[step_dragon]

First off, please let's keep this civil so that we can maintain a constructive discussion about our beloved Red Dragons without interference from the West Street Internet Police Association.

With two games remaining in the 2011 season, Niles can finish anywhere from 4-6 to 6-4. Those within the program expected a 7-3 or better record and a playoff berth. Neither of those will happen.

From the moment the current head coach was hired he and his backers pinpointed 2011 as the "dream season." This was going to be the year that proved the hire was a correct one. Everyone knew this team was loaded with talent. They succeeded at the junior high level under competent coaches. They succeeded and showed great promise as freshmen.

So what happened? We have four wins, against teams that are 3-5, 0-8, 1-7 and 7-1. The signature win for this coaching staff is a 13-9 win over a division IV Brookfield team that most Niles fans mocked when they were put on the schedule.

Overall four year record for this staff is 13-25. The 13 wins have come against teams with a combined record of 36-86. Our record against AAC opponents is embarrassing. We can't compete in the league, regardless of division.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, Phil Annarella left Niles at the end of the 2006 season to take over at Austintown Fitch. When he left, Niles hired Tim Johnson, who coached for one year before stepping down at the end of 2007. When Annarella left, the Niles board of education refused to seek outside applicants. They PUBLICLY claimed that they had to hire Johnson because he was a teacher in the Niles school system. A lie, of course, because the previous two coaches were not teachers here when hired.

When Johnson stepped down, the board posted the job in the district. Three Niles teachers applied for the job. The board then opened up the position outside the district (funny how that works huh?) and in all somewhere between 17 and 20 men applied for the job. The board listed very specific qualifications for the job. All but one man met those qualifications. The one who didn't was eventually hired, and still coaches today.

In addition to being the least experienced man for the job, the hired coach was not employed by the school district at the time. Because of this, the TAXPAYERS of Niles were forced to shell out thousands of dollars in grievance pay to the three QUALIFIED Niles teachers who applied for the position.

The logic behind the hiring and the willingness to make the hire at the expense of paying out three grievances is still a mystery today. None of the board members will comment on their reasoning for hiring the coach and rehiring him three straight years. But then again this is the same school district that hired a girls basketball coach (a non-teacher) and continued to rehire him even through six seasons which produced less than 15 wins total and a 53 game losing streak. Was it mentioned that this coach was the son of a board member?

These are all facts. Nothing but facts.

So now where does this football program go from here? It seems safe to say that if the current coach wants to return in 2012 he will do so. He has the backing of personal friends who just so happen to make such decisions.

If he does return, is there any hope for the future of this program? I don't see us ever being able to compete against Angle and Brungard and Pavlansky and Hoffman on a regular basis. Our numbers will continue to shrink and we will continue to lose kids to other schools. (Just think of our neighbors. Who wouldn't want to play for Williams or Cochran or Pappada or Angle) Fan and financial support for the program will continue to tumble.

If the current coach decides that enough is enough and he steps down, then what? I have a very sick feeling that as long as the current "leaders" are in charge, there will be no hope for Niles football or any sport for that matter. They will continue to hire coaches who are either friends or puppets that they can control. Look at the recent hire of the superintendent. He is afraid to make any move whatsoever without getting the blessing of the five board members who gave him a sweetheart of a deal. They are manipulative and controlling in every aspect.

We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hope for a change which means another rebuilding process? Or hope that this current staff eventually learns from their immaturity and their mistakes and develops into winners (I see no hope of that). Like I said, a change in coaching staffs will only mean another incompetent hire which was made based on selfish reasons.

Bottom line is that I see no hope for this program as long as certain "leaders" are in charge. This season is a glaring example of how valuable coaching is at the high school level.


A part of me is hoping for change. If for nothing else, for these young men to have a more disciplined environment. And I guess so that I can hold out hope for the future. Another part of me says that another change made by this same group will only result in more failure, because they don't care about the program, they care about their egos and ability to control.

[POLAND ROCKS!]

4-6. 5-5 if you upset Hubbard.

[stinkin genius]

The record speaks for itself plain and simple.. Dont you have a big lineman Krok that is at Harding now also that came up thru the Niles system?

Will be interesting to see what happens..

[nilesd]

Just my own personal opinion Niles will not defeat Canfield might score one or two TDs Canfield will be in the 30s. Hubbard in a real down season this year a win there is possible but I feel 4-6 will be it.

