I have not made a post about it until now because I was on vacation without my computer on me when the news broke. I did not feel that it was necessary for me to bring something like this and keep up with my computer (along with all my other electronic toys I have) for 9 days.
Anyways, I have heard a number of Ex-Charger Athletes bring their stories out including Erika Sisk and Hunter and Hayden Stewart through a Facebook page supporting Perkins (link to page below):
| I can see why it would bring a bad taste - he has led the Chargers to 4 State Titles in 4 years - only Coach Nash can also say that here in Oxford. Everyone has been wanting to know more reasons as to why he was forced to leave his post more than just "personal matters" the Oxford Eagle reported when it happened. |
While that is farfetched to say the least, it would not be out of the question. However, like a lot of people on here, many think it is not the reason.
According to their Facebook page, a few select "power-hungry" parents forced the hand of the Oxford Athletics / Booster Club to make this decision. They have also cited their reasons being that some players did not get any playing time or their kid did not make the team. Here is the list with their phone numbers & e-mail addresses if you wish to contact the Booster Club executive members via this link.
IF that happens to be the case, that is pretty low. Low enough to make me rant about this for the next few paragraphs. I would advise you if a comment is made in this website regarding this situation, it goes straight to my e-mail before it gets approved on this site - I just have a hunch because of the number of people following me on Twitter could just say a few magic words....
These select parents should be ashamed to run a coach out of not one but two systems he was involved in. This is not recreational sports teams they are trying to make the team in. These are HIGH SCHOOL teams - especially to soccer as there is no Middle School team. Most Middle School teams for those that make the team does have those that have everyone play at least some portion of the game. In High School, those teams play for district/region Championships and then the ultimate goal of a State Championship.
If these parents honestly believe that their kid is going to get playing time in a game like they have in the past with associations like the Oxford Park Commission to which their goal is to have everyone play and have fun, a really rude awakening is about to slap them in the face. High School coaches in ALL sports are out there to win games and win a state championship while making sure their kids are taken care for and not putting them in any danger physically or mentally. The biggest reason why we have Junior Varsity (JV) games is for those that sit on the bench the entire game in a game that is worth something, they get to play and learn to get better.
There are reasons why coaches have tryouts - to pick out the best players and make a team out of them. If EVERYONE were to make the team, there would not be any tryouts, just sign up and you are on. The two biggest arguments coaches always seem to have is with this: "Why did my son/daughter not make the team?" and "Why is my son not getting any playing time?". The answer is simple: THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
Hard to hear but it is true, they cannot take EVERYone, only so many fit on a bus. I've tried out twice to make the Middle School Basketball team during my 7th and 8th Grade years. I made the first cut both times but not the second and final cut. Sure I whined about it an hour or so after finding out but knew why I didn't make it as did my parents: I wasn't good enough.
If they are not getting playing time, likely it is because they aren't good enough to put them out there and keep them there in a real game or because they may have done something in practice or in the classroom to be benched, not because the coach hates the person.
Perkins was never that way, I know it. I've already seen several stories about what all he has done in the student's lives so far. He has his own kids that he treats the same way if not better. I refereed those in soccer and while they are out there, it is almost like he is coaching the Oxford soccer team again telling his daughter to score.
I know this, somebody needs to come out and explain why. If Perkins explains it, he would certainly tell them to keep quiet and not have someone like me put up a blog about it or post it on my Twitter account if it really is personal. I know it wasn't Athletic Director Johnny Hill's decision - because it would be the pink slip, but Perkins resigned (which is completely different) with many believing it was forced. If the parents that are gleefully happy made him force his resignation, they need to come out and explain WHY. I doubt it was the Oxford School Board because that would undermine Hill's position as the AD to control Athletics. If it was the Booster Club forcing the issue - well, I'm sure I will be told otherwise.
What I do know and I'm sure everyone else knows, this is a really odd situation for Perkins to just leave after all the success he has brought to Oxford High School - especially after coming from New Hope. Whatever it'd be public or private, the students involved deserve an explanation as to why he left his post after winning 4 titles in 4 years in 2 different sports.