ajcsportstalk

By Football fan!

November 4, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

Make ‘em play!

Otherwise it’s an insult to all 30 kids still on the team. The coaches would rather Why are they on the team if they can’t play?

Sounds like they only wanna QUIT because they aren’t sure they’ll win!

It’s better to lose with dignity and effort than to QUIT … what a terrible lesson for the kids to learn!

By COACH

November 4, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

Make ‘em play!

Otherwise it’s an insult to all 30 kids still on the team. The coaches would rather QUIT than play the game with their healthy 30 players????

Why are they on the team if they can’t play?

Sounds like they only wanna QUIT because they aren’t sure they’ll win!

It’s better to lose with dignity and effort than to QUIT … what a terrible lesson for the kids to learn!

Losing a game does not make you a loser. But QUITTING without an effort DOES make you a LOSER!

By stown

November 4, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

not only would forfeiting teach your team a terrible lesson it would be taking away the woodland seniors last ever football game which isn’t right.

By glw

November 4, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

forfeiting because you have less than 30 players? While that isnt a lot of players for a AAAA school, its still enough to field a team. I remember playing against Carver-Atlanta back in the late 80’s-early 90’s and they would have like 15 players and knew they were going to probably lose, but they came out there and played hard. C’mon coach, you got to have a better reason than that.

By anonymous

November 4, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

Osborne should not even have a football team, they have sucked the last few years anyway. The principal and the school deserves whatever happens to them, especially after what they did to me. And to think at one point and time I wanted to coach for them. This makes me feel great!!!

By mel

November 4, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

Why are they playing this team twice? Clearly Osborne has not made the playoffs…

The difference between a 14-15 year old boy and a 17-18 year old boy is pretty big. How many Freshman does OHS have on their roster?

Seems like there might be more to this story.

By AUDoc

November 4, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

The Principal and Coach at Osborne should be fired. It is obvious that neither one of these gentlemen have a clue when it comes to having some sort of PRIDE in your school. The Principal needs to stand up to the coach and make him play the game with the players that he has. The coach must not know how to build for the future. The season is not over, but the coach has “released” the students to other sports. This is embarassing. I am a Principal at a high school in another state and I would fire this coach for even bringing this situation to me about not playing the game. Grow up!

By Cosmo

November 4, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this

In high school, we had 18 players and we played a full season with 18. I guess we were tougher back in 1981.

By eagleman

November 4, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this

They’re playing each other again because it is a region cross-over. It just happened they both finished the same spots in their regions, so they play each other again. I think it’s right to make them play because you’re taking away a game from players if you don’t. How would you feel if you were a Woodland senior being told you won’t get to play in your final game. One kid is trying to break the school rushing record. One kid is not wanting a game-ending interception to be his last high school play. So, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. If you have 30 players, then there should be no problem fielding a team.

By palodog

November 4, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

The fairest way to solve the situation? Play the game. What an outstanding lesson the Osborne administrators and coaches are teaching their kids. “Look guys…we’re just gonna lose so, let’s quit.” Way to get these kids ready to face the tough times in life. Keep up the good work Cobb County Schools.

By Fla Dawg 13

November 4, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this

I was an athlete in High School and College, if we had faced this problem my choice would have been to play. However, now that I’m an adult, my first concern is the welfare of the players. A team of freshmen vs a team of juniors and seniors is dangerous. Why let anymore kids get hurt?

By JR

November 4, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

Most of the Osborne starters are injured. If the remaining players are grossly outweighed someone is going to get hurt badly. Since you insist on them playing, will you chip in on the medical bill? And yes, I did play and our team that had less than 20 players.

By 26belly

November 4, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this

Being a middle-age adult looking at this situation. They safety of the athletes overides EVERYTHING! PERIOD! Put the testosterone on ice for a second and think of the worse case scenario for one of the Osborne players.

