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Did Hanna make the correct hire?
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While Yellow Jacket Nation catches its breath on the hiring of Kenya Fouch to be T.L. Hanna’s football coach and athletics director, let’s step back and assess the expectations.
Like any new hire, knee-jerk reactions at the outset are often too early to measure a success.
So let’s not cast Fouch as someone doomed to have a losing record mainly because he was 1-9 in less than ideal conditions at Calhoun Falls. Although it’s possible, especially considering the likes of Dorman, Gaffney, Greenwood and Westside on the schedule this season.
Almost everyone at Hanna agrees Fouch was hired because he has the traits that former coach Scott Parker didn’t. But critics say other top candidates had those qualities — and more accomplished resumes.
Several long-time Hanna supporters, including former players and current coaches, have said the administration picked the wrong candidate. It passed over at least two other qualified head coaches, two highly regarded coordinators, and a former Hanna player.
They say Hanna should have hired Rick Scott, the Byrnes offensive coordinator, or Pat McShea, a former Hanna player, who seemed to have the community’s support even though he hasn’t coached in 18 years. Greenwood defensive coordinator Jimmy Towe, another favorite, supposedly didn’t get more than 20 minutes of an interview.
They barked about the reasons for Fouch’s transfer from Georgia Tech to Furman, and preferred to focus more on his year at Calhoun Falls than five seasons at Hart County and Clarke Central in Georgia.
But Fouch’s expectations where they matter most — the administration — are more tied to his personality, ability to work with the non-revenue sports, and plan to foster academics. Those carry more weight than a win-loss record.
Even if Fouch struggles against the perennial powers, I contend if he can consistently beat Wren, Easley and Laurens, and Westside about half the time, his job should be safe.
While Hanna is 59-48 over the last nine seasons, it’s had losing seasons two of the last three years. Former coach Scott Parker went 12-5 against Westside, but was 0-9 against Greenwood.
I would bet the Hanna faithful would trade at least one Westside win for a Greenwood win, especially since the games against Eagles usually have region title ramifications.
Remember that an unproven first-year coach can have playoff success. Blythewood won a state title two years ago in Jeff Scott’s first season as head coach. And although he had the pedigree, his resume wasn’t that different from Fouch’s.
In the end, Fouch has the same on-the-field issues Parker had. Hanna seems to have a steady flow of above-average skill players, but hasn’t developed a consistent group of talented linemen. The Jackets return two top-notch running backs in rising senior Brandon Williams and rising junior Ladarius Norris. And senior-to-be receiver Quinton Payton is already high on the college recruiting radar.
As one local coach likes to tell me every August when we discuss the upcoming season, “a donkey never wins the Kentucky Derb
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to ANSWER THE RHETORICAL QUESTION..........
NO!
I know it is all about football and winning the games but if this article is hinting and what TLH alum would consider successful, I would love to be able to bring my little kids to a game and not worry about a riot breaking out.
I am all for coaching character and academic integrity. I don't hire anyone from Westside to work for me so losing to them doesn't bother me. What I want are those thugs that are up to no good in behind the stadium to be run off. I want a quality environment to watch a team that looks to be well coached.
Talent starts earlier than Jr. high. Maybe this guy can inspire kids to reach their ability and develop a SYSTEM in this town again. We were too good in the 'old' days to tell me we can't do it again. No, we arent' going to be a Byrnes in the next 5 years but lets get something started.
Being a former Westside student I thought with the same foolish mentality of Viaduct by despising individuals who attended T. L. Hanna. Then, I graduated from high school. You talk about coaching character but you fail to higher individuals because of the high school they attended. This does not pass the sanity test. Individuals who think like yourself contibute to the problem with this county. When can we let a football rivalry just be a football rivalry? We should leave the divisions in the football stadium and then go out into the community and work together.
It's great that you are able to hire individuals to work for you. However, it is sad that you ignore competency and experience but rather look at an individual's high school diploma to decide if you will hire them. WOW!
