I have left Boone after witnessing App put a win on the board and have left dejected after witnessing a loss. Making that trip down 321 to I-85, long after DJ and Brownie have signed off, I've had times to reflect on the fact that what I just witnessed, whether good or bad in terms of the scoreboard, is not going to change the fact that the sun will still come up in the east and set in the west, that I will still have to go to work to pay my bills and provide for both me and the ones I love, and the fact that I have some decent friends and have certainly met some interesting people in my life, both good and bad.scatman77 wrote:77, you and I graduated together and we saw the Brakefield years at 3-7-1, 6-5, and then the magical 8-3 year and then 6-4-1. I also heard the caller throw Satt, Beasley, the staff, the team, the film crew, the managers....all of them under the bus. I particularly liked how DJ very professionally and politely told him, besides "Give a Mountaineer a chance," to stick it where the sun doesn't shine.appstate77 wrote:I have a five year old grandson. His mother, grandmother and I do our best to discipline him and raise him correctly. Yet he still gets in trouble, gets frowny faces in school and has time outs at home. It will take him all of his first 18 years+ to grow up.
Scott Satterfield is an educator dealing with 18-22 year old kids, many of them who are Frosh, RFrosh, Sophs or RSophs who were high school all stars. They still think their flatulence doesn't stink. People whine about team discipline, remember "Yosef" at App. Did you always make good decisions? I didn't. I learned in my Psych classes in Boone that it takes us over 13 times to be exposed to a teaching before we hear and embrace it. Many of these kids are hearing football and life reality for the first time. (By the way are we hearing of any Sean Price type issues this season? Few if any.)
At the end of Saturday Evening Quarterback, DJ, answering a caller who threw SS totally under the bus , thoughtfully said the above; "Give a Mountaineer a chance." Scott is one of us.
He was given a four year contract for a reason. Our administration understands, still, that it takes a coach awhile to get his people and recruiting classes in place. Scott has/is dealing with: a new Chancellor, new AD, new conference, new classification, not to mention the awkward ending to JM's coaching term. The guy has taken on a large and burdensome task. I hope, dearly hope, that App never goes to the "win at all costs" philosophy that earns NCAA probations and sanctions. That would embarrass me much more than a 1-5 record.
Our former Dline coach Mark Speir in Cullowhee, whom I am proud to call friend, could count his wins from his first two years on one hand. In these years he got rid of the deadwood, installed his program brought in his classes and now look where he is. WCU is leading the SOCON and staring at a playoff berth.
"Give a Mountaineer a chance". I am and I shall. He is one of us, wears the same class ring that I wear. In a preseason presser Scott subtly asked us not to measure success this season in wins and losses, but the progress of his very young team. Scott knows what he has. I am guessing a one and five record is not that much of a surprise to him. What I am sure hurts him is some of us turning on him like last week's leftovers.
"Give a Mountaineer a chance"
Serving as chaplain for a professional sports league has taught me a lot. Much of what goes on we don't know and in some cases legally, cannot know. The outside perception is that the coaches, leadership etc. are incompetent. Nothing can be further from the truth. They know and they lose sleep, health, families and sanity trying to fix it.
"Give a Mountaineer a chance"
By 2016 I think we will be happy we did.
I am a man of loyalty. My daddy always said that the boss isn't always right but the boss is always the boss. SS is the coach and may not always be right but he's always the coach until or unless his situation changes. I call on on all the nay-sayers, critics, so-called experts, and those bashing the team and its efforts to come back in two years. I firmly believe a tasty dish of BBQ'ed crow will be served and you or I will be eating it but I stand behind my Mountaineers and will bring the sauce for your eating pleasure.
If you're lucky enough to be a Mountaineer, you're lucky enough. Sorry, I stole this from another poster here but I truly believe it!
These are 18-22 year old KIDS, yes KIDS. They are balancing love of a sport with the pressing demands to maintain good grades, all while trying to obtain a degree that, unfortunately in this day and age, doesn't guarantee anything. Little perspective folks. Hate me, call me sunshine pumper, I do not care. This is MY team and I will root for them whether they are 12-0 or 0-12. Go App!