Now, thinking old school…I’m an Osborne Freshman or Soph. with the opportunity to play in the season finale against Woodland. Some jock/stud from Woodland is going to have his knees (ACL, MCL) taken out big time!!!! Bring them on!!!

By DLT

November 4, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this

If Woodland were going to the playoffs or if Woodland needed the game to go to the playoffs, thats one thing. But to play just for the “experience of participation is the epitomy of unsportsman like behavior. Maybe Woodland can put a 60 burger on them this time; that ought to be fun.

By Michael

November 4, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this

This is pathetic! If you think you might lose then just quit? Osborne should not be allowed to play football for 10 years.

By John

November 4, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this

Either play or immediately be banned from all athletic and extracurricular participation by students from Osborne High School for a year. Osborne knew it had a 10 game schedule when it agreed to region rules last year. This is a no brainer.

By Erkel

November 5, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this

Step back and look at the bigger picture…. The Osborne Coaches obviously didn’t prepare the team in pre-drills for there to be so many injuries to the starters. This game is obviously detrimental to the health of several young kids. GHSA needs to listen to the doctors of the injured kids to see if allowing the season to continue is best at this school. I agree, we played with 41 kids and most of us went both ways but injuries were few and far between. We were well prepared for 15 game seasons IF we could go that far. KIDS HEALTH comes first. Playing freshmen will only pad the recruiting tapes for some of the Woodland kids who have been getting kicked all season. BOOSTERS please pay the fine and get ready for spring drills!!!!!!!

By whatnow

November 5, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this

What?? A school wants to forfeit because they have a lot of injuries?? What pus*ies you guys must be. What the heck does that teach to the players? That because the have injuries and starters out that they should get sympathy? Screw that. Play the dam game like men or forfeit like the wussies you will be forever known for. Your freak’n coach must not have any b*lls.

By Ken

November 5, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this

Osborne knew they had to play. Releasing the players and disbanding the football team was irresponsible.

By Ijustdontknow

November 5, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this

For all of you lame people that are soooo worried about the kids getting “injured” then I say - why the hell are they playing football to start with. They ought to be playing bridge or leap-frog. You guys suck. Afraid of getting hurt? Then quit - otherwise, suck it up (or maybe that’s the real problem). WHIPS. And yes, I played HS and College football. Sounds like a bunch of pansies to me.

By Old HS Coach

November 5, 2008 1:22 AM | Link to this

If the coach of Woodland has any class, he’ll start the first-stringers and let them play til they score. Then the 2nd, 3rd & 4th stringers can get a chance to participate.

If I was coaching Woodland, I’d be playing a respectable game but not urging my guys to be overly-aggressive. It might be tough to avoid the temptation of running up the score, but it’s possible to manipulate your team to ensure they win by less than 30-40 points.

By Tom

November 5, 2008 1:39 AM | Link to this

This is a pointless game and Woodland looks like a bully for forcing it.

If Woodland wants to give the cheerleaders and band one more “experience”, they could host an event in place of the game… oh wait, nobody but their parents would show up. Yet, there will be plenty of people in the stands rapturing in the delight of beating up on an overmatched team.

Hey Woodland, while you’re at, take their lunch money and pants the freshmen.

By Joyoso

November 5, 2008 1:40 AM | Link to this

“Woodland officials “felt they were being denied a chance for their players, band and cheerleaders to have a participation experience.”

Um .. like the players, band and cheerleaders haven’t ALREADY had nine or ten “participation experiences” this season? Get real. Leave the small understaffed alone, big bad Woodland.

By davil

November 5, 2008 3:33 AM | Link to this

I bet Woodchips would want a forfeit if they had to play Lowndes, Northside/WR, Valdosta, Coffee, Tift or Westside/Macon. That would put the shoe on the other foot by being completely overmatched, wouldn’t it Woodchips?

By DawgFan

November 5, 2008 4:29 AM | Link to this

Fire the coach if he doesn’t do the right thing and resign. He will never win anywhere with this attitude. I am glad my son doesn’t play for him. Send him back to whatever pansy assed yankee school he came from.

