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SPORTS INSIGHT: Change isn’t always the answer
Daniel Elizondo, Sports Editor - Wednesday, November 04, 2009

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Ahhh…high school football.

You’ve got to love the game. A genuine sport with high school athletes that give it their all to be the best.

And only a select few become good enough to expand on that, to go on to play on the collegiate level. And if you are even better, you move on to the pro level.

That’s just the point.

High school football is a learning tool. Not only to become a better football player, but it goes even further. It expands boys to men. They take these lessons and mold them into their adult lives.
Discipline, character, responsibility, pain and success – these are just a few.

Sure there are gifted athletes that expand on their talents and move on to a new level, but for most, it ends after their senior year.

High school football is a give or take sport. You give it your best after you take what you have.
The life of a high school coach is not easy by any means. Only a parent that has been a coach or is a coach knows just what it’s like. When you are given athletes that wish to play on Friday night, you do the best to make that team win.

Pleasanton has had a rich tradition in football for many years. And even though the last two seasons have not been like many would like, that tradition still exists. Some may not see it and may even wish to not see it.

A high school football historian that I know who lives in North Texas has compiled lots of information about high school football. Records, coaches, etc.

He emailed six coaches that have the longest tenure in the state and currently remain as head coaches. They include Bob Shelton of Buda Hays (42 seasons), Eddy Peach of Arlington Lamar (40 seasons), Curtis Barbay of Newton (35 seasons), Alan Sepkowitz of El Paso Andress (34 seasons), Don Brooks of El Paso Coronado (33 seasons) and Joe G. Cartwright of Boyd (33 seasons).

If a phone call to each of these coaches was made and the same question was asked, “is every season going to be successful,” the same answer could be heard. It’s pretty obvious what that answer is.

And that’s just what high school football is. You take what you get and make the best of it.

Pleasanton has been lucky to hold long tenured coaches, a part of the reason for the rich tradition.

Large metal green signs shaped like footballs hanging around the track at Eagle Stadium attest to that. Since 1944, Pleasanton has gone to the playoffs 21 seasons.

Currently Tab Dumont is in his 12th season as head coach, matching that of the longest tenured Pleasanton coaches. Hank Kotzur, who coached for two seasons (1980-81) before leaving and then returning for 10 seasons from 1988-1997 was the longest.

Dumont became head coach in 1998 after Kotzur accepted the single role of athletic director.

He has taken Pleasanton to eight playoff appearances including one state semifinals appearance, the first time in Pleasanton history.

Each and every year, a new crop of parents come up and feel that a head coach isn’t doing the right thing and changes need to be made.

That is a natural instinct.

Though the Pleasanton Eagles are having a bad season, these young men did not quit and gave all they could through the season.

Like any coach that has to endure a season like this, it hurts to not win. Just like the young athletes hurt. But the coaches know that these are lessons learned and this will make them better adults.

12 seasons at one school is a long time. A 77-57 record is good to go along with that. And with a little patience, this time will pass and the playoffs will be back in Pleasanton. But if the need is to change then so be it.

Even if things turn ugly and change is made – always remember, you take what you get. It may not get better. This is high school football.