went to the locker room and told some of the seniors what had happened......final score TM 42-JV 13 ..... Respect means a lot guys.

[QuoteTheRaven]

When Smith played TM our announcer walked over during warm ups and politely asked for the line up, Smith immediately tore into him saying, he was trying to get his team ready and using less than cordial language. Our announcer defended himself saying he was just doing his job then walked away. Later Smith sent a assistant who gave the line up to the announcer and tried to smooth things over. Bottom line Smith has no class and no respect for anyone he thinks he can push around. The announcer then went to the locker room and told some of the seniors what had happened......final score TM 42-JV 13 ..... Respect means a lot guys.

To each their own. I know Mike Smith personally and he's a heck of a nice guy. Yea tempers sometimes flare up during football. And I can understand your perception of him if something like that happened. But I know Mike Smith and he would do just about anything for anyone.

[chuckfinley10]

I understand where you stand as well. Believe or not I am the last person to want to bad mouth someone, I was just stating the facts of what happened at the game.