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Bulldogs boast regional flavorThursday, June 4, 2009
Central baseball coach Steve Williams said that talented athletes want to play on teams that have reputations for winning, and Notre Dame teams have won a great deal lately. The Catholic high school in Cape Girardeau, therefore, has had a strong mix of athletes enroll recently from towns across Southeast Missouri. "Success does breed success in the sense that when kids believe that winning is a tradition or is going to happen every year, they tend to perpetuate that thought and so Notre Dame is on a good run right now where they have the best of both worlds -- they have talented kids coming through their doors and they have kids that want to work and win and that's a good combination to have," Williams said. The Notre Dame baseball program, which will play in its second straight Class 3 final four this weekend and enters the tournament ranked No. 1 in its class with a 27-1 record, is just one of the teams at Notre Dame that recently has had great success and looks to be in good shape for the long term. The Notre Dame softball, basketball, baseball and soccer programs all have been winning consistently in recent years. Notre Dame has sent seven teams to the final four since the fall of 2007.
Notre Dame baseball coach Jeff Graviett, along with some baseball players, said that some strong athletes have chosen to enroll at Notre Dame because they and their parents have been impressed with the education offered combined with the success of the athletic programs and the strong athletics facilities. Graviett and members of the baseball team think their recent consistent winning, combined with the vast improvements made to the baseball field -- Graviett said close to $250,000 in renovations have been made over the past couple of years -- might work to attract more talented baseball players in the upcoming years. They hope it does. "I would think this is the place that you'd want to be a part of," Graviett said. "You see what we've done here on the baseball field to the success that we've had. If you're a kid who loves athletics and is looking for a strong place academically and spiritually, this has got to be a great place to consider and think about." Yet while the private school grows, are some local public high school coaches concerned about Notre Dame's recent ability to attract so many strong athletes? "I don't know if concern is the right word, but it's an issue because obviously they have kids not just from a school district but they have kids from an area," Williams said. "So I guess in some instances, I'm sure it is an issue because they have had students from other districts come to school at Notre Dame, and just by the fact that they happen to be a good ballplayer, that could affect other teams as well."
The 17-member varsity baseball team that is heading to Springfield this weekend has three players from Cape Girardeau, three from Jackson, three from Sikeston, two from Benton, two from Charleston, two from Kelso, one from Scott City and one from Oran. Why are some of the current athletes at Notre Dame willing to travel long distances to school each day? What brought them to the private school, which does have a strong academic reputation as it was placed on the Catholic High School Honor Roll list as a top-50 Catholic school nationally in the past four years? "The majority of our kids went to Catholic grade school, so I think a lot of it has to do with them continuing their Catholic education," Graviett said. Some players say the recent success of the athletic teams did weigh into their decision to enroll. All Notre Dame teams are doing well. The school's baseball team, boys soccer team and girls softball team have each made four trips to the final four this decade. The girls and boys basketball teams each have made three trips, while volleyball and girls soccer each have made two appearances in the final four this decade. Jackson High School and Central High School play in a class higher than Notre Dame, so they face tougher postseason competition and neither school recently has come near the success that Notre Dame has had at the state level. The Jackson football team appeared in three final fours and the girls basketball program appeared in two this decade, while Central boys soccer appeared in one final four (2003). However, the softball, volleyball, baseball, boys basketball and girls soccer teams at Central and Jackson have combined to appear in no final fours this decade. Moreover, neither the Jackson boys soccer team nor the Central girls basketball team have appeared in the final four this decade. Statistics, therefore, reveal that the chance that a team qualifies for the final four is much better for athletes at Notre Dame than Central and Jackson, two other local schools that offer as many or more sports as Notre Dame. Notre Dame athletic teams have appeared in the final four 22 times compared to six times by Jackson and Central combined since 2000. "It [success of all the Notre Dame teams] is a big part for me," said Trenton St. Cin of Oran. "Oran has never won a state championship. If I so happen to get one, I'd be the only one in town to have a state ring and I'd love to do that. That had a lot to do with my decision to come here." Oran High School has made the final four five times in baseball this decade. St. Cin, a junior, said many of his family members played baseball at Oran, including his cousin who was a senior on the 2003 squad that went to the final four. He said he looked up to the members of that 2003 team. But after examining the situation at Oran, he felt like the talent was starting to