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Eastern-Greene parents seek more time on the field for youth football
SOLSBERRY -- A decision to nick off several youth league kick-offs had parents ticked off at Eastern Greene School Corp. Monday. About 150 Community Football League supporters rallied during the trustees meeting to expand the games allowed the league on the revamped school football field.
Parents believe the school system fumbled a chance to develop future gridiron stars by limiting the games their squads can play this season.
However, another 'Hail Mary' pass at the problem might yet save some of the scuttled games. Eastern Greene School Board President Lane Corbin and other trustees will meet with league officers in an effort to work out a compromise, though a date had not been determined yet by Monday's session.
"Maybe we can work something out that we all can live with," Corbin said.
Time is of the essence, however, League President Duane Long said, as the league's season begins a week from Saturday.
The decision to limit league play on the new school field cut the available dates solely to Saturdays, establishing only five days when the youth league composed of players 14 and under could hold games.
That limit came due to new sod on the field which administrators feared would be damaged by excessive play.
The $40,000 resodding of the school's football field was expected to limit play to varsity teams in August, Mungle said in July, adding that little play shouldn't cause damage to the new turf.
Funds for the work came from money remaining in the new high school's building fund, which still has about $230,000 remaining, the record shows.
"We can play on it in August, but we are going to definitely have to limit the games," Mungle announced during the board's July session.
The limits, imposed after Long established the season, would cut games by the younger, grade school players. It also offended parents who had initially agreed to pay $5 per child, a rate later switched to $100 total a day, or $25 a game.
"We were not told of any limits when we made that agreement," Long said, adding that if the limits remain in place younger players will be forced to travel long distances to games elsewhere.
The changes, Long said, pose problems for families like his, for the coach has two sons playing in the league, one older and one younger.
"You'll be splitting up families," Long said. "They can't be both places at once."
However, Superintendent Ty Mungle noted the community football league actually is allowed more games on the field than the school football team.
Long criticized Mungle as not supporting the league, leading Corbin to urge him to avoid personal attacks.
Mungle, meanwhile, said he supports the league and framed the issue in terms of a tough financial picture.
"We made a decision, partly because of liability issues, the condition that the field was in," he said. "We want the field to be better. Historically, Eastern Greene has not hosted Indiana High School Athletic Association Events. We want a field and a school facility our athletes can compete on in those events and be proud of."
Under the present schedule, the school limits high school games to a dozen this season. Comparatively, the youth football league is allowed five days of four games each, amounting to 20 total.
"Who cares?" said Michael Morguson, who played four years at Eastern Greene then went on to serve as student manager for Indiana University's Hoosiers. Morguson, now an appraiser, assists with the league, and said it will take at least four years to build a competitive squad.
Noting the Thunderbirds kept pace with third-ranked Linton for a single quarter, "then they got gassed," because they were forced to play both offense and defense. Morguson said developing interest early among grade schoolers is key to eventually fielding enough players to have a 40-man squad.
"It's not about today; it's about the future," Morguson said. "In five years, wouldn't you like to see Eastern Greene ranked at the state level? What kind of press, prestige, notoriety, fame and fortune do you think Linton has right now?"
Incoming board member Mike Adams Jr., who assists with the league and who will take office in January, concurred.
"Our middle school program's struggled with the numbers," he said. "Increasing those numbers is what we need."