This letter is in response to Jerry Richardson's insulting and demeaning diatribe published on Nov. 8, 2001. Jerry, you really don't get it.
Let's deal in facts here, Jerry, not hyperbole and hackneyed stereotypes. Since you chose to make Tiger Football the target of your attack, we'll stick with that program. I'm more familiar with it than many of the other athletic programs offered at WCHS, but what I'll say below applies equally well across the board.
My family and I have been involved with Tiger Football for six years. Two sons have played varsity on the team. One graduated and is in college. One is a senior and will leave for college next summer. I understand the facts of the program, its coaches and its players. You clearly don't have a clue.
I first met Coach Phil Jensen six years ago when he held his first WCHS parents meeting. I do not remember everything he said, but one thing stayed with me because it's been reinforced every year for six years: son, student, athlete. He expects each member of the program to keep to those priorities, in that order, on and off the field.
Coach Jensen expects his young men to meet their duties and obligations to their families and community first and foremost. Then he expects them to meet their obligations as students at WCHS. If they don't keep their grades up, they don't play. (I don't believe Jensen has needed to suspend anyone in four years now.) If any of his student-athletes were to "muscle up" on anyone at WCHS or were involved in "hazing, random violence and sexual assault," I'm certain they'd be out of the program in short order.
Let's look at some results of this program. There were 22 seniors in the program this year. Of this group, 17 are scholar athletes. (This means that these young men maintained a "B" average during the grading period.) Fifteen of the seniors have a cumulative "B" average GPA or higher. Sixteen are multi-sport athletes. Twelve scored above 1000 on the SAT (the WCHS average score is approximately 1000). Three scored over 1200, and two are ranked in the top 20 of their WCHS class of 433. Jerry, do you think some of these student-athletes might be on the Academic Super Bowl Team? (Not that I'd think of that team as "pansies" either.) I believe that these academic results are proof of a program that emphasizes academics first.
What other results can the program demonstrate? How about setting goals and doing what is necessary to achieve them? The varsity set five goals for itself. They achieved three of these, to become a team, to have an undefeated regular season and to be undisputed NLC Champions. They also learned how to deal with not achieving all of their goals. That is part of life, too. All of this was accomplished through dedication, discipline, perseverance, hard work and faith.
Jerry, I do not see that athletics takes any priority over academics at WCHS. At the same time, I do believe that sound, well-run athletic programs are an essential part of developing talented, well-rounded citizens. I sincerely hope that football continues to be a part of the future of WCHS.
Monte Moore Warsaw via e-mail
Cemetery Needs Attention
Editor, Times-Union: Would someone please explain why the Bourbon Parks Cemetery cannot be cleaned up and kept clean? I realize it is not on a main highway where people see it, or within the city limits, but I would think the people or Bourbon or families that have people buried there would take more pride in it. There have been a few that have tried to get it cleaned up, but it takes the whole community to be concerned. One family felt it necessary to mow and clean up their lot before their mother's burial this spring. We picked up limbs that were there earlier this summer when we went down to clean up our lots this Saturday. I have not seen a cemetery in any other town in the area that looks as bad as the Parks Cemetery.
Jo Anne Kolbe Warsaw
Thanks For Tornado Cleanup At Airport
Editor, Times-Union: The tornado of Oct. 24, 2001, will easily be remembered by those who were most affected by it. While the property damage is a concern to all of us, like everyone else, I was very glad to hear there were no serious injuries or fatalities. Further, I was most impressed by the response of individuals and companies who came to the aid of those in need.
My sincere thanks and appreciation goes out to all those who assisted with the cleanup and repair of our airport facilities and aircraft and to those who checked up on me and others who stopped by and offered any assistance we needed. Please accept my gratitude for what you did.
The Warsaw community is a great place to live and work because of its people. That's the best reason why I am thankful and proud to call Warsaw my home.