By Nick

November 5, 2008 6:08 AM | Link to this

This is disgusting. This doesn’t appear to be a case of a small but spunky team being asked to tighten it up and play. This appears to be a team that through extraordinary injuries, is decimated and unable to compete. This is like watching a Chihuahua being gutted by a Pit Bull. I guess if that is your sort of thing, go ahead and play. I don’t think this is a lack of desire on the part of the kids (or at least it doesn’t sound like that) just some coaches making a measured decision to let the kids work on other projects. It sounds to me as though a few people rather enjoy the spectacle of beat downs. Something tells me these were kids that laughed at little kids being tortured when they were kids, or perhaps are the actual bullies doing the torturing.

By Donny Gillham

November 5, 2008 6:42 AM | Link to this

I watched the Osborne and South Paulding game last Friday as my son goes to South Paulding. I saw 4 players from Osborne leave the field injured that night. The ironic thing is that 37 years ago I played at South Cobb and dispised Osborne. Maybe it is age, but I actually felt sorry for Osborne. Maybe if some of you had a 14 or 15 year old son having to go up against 17 and 18 year olds who out weighed your son by 40 or 50 pounds you would think differently. It is about the safety of these kids. I think Woodland, their coaches and administration are just trying to inflate their over sized ego’s with another win in a game that really doesn’t matter. As a poster said above, why don’t you take their lunch money too. Just remember, what goes around comes around. Personally I hope Woodland gets destroyed on the field of play from here on out. Maybe they look up the words compassion and understanding and teach the kids what these words mean. However, it is hard to teach something you know nothing about.

By George

November 5, 2008 7:32 AM | Link to this

RALPH SWEARNGIN, NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AS DIRECTOR OF GHSA, ITS TIME FOR HIM TO MOVE ON. HE CONTROLS THE REINS IN ALL SPORTS FOR HIS BEST INTEREST IN MIND NOT THAT OF OUR STUDENTS. HE IS ON THE TAKE…HE HAS HIS OWN AGENDA WHICH IS BORDERLINE

By patty

November 5, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

Obviously many of you do not know a thing about Woodland. My son attends there and Woodland is a fairly new school with a sports program that has been struggling. We have had one winning season and this year the team seems to be on the right track. I think the coaching staff has the right to request the other team to play. No they are not bullies but for those of you who played football in high school how would you like for your last game to be a forfeit. I have always taught my kids to finish what they start and Osborne should do the same.

By RonJacRon

November 5, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Doesn’t a forfeit still count as a win therefore giving Woodland a “non-losing” season of 5-5. Or are the records for the individual players so important to play a non-team. I would have Osborne “dress-out” and shown up and let Woodland run up and down the field like a bunch of idiots so they can feed their egos and get their couple of individual records.Is this true sportsmanship? Even the players that Osborne has would be mostly playing positions they have never played before. Yes there is definitely more to this story.

By FootballMama

November 5, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

The problem is much bigger than it appears. It is happening in most school’s in Ga. The Coaches are playing the starters and not preparing underclassman for the the next season. I fault the Coach for not preparing his Freshman to play in a Varsity game. I also blame the parents for allowing it to happen all season. Woodland and Osbourn deserve to finish their season.

By Trojandude

November 5, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Wow… I’m really impressed with all of you tough-a*ed people that *Are Not going to be out on the field with Osburne Friday night. Sounds to me like you all are a bunch of frustrated Non Performers trying to once again live vicariously.

Would you want your favorite highschool team to go up against an average division 1 team? (All right, that’s a little dramatic, but not too dramatic.) Better yet, Would You. I very seriously doubt it. You’re far too red-neck-ignorant for much of anything except bluster.

If the Band and Cheerleaders want one more opportunitty to participate. Fine. Dress them out and let them play against Osborne this Friday.

