New Graham Coach

[Turkey King]

Graham High School has named a Head Football Coach. The new head coach's name is Tony Palmer. He was a player on the 1989 State Championship team and has been an assistant coach for the last few years.

One thing which is very strange about this selection is Mr. Palmer never has been a Head Coach or even a JV Head Coach at any high school level. Also, he is not even a teacher/educator for Tazewell County. He is police officer in Bluefield, WV. Rumors says he is taking classes to become a teacher next year but at this time he is not a certified licensed teacher in Virginia.

The G-Men have talent coming back and the program despite being on hard times lately still has strong community support. So, there were quite a few proven qualified candidates who were applied for the job who have head coaching or offensive/defensive coordinator credintials, but they were not selected.

Mr. Palmer was on the staff last year as running back coach from a sub-par 4 win season(three of which were against 1A teams) in which Gate City beat them in the first round of the playoffs by 70-0.

The question many of us old time G-Man Fans are asking is why would the Graham High School Adminstration and Tazewell County chose an assistant coach who is not even a school employee, does not have even a teaching certification and was part of the sub-par performance of last year's team and select this person as their head coach?

Usually when a program is headed in the wrong direction and has a coaching vacancy the adminstration will hire someone from the outside who has already proven themselves and will change the culture of the the program. An assistant coach hired from within is usually part of a successful program who has been groomed for the position.

It does not make any sense.

 

[60 minute man]

I think what you are suggesting Graham should of done is exactly what they did with the last hire. Didn't work out too good, did it?

 

[The G-Man]

Quit complaining...

You're just pissed because your son didn't get the job.

Besides, if this doesn't work out with Coach Palmer, like you think it won't, your boy can apply again in a few years....

And, for what its worth, Coach Palmer isn't to blame for what has happened to the Graham program over the last few years. You can thank former head coach Mike Williams for that...he NEVER listened to any of his assistant coaches anyway, except for his buddy he brought in from Salem.

Had it not been for Tony, the last few years would have been a lot worse...he was the one who kept many of the kids interested in remaining on the team. The kids like and respect him a hell of a lot more than they did Williams.

So run along and stop posting crap on message boards until you can get your "facts" straight Mr. Akers. You are only embarrassing your son at this point....

This post was edited on 3/20 4:45 AM by The G-Man

 

[Turkey King]

Re: Quit complaining...

G-Man, (If you are a real G-Man)

What is not true in what I wrote??? What are you trying to hide??? I guess since you have your own website "SWVA Sports" you think you can control everyone opinion.

Since you know everything, please let everyone know Tony's coaching credentials besides the "kids liked him". Remember it is easy to be liked when you are an assistant coach. That is part of your responsbility to keep the team together. Also, I never knew being a Head Coach is a popularity contest.

Mr. Palmer will find out now he is a head coach you can't make everyone happy once he has to make some difficult personnel decision.

Also, you can't put all the blame on the former head coach. Coaching is a team efforts with everyone being responsbile and accountable. I love those when thing go wrong tell everyone, "it was not me". It is called assuming responsiblity. Sorry but you can't convince me that anyone with any common sense would promote from within after the season they had last year.

There were at least 4 applicants with head coaching experince and they not more qualified?

You know it just another example of hiring your "buddy". We will see what hiring your "buddy" gets them down the road.

 

[The G-Man]

Re: Quit complaining...

I'm not trying to "control" your opinion, only showing for what it is...pissed over the fact your son was picked as the head coach.

And you shouldn't be "putting the blame" or "calling out" or "be pissed at" Tony. He applied just like the rest of the candidates. Apparently you should be mad at the GHS administration and the Tazewell County School Board as they were the ones who looked at each candidate's "credentials" and made the decision to hire him over the other so-called "more experienced" candidates. There had to be something that they liked better about Tony than the rest of the pack.

As I said, if this doesn't work out, your boy can apply again...who knows maybe they will select him next time...

And as for me being a "real G-Man", you can bet your last dollar I am...not sure if you are though...

Answer this one question honestly...

If your son had not applied for the job, would you be this upset over the fact that Tony Palmer was hired as Head Coach at Graham?

If you answer anything other than no, you're only kidding yourself...



.
This post was edited on 3/20 8:33 AM by The G-Man

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

One does not have to be a teacher to be a coach. One does not have to have experience as a head coach to be a coach.

