Posted: 10/12/07
NB football players defend program
 Aaron Barriger was one of three North Branch varsity football players to address the School Board on Oct. 11. He said "this is the funnest season I have ever had, and the best coach I have ever had." The board has put together a football advisory committee to study ways to improve the program. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
Almost 20 members of the North Branch varsity football team called an audible Thursday night, showing up at the school board meeting to address criticism of their season, their performance, and their coach. The squad, coaching staff, and school administration have been under fire from the community this season due to an 0-6 win/loss record in which the team has been outscored by over 500 points.
"It takes a lot of heart to go out and get killed every night," said senior Alex Sundly during public comment, who put some of the responsibility for the team's tough season on roster depth. "There is a lack of depth and a lack of size and strength," he said, and also noted some players don't work hard enough in the offseason. Sundly was also very clear on where he felt criticism had been unjustly leveled; the coaching staff. "These coaches are some of the most dedicated I have ever seen," he said.
Senior Dillon Kost seconded that sentiment, saying, "It's not easy to be a coach of a team like this." He also said that the team's struggles over the last few years have kept student athletes from trying out for the team. "It's hard to get kids to come out for the team if we're not winning," he said, and added that a team captain from last year elected not to play this year and some players quit after the season's start, further eroding team depth.
Another player, Aaron Barriger, told the school board that, despite the team's struggles, "this is the funnest season I have ever had, and the best coach (head coach Dave Eyre) I have ever had."
But there is some controversy surrounding the team's address to the school board. The team had planned to read a letter to the board, and even brought multiple copies to distribute to board members. Before the meeting, team captains told the Post Review that they were there specifically to read the letter. But, although the letter was given to board members, it was never read.
A parent present at the meeting who wished to remain anonymous said on Friday morning that the boys were prevented from reading the letter by a board member because they felt the letter was too negative in nature.
But the letter itself, written by Kost, was not much different than what players said out loud, although it did address some criticisms of the program more directly. "After the big loss against Spring Lake Park, he (Eyre) received comments by various people of the community, school board, and other individuals such as parents, lead him to believe his stay as the North Branch Vikings' football coach might be a little more shortened than he would like it to be.
"The comments consisted of the team has no heart, we hit too much in practice (which is supposedly why we have so many injuries)..."
School responds to letter issue
The district was made aware of concerns the students were not allowed to read the letter in public, as well as other concerns raised in the wake of the Oct. 11 meeting.
In an official statement released early Friday afternoon, the district addressed the letter, and indicated that it was District Superintendent Deb Henton, not a school board member, that spoke with the football players about the letter prior to the meeting. In response to the accusation the boys were barred from reading it, the district had this to say: "In speaking with the football captains prior to the meeting, the superintendent told the football captains that while they were welcome to read the letter during open microphone, she encouraged them to speak positively about the football program overall and in support of their coach. She also informed the captains that she intended to speak about the program in a positive tone during her superintendent's report that evening."
Henton assured the athletes at that time that she would distribute the letter to board members.
More on tough season
In a pre-meeting interview with the Post Review, football players present for the meeting pointed to their extremely tough schedule. Three of their opponents are ranked in the top 10, division 4A, including Benilde - St. Margaret's (9), Spring Lake Park (1), and Totino Grace (2), by Minnesotapreps.com, and Irondale joins those three squads in being ranked in the top 16 statewide by Maxpreps.com. With Chisago Lakes considered "one to watch" by Minnesotapreps.com, five of the Vikings' eight 2007 opponents are on the radar for state tournament play.
Henton addressed the brewing football controversy before public comment, noting for the record that the district is "delighted" to be a part of the North Suburban Conference, and added that winning isn't everything. "Academically, in our conference we are standouts," she said, adding that the academic statistic is the most important of all.
Henton also said she felt the program was moving forward in a positive direction with the formation of a football advisory committee, and added that no one wanted to see the team win more than her. "I'm very competitive. I would like to see us in the playoffs," she said and acknowledged it is a lofty goal.
Following public comment, Board Vice Chair Jeanne Walz addressed the players. "I am very sorry you feel that the community is not behind you. Everyone here is behind you, and we're deeply proud of you."
Moving forward
School Board Director Kirby Ekstrom was chosen to represent the board on the football advisory committee, which will also include representatives of district administration, high school and middle school coaching staff, parents, and youth programs. The committee will meet four times starting in November and create an "action plan" for the future of the program.
Look for more on this story in next week's print edition of the Post Review.
Comment from Don Heinzman, 10/16/07
Patrick,
Thanks for posting this story. This is an excellent account of how a community can get embroiled in the record of its football team.
You went the extra mile and shared with your readers the letter that wasn't read and the superintendent's role in it.
Don Heinzman
Comment from Kathy Fahrion, 10/16/07
A town should not be defined by the record of its sports teams, but by how the community treats the young people on the team. Please show respect to all young people who take part in all school, community, or church activities that develop strength of character and empathy for others.
It is just a game. Do not treat it or the people involved as if they are responsible for the life or death of a community's ill served pride.
Comment from Aaron Barriger, 10/16/07
If anyone has a question concerning the football team or this article give me a call.
Comment from Todd Hoffbeck, 10/25/07
The division we are in needs some tweaking. Hopefully for the better, don't put Cretin in the same division. To all the players, great job. The coaches have done a great job teaching you to be proud of what you have done. Don't hang your head just because of a W/L record, keep your head up. People can judge the coaches by the record of the season, or by what the kids have learned through the season.
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