Bully Pulpit

[TxGrayhat]

As I have stated I registered because I wanna call football and i want to honor my 2010 schedule. and that the registration didn't make me join uil or drop taso. I always have and still hope TASO wins.  This past week I had a prime example of why we will always need TASO football.   Had a game with a Coach I haven't called for in about 4 or 5 years when he was at another school. I remember him because he was impossible to please and I had flagged him for USC in that game.  The trouble began in the pre-game meeting where he began to tell me if he gets a lead in the game he was gonna slow the game down. He tells me one of his tactics was to hide the ball in the pile having his players tuck it under their legs and just sit on it till we dug it out. Then he said he doesn't yell at his players cause they will quit so the only person left to hollar at is the officials. Game starts and he yells at us from the first snap to the last. We don't react to his ignorance and call whats there not calling the phantom or non calls. of course he wants nothing called against him and every finger twitch on the other team.  He loses and tells my wing man he didn't like us. and said this "That when the UIL takes over and he sends in his zeros for the crew the UIL will take action against the officials. Making them accountable" (for his ignorance)

 Made me think if we are gonna have to deal with this kinda mess knowing if he doesn't get his way he is gonna send in a bad grade (something he is unqualified to do). Then when they step outta line and behave in a non professional manner like this one did We might have to let the rags flay and send in that incident report. Instead of just letting it slide because "thats just the way he is". This coach at least plans on using the UIL as a bullypulpit to get his way. So if he's gonna send in a grade to hold me accountable. Then I guess we might need 5 incident reports one from each member of the crew so he can be accountable for being an IDIOT.    

[Getting Fat]

You are the one who acquiesced in step one of regulation and bye-bye TASO.

[TxGrayhat]

HUH ? 

[DallasLJ]

Moral of the story is not to register.  Force UIL's hand.  It is not about the kids short term. It is about the good of the game for all, long term.

[TxSkyBolt]

You are the one who acquiesced in step one of regulation and bye-bye TASO.

Was that English?

[ballhog]

Was that English?

He said if I can paraphrase..... You're the one who drank the kool-aid or simpler why register and then worry?

[Ed Belding]

....

 Made me think if we are gonna have to deal with this kinda mess knowing if he doesn't get his way he is gonna send in a bad grade (something he is unqualified to do).

That's what happens today and has happened for years.

Then when they step outta line and behave in a non professional manner like this one did We might have to let the rags flay and send in that incident report. Instead of just letting it slide because "thats just the way he is".

We have to make the same decisions today.  So far, nothing changes no matter who wins between TASO/UIL

This coach at least plans on using the UIL as a bullypulpit to get his way. So if he's gonna send in a grade to hold me accountable. Then I guess we might need 5 incident reports one from each member of the crew so he can be accountable for being an IDIOT.    

Again, Nothing in this scenario is different than today.

What I assume you are asking is will the coach be able to write an incident report against officials for "not getting his way” and then make me go to Austin to answer for it?  The answer is probably yes to the former and no to the latter. 

I suspect coaches will be able to submit UIL incident reports against officials so that would be a Yes.  But can they force you or me to take a day off work and attend a "hearing" in Austin?  No.  They cannot make us do that and I doubt the UIL will even try.  They may refer it to the local chapter for investigation but the UIL knows that officials do not do this for a living and it is naturally further down our priority list.... unlike coaches.  If a coach files an incident report against me for some BS issue I will not take off work to travel to Austin.  If a coach files an incident report against me for an issue that I truly screwed up badly, I will send apologies to all affected and still not go to Austin. If I screwed it up bad enough I will accept discipline but I will not burn a day of vacation to go to Austin for something like this regardless of guilt or innocence, and the UIL knows this. 

Unfortunately for coaches UIL incident reports are a much bigger deal, and any official can file them for just about any reason.  They may or may not have to go to Austin, but if the incident has any validity it is likely to find its way in their "personnel file".  By comparison, those UIL grade cards get thrown away and forgotten in short order, and most Varsity assigners know not to put much value in them anyway.  But UIL incident reports are a big deal for coaches and school administrators.   It will be an embarrassment for officials if/when coaches can file incident reports against us, but ultimately it is a hobby for the majority of us - a passionate hobby, but a hobby none the less – and NOT nearly as big a deal.   When the negatives outweigh the positives we can just walk away.  Coaches still have to feed their families. 

[Getting Fat]

Tony Timmons' You Tube video #3 minute 5:20 - 6:30

"under the UIL's guidance if you misapply a rule you are coming to Austin."

[Welpe]

I heard him say those exact words in person and I believe Mr. Beldings point is he may try to make us but that does not mean we have to show up.  I can tell you, I doubt I'd be showing up either unless my travel, expenses and time off is fully compensated.

Do you think a coach summoned to Austin is travelling there on his own dime?