dwindle among players in his age group and that Notre Dame was a better fit for him as its baseball program would include Colton Young, Jake Pewitt and Wesley Glaus. He played with those three players on a traveling team before high school. While the success of the teams had an influence of some current baseball players, others said that their parents were the ones who decided to enroll them there. Aaron Tomaszewski of Scott City said he was living in Sikeston when he was looking at high schools and that his father decided to enroll him at Notre Dame. Notre Dame standout pitcher and hitter Dylan Drury is one of two Notre Dame players who live in Charleston. He said the strong sports teams were just a bonus for him. "My dad has been telling me that I'm coming here since I was 5 or 6 years old just because he knows it's a good school and he went here," Drury said. Notre Dame senior Austin Greer, of Benton, helped the Notre Dame basketball team to the 2008 Class 4 state championship as one of the team's leading scorers. He also has the best batting average on the baseball team this year and has provided much of the power hitting for the baseball program over the past two springs. Greer said some people have believed that he was recruited for athletics by Notre Dame. But Greer said that his mother attended Notre Dame and she wanted him to attend. He said that when he was in eighth grade it didn't matter to him whether he attended Kelly or Notre Dame. "I get it a lot from being down south and having a lot of Kelly friends," Greer said. "They're like, 'Oh, you were kind of recruited up there.' Reality for basketball is that why would they recruit a 6-foot-1 kid to play post alongside [Ryan] Willen. That just doesn't make any sense. None of us are recruited. We just wanted to go to a good winning program and by [winning] happening it attracts good players." Notre Dame has been the subject of accusatory comments about illegal athletic recruitment posted numerous times on the Southeast Missourian's Web site. A remark left by one reader in the comment section of a story about Notre Dame adding a wrestling program for the 2009-10 academic school year stated, "Let's see if they recruit John Cena to lead the team this year." Part of another comment underneath the wrestling article stated: "Construction of the runway for the three new Concord jets that will serve as the school bus for some of the new students who live in Oklahoma and Iowa will begin shortly. Please turn in your jet fuel fundraising sheet after mass on Wednesday." Graviett denied that he and the other coaches at Notre Dame recruit or handpick athletes. "We try to let our program and school do the recruiting for us," Graviett said. "I think that's probably the big picture here." Attracting players Young of Sikeston said that he was attracted to Notre Dame after his cousin attended the school and liked it. Young, one of the standout pitchers on the team, also said his parents thought Notre Dame was the best school for him to attend and that he liked the idea of going there because some of his friends also would be attending. Young is one of the baseball players that hopes the recent success of the baseball program will make Notre Dame more attractive for talented baseball players. "I think a lot of kids see all the high school players doing well and going to final fours all the time in just about every event," Young said. "Soccer has gone a lot in the past four or five years. Basketball is the same and hopefully baseball is the same, too, and I think kids look up to that and want to come here." Greer added: "Kids want to go to a winning program. They don't want to go to somewhere that doesn't win. Losing is not accepted here at Notre Dame. Winning is what you do." Besides the winning, Graviett thinks the improvements that have enhanced the field might attract some players, although he said the renovations were for the current players. Stadium seating, dugouts sunk into the ground and a brick wall behind home plate have been added since last spring. Bermuda grass and lights were added the year before. Graviett estimated that the recent changes likely have increased the field's value to near $500,000 and the majority of the money to renovate came from sign sponsors. "We wanted to create an atmosphere that's unlike any other in high school baseball around here, and I think we've done that with the pro-style dugouts and the facilities and trying to play a few night games to enable people to come see," Graviett said. "Again, in the big picture, is it going to bring a few kids here down the road? Good possibility." Williams said that a nice facility is an attraction for prospective students considering where to attend high school. "I think everybody, including us at Central, try to update their facilities and make them as nice as possible," he said. "Notre Dame has been fortunate enough to have some very financially blessed people donate money to help upgrade their facilities, so they've done it right. "They have a very nice facility to play in and I think that is an attractive thing for some kids who are making up their minds on where they'd like to go to high school." Whatever the reason, Notre Dame athletics have been on fire this decade. Just take Graviett, for instance. This weekend's trip will be his fourth to state in the past two years between coaching the softball and baseball teams. "It's nice going in every year and knowing that you're competing for a state championship and that your goals are set higher than some programs," he said. 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Enough already on Notre Dame. Can't you ever write about Cape Central Athletes???
