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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2001
Editor: It's a shame that seven senior football players made the choice to quit on their teammates and coaches for 15 minutes of a halftime homecoming activity. This halftime activity will consist of having their names announced and walking across the football field. I cannot understand why these young men would choose to end their football careers two games early, and on a sour note, for 15 minutes of hand waving to the crowd.
Yes, homecoming is a big deal for all students. It is something which will always be remembered. But I also believe it is an honor for members of the football team to take the field on homecomimg weekend and be victorious!
I agree totally that these students should have the right to make their own choices, but the excuses they gave were cowardly. Coach Keith Newton has done nothing but good things for this football program. When he first became head coach, he had all of 19 players on the team. Now he has 34. If players are looking for scholarships, he is willing to not only point them in the right direction but also make phone calls on their behalf.
A coach can only do so much; once the players step on the field or court, they have to do the performing. As the individual who films varsity games, I know (like most of the players and coaches) that this team should be at least 4-4, but I have never seen one of our coaches miss a tackle, fumble the ball or drop a passed ball.
Having four players, including one senior, in my classes throughout the day, I have never heard one player talk about being unhappy or "not having fun anymore," and believe me, I hear a lot of athletes talking.
In the article, you failed to mention the 14 seniors who chose to stay with their teammates and coaching staff. Those 14 seniors should be commended for following through with the commitment to play football at Gulf High. They all know going into this season what the policies of this program are, and by committing to this team, they know of sacrifices which would have to be made.
By the way, parents of one of the seniors who chose to quit called the school and expressed their total support of the administration, the football program and its policies.
-- Shari Schau, varsity volleyball coach Gulf High School
Editor: The reason Gulf High School of New Port Richey will never have a winning season in football is because the administration and athletic department never really show any support for their players.
They treat the high school football players like parts on a conveyor belt, never like young, impressionable adults.
For example, this year four senior football players were nominated as part of the homecoming court, but because the school announces the king and queen during halftime, these players are not allowed to participate in this event. Instead of being able to share this once-in-a-lifetime recognition with the rest of the court, they must sit in the locker room with the rest of the team and have proxies fill in for them.
When the players asked why they couldn't attend these activities, the head coach and administration gave no rational reason, but they made it clear that they were not allowed to attend this part of the homecoming program.
The players and their parents further asked what would happen if the young men went ahead and participated in the halftime event, and they were told there would be disciplinary action taken and immediate removal from the team during that game.
-- So instead of encouraging a player to be proud of himself and his team and congratulating him for achieving this honor from his fellow classmates, the school criticizes and threatens the players.
The seven quitting players decided to quit Oct. 23 instead of waiting until Friday night. Even though quitting the team on homecoming night would have made a bigger statement for them, they quit on Tuesday to allow the remaining players and assistant coaches to make adjustments for Friday night's game and prepare to play without the missing seven starters.
This shows that those seven players still have the team at heart. They just do not want miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of a very narrow-minded school administration and head coach.
It is a shame that a school that prides itself in teaching young adults to be independent thinkers and to work hard to make changes to improve society doesn't require its administration or head coach to live by these same standards.
Richard O. Emmons, New Port Richey
Editor: At the end of this month a page in history will be closed on Pasco County roads with the retirement of the longest-serving member of the Paving Assessment Department for Pasco County.
Jackie Cortis has served the residents of Pasco County well over her tenure, and as such deserves some kind of public recognition for her dedication, excellence and service. Mrs. Cortis diligently handled complaints, the putting together of massive projects, and saw to it that the work reached its ultimate end of success.
I had the distinct pleasure of working with Mrs. Cortis from November 1996 to June 2000, and all I can say is I wished I had the good fortune to work with people like her again. She has been instrumental in getting paperwork walked through and preparing official documents for the Board of County Commissioners' consideration.
This week Mrs. Cortis was given a plaque from the county for her service, but I think she deserves much more than that. If there was ever anyone who ever gave all, unselfishly and without complaint, it's Jackie.
-- David L. Brown, former paving assessment engineerHudson, Mich.
Editor: Ever since the attacks of Sept. 11, I have seen patriotism grow in New Port Richey. But there is one store, the Auto Zone at 4448 Grand Blvd., that has an American flag draped in its window backward.
I have phoned and visited to show them flag etiquette and have even e-mailed their corporate offices, only to be ignored. Having a grandfather who was killed in World War II and myself serving in the Air Force, I am very proud to live here in America, and I am offended that a business would ignore me and keep hanging our flag backward. It is an insult to all who have served this great country.
-- Jean Keeven, New Port Richey