By Greg

November 5, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

Where’s the line? If a coach thinks his team is outmatched by their upcoming opponent, they should forfeit? What if your star player is out? Allowed to forfeit? What if you’ve lost a lot of your seniors, and it’s a rebuilding year? Forfeit all of your games? What if you’ve lost all of your games so far, so you think it’s a lost cause? Forfeit?

The idea with school sports is to teach about life. If you run into difficulties in life, should you just give up and quit? NO! You keep working as hard as you can. That’s what these kids need to be taught.

By ;Ron

November 5, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

By ;Ron

November 5, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Sorry for the double post. Took 15 minutes for the 1st post to go through for some reason.

By Dave

November 5, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

My kids go to Woodland HS and are looking forward to thier last football game as high school students. This is not about winning it’s about a passage. The final game at this level. For most of these kids, it’s the last game they will ever play. Some remember the not so long ago past when Woodland was lucky to win a game. Every program goes through bad seasons. The good ones play through best they can and move on hopefully to a better season the next year. Play the game and see what happens. Did anyone at App. State say lets not play Michigan because we will loose any way?

By Bo

November 5, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

**Is this what High School sports has come down to? Who would get pleasure from taking the Varsity and beating up a group of 9th graders? Is this what we are trying to teach kids, the bully beats up the little kid next door? What every happen to sportmanship, respect and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What would God do? GHSA should step up and forfeit the game, Let Osborne pay $$$ the other school (Woodland) that puts winning above everything else. Like some schools pay other school to play them.

High School Sports= win at all COST…That Sucks!!!

By HPhil

November 5, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

The Osborne football players should play, it is good experiance even if they lose. However their football coach should not participate. He should be fired. No wonder they are bad.

By Will

November 5, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

I don’t think a lot of people understand how the football programs in Cobb work, it is a unique situation unlike any other area I can think of. Having coached in the Jr program at South Cobb HS for 7yrs, Cobb schools have a 6th,7th and 8th grade Jr program that teaches the kids the fundamentals of football and the system they will play in at the school in the district where they live. There also is a 9th grade and JV team at each school. If the kids that are on the team are not preparred to play, that is the head coaches fault. He should be replaced and the kids should have to play. Every thing that is learned by way of playing football will be lost by not playing the game.He is not sending the right message to the young men on the team by quitting.

By Osborne Fan

November 5, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

The whole reason Woodfield wants this game is to get the single season school rushing record for it’s running back Musa.

If I were Osborne’s coach I’d put a bounty on Musa’s knee.

By John

November 5, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Coach Jones and Principal Milleto both signed a contract to play each of their ten games. Copies ofthe contracts are filed with the GHSA.For them to blame Woodland or the GHSA for expecting Osborne to play the game is a very lame position to take.If Osborne should forfeit the game, they should expect to pay a fine for failure to fulfill a game contract. Also, the Osborne coaches should be expected to forfeit 1/10 of their coaches supplements if they too are not going to fulfill their teaching- coaching contracts.

By HeadEast

November 5, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

What happened to teaching responsibility? They can play, in accordance with the contract they signed, or they can stay home and pay the fine. It’s their choice. But just letting them out of their obligation sends a terrible message.

By Richard

November 5, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

I remember that about 10 to 15 years ago the Hapeville High School Hornets had only 14 players. During the season there were a couple of injuries and they ended up with 11 players for the final game of the season. They played the game, as they should, and never once wanted to cancel any games. They learned valuable lessons because they played all the games. In my book, those Hapeville Hornets were WINNERS though their record didn’t show it. Play the game!!!

By Greg

November 5, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

What do the Osborne players want to do?

By josh

November 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

i dnt think they should forfeit high school football because its a small town and its all football but when they forfeit they will hear about it

By Ashley

November 5, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Goodness gracious people, high school football is not this important! If the Osborne coaches see playing these freshman as a clear and present danger to their healthy and safety then they should pay the fine and move on. As a parent, I would not want my son to be on a team where beating an opponent 48-0 was a priority. I also would not want my freshman son playing against much larger upper classmen. That’s why there are freshmen and JV teams, people!

