Here’s the scene.
It’s the final quarter with minutes left in the game. The score is a whopping 43-0 in favor of the visitors. The opposing team hasn’t scored a touchdown at all this year. And it’s their homecoming. The visitors have possession and it seems that any possession at all will result in yet another touchdown.
As the coach of the visiting team, what do you do?
That was the situation facing Prescott Head Coach Greg Smith as the Curley Wolves faced the Fouke Panthers. Smith, following the lead of some other coaches around the state this season, instructed his players not to score. Instead, quarterback Jesse Glass, a sophomore, took the snap and then took a knee, acting on Smith’s instructions.
Three times.
The decision handed the ball over to Fouke and presented them the opportunity to fight their way through the Curley Wolves’ defense for a touchdown. They didn’t succeed, but the opportunity had been there.
Smith said the decision to take a knee was, in the case of the game against Fouke, a sign of respect.
“Our junior varsity player’s decision to kneel was out of respect for (Fouke’s) program,” Smith said. “They run a solid program. They don’t have the number of kids we do. At that point, it was more important for us to help build their program.”
Smith knows more about the Fouke sports program than he might know about others in the district because his brother, Kevin Smith, is head coach of that program. That fact, according to Smith, played into his decision.
“Trust is a factor,” he said, citing the fact that some coaches would say their team is in bad shape when it really isn’t.
Faced with the same situation, would he offer his players the same instruction?
“I would do it again,”
The Wolves face Lafayette next in what was to have been the Wolves’ homecoming game. Homecoming events have been put off to Oct. 30.
Smith said the upcoming game is “a little scary” because that program has four returning starters that could make them a threat. Smith said the team has a “Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde” complex in that they sometimes play exceptionally hard and sometimes seem less of a threat.
“You don’t know which one is going to come out and play,” Smith said.
Smith offered up thanks to the fans, citing the support that has been evident in the number of people filling the stands, even at the away games.
“I appreciate the support we’ve had this year,” he said.
GOT AN OPINION? Send letters to the editor to P.O. Box 60, Prescott, AR 71857, fax to 887-2949 or email ncpicayuneoffice@yahoo.com. Letters must be signed and are subject to editorial approval. All letters may be published at the discretion of the editor.
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Here’s the scene.
It’s the final quarter with minutes left in the game. The score is a whopping 43-0 in favor of the visitors. The opposing team hasn’t scored a touchdown at all this year. And it’s their homecoming. The visitors have possession and it seems that any possession at all will result in yet another touchdown.
As the coach of the visiting team, what do you do?
That was the situation facing Prescott Head Coach Greg Smith as the Curley Wolves faced the Fouke Panthers. Smith, following the lead of some other coaches around the state this season, instructed his players not to score. Instead, quarterback Jesse Glass, a sophomore, took the snap and then took a knee, acting on Smith’s instructions.
Three times.
The decision handed the ball over to Fouke and presented them the opportunity to fight their way through the Curley Wolves’ defense for a touchdown. They didn’t succeed, but the opportunity had been there.
Smith said the decision to take a knee was, in the case of the game against Fouke, a sign of respect.
“Our junior varsity player’s decision to kneel was out of respect for (Fouke’s) program,” Smith said. “They run a solid program. They don’t have the number of kids we do. At that point, it was more important for us to help build their program.”
Smith knows more about the Fouke sports program than he might know about others in the district because his brother, Kevin Smith, is head coach of that program. That fact, according to Smith, played into his decision.
“Trust is a factor,” he said, citing the fact that some coaches would say their team is in bad shape when it really isn’t.
Faced with the same situation, would he offer his players the same instruction?
“I would do it again,”
The Wolves face Lafayette next in what was to have been the Wolves’ homecoming game. Homecoming events have been put off to Oct. 30.
Smith said the upcoming game is “a little scary” because that program has four returning starters that could make them a threat. Smith said the team has a “Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde” complex in that they sometimes play exceptionally hard and sometimes seem less of a threat.
“You don’t know which one is going to come out and play,” Smith said.
Smith offered up thanks to the fans, citing the support that has been evident in the number of people filling the stands, even at the away games.
“I appreciate the support we’ve had this year,” he said.
GOT AN OPINION? Send letters to the editor to P.O. Box 60, Prescott, AR 71857, fax to 887-2949 or email ncpicayuneoffice@yahoo.com. Letters must be signed and are subject to editorial approval. All letters may be published at the discretion of the editor.