My children attend ND and I personally have never seen any recruitment. I think a lot of parents want christianity in their childrens lives and public schools will not allow this. I forsee ND to continue to flourish as well as I think you will see Saxony continue to grow. Acedemically both of these schools are outstanding. Athletics is just the icing on the cake for the students.
LOL! I've have seen it all, kids and the newspaper trying to validate why they go to Notre Dame. It's simple, they RECRUIT, everyone knows it and yet there is nothing that can be done about it. Local Scott County Catholic Churches help pay their tution, and send the message to their members that Notre Dame is better than the local school. It is truly unfair for them to be put in the same conferences and districts as public schools that actually have restrictions and borders on their school districts. Or how about this $250,000 spent on just the baseball team and facilities with the total being up around 300,000 to 400,000 if you take away the "donations". That is more than Semo spends on their baseball team in probably 4 years, yet alone 6 months. So congratulations ND you have proven that if you get enough rich Catholics to support you and hand pick the best athletes out of each town you can be really good school, what a revelation!
I really feel sorry for the people that just do not, get it!!!!!!!! We will say a prayer for you....
Steve Williams is very honest and a Class act. If Steve had a Central team headed to state, all of ND would be behind him and his team.........
Good Luck Bulldogs, represent Southeast Missouri Well!!!!!!!!!!
We would also like to wish St. Vincents Girls Soccer, all the best this weekend........
Well 6+4+3=2 and kingjames have shown their true metal. ND is a class place with a class act. Any parent who cares about their child and read those persons comments can see why their choice to send their child to ND was a REALLY GOOG ONE. They won't be exposed to hate mongers there.
As a product of ND and my oldest child is now a student at ND I can feel I can say w/o any doubt that ND DOES NOT recruit. News flash! I attended ND in the 70's and we had students coming from all over and as far as away as Charleston at that time. ND is a Catholic High School even though they open their doors to students of all faiths and backgrounds so most Catholic families will send their kids to ND such as my parents did for me and all my siblings and I am doing for my children.
"kingjames", let me make sure I understand what your point is. are you saying that parents should NOT have the option to give their children a good, faith based education and be able to have the opportunity to compete in their state sports classification? Hmmmm, maybe if we got the government out of the schools and the faith back in, families would not choose ND and opt to stay closer to home. as far as the kids from "these towns". I think using the word "hate" is awfully strong. Yes, when I went to high school (and I lived in Cape), other kids would make smart alec remarks to me and my friends and family because we attended ND. But I took that with a grain of salt because we were kids and kids can be mean. However, you imply that the out lying town citizens hate people who have graduated from ND and are more than likely productive members of their area. Boy, the impression you give does not say much for those towns. "6+4+3=2" maybe you should reread the article. I don't see it as these kids "validating" why they go to ND. The reporter asked a question and they gave an honest answer. How is that validating? Also, you had better get your facts straight. Most of the Catholic parishes help pay a portion of the tuition for each student that attends ND. That has NOTHING to do with recruiting. They did that when I went to school there in the 70's and trust me we did not have any athletic programs to brag about. I pity you for your bitterness towards Catholics. As far as Coach Williams; I hang my head in shame to think that I knew you in my high school years even though we did not attend the same school. I would have thought as a high school athlete and now coach that you would have learned better sportsmanship.
It is sad that most people do not get it. Education is number one, plain and simple. It is no coincidence that the same kids that work extremely hard at athletics are the same kids that work hard in sports. ND is the one school that can provide opportunities for any child that puts the work in on both subjects. I went to ND from a small town and also played sports. That hard work translated into both academic and athletic scholarships for college. (which is the main goal)
Funny part and what most people can't understand is that my parents would have sent me here for academics only, even if they didn't have the first sports team.
I am from Chaffee and was lucky enough to attend Notre Dame. I am so thankful that I had parents who were willing to spend the money to send me there. I was very fortunate. My parents spent a lot of time driving my siblings and I to and from practice and games, but it was worth every sacrifice they had to make. Nobody in my family was recruited to play at Notre Dame. Anybody can send their children there whether they are Catholic or not.
