SBASC COMMITTEE: Was it a good idea to hire a consultant?

Greyhound logo (90s)The San Benito “Anti-Selection Committee” Committee is a group of citizens formed to hold accountable the actions of San Benito CISD administrators during their search for a new head football coach and athletic director. And if you haven’t figured it out yet, we’re not fans of selection committees doing the job that the aforementioned administrators and elected officials are responsible for… but our little club is okay. Together, we plan to offer commentary on hot button issues currently buzzing during the AD/head football coach search. Expect us to offer our two cents every weekend in the San Benito News. Here’s our first effort.

 

Michael Rodriguez San Benito High School Class of 1999

Michael Rodriguez
San Benito High School
Class of 1999

Wow. This is some group we’ve assembled here. We’re journalists, coaches, former athletes, law enforcement, educators and, perhaps more importantly, fans. Oh yeah, and none of us have ever played or coached high school football nor have we served in any administrative capacity for the school district; and yet, according to the logic of some decision-makers in this community, I suppose that also makes us perfect candidates for a selection committee to decide the fate of the athletic program for the next several years. Enter the San Benito “Anti-Selection Committee” Committee. Break yourself.

In short, and because I don’t have much space thanks to the long-winded rants of those beneath me (both literally and figuratively), I would have to reluctantly say yes to the question posed above. We need a consultant. Consider that the only other person who would be responsible for launching a search for the Greyhounds’ new athletic director and head coach is Interim Superintendent Dr. Ismael Cantu, who knows little about the community’s rich athletic history. Someone like Rusty Dowling, who coached Texas City to two state championships in the late 1990s, makes perfect sense to serve as said consultant.

I would only ask that the plight of true Greyhound fans (you know… the ones who choose not to walk out on the team in the third quarter because defeat appears inevitable) is considered.

 

Francisco E. Jimenez San Benito High School Class of 2006

Francisco E. Jimenez
San Benito High School
Class of 2006

Hi, my name is Francisco, but most people call me Frank or Franco. I once caught an interception in middle school football. It got called back because of pass interference. That being said, I have caught a large number of those plastic footballs the cheerleaders throw out whenever the Hounds score a touchdown (albeit whenever I am not sitting in the nosebleed section of Bobby Morrow Stadium). I am clearly the foremost authority of Greyhound football expertise.

As someone who has religiously attended nearly every Greyhound football game as far back as I can remember, as a fan and as a member of the Greyhound band in high school, I can’t help but feel the way I assume most Greyhound fans feel: I am entitled to my opinion, and everyone is entitled to know what it is.

I feel as though the job of athletic director and head football coach should be split, but as a district are we financially stable enough to afford such a luxury? Not at the moment, probably. Therefore, I agree with the board’s decision to keep the two positions as one, one position to rule them all. As far as hiring a consultant in search of the said position, I find it difficult to disagree with the decision; with exception to the amount of money it will cost the district. Oh well, you get what you pay for, right?

 

Rebecca Lynn Martinez San Benito High School Class of 1999

Rebecca Lynn Martinez
San Benito High School
Class of 1999

I can remember back in high school the influence of Coach Dan Coplea. His impact on my older brother, Esteban Martinez, during the 9-2-1, area round-qualifying Greyhounds in 1996, was immeasurable. Coach Coplea was a good motivator who promoted work ethic, discipline and pushed his team to be the best.

Then there was my experience coaching a softball team. My group of girls could have been unfairly characterized as misfits, and yes… we lost many games. However, it wasn’t long before my brother, who served as my assistant, and I helped turn the team around. We just wanted to help these girls, and being dedicated to them, going home at the end of the day and wondering what I could do to get them to do better, is all that was necessary to build their confidence and end the season by winning a second place trophy in their last tournament.

Not bad for a team filled with girls who didn’t know they needed a glove the first day of practice.

So if it means finding a coach who can take ownership of the community and, above all, care about the kids, then by all means, hire a consultant. I just hope that his advice is heard; after all, why go to church if you don’t listen to the Word.

 

Hector Avila San Benito High School El Greyhound Mayor

Hector Avila
San Benito High School
El Greyhound Mayor

I’ll be honest. Like a kid in a candy store, I was excited like a lot of Greyhound aficionados are about getting a coach who will right this ship (football program). This is a program which has been capsized, left on an island sort of like where Gilligan was.

Take us to the motherland of milk and honey, if you will.

