FB: American Southwest Conference

[roocru]

Congratulations to Hunter Hamrick,  junior  punter at UMHB for winning the 2005 Tom Gilburg Division III National Punter of the Year by the Franklin and Marshall College Football Association.   Pat has a link on the front page for those who want more information.  The most impressive stat to me is the 39.3 net punt average which equates to a 4.0 yard return average.  Nice to have a punter like him returning!

[roocru]

Austin College Names Gage Head Football Coach

SHERMAN – Austin College officials announced today that two-time Texas 5A State Championship football coach Ronnie Gage will take over the Austin College Kangaroos football program.

Gage, a native of Decatur, Texas, comes to the Austin College athletics department from Lewisville High School, where he served as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from 1991-2005.  While at Lewisville, Gage coached the Farmers to two Texas 5A State Championships and was named the District 5-5A Coach of the Year three times and the District 6-5A Coach of the Year twice. 

Gage also earned District 5-4A Coach of the Year honors while serving as the Head Coach of Northwest High.  Gage coached at Northwest from 1987-1990, and in his 18 years of coaching at the high school level compiled a career record of 137-60-9.  Before becoming the Head Coach at Northwest, Gage served as Offensive Coordinator at Lewisville from 1984-1986, and as Running Backs Coach at Lewisville from 1981-1983.  During that time the Farmers compiled 48-15-6 record and were two-time District Champions.

Gage's teams have won five District Championships, were three times area finalists, and twice were regional finalists.  Gage served as the President of the Texas High School Coaches Association in 2004 and 2005, and was the regional director in 1999.  In that same year he was a recipient of the Fox Sports Coach Who Makes a Difference award.  Gage has twice been named the Texas Sportswriters Coach of the Year, along with being honored twice as the Northeast Tarrant County Coach of the Year.  In addition, he was named the Dallas All-Sports Association Coach of the Year in 1996, after leading Lewisville to a perfect 15-0 season and a state title.

"In addition to his coaching credits, we feel that Ronnie's other attributes make him an excellent fit for this institution," said Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Tim Millerick.  "He is a fine man with a long record of success working with young people and he came with exceptional recommendations from sources both within and outside of the athletics community.  He understands and is committed to the delicate balance between athletics and academics at an NCAA Division III institution.  He has expressed excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead for the Austin College football program as it enters the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference."

Gage is a 1976 graduate of the University of North Texas, where he earned his degree in Physical Education & Health, and later earned his Masters of Education with a focus on Public School Administration from UNT in 1980.

[wilburt]

No offense, but your assertion doesn't hold water. Just because more people graduate at Fisk doesn't make it a better school.

So just because fewer people graduate from those other schools make it better?  That doesn't make sense either Pat.

It stands to reason that if those cited scores were reliable predictors of college success, then the graduation rates for those schools would surpass those of Fisk.  Sounds like I hear you all saying that those schools may admit more academic underachievers than Fisk does.  Food for thought.

In fact, Fisk earned its Phi Beta Kappa charter a lot earlier (1953) than either Millsaps (1989) or Trinity (1974) did.   

[Pat Coleman]

No offense, but your assertion doesn't hold water. Just because more people graduate at Fisk doesn't make it a better school.

So just because fewer people graduate from those other schools make it better?  That doesn't make sense either Pat.

It stands to reason that if those cited scores were reliable predictors of college success, then the graduation rates for those schools would surpass those of Fisk.  Sounds like I hear you all saying that those schools may admit more academic underachievers than Fisk does.  Food for thought.

In fact, Fisk earned its Phi Beta Kappa charter a lot earlier (1953) than either Millsaps (1989) or Trinity (1974) did.   

It doesn't make sense to think that a lower graduation rate means it's tougher to graduate? And isn't it possible that it's tougher to graduate because it's a tougher school?

None of your citations dispells the possibility that those schools are tougher than Fisk in this day and age. Nothing said by anyone proves that they are, either.

[wilburt]

Pat your last point in your last post is well taken.

We can go on and on with this, but my main point was that Fisk was comparable academically to the SCAC schools contrary to Coach C's original assertion. I am not necessarily saying that any of the SCAC schools are tougher or easier than Fisk in this day and age. That is debatable.  All I am saying is that they are academically comparable to Fisk!   Otherwise, the SCAC presidents would have likely never voted in Fisk to become a member of that conference back in 1983, and Fisk would not be mentioned in the 2006 Princeton Guide to the Nation's Top 361 colleges like it and many of the other SCAC schools.  All of this amongst other accolades that the school has earned by others in academia.   