Steve Williams stated in this article "it's an issue because obviously they have kids not just from a school district but they have kids from an area" "I'm sure it is an issue because they have had students from other districts come to school at Notre Dame"
Well, I have to ask Coach Williams, what has changed since he attended Central? ND had students from other districts when he played against ND in high school sports and I do not recall him whining then because ND had atheletes from other districts or areas playing for ND. What has changed? For ND, the only thing that changed is the quality of sports programs and opportunities that the school and it's generous alumni have provided for the kids.
Central should hang their head to have Coach Williams statements printed. I agree with the blog that said if the roles were reversed, all of ND would be praising Central for their success
I honestly don't care what Notre Dame does or has done with it's sports program. The school is about three times the size or more than my school and is just in a different class all together. I do think that private schools should have different conferences and state tournaments than public schools. Having seperate tournaments would clear a lot of this recruitment buzz. I'm NOT saying that Notre Dame or Saxony Lutheran recruits, but it's just basic knowledge. For example: A small public school of 200 students has a decent sports program, BUT it needs ALL the students it can to continue to be decent. A larger private school of 1,200 students has enough students to fill all of their sports and then some. The private school thinks it could be better and "takes" some of the small school's best talent away by advertising itself as one of the premier schools. Thus eliminating many programs from the small school causing it to be less active. Done with the example. I do agree with soccer though. The Southeast Missourian has been a little one sided lately. If they are not talking about Notre Dame baseball, then they are talking about Saxony track. If anything postive happens for small public schools around here they have to practically beg to get any attention from the paper.
Recruiting? Does that mean accepting the privilege of sacrificially investing several thousands of dollars per year in my child's education and future at a top-notch school?!
The only time the recruitment issue comes up regarding a private school is when the school is successful and the issue is raised by those jealous of that success. Notre Dame is a regional Catholic high school -- its proper title is Notre Dame Regional High School. It is part of the school system of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, one of three Catholic high schools in the diocese providing secondary education. The vast majority of ND's students have already been in the Catholic school system at the elementary level, paying tuition for grades pre-K through 8. Those same parents who invest in their children's education through tuition also pay taxes to support students in the public school system, which would be overwhelmed and in desperate need of immediate higher tax rates to support the infrastructure if no private schools existed. The very existence of private school systems - and the parents who pay both tuition and taxes - is a boon to the public system and to other taxpayers.
There are many reasons for Notre Dame's success both on and off the field: phenomenal parental involvement; high expectations and goals; excellent faculty, coaches, and staff; faith-based Christian environment; personal investment of time, talent, and treasure by parents, alumni, and community members who recognize the worth of the school's mission; and hard work and dedication of the students.
Please note, "6+4+3=2": recruiting is not in the equation. If you have any solid evidence of athletic recruitment of students, I challenge you to present it publicly.
bigred6509, ND has an enrollmenent of about 500 students.
there are 2 reasons i do not send my kids to ND. one is they do not have a football program and the other reason is there is a a free public school here. if they were to add football my family would attend immediately. i think ND does recruit but not like the rest of the people think. i think they way they recruit is the are selling hard work, discipline, and family values. this is something that is lost on the public school system. ND will continue to recruit kids in the future based on the things they offer and the success the deliver.
i wish the public school system would get off of this politically correct BS and start preparing these kids for the real world. kids will frow up thinking the world is fair as long as you teach that to them in school. show them that hard work and self discipline is the right values. the public school just hands stuff to these kids. i applaud ND for their success and the values they are teaching. get football so my family can take advantage of these values.
I now live in Memphis and their high school sports are divided into 2 divisions. Division 1 (public schools) and division 2 (private schools). They still have classes in each division that are based on school size. Their playoffs are still just as competitive if not more with their division. Something for MHSAA to think about.
bigred6509,
Shows how little you know about the topic when "it is just basic knowledge" that you nearly tripled the schools enrollment to make your point.
6+4+3=2,
Why do you care how much money is spent on the school? It doesn't come out of your pocket...unlike my tax money that went into building Central's new school and the additions to Jackson. Why don't you get some boosters together, donate your money to whichever public school you feel is being victimized and build some fancy sports facilities so you can entice all of ND's recruited athletes your way.
In the 80's we were called rich snobs...most were not rich, maybe a few were snobs, but no more than some of the kids I knew that attended public school. Don't remember much recruiting BS most likely because we were only average in sports and Central was kicking our *** in baseball and basketball every year...with the exception of '84 & '85 when we won basketball state. ND hasn't won baseball state since '93...sounds like a dynasty built on recruitment to me!
