Sideline View

By Sherron Jones Hill

July 14, 2009 12:08 PM | Link to this

I am an Alum of Longview High. I have attened very few athletic events over the past 20 years, but I have kept up with their record and would attend a few match-ups between Longview vs Lufkin. I think my contribution about Coach Jones will be from a different aspect. I was not an athlete, but I knew many that were. I think Coaching is just one small aspect of the the person that he is; although I feel he is a Great Coach, he is so much more than that. He is the one that you remember after 20 years of being away. The impact that he had on my life as a student, I will never forget. He was easy to talk to; he was firm but fair; he was a man of integrity and we could count on him to do what he said he would do, whether we liked it or not…lol, I did not appreciate it then; as a stubburn, hard-headed teen; but over the years, his leadership has been a standard to which I measure coaches, teachers and men in general. I totally disagree with the decision to reassign Coach Jones. Colleges are not just looking for good athletes, they are also looking for good people. We have seen many times where talented athletes do not go to the next level becasue they lack the discipline, self-control and leadership that is required to be successful. Coach Jones developes these characteristics in young student athletes, and that is PRICELESS!!

Coach,we sure can use a Great Coach in the Houston Area if you ever think about relocating; you can coach my son any day!!

By Syamoria Williams

July 9, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this

With all due respect to the LISD school board officials and LISD faculty, I must say that I was very disappointed to hear that one of the faithful LOBO leaders with such an outstanding legend has been demoted. I think that it is safe to say that I can speak for many who had a privilege to have Coach Jones as a coach or teacher. Coach Jones has proven through dedication and inspiration on and off the field what leaders are made of. His winning legacy at Longview High is a small portion of the type of coach/teacher and person that Coach Jones is. I am sure that it is safe to say that teaching and coaching teenagers can be a great challenge alone due to the day to day things that teens deal with among their peers. So, when you come across a coach like Coach Jones who cares if you are passing in classes, who cares if you are getting in trouble, who cares if you are not demonstrating what the student or athlete should be, or who simply cares about all Lobo’s it’s hard to stand still or stay quiet when you truly understand that he’s a person that commits toward making a difference. It is obvious that his heart is truly dedicated to the LOBO programs which include the academic and the athletic aspects. I really don’t feel that the chosen people who made this decision took into consideration the relentless hours that Coach Jones dedicated to numerous of students and athletes during some of the most trying times of their lives. When many teachers, coaches, principles, and faculty where not available, you would likely find Coach Jones still at work encouraging students toward making a better choice or decision that otherwise could have resulted into a fatal blow for the student. If this isn’t a proven leader that commits to the LOBO program then what really is defined as a leader or head coach for the Longview Lobo’s? I just have to ask if there truly has ever been a support system beyond the community, students, and some faculty for the one coach who has given many students and athletes in LISD support over the countless number of years.

Coach Jones can be greatly compared to one of the greatest coaches of all times, Phil Jackson. Like Phil, Curtis has also driven his team to countless victories and helped create great players on and off the field. They also both have another common denominator, the fact that not every year is a title season but they have the ability to motivate athletes when they’re down and push them into a victory beyond what is imaginable. This doesn’t mean that you win each game, each race, or bring home every title but as a leader you keep going and push yourself beyond the adversity while guiding those among you. I could continue to go on and on raving about the type of person, the type of teacher, and type of coach that Coach Jones is and has always been but in all reality, there just isn’t that much time to put into words what type of LOBO ICON, Coach Jones truly is. Please reconsider this decision and not allow it to become a final choice. Coach Jones has EARNED the title of Head Coach and should be given the opportunity to continue this role and move pass the adversities of this time.

P.S. Somehow today it troubles me to know that our mascot is the LOBO and we are all considered Lobo’s, yet many are willing to demote a true leader of the pack, Coach Curtis Jones.

Syamoria Williams

By Miss C.