By WACO-FAN

November 5, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

i will say this if they got a jv team that have play all year then the kids should play because they should be ready to play fri night football like most of our jv players are……..if they didnt play jv ball this year they shouldnt…..and to who ever said not playn is denies the other team seniors and chance to play another high school game b real how long do u think the other team going 2 keep starters n after the first quarter being that the playoffs start next Friday!!!!!!!

By Coach Carden

November 5, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Fair? It’s not fair that any poor kid is forced to attend Osborne High School to begin with.

By fballfan

November 5, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Wow…this has gotten out of control…first of all there is no back at woodland named musa…secondly I know the players and coaches well…it isnt about winning it is about allowing the kids to play one last game…what do you tell the qb that has already lost 2 years due to injury? That he cant play in his final game this year too? Woodland is not about winning at all costs, believe me…they just wanted their seniors a chance to play and say goodbye and take the pads off for one last time, knowing it was their last time! It is an emotional experience and if you never played you wouldnt understand…I also know that the coach planed on playing only a couple seniors at a time mixed in with young kids…just so they could play and leave the field knowing it was the last time

By Will

November 5, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Coach C I agree, if Osborne had to use players from the Freshman team, where are the JV kids. Sounds like Osborne should forget about fielding a team. Any kid that wants to participate in football should look elsewhere or this could happen again next year.

By PedsRN

November 5, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

Ok people

From what I understand: The Osborne program has only 30 TOTAL players remaining which includes the Varsity, JV and 9th grade teams. This is not 30 Varsity players left!!!

It is not OK to pull kids up from a 9th grade team to play a varsity game. These kids were on the 9th grade team for a reason because they did not yet have the skills or ability to play at the next level. What the coach said was in order to have enough players to meet the varsity contract, he would have to pull these 9th grade team members up to the varsity level. This is not a safe thing to do.

Have we come so far that all that matters is playing the game? Many of us have heard the stories about Bear Bryant and the Death Valley camp!!! Is this what sports means to you? The truth is this is still JUST a GAME, not national security. The coach and principal decided that it was in the best interest of the young people not to play.

The update reports that Woodland has agreed to not play the game and accept the forfeit. FYI, this game was not even at Woodland which had its last home game already.

Hopefully we have learn more about supporting and caring for young people since the 1950’s. Sportsmanship includes understanding when to play and when not to play as well as how to play the game.

By Drago

November 5, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Osborne should man up and play the game. They are depriving their younger kids of the opportunity of starting as a freshman and playing in a competitive game. I guess Frank Merriwell won’t get to beat impossible odds here.

By Ashley

November 5, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

I just read a follow up where the Woodland coach admitted he wanted to play so one of his players might have a change to beat a school record. Now the truth comes out. All the other comments and rhetoric are false—no matter what the coach, administration or school says.

I will never, ever attend another Woodland game and will make sure everyone knows how they wanted to put high school football records above the safety and welfare of our kids.

See you all at the next Woodland PTSA meeting where the administration will hear my comments can be heard in person!

By AAAA Football

November 5, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

What kind of AAAA program has only 30 players Varsity, JV and 9th grade teams combined. What does this say about the program.

By fballfan

November 5, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

ashley

since i heard the interview what the coach actually said is it is tough to tell a senior that has worked so hard for 4 years and to be so close to a goal and not get the chance to get it…and actually the reporter asked him the question about the running back, he didnt even bring it up…he also said it is tough to tell your senior qb who has missed two full seasons with injury that he wont get a 10th game this year…but the paper writes it nice and short and how they want it…

By Brookwood Mom

November 5, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

I agree with Ashley 100%. Also, Do ANY of you remember what happened to the JV player that was injured last year playing against Buford. The poor kid is paralyzed for the REST OF HIS LIFE!! Football is a “manly man” sport - sure we ALL know that and I agree that the other 30 players should definitely have the opportunity to play. BUT I don’t think inexperienced 9th graders should be brought down to play a team that has been playing for possibly two or three years on Varsity. The risk of getting hurt or paralyzed for life is not worth it!