"We try to let our program and school do the recruiting for us," Graviett said. "I think that's probably the big picture here."
If I were him, I would not use the word recruiting. But, I will say that he is 100% correct. When you can spend $250,000 on baseball RENOVATIONS, you are recruiting. College teams have to upgrade every couple of years so that they can compete with other schools. Athletes visit college campuses and view the facilities before they make their decision. The one with the best facilities usually gets the better kids. You look at the colleges and tell me I am wrong. What ND is doing is putting all this money into their athletics so that it will draw these athletes to their school. That means more money academically. Are they a class act? Well, there is no question they are. And I would be too if I got to coach on an half a million dollar baseball field.
They should not be able to compete for state titles with the public schools. It is not fair. I am not bashing ND. The multiplier should be more then just 1.5. I think that is what it is. If they are aloud to put this much money into their athletics, then they need to multiply their population 2.
Go look at all the private schools in the state. Year in and year out, they are in the final four in just about every sport. ND and St. Francis Borgia basically go back and forth when it comes to basketball. It is not fair to the kids that can not afford to pay and drive 35-40 minutes to ND everyday.
The same issue is taking place in Kentucky. There has been some serious discussion about seperating the private schools from competing for Kentucky state championships. I know at one time there was an issue with the private schools in Kansas City and questions about recruiting. If this is becoming a serious issue then I agree with one of the comments the MHSAA should consider seperating the public and private schools. But give the private schools credit--they do have first class facilities that will attract athletes.
I wish somebody would name some of the athletes who have been recruited to play sports at Notre Dame. Everybody keeps making all these accusations, but nobody ever mentions any names. Why is that?
I'd like to know the names of all of the kids on the team and which towns each one is from. Just curious.
If you separate public and private schools then you are going to be left with impressive private school games and not so impressive small school games. If you don't want to compete against the best, then you are not truly an athlete.
IF EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH, THEN LETS DO A STUDY ON EDUCATION. What is the difference in graduation rates between Central and ND? What percentage of students go on to college? What are the average ACT scores, etc,etc,etc. Most of the parents that send students to ND are doing it for two reasons, 1) Provide a Catholic education, 2) Isolate and provide a good learning environment for their childern.
It is education people, the sports and athletics is just the icing on the cake.
Tennessee has already figured out , by votes of Athletic directors from all over the state, to let the Private Schools take it out on each other..while the rest of the state's public schools enjoy friendly competittion , and a variety of teams that make it to a final 4 , or State Championship each yr.......no more 4 and 5 yr repeaters..( they seperated their scholols years ago ) ..because in fact , they (ND) do..without open "recruitment"...recruit. Those at ND or anywhere for that matter, that think a competative kid at a small public school, that may be the superstar there,( but wont ever play for a team championship) won't , in his heart and mind, want to go to a school that has a chance to play , year in, year out, on a potential playoff team....are just foolish. In todays world....exposure means potential...scholarships, etc...and graduating from ND...regardless of what a kid is like in private....makes a difference.....they are not all saints who never get in trouble....they are kids....and are succeptible to the same issues as kids anywhere....but ND carries a prestige...and is recognized nationally....but lets face it...as the article says....success breeeds success....and kids will be drawn there, that are above average athletes......regadless of "continuing Catholic education"....
we have taught our kids all along that winning isn't everything....it is the ONLY thing......grown men "fix" teams in little league , so they can go to work and talk about their coaching prowess ( for 3rd graders)?? And continue to coach, and create teams with stacked decks, and raise Holy XXXX if they accidentally lose.....what do you think that tells a nine yr old, or a very impressionable 13 yr old...?? And then came traveling teams.....a group of area outstanding kids...that generally never lose....thus is born the idea , generally of dads and coaches...."if we keep these kids together...and we can if we all go to ND.( or any private school)...we can continue to win baby win...." Don't say that series of thoughts hasn't become reality over the years.... nothing illegal...just the way it is......and ND has benefitted from it....like no other program in the area....no jealousy, no rage, no hate......just the way it is.....
You know...I am a product of the Sikeston Public School system...for better or for worse. But, being an individual that can step back and look at the facts; it is plain to see the advantages of private vs. public education / athletics.
