Commitment From Community Needed

Don’t think for a minute that Greater Spokane League football coaches don’t want to win playoff games.

And don’t think they aren’t good coaches - and good people - who are capable of winning.

But don’t think the GSL’s dismal record against the Big Nine is going to change anytime soon.

Tuesday’s Big Nine dominance in the first round of the State 4A playoffs wasn’t just a sweep - the o-fer included a staggering 149-31 scoring differential - it was the wagon rut at the bottom of the valley.

Cyclical?

Think again.

Cycles don’t last for a decade.

Central Valley’s 1997 state championship was an exception. The Big Nine has won the two titles since and was in final game the three years prior.

In the 12 years beginning in 1989, the GSL has been swept six times in the opening round of the playoffs. In that period, the Big Nine was 10-5 against the GSL in regular-season games, 26-8 in first-round playoffs, 29-14 in all playoffs, 39-19 in all games. CV beat four Big Nine teams in 1997 - that’s more than 20 percent of the GSL wins - and the games were close.

“They’re awfully good and they’re not going to go away,” Eisenhower coach Greg Gavin says of his Big Nine brethren. “Every year, this league gets better. It’s like keeping up with the arms race.”

Gavin has been in the Big Nine 18 years after guiding West Valley to a state championship and CV to a playoff berth.

The blame for the collective GSL embarrassment can be laid at the feet of the community as a whole.

A majority of people in the greater Spokane area don’t give a rip about high school football beyond a cursory glance. Most who say they care are satisfied with a playoff berth and ecstatic with a league title.

The committed coaches are fighting a losing battle with student/athletes, parents, administrators and communities who are not committed. At least they’re not committed to the extent necessary to compete on a consistent basis with the Big Nine.

“I think the key word is commitment,” CV football coach Rick Giampietri says. “They get committed to football at an earlier age.”

There isn’t one thing to blame, but a number of small things that make big obstacles to overcome.

“It’s not coaching, coaching up there is just as good,” Gavin says. “There’s no secret as far as X’s and O’s. (But) you watch these teams on film, and they don’t make very many mistakes.”

He does know this year’s winners, Pasco, Kamiakin, Richland and Walla Walla, have retained assistant coaches for years.

Big Nine coaches have to keep up with the Joneses to be competitive. That means getting kids out and keeping them out, staying on the cutting edge of what’s popular - chucking the ball around the field, which is where the GSL coaches fall down.

“Everybody can throw the ball,” says Gavin. “If you can’t, you have a really tough time. If you let everybody stack up on you in this league, they’ll beat you to death physically. You’ve got to spread it out.”

There are year-round workout programs, spring practice, summer leagues and college team camps that take time and money. But those opportunities are not taken full advantage of by players, parents and even school administrations.

Then there is the community. Kids grow up wanting to be Bulldogs, Bombers, Braves and Blue Devils. High school coaches supervise junior high programs. Kids want to be under the lights on Friday night in front of 5,000 fans. If they’re not going to battle at home, they band together and head off to represent the community in a hostile environment.

Gavin calls it an aura, pomp and ceremony. “It’s something people want to do,” he says.

Tradition. Not the word to describe that 4:30 Thursday game at Albi.

Big Nine schools are bigger, but not much. The 10 schools average 1,409 students in grades 10 though 12. The 11 GSL schools average 1,252 and that includes Gonzaga Prep’s 682.

“(Losing) certainly reflects on our programs. I think coaches care a lot,” retired LC coach John Hook says. “Right now, I’m betting the Big Nine has an edge in athleticism.

“I think our league ought to be proud of our programs. They’re run by quality people and kids have some measure of enjoyment. In Spokane, we have a lot of emphasis on sportsmanship, running quality programs, playing by the rules … but for the most part, the reason you play is the final score. It’s not the only part, but it’s why we have scoreboards. It is important to win… . I am surprised the pendulum has swung so far.”

Before complaining that there is too much emphasis on athletics, ask yourself: Have we done our best to provide our kids with their best competitive chance? If we attempt to do that in the classroom, why shouldn’t we do the same in the field of play?

Scholarship applications due: Friday is the deadline for coaches to nominate one back and one lineman for the Flaherty Award.

The award is presented by the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Ten finalists are invited to the Jan. 15 banquet in Spokane. All 10 receive at least a $1,000 scholarship.

University of Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel will be the guest speaker. Tickets, $30 or $275 for a table of 10, can be reserved by calling (509) 892-6434. Seating is limited.

Fax applications to (509) 922-5569.