I guess time will only tell if this was a good hire or not. I wish him the best!!! Go Jackets!!!
So Viaduct what is the name of your business. I will boycott it even though I didnt graduate from Westside. Go hang out with the rest of the snobs from Hanna. My daughter graduated from the best school in Anderson County WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL GO RAMS. SO Viaduct wheres the party at this week.
I don't think Hanna would be satisfied with "Bear" Bryant. No one is good enough for them.
did money have a role in hiring Fouch ? I'm sure the other coaching candidates that have a great resume & lots of success wouldn't accept peanuts or a short term contract.I can't blame Fouch for accepting the position.It will make his resume alot better.
How can anybody with a brain think that they made the right choice?
in response to lcscooter
'higher individuals' or would it be better to say 'hire individuals'?
No further questions your honor.
My thoughts on the new coach.
Well I know some of the choices from conventions and such. Coach Fouch has to hit the ground running AND bring in 3 or 4 STRONG COACHES immediately. IS his ties to bring those coaches in, strong enough????? Can he go back to Clark Central or Hart County, or get someone he played with in college to be a "strong coach"??? I DON'T KNOW.
But I do know he needs to do it quick because of this very negative environment he suddenly is involved in.
That being said I do think IF he coached 9 years Coach Fouch would at least have the same or a better record then the previous coach. But he won't be given that time with the atmosphere like it now is. This is why IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that he get guys that are strong coaches with his connections immediately.
I talked to one of the coaches who would have made TL HANNA into a Defensive Powerhouse. Jimmy Towe said after 3 minutes he knew it was useless to continue. Ricky Scott who teaches at River Ridge BUT COACHES at Byrnes helped create Byrnes offense system. He said the interview was very strange. He said it was like he had applied for a custodial job. When he asked about the number of coaches he could bring, they said that shouldn't matter.
I just don't know what will happen. I see that TL HANNA plays Gaffney and Dorman, ouch.
PLUS LAURENS, EASLEY, and WREN are improving and are not the cupcake they were the last several years and Parker relied on for his victories.
Here is TL HANNA schedule for 2008
T.L. Hanna
8/29/2008 at Westside
9/5/2008 D.W. Daniel
9/12/2008 at Mauldin
9/19/2008 Gaffney
9/26/2008 Dorman
10/3/2008 at Hillcrest
10/10/2008 at Easley
10/17/2008 at Greenwood
10/24/2008 Wren
10/31/2008 at Laurens
11/7/2008 Westside
But Parker went 17-17 in his last 3 years.
5-7 in 07
8-3 in 06 (ONLY BEAT 1 team with a winning record when they played)
4-7 in 05
SO I feel Coach Fouch can at least do that--( 4 and 7 )
I just hope Coach Fouch can use his knowledge from Hart County and Clark Central and help create a succesful winning tradition at TL HANNA. ((((((((This means not going 4-7 or 5-6 and BRAGGING YOU MADE THE PLAYOFFS like the previous coach and his followers kept harping on))))))))
So I do wish him Luck, and hope he pulls it off. I look foward to seeing him at a few football camps this summer.
However, just wondering here..... Could Byrnes assistant coach Ricky Scott have lead TL HANNA to the same offensive prowless as Byrnes..........Could Greenwood assistant coach Jimmy Towe have given TL HANNA that defensive edge they haven't had in years........HHHHMMMMM, I guess we'll never know.
in response to Viaduct
Wow! That is the only way you can defend your actions? We can sit here and argue about typos, misspelled words, etc. that you may see on blogs. I am trying to stick to the issue. You honestly feel that you are coaching character by not hiring someone because they graduated from Westside? Simple-minded and childish are two words that come to mind. Also, feel free to respond to this by pointing out typos instead of having an adult conversation.
I still stand by my statement that I made in another post,The people at Westside High School are tickled to death with Hanna`s new coach.
I think that EVERYONE needs to give Mr. Fouch an opportunity. You will be surprised with the results.....
This is coming from a diehard Hart County FAN.
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