Notre Dame is certainly the bell-of-the-ball because currently there is not any limit to the "reach" of the program. Yes, I know...you have to pay to play, but Notre Dame playing any public school in many cases is just not fair. Now we all know that no-one is going to produce this credible evidence that all ND whiners are crying out to hear...the reality is that no one has to present it. It is painfully obvious. When Sikeston beats Notre Dame, or when Cape...Charleston...whoever beats Notre Dame it is done with home-grown, well coached talent. It isn't the prodcut of store bought assembled regional talent. Even the name Notre Dame Regional High School says it all. When Sikeston wins, they use Sikeston based talent. Cape uses Cape based talent...Charleston...Dexter...you get the picture. Yet, somehow you can claim based on this off-the-charts education that most of you proclaim to have from ND that the word "REGIONAL" doesn't provide an advantage in terms of the athletic teams you put on the field?
It isn't the facilities that make a team better and it isn't the number of kids enrolled...take these teams and line 'em up anywhere and play...it is the talent on the field and by most school's standards it just isn't fair to be able to draw talent from a region vs. that of the city or district school boundries. I don't care how much you pay to play, it isn't fair. You need your own MSHSAA classification to play against other "pay to play" teams.
By the way once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog...you guys even steal mascots...for all that money that is paid to play there, you would think you could come up with something like the Padres, Friars, the Fighting Popes, or Cardinals (get it...that was a subtle catholic joke) Bottom line is this, just because there isn't a black and white ruling on this at the highest level in Missouri High School sports, doesn't mean that it is all even between the lines. True fans and athletes know that there are some things that are more important at this level...winning IS everything, but winning with honor and HOME-GROWN pride makes it all that much sweeter. Congrats on your "engineered" recent success, ND.
Colton young didn't go because of "faith", and I'm sure others as well. Notre dame only has 500 because they have a waiting list, which means they can pick and choose who they want, when they want. This way, they don't have to move up a class, but can pick the right kids ( better yet athelets) and stay in a smaller class.
Williams was asked a question, and responded. He is still a classy guy, from what I hear.
4 from sikeston
1 oran, 1 chaffee
3 jackson, 1 charleston, and a few Benton
Thanks for the long winded rant Bam79 and thank you for the congrats. Why don't you, queenjames, and 6-4-3=2 start some sort of club so you can sit around crying about "pay to play" and "engineering success". If things are so unfair why doesn't Notre Dame crush all of those home grown teams at the Christmas tourney every year. Why don't you explain how Scott County Central rolled thru the tourney this year (including a thumping of ND)...Jackson and Charleston have alternated winning it every other year for the past 15 years. Jackson has had plenty of success against Notre Dame, so I'm guessing the whiners are mainly Cape Central alum.
Nobody was complaining when we played on that fine baseball field at the old Notre Dame that doubled as a soccer field and had a rickety old wooden picket fence. That school had a closet for a weight room, which consisted of a pull-up bar and a set of free weights that looked like they had been around since the school was founded...oh, and it was also a storage room. Our uniforms were hand-me-downs...varsity got new ones every few years and the JV teams would inherit the old ones. The JV uniforms in '90 were the old varsity uniforms from 1983!
So, thanks again, we are proud of our school. It took 50+ years to get to where we currently are and it didn't cost you a dime.
Let's see. No one was complaining about ND recruiting in the mid '90's when they were Class 2 and couldn't get out of their own district in baseball or basketball. And, why couldn't they get out of districts? No coaching. Why was SCC not winning games before Cookson came back? No coaching. Why did Bell City win all those games? Coaching. When did Oran baseball become a Class 1 dynasty? When Mitch Wood took over. It happens. Great players win games. Great players with great coaches win championships.
It's ironic how everyone talks about ND recruiting but no one mentions anything about how many people who have a cape address and phone number are considered in the Jackson school district. Does that seem odd to you? Is that recruiting? Also, Doesn't recruiting usually have some type of "payoff" for the person accepting to attend the school? Please correct me if I'm wrong but those kids aren't getting anything except a great education (paid for by their parents)and some great memories of their high school years that they worked hard to get.