With that said, consider that I have always frowned on committees. But when I was asked if I would consider being on a committee recently, it was one of those catch 22 questions, so I said “OK” out of fear that I’d regret it later.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to just hire a consultant.

This would remove any bias or any stigma of the compadre system or good ole boy mentality often associated with committees. This is the right thing to do. “Heck, what’s a few more dollars spent anyway,” I thought.

It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what the school district is shelling out now. These dollars would be well spent with more pros than cons, with a well-qualified consultant.

Football season can’t get here fast enough! So yeah, that’s what I’d do.

 

Stacey Lee Gonzalez San Benito High School Class of 2010

Stacey Lee Gonzalez
San Benito High School
Class of 2010

I suppose it’s a good thing that I was not tasked with the challenge of hiring the new AD/head coach. As with all of my major life decisions, my Magic 8 ball has yet to let me down (except the time it encouraged me to risk it with expired yogurt).

On that note, and quite frankly, I couldn’t agree more on the consultation of Rusty Dowling. With an extensive background in coaching and athletic administration, Dowling also has access to a vast network across the state. With that in mind, maybe I’ll hire him as my personal relationship consultant. His ability to secure state titles must be transferable in helping me secure a potential boyfriend, right? But I digress. The AD’s ability to take three photographs of himself, each clearly labeled on the back with his name. One must be a close-up of his face, the second must be a full-length photograph of his entire (clothed) body, and the third must be a full-length photograph of him wearing a swimsuit, and one of these three photographs may be in black and white.

Keep in mind; these factors may vary from one campus to another. I’m inclined to believe that America’s Next Top Model has modeled (no pun intended) their application process after the coach hiring process. Then again, what do I know? I can barely convince people I’ve hit puberty.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/01/24/san-benito-anti-selection-committee-committee-was-it-a-good-idea-to-hire-a-consultant/

20 comments

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    • Betty Shadee on January 31, 2014 at 11:05 am
    • Reply

    Back to Wanda Hoo’s comment. Who made the negotitations with Mr. Rusty? Why Mr. Rusty? Did he accept the $8K? Maybe Mr. Rusty wants 100% control of the selection process and our good ole board isn’t allowing it.

    Annex, whatever government officials are here, I hope they stay for a very long time because as long as our board president is at the top, then whoever runs for office next will only add to the long list of bad decisions she has already made.

    • Shiel Glaaz on January 31, 2014 at 8:43 am
    • Reply

    Same ole $&*! Just another day! Who’s running next…

    • ANNEXATION OF SAN BENITO on January 31, 2014 at 7:55 am
    • Reply

    The buzz saws were buzzing last night after Mr. Rusty Dowling pulled the ol’ trick-a-roo on San Benito.

    1. Not to be confused with the ol’ switcheroo.

        • ANNEXATION OF SAN BENITO on January 31, 2014 at 8:50 am
        • Reply

        tricky tricky.

        Board is slipping.
        First Gantt, now Dowling.
        Or are they?
        Either way, Government officials are in area now – watching districts and their actions.
        Time will only tell.

    • ReconstitutingSanBenito on January 27, 2014 at 4:37 pm
    • Reply

    Love the (NOT) insertions. Thank you. Lol

    1. Lol You can’t impersonate people here. Sorry.

    • ReconstitutingSanBenito on January 27, 2014 at 4:01 pm
    • Reply

    Howdy, this is (NOT) Rusty Dowling. I am extremely flattered & honored that your anti-selection committee has nominated me to be a PAID consultant for the Head Coaching Job at tradition rich SBHS. In all sincerity you all, my first inclination was to turn down your generous offer, but after further review, I couldn’t help but feel obliged to fulfill lil Stacy’s swimsuit pre-requisites for an AD.

    See, I don’t know if it would be quite ethical to require a potential candidate to submit a photo of themselves wearing a swimsuit. So I am offering something lil better to that adorable lil southern gal.
    See, one time, when I was coaching the Mission Eagles, ah, that would have been in ’87, we had just spanked the heck out of Edinburg. Hell we passed on 1st down, 2nd down, 3rd down, no wait, I don’t think we ever got to a 3rd down. Anyways, to celebrate, the next day I went sunbathing at Anzalduas Dam. Well darn it, one if them McAllen paper photographers took some poloroids of me in my animal print speedo. I will gladly submit that pic to the committee, signed in back, and front.

    I look forward to meeting you all really soon, especially lil Stacey Lee and her Magic 8 Ball, we shall see where it points to.

