Coaches’ actions praised
In response to Barry Faulkner’s football article entitled, “Victory
Without Honor,” published in the Pilot on Tuesday, Oct. 21, I would
like to reiterate my agreement with his message, that sometimes it is
the coaches who, “drop the ball when it matters most.”
Our family has had two sons play in football at our local high
school, Newport Harbor. The lessons they have learned about
sportsmanship, honor and teamwork are the most important elements of
a high school athletic program.
It is important and appropriate to bring to your attention the
actions of coaches who were honorable, and as witnessed by the entire
team, will have a lasting impact on our boys.
Coach Joe Urban and his freshmen football coaching staff -- Joe
Urban Jr., Bryan Breland, Donnie Cullen, Garrett Govaars and Matt
Riggle -- showed remarkable restraint and grace under pressure
Thursday when anger erupted at the close of the freshman football
game at Aliso Niguel. It is a bit uncomfortable to celebrate a
victory in front of an Aliso coach, yelling and striding purposefully
toward Coach Urban and the entire team.
The enraged Aliso coach was restrained by his fellow coaches but
he made no less than four attempts to engage Coach Urban in a fight,
including cursing and challenging him to, “bring it on.” This last
foray was made as the boys were gathering to get on the buses and
attempting to store their gear in the back of the bus.
Many of the parents attending the game were concerned for the
team’s safety. I would like to commend the actions of the Newport
coaches who refused to engage in this kind of irrational behavior. In
addition, I would like to praise the other Aliso coaches who
physically and verbally restrained their coach and kept the Aliso
team on the field so that the Newport team could depart in safety.
I watched the coaches contain themselves Thursday in the face of
enormous pressure. Lesser men might have lost perspective and fought
back. I was reminded of the irony of the situation. It is important
for our boys to stay tough and fight on the field. It is just as
vital that they learn to confine their aggression to that venue. The
coaches taught a lesson by their behavior Thursday that none of us
who witnessed it will ever forget. We are proud to have our sons
being trained by men of this caliber. Thank you coaches for not,
“dropping the ball when it matters most.”
Sandra W. Skahen
Newport Beach
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