Oh Sam...how wonderful it must be to openly accept what you perceive to be reality. If you think the climate in high school sports is the same as it was say 10 years ago...you are off, man. Your whole argument about the "tough" times is just wasted words. In the last few years we have seen a major change in the way schools like ND go about doing what they do..to win and win at all costs. Do I care that it didn't cost me a dime? No, not exactly...what I care about is the authenticity of high school sports. If you played high school sports instead of wished from the bleachers you would understand that too. High School athletics is about drawing talent from the boundaries of your district to put a great team on the field. The problem...ND has no district. The only limitations are the amount of $$ you want to pay and the distance you wish to drive. I don't care if mommy and daddy make the tuition payments for you. In many cases, that happens at the collegiate level too. So, what exactly is your point? Your entire time is spent defending ND and not thinking. I realize it isn't the kids fault...but what about everyone else that can't draw talent from a REGION. That baffles me...how can you not see that even your school's name implies that you don't play like everyone else. So, boil it all down and tell me if it is or isn't fair. That shiny trophy came with a price and deep down inside, you know that everyone who doesn't believe in how it came about is right. When you are alone, when no one is watching / listening...you will come to terms with that.
Being the parent of one of the students in the photo, I have to sit back and laugh at all the misinformtion. One point is that 100% of the labor that went in to building the ND basball field was done by dads, ballplayers, and other volunteers. Their was not one BIG donnor that plopped down money and said "build a field". A few of the dads worked their tails off for several years organizing and seeking small donations. There is not one public school in the area that could not do the very same thing if they had the commitment from their boosters, and people willing to rolll up their sleeves and work. The second point about drawing in sudents to play sports. Standing in that photo are two boys whose mothers are CAtholic elementary school principals, one mom teaches at ND, 5 of the boys parents attended ND and one other had three older siblings who attended. These boys are hard workers and are glad to be at ND, but their parents are the ones who made the decision for them to be there, and they are the ones who make the sacfifices to pay the tuition. Sports was not even in the picture when making decisons it was morals, spirituality, and high academic standards. If you want to know about why these children attend, ask a parent, not Steve Williams.
No one is saying that all of the kids on that team are from far off lands brought to the school for the sole purpose of building some sports dynasty. It is impossible to lump all of these kids into the same classification. Some are life long products of the catholic school system...some are not. No one is disputing that. It is just strange and it makes people wonder...your coaching staff hasn't changed all that much but out of the clear blue...the talent has? Why for 50 years has the school been "normal" and then...all of a sudden its as if the heavens opened up and rained down SEMO allstars to fill the rosters. Don't make this into some all or nothing arguement...it isn't that simple.
"Sports was not even in the picture when making decisons it was morals, spirituality, and high academic standards."
Did you even read the article? Here are a few clips to remind you...
"Oran High School has made the final four five times in baseball this decade. St. Cin, a junior, said many of his family members played baseball at Oran, including his cousin who was a senior on the 2003 squad that went to the final four. He said he looked up to the members of that 2003 team. But after examining the situation at Oran, he felt like the talent was starting to dwindle among players in his age group and that Notre Dame was a better fit for him as its baseball program would include Colton Young, Jake Pewitt and Wesley Glaus. He played with those three players on a traveling team before high school."
...or this telling segment...
Greer added: "Kids want to go to a winning program. They don't want to go to somewhere that doesn't win. Losing is not accepted here at Notre Dame. Winning is what you do."
I love it...the printed truth from the mouths of the players themselves...but wait...faith and education first. Well, that isn't what is coming out of the mouths of the students...aren't they the real focus here?
Also to Kingjames, the boys in the picture are from the following places,
2 Charleston,
3 Sikeston,
2 Kelso,
2 Benton,
1 Oran
1 from Scott City.
All I can say if the people who spent all their time with multiple comments to this story spent that much time on academics when they were in high school, they probably would be sending their "recruited kids" to ND.
Like the song says, "God is great, Beer is good, and People are crazy"
I would love to know how many teachers, principals, administrators, etc. from the public school system send their children to Notre Dame.
Or...knucklehead,
Those of us that that care about education and athletics in our region could man up and talk about something that is important to the greater good of all of SEMO. Some of us were very active high school athletes...studied hard...did it the right way...went on to college...enjoyed sports at that level as well and now have started families of our own and have decided to take a stand on things that impact their children.
When kids leave their own school to run to ND for a shot at joining up with others assembled for a "run at glory", what kind of example does that create. There are more important things in play here, Slick. But, you can choose to take the conversation down to a level of accusatory comments about others lifestyles and be a chump about it...or you can man up and think before you let your fingers tickle your keyboard.