    Much Obliged,

    (NOT) Rusty

  1. Thank you, Rebecca Martinez, the fact that Coach COPLEA was able to influence you and your brother so profoundly and after all these years that you still mention his name makes brings a very warm smile to my heart. If he were here he definitely would say that all his late hours and grueling hot valley practices on the gridiron were all worthwhile to leave a legacy for his students to remember ! (A teacher DOES touch the future!)Thank you for remembering such a wonderful and unique FOOTBALL COACH and mentor to so many valley students. ….By the way ,I wouldn’t mind being on that committee myself!…MRS. C

    • Bulldog on January 27, 2014 at 8:10 am
    • Reply

    Howard,

    Nice points about building the program. A house built on sand will sink. I completely agree. New beginnings, change, its just around the corner. We need to circle around that and the positive and not the negative. Move forward and keep our eyes on the prize. No looking back.

    As far as NIKE uniforms – I gotta disagree with you on that one. The kids gotta earn their stripes. Football is a privilege. Soft and spoiled is not the way 7th and 8th graders need to be introduced into the football program. I remember mesh solid jerseys. Purple jerseys with white numbers. Black jerseys with yellow numbers. That was it. No need for flamboyant uniforms. Stripes were earned. THE varsity uniform was earned. That was a privilege. Respect. Blood. Sweat. Pain. All worth it. Pride made the difference.

    PS. Don’t forget about Riverside Middle School.

    1. Statistics will show you missed the point and your possibly the void that needs to be filled. Everything should come natural. Once a Marine always a MARINE!

        • Statistics on January 28, 2014 at 11:20 am
        • Reply

        Gotta love that MMA football team!
        And that Marine college football team, oh man – love, AB SO LUTE LY love that one!

    • Wanda Hoo on January 26, 2014 at 9:10 pm
    • Reply

    Who found Rusty? What’s the connection to him? I don’t need an eight ball to answer these questions.

  2. We’ll soon see what the fate of the Greyhound program will hold with a new coach and AD. It’s pure and simple. I hope the 7th graders at BC and Miller are ready for some football and some new NIKE uniforms. If you build a better and modern infrastructure to get students interested in going out for football it may create a program of interest in football . You need to build from the ground up and create a program with CLASS , PRIDE, and hopefully a Winning Tradition. As for our news sports reporters, I wish they’d not only report on local sports but follow the entire road of Texas high-school football by reporting on the entire trip on Texas High School football State 5A championship by giving honor to those high-schools that travel the hard road to gridiron glory . Bringing our local fans in the RGV the continuing of each high-school football game and highlights of the championship games and interviews of players creating interest locally of one day sharing that dream of winning a Texas State Football Championship.

    • richard on January 25, 2014 at 11:39 pm
    • Reply

    Mr. Editor,
    It is the same administration that has guided the rattlers success that is selecting for the diamondbacks. I don’t see why this would be an important distinction. In fact, it would be harder because now they have to deal with dividing the district into two high schools. The rest of your comments I understand. I don’t want to become too opinionated.

    1. Good points, but consider further the political atmosphere in San Benito as opposed to Sharyland. Trust in the fact that no matter what decision is made here, people will cry politics. An unbiased, impartial consultant who knows his stuff appears like a much more attractive compromise.

    • Hounder50 on January 25, 2014 at 11:37 pm
    • Reply

    Couldn’t of said better myself Mr. Editor. Will the valley ever win a State Championship well like coach/analyst Herman Edwards says “You play to win the game”!

    1. Hounder50, Stacey’s magic 8 ball revealed the following: “Cannot predict now” and “Signs point to yes.” There may be some ambiguity there.

  3. Yes, Sharyland boasts a successful program, but it’s Sharyland Pioneer that’s hiring a head coach–an important distinction. And last time I checked, there are no parents or “opinionated citizens” (God forbid citizens having opinions) involved in San Benito’s/Rusty Dowling’s hiring process. Also consider that San Benito’s administration is under interim (temporary) leadership. It can be argued that consultation is therefore warranted in such a unique circumstance.

    Regarding your question as to whether or not a Valley team will ever win a state championship in this generation, I’d first have to consult Stacey’s magic 8 ball for the answer.

    • richard on January 25, 2014 at 5:53 pm
    • Reply

    8K plus expenses. That plus is a big ?. Sharyland has one of the most successful programs in the valley. They are hiring a head coach. No parents. No consultant. No opinionated citizens. Just administration doing their job. Is San Benito not able to do the same? On another note, during this generation will a valley team ever win a state championship in football?

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