I’ve been waiting a very long time to get this off my chest since so many fans want coaches fired right now.

If I understand this correctly, some of you fans want a coach fired that has a record of 60-4 in four years, won three state championships and one national championship? How much crazier can it get? We should be very proud and still supporting them even when we fall short in a game.

Losing is part of life and no team is going to win every game. I assure you I love for my teams to win. I’m going through the same thing with my Rebels but I still support them no matter, win or lose.

As long as I have been around football, and it has been a very long time, I have never understood when a “TEAM” loses a game or two most of the fans want the coaching staff fired. The coaching staff does not get on the field and play the game themselves. They coach those guys. But it is left up to those players to play the game. You can coach a player as much as you can but if that player does not do his part then it is not the coach’s fault.

I know that a coach calls the plays but that does not mean the players execute the plays all the time. So why fire a coach?

As a South Panola fan and someone that covers the team from every area as media, I see things that most fans need to know and it is time I tell you.

I have always wanted to write a book on the life of a coach and the behind scenes of his job.  I have learned so much about what coaches do besides coach on Friday night and I can tell you it cannot be easy.
Family is very important to me and it bothers me because coaches have families also. I have seen first hand how much coaches have to give up with their families. When most families are doing things together our South Panola coaching staff is working on game stuff.

I have seen first hand when coaches have had to miss their own kid’s football games, baseball games, golf tournaments, birthday parties, anniversaries with their wives and even giving up time to be with sick parents. The list goes on….

I’ll start with the first day of the week. On Sunday afternoon most of you do not know that our coaching staff spends about six hours watching film on the team that we are playing next while we are home with our families watching NFL games or whatever we choose.

Next comes Monday. Our coaches teach so they go to work Monday morning. Then they go to practice after school to prepare our team. They are there until about 5 o’clock. Then most of them coach ninth grade football so that means a game on Monday or Thursday nights.

They are not home until their kids have gone to bed. They do not get to eat dinner with them, tuck their small children in and read them a bedtime story or spend time with their wives.

The same routine on Tuesday but they do get out earlier as school is dismissed earlier. Most of our coaches are at the junior high games supporting your kids who are the future of the Tigers.

Wednesday is the only night that no games are played so our coaches are able to go home after they have finished all the things that need to be done for Friday night’s game. Some of the things that have to be taken care first are making sure all uniforms and equipment are ready, arranging a place for the team to eat at out of town games and getting transportation ready. Those are just a few things.

Thursday is a big day for our team and coaching staff. They do what is called a walk through with the team. They have cake day so the players get to eat Little Debbie cakes after the walk through. When the varsity players go home, the coaching staff is coaching a ninth grade game or attending a junior high game. Once again it is a late night for them.

The big day comes on Friday when most of you are taking off work early to go to an out-of-town game. You are excited to support the Tigers until you get to the game and they lose right?

I have seen fans leave before the game was over at the two games where we lost. That is letting the team know you are not behind them win or lose. What if one of those players on that field was your son? Would you like to see fans leaving?

Instead of being negative why not get behind this team along with the coaching staff and show them the support they need right now? Just remember when you are out there talking negative about the players and coaches next time, you could be talking to a player’s parent or family member. Ask yourself would you want people talking about your son or husband that way.

I have learned the hard way that life is not always what you want but you deal with it in a positive way. Coming from one who has been dealing with health issues for the past 10 years, I know first hand how down a person can be when things are not going right but it is how you respond to that situation that counts. Our Tigers have had some down times this season but they will be back due to the coaching staff and players’ positive attitudes.

I am asking all of you to get behind this team and coaching staff and support them tonight. Show up at the game and be loud. Please stay until the game is over no matter the outcome.
Go Tigers!