SBASC COMMITTEE: Our Picks – Because We’re the Experts

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.

 

 

Michael Rodriguez San Benito High School Class of 1999

Michael Rodriguez
San Benito High School
Class of 1999

Attention San Benito school district and Champions Consulting: These are the head coach applicants you should seriously consider.

I’m just diving right in with my personal favorites: Gus Cavazos and Monty Stumbaugh. I know Gus from his days coaching the Rio Hondo Bobcats to 3A district championships, and, of course, I’m very familiar with Monty’s work with the Port Isabel Tarpons being that our sister paper, the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, covers PI.

In addition to securing four district championships in 10 years, Gus has also proven himself in 5A football by leading the PSJA Memorial Wolverines to playoff appearances in a competitive 31-5A, not to mention doing so at a district with three other high schools cutting into his enrollment. His brand of leadership—Gus is a guy who athletes love to play for—would be welcomed in a one-high school community like San Benito.

Monty likes to run the ball, and 102 career victories, 11 playoff appearances and six district titles in 13 seasons coaching the Tarps proves that the ground game works for him. I know San Benito loves a good passing game, but if you want to win, Monty can make it happen by utilizing the speedsters the Greyhounds seem to produce every year. Besides, the last time the ’Hounds lured a Port Isabel coach to town, it spelled success for San Benito.

The Committee has spoken.

 

Francisco E. Jimenez San Benito High School Class of 2006

Francisco E. Jimenez
San Benito High School
Class of 2006

Let me be the first to state that I for one am very pleased with the names on the list of applicants considering how late in the year it is. In most ordinary situations, a new head coach/athletic director would have been implemented well before the Christmas break. But we are not an ordinary school district, are we?

It should also probably be noted that politics hasn’t exactly helped when it comes to attracting potential candidates. If you’re attempting to cajole some prime candidates to the district, it’s probably a good idea to appear as though all your affairs are in order.

The one name that immediately stands out is that of Monty Stumbaugh from the Port Isabel Tarpons. You know… that one guy who led his team to the fourth round of the playoffs a year ago, as well as an undefeated season this year. I’ve heard people try to take credit away from this man, saying his team’s success was primarily the result of his talented players, but I think we’ve seen what can happen when talent doesn’t have leadership.

Not that the other names on the list aren’t well-qualified, I just happen to have heard Monty’s name more frequently (and a word quota has been exceeded).

 

Rebecca Lynn Martinez San Benito High School Class of 1999

Rebecca Lynn Martinez
San Benito High School
Class of 1999

If this is just a numbers game, which we all know football to be, then every yard counts—so too do the details in the list of applicants for the San Benito Greyhounds head football coach and athletic director position. In such a case, the choice should therefore come easy, right?

What to do, what to do… boy, you’d think my opinions would make a difference, as if I had joined some kind of committee or something.

To be honest, I think it’s a good list of applicants, and by now the coach who really wants it should already be making arrangements as far as implementing a system and evaluating underclassmen talent based on news archives. With that said, and before I reveal who I think should be seriously considered, allow me to first say this: Let the best man win (or maybe a woman one day)!

I think that we need a coach who has experience with the bigger school districts, the big dogs, so to speak. That’s why I like the idea of someone such as Jeff Schaum, who dabbled a bit at the collegiate level. After all, who better to prepare our kids for success at the next level?

 

Hector Avila El Greyhound Mayor In Spanish: Mah-yor

Hector Avila
El Greyhound Mayor
In Spanish: Mah-yor

Well, Friday was the last day to apply for the AD/Head Coach position. As I typed this piece there were 39 applicants so far, and I’m hoping a few more will apply.

I personally haven’t seen the advertised posting, but I sure hope it indicates what the position pays because as we all know money talks, “Cha-Ching,” and this would bring the big fish, no offense to Monty Stumbaugh and the Port Isabel Tarpons.

I believe we have around 13 candidates with actual head coaching experience, and it’s time to separate the men from the boys, so to speak. Again, barring any other candidates applying, six of the candidates with H.C. experience have winning records, and three standout pretty clearly with lots of years of experience, consistent winning records and championships—all things which have eluded our football program. The numbers usually don’t lie.

Let’s hope Champions Consulting gets it right and recommends a coach who is not one-dimensional and exclusively runs or exclusively throws the ball, as time has shown us that to win and go far in the playoffs a team that can do both has a better chance with the faster and bigger teams out of the Rio Grande Valley.

Just win, baby!

 

Andrea Mosqueda San Benito High School Class of 2014

Andrea Mosqueda
San Benito High School
Class of 2014

Well, well, well. Now that we have the list in our ever-capable hands, let’s have a look.

There is definitely a lot of potential on this list. With local applicants like PSJA Memorial head coach Gus Cavazos and Brownsville Lopez head coach Jason Starkey, San Benito CISD administrators will have a hard time making up their minds about this one (shocker), so let’s throw in our two cents, shall we?

Personally, I’m rooting for Port Isabel’s Monty Stumbaugh, because did you SEE this last season? Monty’s Port Isabel Tarpons blew their opponents out of the water in 2013, when they went 12-1 (the 1 happening in the playoffs) and finished off their first perfect regular season since 1994.

It’s all a numbers game, really, because the numbers don’t lie. Consider 102 career victories and 11 playoff stints. Oh and six district titles in 13 seasons. Now, if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to work a calculator, and that’s 46 (!!!) percent of his career spent in the district winner’s circle. C’mon people, compare that to near zero percent during our last five years (no offense intended, of course).

I don’t know about you, but doesn’t an outright district title sure sound nice right about now?

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/02/21/sbasc-committee-our-picks-because-were-the-experts/

4 comments

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    • Sheila Johnson on February 23, 2014 at 12:44 am
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    Rebecca Martinez, there are lots of skeletons in that guy’s closet. Why do you think he leaves off some of the schools where he has worked and rarely stays anywhere more than 2 years? Do your homework and protect the kids.

  1. The school board is split! the girls pick Gilbert the guys pick Monty. Who to pick? Will not if front row Joe has anything to say about it. Will anyway I’ll just have to go with Ray. Hey where did they all go? Follow that guy from Judson!

  2. Football banquets, gust speakers, football fans, players, coaches, school boards, parents, selective committees , state of the art stadium..If only the Pig Skin could talk.

    • greyhoundfan44 on February 21, 2014 at 6:47 pm
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    I like several of the canadites but I would go with Monty Stumbaugh….but lets see if any of the new applicants on the list will change our minds?

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