I do believe the people who run this school district are elitist and are bound and determined to run things the way they see fit we peons are looked upon with distain.

In November there will be no significant change in members on the Board. You are looking at another four years of the same. I’ve said this for a few years now and truly believe they simply don’t care.

The current coach is set for a few more years if he so desires and a thousand says he so desires.

The only thing that may bring this coach down in a couple years is the dwindling attendance at home football games and the crowds are disappearing.

[nilesdragon]

Originally Posted by stinkin genius

The record speaks for itself plain and simple.. Dont you have a big lineman Krok that is at Harding now also that came up thru the Niles system?

Will be interesting to see what happens..

I don't know anything about this. But, if we're losing kids to programs that are going through their own struggles...it's not good.

[nilesd]

I’ll add this too. A few years ago when Bayuk was still at Hubbard I mentioned to a prominent Board member that there was unrest in Hubbard it was a good time to go after him and her response “He lives too far away.”

[nilesdragon]

Originally Posted by nilesd

I’ll add this too. A few years ago when Bayuk was still at Hubbard I mentioned to a prominent Board member that there was unrest in Hubbard it was a good time to go after him and her response “He lives too far away.”

Wow, what a half ass lazy response you received. If you don't want somebody as your coach just say so! I hate when people do that with anything.

[nilesd]

Originally Posted by nilesdragon

Wow, what a half ass lazy response you received. If you don't want somebody as your coach just say so! I hate when people do that with anything.

In all honesty nilesdragon at the time I truly believe Jeff Bayuk would have considered coming here. If he did can you imagine the football program we would have now? And if the snobbish elitist had stayed out of his way I’m telling you Howland, Canfield and Poland would have been playing second fiddle to us instead of us playing second fiddle to them.

[gotti]

Lets just remember Niles, is the place that ran Napolet, Pappada, Bohren, and Anarella out of town! Replacing them with the likes of Leonard, Johnson and Yeager. Laughable but the BOE gets everything they deserve, good luck getting a creditable coach to take the job! I honestly believe you are stuck with Yeager for the time being, he needs to surround himself with veteran assistants who have the kids best interest at heart. The shame of the matter the BOE is letting the chickens rule the roost, letting the kids dictate who they want as their coach. Grow a sack and man up BOE, your ruining a once great program everyone in the area would like to see Niles and WGH back on track!

[theveer]

Your community must like your board of ed. since they continue to vote them in.

[nilesd]

Originally Posted by theveer

Your community must like your board of ed. since they continue to vote them in.

Well even when a new one does make it in theveer; in no time they are consumed and are eating baloney or were full of it to start.

[step_dragon]

While it is true that the players pushed for Yeager's return, he would have been back last year with or without their backing. Give Boy Wonder credit where credit is due. When he decided he was going to go after this job, he schmoozed up to all the right people, and they bought his act. The three BOE members who voted to bring him back this year were going to do so with or with the players' approval. It also doesn't hurt his cause that he has said all the right things to the right group of parents. "Hey, Yeags (as he is known by the players) thinks my son is the greatest player on earth. As long as Yeags is around my son is set." That's the mindset of many of these parents, who are failing to see exactly what is happening to the program around them. One day, this "Dream Team" and their Frontliner dads are going to look back and wonder what went wrong. They'll come to realize that in high school football COACHING IS EVERYTHING, but by then it will be way too late.

[nilesd]

The trouble is the new ones via the Board this November if that is the best Niles have to offer man is Niles in sad shape. In fact driving around tired old Niles the signs are popping up all over in yards with the same old tired names. Any one wonder why Niles is deteriorating?

[nilesd]

It’s already too late step! Someday they’ll think back to these days realizing what they could have had wondering where their minds were at.

With the talent that fled Niles or simply walked away these past few years the thoughts of it is demoralizing. For those knowing so much about football and can’t see beyond their noses.

[coldshoulder]

Originally Posted by nilesd

I do believe the people who run this school district are elitist and are bound and determined to run things the way they see fit we peons are looked upon with distain.

In November there will be no significant change in members on the Board. You are looking at another four years of the same. I’ve said this for a few years now and truly believe they simply don’t care.

The current coach is set for a few more years if he so desires and a thousand says he so desires.

Originally Posted by theveer

Your community must like your board of ed. since they continue to vote them in.

Originally Posted by nilesd

The trouble is the new ones via the Board this November if that is the best Niles have to offer man is Niles in sad shape. In fact driving around tired old Niles the signs are popping up all over in yards with the same old tired names. Any one wonder why Niles is deteriorating?

