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PA Football Opinion - Joe DeRubis ...
PFN: What do you think we can do to make high school football more attractive to students, parents and coaches?
I also feel that the playoffs are nothing more than a money generating vehicle for the P.I.A.A. That is the way I feel about it!
DeRubis: I don't know what we can do to make football more attractive. To be honest with you, I would like to propose making it less attractive!
PFN: Two years .go, Central Cambria advanced to the Western final and came within a few seconds of advancing to the state championship game. The entire school and the community seemed to be brought together to share in the excitement of this outstanding season. Wasn't that a positive thing for the school and community?
DeRubis: Well, we have sports all year for the avid fan, if they are truly interested. We are not here for the fans anyway. Are we running these programs for the fan and parents or for the students? These programs are supposed to be for the benefit of the students, period! PFN: Isn't that type of thinking somewhat archaic? Today,everything has changed. DeRubis: I don't agree with the change. If we would leave things up to the coaches, we would have even more problems with sports. The season is already too long, and besides, these kids start way too early as it is. Look at all the midget leagues around in all sports. What happens to a lot of them when they reach high school. They quit. They are just burned out from all the pressure that fans and parents put on them. I see parents, fans,and coaches criticizing theseyoungstersoll the time. You would think they are making $2 million dollars a year, sometimes. PFN: But don't you think that these programs are essential if a school wants to compete regularly with other schools? DeRubis: No. I really don't think that is true. They will still be able to compete and ifa coach is truly interested in simply developing an athlete, why bother to keep score at a lower level? The fans and the students are always trying to imitate professional athletes, which is, quite frankly, ridiculous. How many of these students are going to snake to the professional ranks? We have had one football player in the history ofour school make it to the NFL. Should we change our way of thinking for a rare, select few? I don't think so! Coaches become too demanding. They want summer -
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Among 12 Selected for the College Football Hall-of-Fame Bilf Fralic, OT,Pittsburgh, was 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1984 and played pro ball for the Atlanta Falcons from 1985-92 and the Detroit Lions in 1993. Bill played his high school football at Penn Hills in suburban Pittsburgh. Others selected were BradBuddhe,Randy Gradishar, Bo Jackson, Mel Long, Jim McMahon, Jim Richter, and Bill Stanfill
Altoona's Buddy, Geis Coaching with the Dallas Cowboys Buddy Geis was an outstanding part of the famed Altoona football teams in their "golden" era. His teammates included such names as Mike Reid, John Ebersole, and Chuck Brenner. The head coach was revered Earl Strohm. Geise then went on to play his college football at Lock Haven University where he played for another legend Herb Jack. Geis has had a long string of coaching experience in both college and pro ball. It seemed that everywhere Lindy Infante went, Buddy was quickly picked for his staff. He will now be on the Dallas sidelines after serving last for the Indianapolis Colts. He has always been one ofthe hardest-.working assitstant coaches in the pros. Hopefully. his energies will lead him to a head coaching job in the very` near future.
Thefootball plover when interviewed about the head coach.."The coach treats us like men.. he lets us wear earrings."
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PFN: But don't the playoffs create betterfan interest?
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DeRubis: You are right. I don't believe in the.state playoff system and I have a few reasons why. I won't put them in any order, since they are all important to me as far as being negatives. To start with, weather, is.very important, especially in this area of the state, Tlils definitely a detriment in this part ofPennsylvania. Playoffs also cut into the other programs and I believe that doesn't help the athletes at all. They do nothing as far as enhancing potential scholarships for these athletes either.
Remember,in a small district such as Central Cambria's, a lot ofthe students participate in multiple sports and it isn't fair for them to commit to only one sport.
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PFN: I know that you are strongly opposed to the state playoffsystem Would you like to explain why you are adamant about this?
DeRubis: I will make one final statement and this certainly sum up my views concerning sports in general at the high school level. If some parents would show as much interest in academics as they do in sports, our classrooms, our classrooms would be filled with "Super Stars".
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DeRubis: First of all, I look for a teacher. That is absolutely my first priority. I fell strongly that if you are a good teacher, you will be a good coach. Checking resumes and backgrounds of the applicants is vital also. I want an individual who can develop a strong rapport with the student, which helps in the participation process and also with the development ofthe student, both, academically and athletically. I also check to see if the applicant has solid ties with the community. We are always concerned about negatives, such as dissension in the classroom, the practice field and in the community. We try to screen an applicant as best as we can.
PFN: Would you care to make a final statement today?
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PFN-'When hiring a coach, are there certain attributes that you consider more than others?
DeRubis: Yes, of course, that was a positive, but how often is that going to happen. There are many more negatives that positives. I don't believe in playoffs in any sports. I think we are exploiting students. Sure there are afew students who want the playoffs, but there are others who don't want to see the season extended. Remember, these students are 16-17 years old, and it always seems like the fans want them to dedicate their lives to a sport. Less than 95% of these students will go on to college and play varsity sports, so why extend the season. Let's allow them to have fun and then move on to the next sport.
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DeRubis: To be perfectly honest with you, I must say that some are excellent and some are a hindrance to the school system because they find a way to work around the school district's policies. If there is something they don't like, they take it outside the school and we have no control over it. Here is an example. We have an All Sport's Banquet here at Central Cambria each,year. I was never in favor of having a banquet for each individual sport as some booster clubs have. Ifone sport has one, then they all want to have their own. So, what Happens?Booster clubs have them outside the school system. I really don't care about that, but a lot of times, people don't understand that when they do something for their sports, every other sport wants the same. This makes it difficult for an administrator. The sports without booster clubs want the same thing and the school district can't afford a banquet for each sport. Some booster clubs buy jackets and shirts and other things. Athletes in the nonspectator sports feel that they should have the same things and this, again, presents a problem. In Pennsylvania,football is"King" and there are so many parents and fans who get involved with the sport and this makes it easier than non spectator sports such as tennis, golf, cross country, etc.
programs and want this students to dedicate their entire high school career to one sport and what happens after they graduate? Their careers are over at that point anyway. These kids need time off to swim, to ski, to golf, or whatever they enjoy doing. Are the coaches really interested in the students or are they more concerned with their record?
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PFN:What is your opinion offootball booster clubs?
Bill Fralic
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