The Truth Behind The Chestnut Ridge Program
Posted: September 15th, 2006, 10:54 pm
Football is one of the greatest character builders in the high school environment today….
High school football develops such things as leadership, teamwork, integrity, and PRIDE…
High school sports offer multiple opportunities for student athletes (example: college scholarships)…
This is an examination of a school district and a community that stole these precious things away from student athletes…
THIS IS THE STORY OF CHESTNUT RIDGE FOOTBALL…
Biography: I played under the current regime of Dan Wilkins. I no longer live in the area, although I still keep an eye on my Alma Mater. I have played college football. I also have coaching experience in other locations throughout the state. Other than this information I would like to keep my identity confidential because I still have family in the area. The reason I would like to do this is because I am going to inform the members of this forum the truth behind a community and a school board that will shock you, in my opinion.
Some history to get the mind going… (Dates are somewhat inaccurate. I will try and be as accurate as possible. I do not have a program with the dates that I would need to be more accurate, just stay with me as I raise some interesting questions and offer some explanations as to why. I ask you to draw your own conclusions to these questions. Although some things may be hurtful to some of the readers, please keep an open mind and read the entire article before commenting.)
1992-93:
Coach Fran Harlan is confronted by the school board, with a matter that I would prefer not to discuss, and asked to either resign or handle the problem on his own. We all know the outcome.
Coach Harlan resigns as one of the most effective coaches in the program’s history.
Question #1:Did the board over step the boundaries in this matter. Football is a violent game. Violent words are used. A gridiron, in my opinion, is not a place of worship.
This is just one instance of a town over-stepping their boundaries. This instance, in my opinion, is one of the darkest days in the program.
1993-94
Chestnut Ridge school board hires Ron Walters. Coach Walters provides several opportunities for student athletes. Some of his products: Jeff Baer, Barry Rhoades, Jon Claar, and Greg Feather. All have their names in Chestnut Ridge history books. Coach Walter proves to be somewhat successful in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. Providing a memorable upset of Forest Hills at home during a Homecoming game.
May of 1999:
Coach Walters announces his resignation to the surprise of many to take a position at Penn Cambria. Accounts from the meeting he had with the team that would have been his that fall. Coach wept….
Question #2: Why did he resign, to my knowledge Coach Walters never gives a statement.
July 1999:
Coach Wilkins is hired under weird circumstances. By weird circumstances I mean…
Examples:
Donnie Fyfe, a long time member of the community and stand out high school quarterback, turns in an application. He is not selected.
Bailey’s son from Forest Hills turns in an application. Dave Bailey’s track record speaks for itself in Sidman. He is not selected.
Question #3. Why is Dan Wilkins, who was at the time regarded as inexperienced, given the head-coaching job over a former player/hometown boy and a son of a high school legend? Bailey’s son has since taken over the Richland Football Team.
Fall of 2000
School Board and community speakers protest the schools involvement in the LHAC (Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference). They decide to drop LHAC as the athletic conference and move to a less respected conference, I.C.C. (Intercounty Football Conference). To my understanding this was to avoid from having all sports being part of the LHAC. In my opinion, Chestnut Ridge could have competed in almost every other sport, so this perspective was based solely upon the football program. Coach Dan Wilkins at several meetings given his opinion to be moved to the I.C.C.
This is the second of many dark days of the Chestnut Ridge program.
This is the town and community leaders taking the away an opportunity from student athletes at Chestnut Ridge for wins in a lesser developed and respected conference (I.C.C.). Student athletes have now lost the opportunity to be noticed by college scouts. You think a college really cares how about CHESTNUT RIDGE VS CLAYSBURG/EVERETT/N.B.C./TUSSEY MT? Not a chance…but hey…it is great ticket sales and that is all we are about right? The gate?
In my opinion, this is like taking a child out of Algebra II and placing him in Pre-Algebra after getting an “F” in the first six weeks of the school year. Basically the school board slapped every student athlete that ever played football in the face on that day. Basically saying you are not good enough to compete with the big boys on the street so we’ll place you in a sand box away from attention and let you beat on the little kids in the neighborhood. What is wrong with this picture? How does that teach these athletes anything about life? When times get hard…lower yourself to feel confident. In other words sell-out your dreams and aspirations and settle for something easier, that’s the motto that comes out of this decision. Chestnut Ridge says with this move, “take the easy way out in life and save yourself the embarrassment.” That’s the motto I want to teach my kids when I become a parent someday. NOT!
During the Wilkins regime we have many protest and petitions about removing Wilkins from the head coach position. Why? This is the man we wanted right? He bought into the policies of the school board and their demands and wishes. Now move him out when he advocated for the switch to the I.C.C? I feel bad for the scrutiny Coach Wilkins faces everyday from the community. I feel sorry for a man that took a position and listened to the heads of the community and other figures, he did your dirty deed of stripping pride away from the student athletes…. now lets get him out?
