Letter from TASO Football President

[Etref]

I received this as an email from TASO. I am reposting as some of you do not get the TASO emails for some reason.




To My Fellow TASO Football Officials,
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR! And what a year 2011 is shaping up to be. If 2010 was not challenging enough, the upcoming year appears to be even more so. Of course, at the top of the list of priorities is getting our situation with the UIL settled and behind us. Unless we show a strong unwillingness to cooperate, I am certain we will come to a mutual agreement and TASO WILL NOT CEASE TO EXIST! I have already been in contact with Tony Timmons; he is looking at his calendar to find a date he and I can meet face to face. I am greatly encouraged by his comments and, so far, he and I agree on many issues. He fully understands that I am 100% pro-TASO and am looking out for the best interests of our organization.

I am a very strong believer in education. That should come as no surprise since I have served on the Lufkin ISD board of trustees for 10 years. Therefore, I place a very high regard on the education of our membership, both on the rules of the game and the mechanics of how we should be working the game. I watch a lot of high school game film and am shocked at the lack of knowledge in both areas some of our members display. There is no excuse for that. The players, coaches and fans deserve better and only we (each individual member) can fix the problems. It requires sacrifice and dedication and I know this organization is up to the task. We can be more consistent across this great state if our education process is improved.

To accomplish this goal, your board is taking a hard look at the format of our state meeting. This year’s state meeting will be in San Antonio at Trinity University July 21-24, and our plans are to structure it with a “training camp” atmosphere. This should allow for more interaction between the instructors and attendees. If we can pull this off, I think you will enjoy the fresh approach.

A lot of people have asked me why I have taken on this responsibility; I have nothing to gain or lose in dealing with the headaches. I answer them this way: TASO has been very good to me for almost 35 years. It is time I give back. In addition, I have a son in the College Station Chapter just starting his career and I want him to have the same experiences I have enjoyed in this chosen avocation. When I joined my fraternity at SFA, we would take a weekly oath saying, “I will transmit the fraternity not only, not less, but more than it was transmitted to me.” (You Phi Delts will recognize that.) I challenge each of you to do the same with TASO. If we are going to co-exist with the UIL as we have done since our beginning, it cannot be “business as usual”. We MUST do better; we MUST do more. It MUST be an individual effort on the part of each one of us. I know we can do it and I also know TASO will survive. Let’s have a great year!

Cooper
  
 

[blindref757]

Sounds like we should all just go ahead and register.

Timmons isn't going to acquiesce on this point...no matter what they hammer out.

Additionally, I can't possibly imagine what Timmons might be doing in the next 5 days that would in any way be more important than meeting with Cooper.  This letter makes it sound like Timmons is busier than a one armed paper hanger.  Really?

[Arbitrator]

 

We've got an active lawsuit that's being studied by a U. S. Federal District Court in Austin. The preliminary rulings there have pretty much gone in TASO's favor, including the temporary suspension of UIL registration activity. Until such time that the Court gives a final ruling on whether or not it has jurisdiction in this matter, why should TASO even want to negotiate with the Manor Road Crowd? Wait until the ruling has been made and then only negotiate out of strength. If it's a favorable ruling from that venue, then it will be the UIL who will be behind the 8-Ball; if it is not favorable however, then we can see where it can go in the state courts. TASO is paying good money for what I believe is very capable legal representation. With the hand of cards that TASO now holds, why would they even want to negotiate with the likes of Timmons and Breithaupt?

Lest we should all remember that the UIL is doing little to nothing to bring about favor from TASO. They are in it strictly for their own selfish ends and that is to control officiating just like they already do in the coaching and administrative sectors. If they ever get control of officiating, and more especially TASO, then exactly who is it that is going to even begin to offer us the diligent representation that TASO has? Now that's truly something to ponder!  

[blindref757]

There is an interesting dynamic here.  Cooper is the Football guy and really only represents football.  Fitch on the other hand, represents all of TASO.  I'm fairly certain that TASO Baseball is going to demand a showdown with UIL.  Where does that leave Cooper as he looks to "negotiate a settlement" with UIL? 

I don't see TASO giving up football?

[Arbitrator]

There is an interesting dynamic here.  Cooper is the Football guy and really only represents football.  Fitch on the other hand, represents all of TASO.  I'm fairly certain that TASO Baseball is going to demand a showdown with UIL.  Where does that leave Cooper as he looks to "negotiate a settlement" with UIL?  

I don't see TASO giving up football?

 

Couldn't agree with you more! In essence, if any  "negotiation" with the Manor Road Crowd were to even remotely come about, I could not see TASO just throwing in the towel and totally giving up on either football or baseball. It may well concede the other sports, although I'd really hate to see basketball just be handed right over to the UIL. I can't help but think that more of this negotiation is ultimately going to be Fitch's call, and I would feel rather confident that he'll wait until such time that the Court issues some kind of ruling in the very near future before doing so!  

[TexDoc]

What Coop may not realize, and will soon realize if he does not, is that the UIL has yet to "negotiate" in good faith concerning anything with TASO in the last two years.  Unfortunately, TT may have to burn Coop once before he understands how little what the UIL can be taken on its face value.  I trust Coop, but I hope this lesson does not come at TASO expense.

[Cooter]

I applaud Cooper for taking the initiative to foster a more civil tone with UIL - hopefully, UIL will respond in kind.  As you read Cooper's email, it states "unless we show a strong unwillingness to cooperate" - his top priority is " getting our situation with UIL stettled and behind us."  Quotes like this are a positive note and essential with NEGOTIATION - I personally don't want this issue dragged out in court any more than it already has been - the rank and file members of both organizations want this resolved and behind us.  Everyone knew Cooper was going to try to negotiate with UIL - he said so in his campaign literature - There is no date for upcoming court action on this issue - taking the wait and see approach could last years.  No one in TASO or UIL will make everyone happy - there will always be those that live for a confrontation - I say rip the bandaid off and lay out what TASO will look like in the future - if that scene is something I can't tolerate, I go elsewhere - but I'm glad Cooper is going to get something on the table. 

[Etref]

I agree that the issue needs to be resolved and talking with UIL is a good start. I also know that TASO has been trying to talk with them before and were not successful.

One thing for sure, any agreement that is worked out should be signed off on by Judge Yeakel. That way there is no "misunderstanding" about what was said or agreed to.

[tzebra]

Negotiation with the UIL is like me negotiating with my wife.  Everything is fine as long as I agree with everything she says.

[rickref]

Negotiation with the UIL is like me negotiating with my wife.  Everything is fine as long as I agree with everything she says.

Sounds like my house.