Published on Thursday, November 15, 2007

Hoke Principal - Parody, Misquote, or Babble?

Remarks from principal sound like something from a comedy skit

Fayetteville Observer reports on principal's firing of head coach

(link to wwww.fayettevilleobserver.com)

by Tom McKinney

Full Disclosure: The author is an overweight, 53 year-old male who at times entertains fantasies of being a "million-dollar" coach. Thirty or forty years ago, the author was inclined towards fantasies of being a "superstar" athlete. However, he is currently tempted by the "coaches are god-like" point of view, since the previous fantasy now seems so ridiculously implausible.

"It always comes down to wins and losses." - Hoke High School Principal Steve Hagen.

This is a remark by Hoke High School Principal Steve Hagen about his firing of Head Football Coach Greg Bryant in the Fayetteville Observer article written by Earl Vaughn Jr., Scholastic Sports Editor, on November 14, 2007.

Was this a facetious remark by Principal Hagen, poking fun at how COLLEGE football is "big business" and that winning games is the bottom line? Or is HIGH SCHOOL football in Hoke County now big business? Ridiculous!

“We’re looking for the next coming of Vince Lombardi." - Hoke High School Principal Steve Hagen.

It's not clear that any community would want someone like Vince Lombardi (coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s) as a high school sports coach. But again, this sounds like humor. In terms of winning and losing games, middle-aged men tend to ascribe to coaches an importance that outweighs everything else. Even with missing hair and weakened stomach muscles, we still want to impress the ladies, and we sure can't do that by running 40 yards in 4.5 seconds.

“... we expect to be more competitive in the conference we are in." - Hoke High School Principal Steve Hagen.

This expectation should be assigned to local leaders in business, government, and education. Turning "little" Raeford into a larger population center would mean many more students to join, and favorably impact, the local high school football program. We must be sure to include the "high school football won-loss record" when discussing economic development.

“... That’s a difficult task considering the status of the coaching in this conference. There are some legends around here." - Hoke High School Principal Steve Hagen.

Now, as parody, the interview has gotten a bit tiresome. This is something you might hear from men sitting in McDonald's at 10 am, as they relate old stories about Vince Lombardi or Mickey Mantle.

The physically-fit, and always courteous, Coach Bryant, handled the firing in a very gracious and professional manner, demonstrating to his high school students an appropriate way to handle a work-place setback.

We will miss Coach Bryant and hope to see him coaching and teaching again in another school setting.