 

[redzone4us]

Most head coaches will tell you that you should keep a close eye on your assistant coaches, because some of them will undermine what you are trying to do because they want your job. graham is a good example.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

I have seen that happen at more than one school. When that happens, the assistant should be fired and banned from coaching for life. a coach that has no loyalty should not be coaching. also, if Administration knows it happening and takes no action, then Administration should be fired.

 

[Cougar Ed]

Re: Quit complaining...

Who all applied for the Head job, I didn't know the job was open. It is a great opportunity for someone to win a championship. i remember when Pulaski would scrimmage The G men and it would be a physical battle. I heard coach Turner from Auburn speak at the Rotary meeting and he spoke of how football in southwest va shaped his coaching philosophy and approach to the game, he spoke about Coach Carlock, Ragsdale, Coach Hicks and others , how tough there teams were.

 

[Prognosticator]

As a long time Graham fan...40 + years.…and as somebody who knows some kids on the team.…Tony Palmer was the absolute right choice. Sure, others may have been more "qualified", but Mr. Palmer already has the respect and support of the players, that was evident when they showed up at the board meeting in support of Palmer. Try to convince those kids that somebody else should be the coach....it wouldn't happen. I'm sure there were several good candidates....but if Palmer was not selected, I am positive that half of those kids would not even play next season. He has put in his time and most importantly, from what I hear from the kids, he instills respect and work ethic in those kids...and that is more important than wins and losses.

I'm sure the other candidates would teach similar principles....but Mr. Palmer already has their love and respect.….so why take a chance...Not picking him would have been wrong in the eyes of the players.

 

[redzone4us]

Letting high school kids pick their own coach. WOW!!!!

 

[Prognosticator]

Nobody said that... I just said they showed up in force to support him for the job! Good lord.... Some of you folks just like to make an issue, when their is no issue.

Wow!

Decision has been made, I'll be in the stands supporting the team along with a bunch of other folks... I'm sure the team would like the support of the community. I for one am tired of hearing complaints about the coaches for the last 9 years...…thats been the problem for far too long.
This post was edited on 3/21 9:02 PM by Prognosticator

 

[Turkey King]

I apologize for my prior posts and in light of this information I now agree assistant coach Tony Palmer is the best person for the job. I have not been around the program the last few years and did not honestly understand the level Graham football has dropped since we lost Glen Carlock Sr.

The administration just wanted someone to get along with the present group of players and their parents and they were afraid to tell Tony no because some would quit if he was not selected.

Prognosticator, you hit it right on the money, many would have quit the team if he had not gotten the job. It had nothing to do with qualifications. The expectations, commitment, experience and discipline some of the other candidates would have brought to the table would not have worked with this current group of students athletes. It did not work with their last head coach from Salem, VA when he tried to mold them back into a premier program like the Spartans.

It is sad to me that G-Man Football has come down to the players and parents who will not be with program in the next few years picking the head coach.

In my opinion, this is no way to rebuild a program. If I were new head coach I would want them to quit. You don't need quitters and winners never quit. You might struggle the first few years but eventually you will have a successful program.

 

[Prognosticator]

Not my point at all...... Palmer brings all of those things to the table. He's got my support as well as most of the community.

I could care less if they win one more game. I know this guy has their best interests at heart and that is far more valuable than a trophy in the case. I predict that you will see an immediate impact on the number of kids participating and a change in attitudes for the better.

I hope the same can be said for the adults in the community...


Also, to insinuate that the previous coach could have molded them into a premiere team is laughable....they had talent all over the field...most weren't even put into a position to match their skill sets.
This post was edited on 3/22 4:21 PM by Prognosticator

 

[redzone4us]

I just think empressionable teenage boys/young men, need a leader, not a buddy, to lead them. i guess time will tell if it was a good choice or not.

 

[Prognosticator]

He doesn't act like their buddy.... You are correct, time will tell.

This post was edited on 3/22 10:22 PM by Prognosticator

 

[larry_legend]

My understanding was they had no teaching jobs open at all. That if Palmer gets certified it will be in Special Education. Would Coach Akers have been willing to teach PE at Rural Retreat and Coach football at Graham??

 

[DinwiddieProud]

A successful and winning program makes what I'm about to say easier, but is not 100% necessary.

Almost assuredly, not a single Graham football player will make a living playing football. But, every single one of them will need to make a living.

Using athletics to prepare high school student athletes for life, trumps everything. For better or for worse, football coaches have a tremendous impact on their players. Every former high school football player remembers their football experience almost verbatim. I want a coach with class.

DP