By Brookwood Mom

November 5, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

PS If Woodland wants to play a team so bad send them to GRAYSON. Grayson will play them!!!

By Raiderbeater

November 5, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Osborne gave up 50 points in one game….far from the worst in the state. They beat Murray County (Chatsworth) 36-0 this year….and had several 14-16 point losses this year (NOT GETTING BLOWN OUT 70 -0 every game like they imply). They were only shut out twice this year. This isn’t “dangerous” like you soccer moms imply….it’s just a bad football team giving up….because the school was always known better for basketball than football. The GHSA should pull Osbornes football program…worst that would have happened would be Woodland (yes, MIGHTY 4 win 6 loss WOODLAND) would have scored a few times and put in their JV /fresh.

OSBORNE COACHES = EPIC FAIL

By Steve

November 5, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

AT first, I sympathized with OPsborne, and I agree that there has to be more than has been told here.

But in my junior yeas at Monroe Area HS, we started with about 50 guys on the football roster, had guys get hurt left and right, and took the field for the last game of a 3-7 season with 19 healthy players. We kept Blue Cross and the local hospital in business the whole damn season, and we got massacred in the last 4 or 5 games in what is now Region 8-AAA, having to play powerhouses like Gainesville, Stephens County, East Hall, etc., BUT WE PLAYED ANYWAY!!

I can certainly sympathize with a coach trying to keep young kids from getting hurt, but the coach on the other sideline, if he’s worth his whistle, also knows to call off the dogs when the game’s a gimme.

I’ve seen teams go out night after night with no chance of winning (do we remember the Glascock County teams of the 80s and 90s??) BUT THEY WENT OUT AND GAVE IT THEIR BEST SHOT ANYWAY!!!

You want another example? Two words: Meadowcreek Mustangs. Meadowcreek gets pounded night after night, year in and year out, but those kids take the field, give it their all, and while losing (and often badly), can at least say that they NEVER phoned it in.

This was a horrible decision that has taught the kids involved that it’s okay ro roll over and play dead of you don’t want to lose a game on the field.. Shame on Osborne, and shame on the GHSA for going along with the forfeit.

By woodland student

November 5, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

I think this should not even be a question right now. Osborne should play! Seriously, what kind of message are they sending everyone? Aren’t sports all about overcoming adversity and all that good stuff. Get over it and play like men, don’t wuss out like babies.

Woodland’s desire to play this game has nothing to do with being bullies, getting records, or trying to embarass anyone. Can you imagine being a senior football player getting ready for your last game of the season and being told that you wont ever get to play again? That’s devastating. And all of you who laugh at the “experience” have obviously never participated in a high school sport. How would you feel if you were told you would never wear your uniform again? And for the fear of injuries.. You can’t live your life in fear of getting hurt. If you are so scared of “big bad Woodland” why did you play football to begin with? This is the first year Woodland is looking at a non-losing season. You may not realize it, but that means a lot to the school. Everyone is trying to bash Coach Hamilton and make him look a bad man and a bully. But I would like to thank him, he has turned this program around and the school is behind him 100% A few years ago this wouldn’t have mattered to anyone at Woodland. No one would have cared anything about our football team. Hamilton has given us something to believe in and stand behind. Now why would you take that away from the team and our school? That is being a selfish bully.

By Greenbrier Dad

November 5, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this

My son plays at Greenbrier near Augusta. We are also 1-8, only have 42 varsity players (remaining that are healthy) and are forced to play in 3AAAAA. We have 9 players out due to surgey etc and we got beat 64-6 by Stephenson Friday. It would be great if we could win but the kids have almost learned more about adversity, loyalty, shame, all the things they are going to face in life than they would if we were winning. Schools are in the education business and sometimes the best opportunity to learn is when you face insermountable tasks. You have to get up everyday and try. You can’t quit.