July 6, 2009 6:14 PM | Link to this

First of all I think you Mr. Bryce have no knowledge of what your talking about. As far as there needing to be a change in coaches, how many track booster club meetings did you attend and how many track events did you support. As far as track what do you know about the sport and did you even run track? How many local, district, regional, or state titles did you claim. Can you even break down the components of the sports. The pros and cons of strectching correctly versus incorrect strecthing. Can you even explain what it takes to make it to state. You probably wasnt even a key factor. As far as I’m concerned coach Jones was and is a great coach. Not only was he a coach on the track he was off the track as well. He was not only concerned with you as a runner but as an individual also. I can say that he went above and beyond what most coaches would do. How many coaches you know would pick up and take their athletes to and from practice. Give that athlete advice on how to make it in school and how to make it beyond college. You say all because of what reason. You talking about supporting coach collins and the administrators. Since Pat Collins has been at LHS how many cross country or track meets has he been to? I bet you didnt know the countless amount of times it was requested for a new track. Since they didnt think that was importannt for the success of the track team. Me personally I wouldnt run let alone walk on that track. The track is so run down that you can go along the edges of the track pick it up and put your hand or foot under it. There are holes in the track and there are black patches in the track. Instead of them replacing the track they patched up the track and didnt have since enough to put the same color. You talking about you addressed the issue of new uniforms and him getting parents involved. Well if you somehow forgot that most of the guys that ran track played football and their parents were involved in that sport so it has nothing to do with the issuse of what your talking about. As far as the track meets and the times go the coaches have no control over what time the runners run. Simply because when they get there they have coaches meetings and the school hosting it will be the ones to run the track meet and determine the start times for each event. So before you say that get the facts straight. I agree with Micahel I assume that all other coaches will be getting fired or reassigned due to not going to state or winning distirct titles. The main sport that everyone highly has something to say postive about shouldve won state one countless amount of times since King has been there but no reaasignment has been done. So with all that being said I think pat needs to be reaasigned. Why come he wasnt reassigned. What did the football team do when he was head coach. No this isnt about a black or white thing but it has to do with treating someone fairly. Has coach Jones ever been written up or even reprimanded or even been brought in to discuss the better success of the track team? Maybe you Bryce are saying all of this because of the issue you had with the head coach.

By Bryce

June 30, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this

I stand behind my previous comment. As for what Coach Jones did ten years ago,twenty years ago or five years ago, he may have been a Coach with concerns for his athletes back then and he may have participated in the community in other ways back then. But a person must really look at what has taken place as of lately. We did have some athletes to make it out of district and onto Regionals but we could have so many more. I will not address the hurt you feel for Coach Jones firing because I’m not you. But I will ask if you were you involved with the Track Program or its Booster Club this past year or the past four years? Did you attend the practices? Did you travel to support the Lobos Track Team to the various meets to know what the parents went thru in order to know what event or events their child will be running or competing in? To know the starting time and place of the meets and what communication took place with the parents. Do you know what parents and supporters of the Lobos Track has gone thru these past years? The need for uniforms and the need for a working Booster Club because the school is not footing the bill for everything that most people thinks they are doing for the Football Program. So, before you go and Protest, I strongly advise you to speak to both sides first and I personally will welcome an invitation to speak on this matter before you go and Protest. Before this happened, going back two or three years ago. I suggested to Coach Jones to get the parents involved to addrsss some of the problems that he was having. Establish a working Booster Club and take himself out of the line of fire by getting parents (voices in numbers) to address the various issues at hand, such as the need for funds, uniforms, a female coach, experience track coaches, etc. But deaf ears wasn’t listening. Finally, I agree that this is not a Race issue but a time to move forward with improved technics of training, communications, leadership and delication to the Program.

“A winner is someone who sets their goals, commits themselves to those goals and then pursues their goals with all the ability that is given to them.

That requires someone who believes in themselves, who will make self sacrifices, work hard, and maintain the determination to perform at the best of their ability.”

By Michael

June 30, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

I have known Coach Jones for at least 30 years, back when I was a student at Forest Park and he was the head coach as well as when I went to LHS. He always put the students and academics first, using himself as an example that you’re not going to get by in the world with your athletic talent (missing the cut for the Falcons) and you need an education. He didn’t put up with much BS. I think of him often and the positive impact he had on my life for the short time I was around him. Jones obviously knows how to get people to excel at the state, national, and pro levels as demonstrated by the graduates of the Longview program but, like all coaches, management or the owner has decided they have somehow become stupid overnight.

