Fans always expect you to win and that is why fan is short for fanatic. But there are certain ways to go about things, especially at the high school level.
Shelby is a football town and that is not a newsflash, everyone knows that. And yes, I even knew that “Old McDonald” was a bad speller and that when a tree falls in the forest and no one is around it does make a sound.
The Whippets had a new coach this season in former player Erik Will. It was a season of disappointments for Shelby and they ended it with just a 1-9 record. However, this reporter believes that the hiring of Will was a good choice and the program is heading in the right direction. Okay, I know last year they were 2-8, but when you are trying to turn a program around after a couple bad seasons it’s not all about wins and losses.
First, the Whippets lost their starting quarterback for the season on the last scrimmage of the year and found it difficult all season to find any kind of rhythm. However, Will did not use that as an excuse when addressing the media about his team. He, instead, kept trying new things to get his offense going, including different quarterbacks and combinations at running back to try and find the answers.
Plus, he was straight forward when talking about the struggles of his team and did not create high expectations when he knew they would probably be left unfulfilled. He did not drill his players in the public, but was more likely to accept any blame himself and when he did talk about the lack of execution he did not do in a negative way.
I know that Shelby very much wants to return to the days when they were winning or at least challenging for the Northern Ohio League title and with Will I believe they are headed in that direction. However, one thing that is needed more than anything is talent and that’s what Shelby needs the most.
That may be coming too.
This year’s eighth grade was unbeaten and they were undefeated as seventh graders too. They were unbeaten in basketball last year and they also won a state championship in little league baseball. Keep in mind it can be difficult for a freshman, or a group of freshmen, to make an immediate impact at the varsity level, but I believe these kids are going to be given a chance to do just that.
I hope the Shelby Board of Education and the school administration give Will a chance too because I think if they do they will be rewarded in the long run. That may not necessarily come next year, but it will eventually. I have seen plenty of good coaches and bad coaches come in go in my time covering high school athletic over the last 25 years and I think Shelby has a good one.