[Ralph Turner]

An alternate All-Region team was posted today.  Congratulations to McMurry's Ty Sellers!

http://www.donhansen.com/AA/2005/2005%20Div%20III%20South%20All-Region%20Team.pdf

[historymajor]

Wow,,, is there going to be a salary cap issue with DIII coaches?

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/news/dmn/stories/010806dnspocoachsalaries.2a4475f.html

It's pretty crazy what Dallas area HS coaches are paid.... does that mean AC gave Gage a raise?

[roocru]

I also posted this reply on the SCAC board.

Coach Gage is not getting a raise from AC  to be paid more than he currently is.  He is actually retiring from the public school system and whatever money he makes at AC wil be paid in addition to his retirement.  This has become a common way for public school coaches to enter private schools and continue to coach when they tire of the issues in public schools or want a change in scenery.

I am currently at the AFCA meeting in Dallas and the Morning News story has predictably been a hot topic of conversation.  All I can say is I agree teachers should be paid more.  However if any teacher wants to put in the hours coaches do in addition to their own teaching loads or be willing to get fired by the public at the whim of a few discontented parents because their test scores did not beat all the other teachers in their district, then they can complain about the difference in salaries.

I know this statement may be controversial, but until you get fired with a winning record because you did not start a school board members' child or you get fired because you have one losing season in the past ten, you cannot understand the pressure and the reason why coaches get paid more.

[Zmotion10 out on 2]

Sure is quite around here. 

[Zmotion10 out on 2]

Sure is quite around here. 

Oopps  I mean "quiet"

[Ron Boerger]

You were right both times; it's quite quiet.   

[Olinemom]

You were right both times; it's quite quiet.   

Way too quiet for quite too long!!  Roocru, are you still there?  How are things in the balmy south?  It's too cold here!!!

[roocru]

Olinemom,

I'm still here, just very busy.  All of our spring sports have now started as well as the winter ones we are in the middle of.  Add to that budget work, moving in to a new office and Texas bi-annual realignment of our high schools into classifications and new districts and I just get to read the board every few days.  I always get a laugh from those folks who ask me what do I have to do after football season is over. By the way, we are hot, dry and windy !!

Ralph,

I have read the post you sent me a few times and I think I will stand mostly by my previous first impression.  It sounds like most of the ills in that article come from the influence of the teacher unions.  I know that in Texas right now because of the lack of a coherent and plan for financing our public schools by our legislators in Austin , money is tighter than I remember it ever being.  I think it is almost like a private business who must reduce its expenditures by cutting personnel and closing plants.  My district is currently not replacing many administrators and teachers who leave and retire.  Instead, other people are picking up their tasks as well as the ones they already have.  Teaching staffs at the schools have been cut to the bare minimum and some electives are falling by the wayside if there is not enough interest to justify full class loads.  We had a failed bond issue two years ago right before I took this job and we are now having to use approximately $6 million dollars a year on money that could be spent on education in upkeep of buildings and facilities.  My middle school athletic periods are understaffed because the coaches are put into academic classes as opposed to properly staffing our athletic periods.  I have some middle school athletic periods with 40-60 athletes and one coach.

This sounds like I am using the proverbial crying towel but I know I am still better off than some of the district athletic directors  I visit with.  Everyone is running scared that our illustrious  legislators are too cowardly to take a stand and finance Texas public and higher education like they should.  The so called "school finance bill" has become a "tax relief bill"  and the senators and representatives are too worried with their reelections as opposed to solving this crisis in Texas.  If this were not true, why does it take us through one regular session, two special sessions and still waiting on another ruling by the judge  and we still do not have a bill in place.  Oh well, now I am ranting.....

Frank,
I agree whole heartedly with your statement.  Here are some things most people do not know.  Texas teachers are the only state employees whose insurance is not paid.  We get some relief on insurance through our local district but if you have a family you still pay quite a bit.  In some cases it is even cheaper to buy a personal health policy than get one through your district.  Teachers pension plans pay on the average of your highest five years of salary, the number of years of service and a factor of 2.3%.  For all other state employees the factor is 2.5%.  The Teacher retirement system was just modified and changed from the average of your three highest years to five.  They also said you cannot retire with full benefits until you are 60 years old. It was previously whenever your age and years of service totaled 80.  I believe if it were not for the true professionalism of the majority of Texas teachers we would already be unionized.

Still ranting, I guess.....Although this has nothing to do with D# football, I am glad I have a forum to educate folks on what is happening in Texas pubic education.  Responses are welcome !!

[Bill McCabe]

What is everyone hearing about recruiting?  Any significant transfers?

[dballa]

Bill I'm not sure about any transfers but HPU had about 50 or so recruits in a couple weekends back.  There were a couple talented defensive linemen in that group that should help to try to replace some really good players that are leaving due to graduation.  If they do decide to come to HPU