Does anyone ever judge it by the talent level and realize you can’t go to state each and every year?

I agree with the previous poster - it’s not a white or black thing and I am as lilly white as they come - if going to and or winning state is the yardstick to be measured, I guess the football, basketball, golf, swim, debate, math club, academic decathalon, and cosmetology sponsors and teachers will be fired next? If we don’t have any National Merit finalists next year, does that mean the principal and superintendent are next to go?

By Someone Who Knows

June 25, 2009 10:33 PM | Link to this

Before protests are formed, get informed.

By FRED THOMPSON

June 25, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this

Read The Article on COACH CURTIS JONES Being Fired, and I have several questions, with the first one being since WHEN DOES NOT GETTING YOUR TEAM TO STATE BECOME THE MEASURING STICK FOR A COACH TO MAINTAIN HIS POSITION IN LHS ?I DON’T REMMBER COLLINS EVER WINNING THE DISTRICT DO YOU? If You review his RECORD, Coach Jones HAS HAD MORE STATE CHAMPIONS SINCE 1989 THAN ANY COACH WITH LISD. His Firing Really Hurts The Black Community ,Because You Are Showing A FATHER FIGURE, who often GETS INVOLVED WITH YOUNG MEN AFTER PRACTICE AND HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES, THAT DESPITE ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, WE ARE GOING TO REWARD YOU BY FIRING YOU. THIS LETTER IS NOT ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE IT’S ABOUT BEING FAIR; look at the football teams we had over the past years: NO STATE CHAMPIONS, BUT NO FIRINGS (I WONDER WHY ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT 2004 GAME TO LUFKIN AND THE 2005 GAME TO SOUTH GARLAND.)This is not About black and white because I love COACH KING(HE IS A FRIEND AND WE PLAYED TOGETHER AT NORTHWESTERN) AND LOBO FOOTBALL.This is about being treated fairly. My life has been influenced tremendously by Coach Jones and I recommend that he be given the chance to continue to influence the lives of other young men both on and off the field as the track coach at LHS. I’m sure LHS administrators and staff share in the sentiment that too few African American teachers, especially males, are at our student’s disposal, so I strongly encourage the administration to not have a hand in this troubling trend. WE ARE PLANNING A PROTEST SOON. I PUT THE SAME LETTER ON LOBO .COM AND I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CHAGING OF NAMES SO PEOPLE CAN GET POSITIONS.AND BRYCE DID YOU THINK THEY NEED A COACHING CHANGE DURING FOOTBALL SEASON.

By ronnie

June 25, 2009 6:40 AM | Link to this

Coach Little will be sorely missed, Lobos have won many a game due to Coach Little’s work with the athletes in the weight room. Bottom line his enthusiasm on the sidelines during football season showed his love for his athletes and their hard work with his help paid many dividends. Thanks Coach.

By Bryce

June 24, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this

Coach Little will be missed and I wish him much success with his new school. As for the Track program (Coach change). Thanks to Coach Collins and the administration staff for recognizing the need for a change with the Track coaching staff; and selecting Coach Clay who is interested in the athletes, takes pride with his work, will give his best efforts to re-build the Lobos Track program. Coach Clay ran Summer Track in Dallas and recognizes the need for Summer Track Clubs (USA Track & Field clubs/ East Texas Track Club or AAU) just like High Schools developed seven on seven football during the summer and basketball plays year round ball. The need to put more timeand effort into your program along with attending Coaches clinics/classes (USATF Advanced Caoches Classes) and to communicate with the parents of the students in your program is mandatory to be successful. In closing, I asked for all of those past Lobos runners or graduates of LHS to support Coach Clay and the Lobos Track Program just as we support the Football, Baseball and Basketball programs. How? By giving back to those who are following in your footsteps of a program that you have so much pride and tradition. So please start today by supporting the Track Booster Club by becoming a member (small membership fee) and giving a little of your time by atttending the meetings.

Thanks,