To nilesd and step_dragon.....As I understand it, there are three Niles BOE seats being contested on November 8th.

The three incumbents (I think I've got this right?) are all running for re-election: Marlene Rhodes, Rich Limongi, and Traci Ciletti-Buttar.

Plus, there are three challengers: Susan Giannetti-Longacre (a previous board member?), Christopher Clinton Doutt, and Corinne Mostoller.

So it appears as though your community at least has a chance to make some changes. In Girard, for example, we have three incumbent board members running for re-election, with no opposition!

Perhaps you guys should try to recruit someone from the community to run for the board; someone who would be an independent thinker and would hopefully bring some fresh ideas and some new ways of looking at things.

It might be the only way you're gonna see some changes that you so desperately seek.

[Poland Master8]

Canfield is a probable loss.

Hubbard is a toss up

I think a 5-5 season

[nilesd]

coldshoulder

Just my opinion Limongi and Rhodes have to go they are the worst. Buttar in my opinion is a follower even though Rhodes is the President of the Board Limongi runs it.

Abraham Lincoln once said “If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem.”

That is where I am at with the first two mentioned and Longacre just forget about Mostoller.

Doutt should have been out campaigning at least a month ago.

The best scenario is for Limongi and Rhodes to be gone Doutt and the lesser of the three evils Longacre to replace the two worst Buttar to continue to follow.

The worst scenario and the one I believe will be in November Limongi, Rhodes and Buttar retain their seat.

Another words the same has having no competition.

[MahoningValleyRat]

I really hate to say "I TOLD YOU SO" but I warned all of you four years ago of what was about to happen. And beyond the losses and the lack of discipline and the cover-ups (as screwed up as warren is at least they address their drinking issues and such) the bigger problem is THE PEOPLE OF NILES!!!!!!!!!

BAHHHHH BAHHHHHHH BAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF SHEEP!

I know I really got under the skin of a lot of Niles people with my sheep comments, but come on, if you can't admit it now, you are just being either very ignorant or very blind to your surroundings.

LIKE SHEEP, the people of Niles just follow along with every boneheaded decision made by the Niles BOE. You think the BOE doesn't know that they make one poor and unpopular decision after another? You think they don't realize that they wouldn't get away with their actions in any town in Ohio? But in Niles people just follow along like the sheep that they are and accept it all.

This goes WAY beyond football. It goes WAY beyond sports. If you people had half a brain you would realize just how much money this school district has squandered away in recent years. You would take a look at your property taxes and then you would study hard and get a grasp of how that money is being spent. And if you did that, I promise you who is coaching the football team next year would be the furthest thing from your mind. You would be both shocked and outraged at how YOUR money is being spent by your school leaders.

As for the football program. I honestly believe it is nearing a point of no return. It is in such shambles that Brad may be back by default. Why do you think the board kept rehiring the girls bb coach? Well yeah, because he was the son of a BOE member, but also because he made such a complete shambles of the program, no one wanted it. Same thing is happening to football. The lack of numbers, discipline, FUNDAMENTALS in this program is SO glaring, than any coach with half a brain wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

BAHHHHHHHHHHHH BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.....They tell us that paying a Superintendent's outrageous salary is the wise thing to do, even though every other expert says otherwise, so we will follow in line and agree with their decision.... Funny, you people are making such a big deal about his salary and vacation perks, you didn't even take the time to study the REAL and ENTIRE contract. It's public record, go ask for a copy. You may be shocked and you would be asking a THOUSAND questions if you knew the rest of the story...OBVIOUSLY THIS BOE HAD A HIDDEN AGENDA WHEN THEY HIRED THIS GUY, OR THEY DON'T GIVE HIM THIS CONTRACT. .But instead you just choose to BAHHH BAHHHHHHHHHH your way to the poor house.

[nilesd]

MVR Well! Well! Well! I’ll be the first to stand in line and say I was wrong. The people of Niles are the reason for the horrendous situation we are in and it does not stop with just the school district.

[nilesd]

Did anyone read the EDITORIAL on page 6A of this morning’s Tribune a piece of poo poo to say the least. I’m going to find out who it is that writes this junk for the Trib. There you go MVR the uninformed in this town will read that and fall in line another four years of incompetence thank you Warren Tribune Chronicle helping Niles’ decline.