Besides...you must be intrigued or you wouldn't put forth the effort to comment. I don't expect you to understand everything being said and discussed, it does require some thought. So, maybe you should pray for understanding, have a beer or two, and really question who the "crazy" one is?
bam 79..
You are rediculous. You made your point. Public and Private schools should be seperated into seperate state competitions. So stop! Yes your are right. I agree with you that in doing this it would level out the playing field for everyone. But besides making your point you have purposely put down ND. Dont write back about how you never did this or how you were just stating facts. You obviously dislike ND for its recent winning records and state championship. You have tried to kill the morals of the boys who are still excited about winning a state championship acouple days just because they are not all from Cape Girardeau but for towns surrounding it. Stop blaming the kids, coaches, parents, and schools for this. I have read all your posts and although you try to kindly go about your little argument you are clearly bashing ND for what? Winning. If you want to blame anyone blame all the athletes out there who give all they have to win a game which has led to acouple state championships. These game rub off on all the grade school students around the REGION. Its the KIDS who want to go there for a chance to play and win. Take this argument to MSHAA if you really feel that strongly about. You have a good argument. You are right Notre Dame doese have the best students and athletes coming to their school because of the success. Dont BS about recruiting because you are just trying to find a way to put down ND for its winning records. PROVE IT IF YOUR SO CERTAIN! Notre Dame doesnt deserve this and neither do the players. Let them enjoy their success because they did it the RIGHT way. They did nothing wrong. Every player in that school who has played in any game played their hardest for a school they came to by choice(whether it was for athletic success or for the morals and education). Your argument is one to be looked into but dont try to throw a school under the bus for athletic success that has been done the RIGHT way. There was no foul play here. Just a school with success from it alumni and current student body that the best athletes want to attend. No recruiting. No nothing. Just a system that you dont agree with so take your arguments to MSHAA
The mayor of Cape sends his son to Notre Dame
Faithfilled, my son played with one of those boys, arguably the best one. He is NOT Catholic, just went there because of baseball. That is wrong.
Faithfilled.
Jimmy Obermark, Colton, Wes, and Jake Pewitt. That is 4 from Sikeston, not three
Soccer,
No disrespect brother...but you are missing the bigger picture. I never once have attempted to throw ND under the bus...I never once accused anyone...I think there are things worthy of discussion, nothing more...nothing less.
But, you see...your thoughts are the exact reason why things like this need to be discussed. By proving anything I would be doing exactly what you want me to do and that is single out someone...a kid...their parents...and attack them personally...nothing good can come from that. Besides that, it isn't my job...you know the story right...He who is without sin, cast the first stone...well that ain't me. I will leave that work to someone else...I do however think the discussion is a good thing.
What is this "right" way that you mentioned in your post? Is it right to abandon your home town team because of your perceived lack of talent for another team where district rules don't apply? That seems kinda cheap...right? Is that what you call right...for a faith based school to allow? Your argument doesn't hold water.
Again partner, it isn't the kids' fault...they just show up and play ball. You need to broaden your thoughts about this and really ask yourself if your value system applies at all levels, not just when it is convenient or to hide behind when confronted with a difficult question.
By the way STL SEMO ALUMN...who cares where the mayor of Cape sends his son? Is that supposed to impress someone...get you into the movies for free or what? Good thought...I am glad that you contributed to the converasation...we are all better people now for knowing that fact.
For every student educated at Notre Dame, the public school system has thousands of dollars not consumed by their students to devote to their educational and athletic programs.
IOW Notre Dame supports itself AND it's opponents.
Great divide the classes, and give us our tax money back.
Jake Pewitt lives in Cape!
Jake Pewitt is FROM sikeston
Grappler,
What's your point? It is called taxes...you want to change it, write a letter. You can complain about what you support all you want...but taxes aren't something you can do anything about. Death and taxes...the only two certainties in life...
Man, personal responsibility is tough, huh...you make the choice to go to ND and set yourself apart and then complain about being treated the same as everyone else that pays taxes.
You are a small sampling of the bigger issues that we all face. You want it your way because it benefits you the most.
You think ND doesn't have thousands of dollars not consumed by their students that are then used for athletics. I'll tell you what most people call it...A BUDGET and ND has one too. WOW.