By Raider Fan

November 5, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

I haven’t read through all the post here so this may have already been suggested. If Osborne has to start 8 freshman why not just let both freshman teams play fri.? I think that would be a fair tradeoff. Both teams get to play their full schedule, the fans get to cheer for their team and noone has to be called a quiter.

By Woodland Mom

November 6, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

As a Mother of a Woodland football player for 3 years of being slaughtered by other teams. We remember 70-0 games and no one objected to that. One of our seniors has 50 yards to go to beat the school rushing record and the players were told Tuesday that if we made Osborne play they would take a knee on every play. Yeah sounds like fun. Coach Hamilton told Osborne he would play JV Freshman and 2nd string Varsity just to play the game. Sounds like a huge bully to me.

By Woodland Mom

November 6, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

We are having our game. We divided the team into 2 and are playing Friday night. It may not count towards our record, but the fans, the band and the school will be there to cheer our team on. Coach Hamilton is the best thing that happened to our football program and for anyone to say anything bad about him or his character doesn’t have a clue.

By Woodland Mom

November 6, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

To Ashley we don’t want you at the game. You are clueless and obviously do not have a child on the football team. The PTSA will laugh you out of the meeting if you try to say anything bad about Coach Hamilton.

By OSBORNE COMMUNITY RESIDENT

November 6, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

ALL OF YOU MAKING THE COMMENTS ABOUT OSBORNE QUITTING BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOSING?!?!? ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE?!?! OSBORNE DIDN’T WIN A GAME LAST YEAR!!! NEVER COMPLAINED! NEVER GRIPPED!! SO NOT PLAYING THE LAST GAME BECAUSE OF INJURIES IS NOT AN EXCUSE BUT A FACT!! THE COACHES AND THE PRINCIPAL ARE CARING MEN WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLAYERS SAFETY AND THEIR FUTURES. PLAYING FRESHMEN AGAINST VARSITY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THEIR BODIES AS WELL AS THEIR PSYCHE. I COMMEND THE COACH AND THE PRINCIPAL FOR THEIR STAND!!

By mara1809

November 6, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Im a senior at woodland and our guys are NOT studs if we have been getting wipped all season why wont they play us? All are guys wanna do is put on the pads, break some records and say good-bye to the game they know and love! Wouldnt you wanna do the same???? And the coaches are not being bullys they are just not going quit cuz our team never quit on them they are doing the right thing by fighting for there players i would never play for a coach who isnt going to stick by my side! And the whole paper interview is sooo one-sided they didnt even try to reach Dr. Sabin! He is in his office or reachable at all times ask anyone who goes to woodland or try yourself!!!!!

By dave

November 10, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

can a team bring as many players to playoff game or is there a limit on number they can bring?

By Sugur

November 10, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this

The coach and princial made a wise decision. I love football but I would never in any way, shape or fashion have some 13 and 14 year old battle some juniors and seniors on a varsity level. If the little 9th grader get his dam neck broke, you same fans talking about pride and what kind of lesson are they learning are going to be saying DAM! that a shame. Safe than sorry! The kids are not stupid, what if it were your kid out there and he received a serious injury? You would be ready to sue the school and the school district.

By J HARRIS

November 15, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

“What! Forfeit Request! Sounds like a QUIITER to ME!!!” What a chance to give those kids some experience that OHS desperatly needed! As a OHS graduate, I’m so tired of these 0-10 and 1-9 seasons. I went to 1 game this year. What a joke. There was NO Coaching. Now for me to find out the “COACH IS A QUITTER” is no Surprise to me! Darker days are ahaed I’m afraid until Some Serious Moves are made at OSBORNE!!! “I’m ASHAMED” and the Coach should simply Go Away. Try Milford, maybe they could use you as a waterboy!

By Tummy Tuck

January 6, 2009 3:59 AM | Link to this

Really well written!

By Liposuction

January 6, 2009 1:27 PM | Link to this

How is that relevant?