Granted he has made one of his goals a playoff victory, something Chestnut Ridge has never seen. He has come up short with some questionable play calling. But this should have been expected when you hire an inexperienced coach.
Now for the real problem with Chestnut Ridge…the town and its inhabitants.
The reasons we lose to Bedford.
The reasons we are laughed at by most of the region.
The reasons we do not pull big recruits from our high school, and areas like Bedford do.
You. (The community)
The areas problem starts with nosey parents and uneducated grandstand coaches that mock this beautiful game. Those that have never stepped foot on a field, just played high school, or think they know because they watch ESPN and football on the weekends. I have been around several other programs and I have never seen a community that will not keep their nose and opinions out of a program. This town has their opinion in every aspect. You think Max Shoemaker dealt with the community riding him or taking over? It is called Marshall Law folks. Head coach and his staff is the law, they make the decisions on game days, not the quarterbacks dad, the players on parents motivation (changing plays), or even the loud mouth in the stands on Friday night. It’s a lack of respect and childish, and what do these actions teach our kids…mutiny.
THE PROBLEM OF THIS TOWN IS THE FACT THAT LOSING IS ACCEPTED AND IF YOU LOSE WE WILL MAKE ACCOMIDATIONS TO HELP YOU WIN.
You gripped and groaned about the L.H.A.C. being too tough of a conference. Now you grip and groan about the playoff system and district system being unfair because our boys are going 7-2 and getting a low seed. What on earth do you people expect? You decided on the move to the I.C.C., you burned the kids; now whine about the system being unfair. You should all be ashamed of yourself for digging the hole that you are in. You did this to yourselves, not the P.I.A.A. not Dan Wilkins…You. Sleep in the bed you made and quit whining about fairness when you stripped it away several years ago.
This town doesn’t deserve the reputation it has received, that you the parents have brought on. Look in the mirror and you will find out who is to blame for all of the grippes and groans you make about this thing you call a program.
Last Question
DO THEY GET BETTER ATHLETES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF INTERSTATE 99?
The answer is NO.
THEN HOW CAN BEDFORD COMPETE IN THE L.H.A.C. AND WE CAN’T?
The answer is simple…losing is accepted, and excuses are made.
MY VOTE IS WE RENAME THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWN TO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY.
That is all I have.
Good Day.
High school football develops such things as leadership, teamwork, integrity, and PRIDE…
High school sports offer multiple opportunities for student athletes (example: college scholarships)…
This is an examination of a school district and a community that stole these precious things away from student athletes…
THIS IS THE STORY OF CHESTNUT RIDGE FOOTBALL…
Biography: I played under the current regime of Dan Wilkins. I no longer live in the area, although I still keep an eye on my Alma Mater. I have played college football. I also have coaching experience in other locations throughout the state. Other than this information I would like to keep my identity confidential because I still have family in the area. The reason I would like to do this is because I am going to inform the members of this forum the truth behind a community and a school board that will shock you, in my opinion.
Some history to get the mind going… (Dates are somewhat inaccurate. I will try and be as accurate as possible. I do not have a program with the dates that I would need to be more accurate, just stay with me as I raise some interesting questions and offer some explanations as to why. I ask you to draw your own conclusions to these questions. Although some things may be hurtful to some of the readers, please keep an open mind and read the entire article before commenting.)
1992-93:
Coach Fran Harlan is confronted by the school board, with a matter that I would prefer not to discuss, and asked to either resign or handle the problem on his own. We all know the outcome.
Coach Harlan resigns as one of the most effective coaches in the program’s history.
Question #1:Did the board over step the boundaries in this matter. Football is a violent game. Violent words are used. A gridiron, in my opinion, is not a place of worship.
This is just one instance of a town over-stepping their boundaries. This instance, in my opinion, is one of the darkest days in the program.
1993-94
Chestnut Ridge school board hires Ron Walters. Coach Walters provides several opportunities for student athletes. Some of his products: Jeff Baer, Barry Rhoades, Jon Claar, and Greg Feather. All have their names in Chestnut Ridge history books. Coach Walter proves to be somewhat successful in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. Providing a memorable upset of Forest Hills at home during a Homecoming game.
May of 1999:
Coach Walters announces his resignation to the surprise of many to take a position at Penn Cambria. Accounts from the meeting he had with the team that would have been his that fall. Coach wept….
Question #2: Why did he resign, to my knowledge Coach Walters never gives a statement.
July 1999:
Coach Wilkins is hired under weird circumstances. By weird circumstances I mean…
Examples:
Donnie Fyfe, a long time member of the community and stand out high school quarterback, turns in an application. He is not selected.
