Coach Hoover’s  past humility and self blame for his teams losses were admirable –Until his total lack of composure in the interview with the Daily Press, with respect to his team’s off the field conduct.  Most importantly, to answer Coach Hoover as to why don’t we look at all the students on campus who have misdemeanors:  The answer is simple: “ Because they are not on the football team” .  And as such, they are not privileged to the incredible opportunities that only the football field allows.  The football players are being singled out because as football players, they are held to a higher degree of responsibility off the field, that  a coach would expect his lessons on the field to be carried over to off the field. 

And yes, it the reporters business as to how you are handling the discipline of your players.  It is his business because you, coach Hoover, represent us, the public who have entrusted that you would carry on a tradition of social significance, in demanding nothing less than 100% of your players, every time, every down, on the field and off the field.  For what value to our youth and to our community does your dedication to discipline, perseverance, hard work and camaraderie have, if it does not carry over to the players personal lives.  For this is the true value of football, or any athletic competition requiring the principles that football coaches instill into their players. The values that you will carry with you the rest of your life and that will assuredly contribute to who you become-  The value that you cannot be a sometime person, trying whenever you feel like it.  A person who has two set of rules -  For there is one set of rules, the right ones, the fair ones, the ethical and moral rules that  allow us athletes to see beyond immediate gratification, allow us to see that hard work today will pay dividends for a lifetime.  Rules that if broken, disallow you from the club, revokes your right to enjoy the privileges intended for those dedicated  to this code which has been written with the blood and sweat and tears of millions.  A code that will never change -  A code of honor reserved for those who are fortunate enough to be taught the right lessons -  And the ultimate lesson, coach Hoover, is this:  “ It is not about winning- oh, winning is important and losing will bring giants to their knees in tears.  But, winning is simply an arbitrary by-product  that will never be measured by the scoreboard -  Winning for your coach Hoover, will be measured by the character of your players and how well you instill into your players that a principled loser is much preferred over an empty winner-

W Daniel Tate

Victorville

964-4976

948-5084