The crushing defeat suffered by the Juneau/Douglas Crimson Bears last Saturday night should challenge the School District administration to review its policy on interscholastic football in Juneau.
My concern is not over a defeat, per se; it is for the safety of our athletes. Football is a game of controlled violence; it is inherently dangerous and therein is found much of its appeal.
Typically, a “team” is comprised of three teams: Offense, Defense and Special, each of which is made up of eleven players; in theory there are thirty-three positions on the team.
In the game against Murietta Valley, Juneau suited-up 22 players who were fit to play; of these, 4 did not finish the game. The Nighthawks suited-up 48 players. If you looked at the Juneau sideline during play; there were about as many coaches as there were players.
Simply stated, the Bears do not have enough players. Many of our starters play on all three teams, (Offense, Defense and Special). Given the repetitive high level of exertion required in this sport, players who are called upon to play on multiple teams become excessively fatigued, are more susceptible to injury and cannot perform at their best.
In my opinion, Juneau should not have two varsity football teams; there are simply not enough athletes to go around. Everything else aside, the risk of injury has become unacceptably high given the current level of participation.
• Isett is 32-year resident of Juneau, a former member of the JYFL board of directors and is the father of a former Crimson Bear and college football player.
Comments (18)
Add comment"There were about as many coaches as there were players."
"Many of our starters play on all three teams..."
"..called upon to play on multiple teams."
"...become excessively fatigued, are more susceptible to injury..."
When did this high-school sport become more about the adults than the students?
I'm just curious. Can various softball teams in Juneau 'borrow'
A-players from other teams to compete?
Isett Is Right ON
The opening of TMHS created more opportunities for participation in interscholastic sports like basketball that only requires a team of 10. More kids get to play instead of getting cut or ridining the pines.
But there just are not enough kids for 2 football teams. Safety issues notwithstanding the cost of 2 high school football teams is a real burden on the Juneau business community. To raise the $1,200 -$1,500 needed per player for football and hockey there are fund raisers ad nauseum.
The School District needs to make high school football just like high school hockey that has only 1 team. Juneau does not have the players nor the money to support 2 very financially expensive teams that are at very high risk for safety when made up of too few players.
Hun?
It is odd that the same sentiments are not expressed when the team puts a trashing on some small school from AK (Thunder Mt). What goes around, comes around.
Both Schools Understaffed
TMHS getting trashed is even more reason to not have 2 teams. Not enough kids or cash for 2 HS teams.
Easy
Drop football from the sports curriculum if it's so dangerous and expensive. There are other sports.
Parents and coaches put game before safety?
Did I read this right? Parents and coaches are jeopardizing safety of children by only fielding a team of 20ish students but the writer is blaming the school district and its policies for the actions of the parents? Shut down JDHS football NOW if you are risking the players safety. This is absolutely insane and Isett is laying the ground work for a lawsuit.
Wow. A bunch of buttercups
Let's put dresses on them and call them daisy. What is wrong with you people? Toughen up parents and watch your kids grow into men on the field. Obviously the kids want to play. Let them make the decisions if they want to play.
We have two teams that compete very well with other Alaska schools. If anything JDHS should move down and compete with small schools in southeast to save money but if they are willing to raise the money so be it. Go for it.
And another thing
If you don't like the fundraisers don't participate. The notion that others should stop fund raising because you find it annoying is stunning in its projection of responsibility.
And remember winning isnt everything it's the only thing!
Fundraising Intrusive
I don't need kids and adults banging on my home's door selling raffle tickets, season passes, sphaghetti feed tickets. I also don't need any more of them soliciting my business to buy ads for their programs.
Enough is Enough
Juneau Can't support 2 HS football teams.Paying for teams to come to Juneau? What a joke.
aynrand
Uhhh tell them no.
What is your business so we all know not to solicit there.
Costs
What concerns me the most is the $20,000 it cost to bring the California team here. We are constantly being asked to support youth programs. I don't this is the best use of donated funds.
Fairbanks and Valley Teams
The Fairbanks and Valley teams get around 30 RT tickets to come to Juneau. For at least 4 trips per season. So about $12Kper trip and close to another $50K on top of the California team. And that is just for 22 Juneau kids. Pretty daren expensive. Go to intramurals or get rid of football.
Insane amount of money.
Whats Next?
Pretty soon kids are going to be banging on our doors selling raffle tickets to take an algebra class. If the schools can't affordto pay for football get rid of it.Ther are plenty of other afforable sports to teach responsibilty, dicipline,team work, ........
anyrand
Juneau spends over $19,000 per child per year ($92 million/4800 students). That means each classroom is getting $460,000 a year assuming 24 students per class. I cannot imagine how you could spend more per child and get less education than they are already not receiving .
anyrand
I would like to know what your business is also. So I can make sure to not add to your coffers. I prefer to do business with more generous and civic minded enterprises.
I support programs in both schools. I am more than happy to buy a raffle ticket, popcorn, wrapping paper or whatever else. Anything that gives a young person something to do other than "hang out" or "experiment" with drugs is worth it to me. I see it as investment in our community.
Something to Do
We don't need to spend $70,000 to bring kids to Juneau so our kids don't hang out, experiment, and have something to do. And we're only spending that for 22 kids so they have something to do. That fund raising comes largely from the business community. So they have to increase prices on their goods and services.
The JDHS tennis team has had up to 60 kids and that program costs less than $10,000 per year to give kids someting to do to avoid hanging out and experimenting.The kids dont have to fund raise much at all.maybe $50. All the money is spent on Juneau kids. Not Fairbanks and Mat Valley kids.
Keep the money in Juneau.
Play southeast teams or scrap football at one of the high schools.
Had to have two
We all know about wanting the second high school now don't we? With the second school came the need for a an additional HS football team at Thunder Mountain. The reality is that there are not enough players to field two complete teams in Juneau. Turn about is fair play JDHS, you have taken great pleasure in running up the score against some of your weaker opponents in the past, now perhaps you know what it is like to be on the receiving end.