Westmont Football

[EnzoLigoniere]

24 season. first 3 games all loses
combined score. 105 - 38
avg against 35 points, avg scored 12

25 season first 3 games all running clock blowouts
combined score 144 - 18
avg against 48 points avg scored 6

last season Westmont averaged 38 points given up, this year they are giving up 10 more per week

Everyone complained about Barron's offensive style and it was not very successful, but changing coaches has not been a drastic change. How long in today's game does it take to change a losing mentality? With BM/BC and Huntington showing better teams this year after periods of being the bottom rung, 3 - 4 years until things turn around seem to be the norm?

[WallyPipp]

I had a conversation with two very successful HS football head coaches a few years back. Both of these guys coached for decades and had programs that were extremely successful. Both are in the PA state coaches Hall of Fame. They agreed that given the current state of football in our high schools and society, a coach should be given 8 years to turn a program around. Two full graduation cycles of kids from 9th through graduation. Obviously, you would expect to see some improvement before 8 years, but the point these guys were making is, a program is not turned around in just a few months or even a year or two. There's a lot of foundational work that has to be done before a program can be viewed as successful especially when the efforts to turn those programs around often start at rock bottom. Westmont wasn't just a bad football program in 2024. It goes back further than that and it wasn't just the varsity level where they struggled. Jr High has not been successful for awhile as well. My point is, we're not even a month into the regular season of a new head coach and his staff being in charge. Pump the brakes on evaluating the evolution and growth of the status of the Westmont program (or any other team at this point). It should be pointed out also that thus far Westmont has played 3 teams that appear to be very solid teams (and programs). If you look at their next 6 games, they play four teams that will most likely end up the season with .500 or under .500 records. Seeing where Westmont is in terms of being competitive on the season after the Chestnut Ridge game is a little more realistic.

[EnzoLigoniere]

That was why I put in about Huntington and BM taking several years to get to where they are.

But for some one to say 8 years, come on MAN, that is BS. that is a coach collecting a paycheck to pad his retirement pulling the wool over a school boards eyes.
Luko has the Bearcats at 3 wins after three years. Franco rebuilt Tyrone in much less than 8. Felus was only at PC for six years, it took until year 4
I also feel like Barron got a bad rap for being willing to be different and not run shotgun with 4 wide like every other school in D6.

[Goldeneagles12]

I'd say 3 or 4 is about right. I guess every school is different. Franco had Tyrone in the d6 championship game in year 2 in both stints here. Still shocked Felus left PC the way the kids took to his coaching. I think he was set to maybe go a run like Forest Hills Tyrone and Central winning multiple d6 titles. For Barron I think hed still be there if they didn't bottom out last year.

[Colonel Mustard]

Barron's offense turned-off a lot of kids. They had good JH teams 6 ir 7 years ago, with a normal offense. By high school, a lot of those skill kids either quit or left or were wasted. No reason they shouldn't be as good as Richland, FH, or BM, same resources and kids. It's take some time, but having a teacher should help. That is assuming the kids like said teacher.

[WallyPipp]

Let's see where these teams all are at the end of the season. A lot can happen between the 3rd week of the season and the last...all teams are usually not quite as good as they may appear, or as bad.....

To make the statement that someone who would work for 8 seasons as a head football coach in our current climate of scholastic athletics and education is just seeking to pad their retirement is a completely out of touch and irrational opinion. You have no clue what you're talking about. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get people to coach period? Let alone take over a program that has no tradition or traction to build off of. One of the biggest problems in our school system is that not enough teachers are willing to coach any more. So, you don't have the teachers making connections with kids outside of the classroom like they used to. Many of them aren't willing to do so because people think they should be competing for championships a month after they're the HC. ALL TEACHERS who coach should be given plenty of leeway to pursue success. No public school makes profit and sustains their existence by operating their athletics programs. So, why should a HC be held accountable to be successful in 3 to 4 years? That to me sounds like the voice of someone who has spent their entire life in the bleachers and has no real first hand knowledge of what goes into getting the right kids to buy in, commit and work to succeed.

Franco's success at Tyrone (the 2nd time) gets thrown out the window due to his prior connection to that program. Due to his prior success they practically had a statue of him already built in the community. How did he do at Altoona and PC???? For the record, I think Franco is a very solid HC, but I think it's fair to say turning around a bad program is not very easy to do in just a few years.

[EnzoLigoniere]

can you give an example of your 8 year protocol for building a winning team? also please name your sources who are hall of fame? where do you teach at?

[EnzoLigoniere]

btw Westmont had 14 coaches between sideline and booth, just saying

[EnzoLigoniere]

can we measure Westmont against a lowly Somerset?

[WallyPipp]

I’m not a teacher.

No, I can’t give you a specific example of the 8 year concept. That conversation was had over a couple of beers at a coaches clinic. I respect greatly both of the guys who made the statement and shared their thoughts on the topic. I’m just sharing my thoughts on a sports message board. I thought that was the point of this board…to share thoughts and debate topics about sports. My point is, you started out your post by slamming Westmont as if anyone in our area expected some great change 1 month into a season. Westmont football is bad and was bad. They need to build a culture to succeed. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. It definitely will not happen in 1 month. They may not win a game this season, most likely they won’t. That doesn’t mean the guy who is now in charge will never be successful. That’s all I’m saying.