I have a brilliant idea...it is 2010, why don't we do something like video conferencing or Skype?  I gave a sworn deposition last year in a completely unrelated civil case I am party to and that was over the phone.  There is no reason we can't do the same for a UIL hearing.

[fencewire]

From the sermon in H town...

If you dump a coach next year, as a crew, and it is proven that you missapplied a rule
I don't care about your judgement.  (basketball analogy with walking)
if your judgement is that bad, I got your back. I don't care what your foul selection is, I got your back, i got your back all the way to hell and back, it doesn't matter i've got your back with coaches.

where I cannot get your back, is in the rule book, I cannot cover anybody in the state of Texas from any sport in the rule book. When a coach looks at me and says Tony I was dumped, I am coming to austin, it is my fault, but can you tell me how this rule was misapplied.  guess what, 3 officials are coming to austin... maybe... still working out the process we are figuring out what will happen.

[Ed Belding]

I heard him say those exact words in person and I believe Mr. Beldings point is he may try to make us but that does not mean we have to show up.  I can tell you, I doubt I'd be showing up either unless my travel, expenses and time off is fully compensated.

Do you think a coach summoned to Austin is travelling there on his own dime?
...

Correct.

That does not mean I am unconcerned about screwing up.  I will accept discipline if I have it coming. I will not drive to Austin for a hearing.

[DallasLJ]

Correct.

That does not mean I am unconcerned about screwing up.  I will accept discipline if I have it coming. I will not drive to Austin for a hearing.

  Just so you know, you fail to come to Austin -- you will be un-registered, and their goes your calling public school games.  This is the big problem I have.  By registering, you are agreeing that Tony Timmons (and anyone at the UIL) can decide, that I am done.  Judgment call, rule enforcement, confusion over a rule interpretation.  You pick.  Who decides?  Timmons decides.  There are no rules, procedures, protections.  Right now, if I miss a rule enforcement, I am subject to a scratch list  -- but that shouldn't end a career.

[Ed Belding]

  Just so you know, you fail to come to Austin -- you will be un-registered, and their goes your calling public school games.  This is the big problem I have.  By registering, you are agreeing that Tony Timmons (and anyone at the UIL) can decide, that I am done.  Judgment call, rule enforcement, confusion over a rule interpretation.  You pick.  Who decides?  Timmons decides.  There are no rules, procedures, protections.  Right now, if I miss a rule enforcement, I am subject to a scratch list  -- but that shouldn't end a career.

DallasLJ

I posed this scenario to Mr Timmons last December when all this was first swirling around.  I was concerned about this issue and wanted to hear from the source.  I left that conversation convinced that the process will not demand you go to Austin.  If the issue is bad enough the process will give you the opportunity if you wish, but not force you.  And as another poster mentioned, they won't be looking at judgement calls in football but rather gross misapplication of rules.  Also, no one's career will end based on a really bad game.   Repeated, verifiable gross misapplication of the rules over a couple of years which cannot be corrected?  Maybe so.

Not saying you should register with the UIL, but I wouldn't be concerned about this issue.

[blindref757]

DallasLJ

I posed this scenario to Mr Timmons last December when all this was first swirling around.  I was concerned about this issue and wanted to hear from the source.  I left that conversation convinced that the process will not demand you go to Austin.  If the issue is bad enough the process will give you the opportunity if you wish, but not force you.  And as another poster mentioned, they won't be looking at judgement calls in football but rather gross misapplication of rules.  Also, no one's career will end based on a really bad game.   Repeated, verifiable gross misapplication of the rules over a couple of years which cannot be corrected?  Maybe so.

Not saying you should register with the UIL, but I wouldn't be concerned about this issue.

Gosh Ed...if we could only get this policy/procedure in writing PRIOR to signing on the dotted (electronic) line, this would be fabulous.  Why is everything so backwards, concealed, and out of order.  The UIL and Timmons are saying "Go ahead and sign up...trust is on these things...the system will be fair, it will be better, and it is free this year."  Many of us tend to think a little more long term.  I want the UIL to build the hell out of a new organization.  I want them to kick TASO's BUTT up and down the street by creating an organization that is first class.  But I'm not willing to bet on the come.  I'm not willing to let a little tyrant like Timmons use coercion, intimidation, and threats.  Build it first...don't HACK on my leg and tell me it's raining!

[Ed Belding]

....  Many of us tend to think a little more long term. 

Boy, I am right there with you!

[Etref]

Am I confused or just getting old.


I thought this was just a simple registration with no strings attached (tongue firmly in cheek).  Now we find out about list of the "top" officials of each chapter, trips to Austin, observers ( like Timmons knows squat about football) and on and on and on.


Well which is it. Is this a simple "free" registration or are there strings attached. 

Like I was saying to a coach the other night when we were talking about this mess. "When was the last time something was really "free". No, like I and others have said before, there is a trust issue that I do not think can be overcome.


Rick