Bailey’s son from Forest Hills turns in an application. Dave Bailey’s track record speaks for itself in Sidman. He is not selected.
Question #3. Why is Dan Wilkins, who was at the time regarded as inexperienced, given the head-coaching job over a former player/hometown boy and a son of a high school legend? Bailey’s son has since taken over the Richland Football Team.
Fall of 2000
School Board and community speakers protest the schools involvement in the LHAC (Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference). They decide to drop LHAC as the athletic conference and move to a less respected conference, I.C.C. (Intercounty Football Conference). To my understanding this was to avoid from having all sports being part of the LHAC. In my opinion, Chestnut Ridge could have competed in almost every other sport, so this perspective was based solely upon the football program. Coach Dan Wilkins at several meetings given his opinion to be moved to the I.C.C.
This is the second of many dark days of the Chestnut Ridge program.
This is the town and community leaders taking the away an opportunity from student athletes at Chestnut Ridge for wins in a lesser developed and respected conference (I.C.C.). Student athletes have now lost the opportunity to be noticed by college scouts. You think a college really cares how about CHESTNUT RIDGE VS CLAYSBURG/EVERETT/N.B.C./TUSSEY MT? Not a chance…but hey…it is great ticket sales and that is all we are about right? The gate?
In my opinion, this is like taking a child out of Algebra II and placing him in Pre-Algebra after getting an “F” in the first six weeks of the school year. Basically the school board slapped every student athlete that ever played football in the face on that day. Basically saying you are not good enough to compete with the big boys on the street so we’ll place you in a sand box away from attention and let you beat on the little kids in the neighborhood. What is wrong with this picture? How does that teach these athletes anything about life? When times get hard…lower yourself to feel confident. In other words sell-out your dreams and aspirations and settle for something easier, that’s the motto that comes out of this decision. Chestnut Ridge says with this move, “take the easy way out in life and save yourself the embarrassment.” That’s the motto I want to teach my kids when I become a parent someday. NOT!
During the Wilkins regime we have many protest and petitions about removing Wilkins from the head coach position. Why? This is the man we wanted right? He bought into the policies of the school board and their demands and wishes. Now move him out when he advocated for the switch to the I.C.C? I feel bad for the scrutiny Coach Wilkins faces everyday from the community. I feel sorry for a man that took a position and listened to the heads of the community and other figures, he did your dirty deed of stripping pride away from the student athletes…. now lets get him out?
Granted he has made one of his goals a playoff victory, something Chestnut Ridge has never seen. He has come up short with some questionable play calling. But this should have been expected when you hire an inexperienced coach.
Now for the real problem with Chestnut Ridge…the town and its inhabitants.
The reasons we lose to Bedford.
The reasons we are laughed at by most of the region.
The reasons we do not pull big recruits from our high school, and areas like Bedford do.
You. (The community)
The areas problem starts with nosey parents and uneducated grandstand coaches that mock this beautiful game. Those that have never stepped foot on a field, just played high school, or think they know because they watch ESPN and football on the weekends. I have been around several other programs and I have never seen a community that will not keep their nose and opinions out of a program. This town has their opinion in every aspect. You think Max Shoemaker dealt with the community riding him or taking over? It is called Marshall Law folks. Head coach and his staff is the law, they make the decisions on game days, not the quarterbacks dad, the players on parents motivation (changing plays), or even the loud mouth in the stands on Friday night. It’s a lack of respect and childish, and what do these actions teach our kids…mutiny.
THE PROBLEM OF THIS TOWN IS THE FACT THAT LOSING IS ACCEPTED AND IF YOU LOSE WE WILL MAKE ACCOMIDATIONS TO HELP YOU WIN.
You gripped and groaned about the L.H.A.C. being too tough of a conference. Now you grip and groan about the playoff system and district system being unfair because our boys are going 7-2 and getting a low seed. What on earth do you people expect? You decided on the move to the I.C.C., you burned the kids; now whine about the system being unfair. You should all be ashamed of yourself for digging the hole that you are in. You did this to yourselves, not the P.I.A.A. not Dan Wilkins…You. Sleep in the bed you made and quit whining about fairness when you stripped it away several years ago.
This town doesn’t deserve the reputation it has received, that you the parents have brought on. Look in the mirror and you will find out who is to blame for all of the grippes and groans you make about this thing you call a program.
Last Question
DO THEY GET BETTER ATHLETES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF INTERSTATE 99?
The answer is NO.
THEN HOW CAN BEDFORD COMPETE IN THE L.H.A.C. AND WE CAN’T?
The answer is simple…losing is accepted, and excuses are made.
MY VOTE IS WE RENAME THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWN TO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY.
That is all I have.
Good Day.