By Hunter Ford
Here is a link to an excellent story on Bessemer Academy.
You know, there is one similarity to what has happened at Bessemer Academy and what happened to Rush Propst at Hoover. Many parents of Hoover football players got tired of seeing Propst bring in “ringers” to play on the team. These parents usually had dedicated a lot of time and money (through booster club donations) to put their sons through the Hoover football system from middle school up to varsity competition. By the time their son was a junior or senior, Rush would have found a transfer from another school to take his place.
In the case of Hoover, I don’t think racism was any part of the parents’ complaints. It could have been a white player that came in as a “ringer.” It was simply that the parents didn’t like seeing their son going through years of preparation only to get benched when they had the chance to play on one of those coveted championship teams.
Racism may or may not have played more of a part in the Bessemer Academy saga. But I could understand the concern of a parent, paying full tuition for his son to go to school and play football, who watches another kid, who doesn’t pay full tuition, take his son’s place on the football team.
I would be shocked if Mark Freeman has any Rush-like skeletons in his closet. Freeman is a good coach and deserves the chance to coach again.
14 thoughts on “High School Ringers”
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In my experience of covering high school football, recruiting players is a serious problem. The AHSAA is mostly impotent–in the past it had been unwilling to police the problem.
I know of one instance where a player completed football season with one team, transfered to play basketball and baseball with one school, and then back to his original school for the next football season.
One high school complained, but the AHSAA investigator did nothing. He just seemed to rubber stamp the “bona fide” move.
Whatever.
Thus explains the remarkable success Hoover had during their championship runs.
So in essence, This supposed Christian school sold its soul for the funds to keep going. Funny how religion twist on the almighty dollar sometimes.
Most Christian schools these days are cults anyway. If it’s not based in a church, I wouldn’t send my child there.
007, Hoover had remarkable sucess due to me…Coach Tony Franklin.
It wasnt the recruiting, it wasnt the practice, it wasnt the preparation, Hell it wasnt even my new found flunky Rush Propst. No Siree! It was the Tony Franklin System @ TonyFranklinSystem.com.
In case you havent noticed I am backing up my Offense with a ***guarantee.
I have loaded Auburns commit list with miniature sized players that no one has ever heard of this year and then I embellished their 40 yd dash times so that (on paper) we will have a team faster than any team in the NFL.
And then low and behold I come up with these fool proof plays (on paper) and a no-huddle offense (on paper) And Pauly Rhodes comes up with some fancy defensive schemes (on paper).
To top that all off we come up with the greatest QBs (on paper) and the finest recieving corps in the world (on paper)
So it is easy for me to say that (on paper) we will have the best team in the world for the ’08 season. I am Tony Franklin Damnit!!
***on paper
Welcome back, coach! We haven’t heard from you in a while! How’s practice down at the barnyard coming along?
i get a kick out of it every time. lol
count this as my signature:
Just for the record, Tony Franklin, always remember you work for me and no one else. I am the head man, meaning I win the games, not you, not the players, not the assistants, not Bobby Lowder, not the fans. When we lose, it’s due in large part to my assistants not executing the playcalling properly.
Franklin, you’re already on your last leg with me, and you’ve only been working for me for less than a year. You’d definitely better get your “ducks in a row” or else this “toad straglin'” head coach will have your bottom end searching for another job elsewhere.
Hey there BamaFan.
Practice has been delayed a lot lately because we cant seem to get Coach Tuberbille’s wife and her friends off the field. So we have to practice around them while they are grazing.
Tommy T. dont even try to imtimidate Coach Tony Franklin. Everyone knows you and Fatass Al Borges are mildly retarded and dont have the Offensive genius of a man like Tony Franklin.
I’ll report Auburn to the NCAA, sue everyone from Bobby Lowder down to the janitor and right a tell-all book about it!
I’m Tony Franklin Damnit!
And by the way HAWLEY. I am already at Auburn …..Anything would be a step up from this Pile of Cow Manure you call a college!
Well I’ll go ahead and tell you straight up, do you remember on my last birthday, when you gave me that lingerie and an autographed copy of your latest novel? Guess what, I BURNED THE DAMN BOOK! I don’t need an autographed copy from you because I’m Tommy Tuberville, already the most famous human being on this side of Opelika. Half the people in Opelika know you by “The man who works for Tuberville”.
And please, you ain’t got a Ford F98000. How are you a true Auburn assistant?
I’M TONY FRANKLIN DAMNIT!!!
The Wizard of the gridiron! Every woman’s biggest fantasy, and every man biggest envy! HOYEAH!!!
Mind your P’s and Qs there Tubby, or you will be back to sucking up to Al Bourges heaving gelatinous backside again!
Always remember, I was singlehandedly ruling the Sunbelt conference when you BEGGED me to come to Auburn.
And as far as burning my book. I cant believe you burned a book that ranks right up there with the Bible in some circles of intellectual thought!
#1. The Bible.
#2. 4th DOWN AND LIFE TO GO
#3. Phillip Marshall’s book (I forgot the name.)
This is a free country and my four fathers fought to keep it that way. How dare you Adolf Hitler my book you Cow Manure Dicktator!
P.S. Before I forget….Did you get my Memo asking for some Off time to go Duck Hunting near Middle Tennessee State? I really need to get up there before the offer….I MEAN DUCKHUNTING stops….
I must have more Coach Tony Franklin on here. I have a fever, and the only cure is Coach Tony Franklin.
Thank you Intheknow72!
Of course you would want more Tony Fraklin because you are “In the know” Ha ha ha ha….Tony Franklin is funny damnit!
Anywho, Intheknow, I gotta confess….Its tough being Tony Franklin. The stress and strain of educating parapelgics and blind kids to learn and win with *The Tony Franklin System” is tough. Plus there are the strains of conditioning, the women, the wild orgys,the women, the envious Bammer trash who secretly buy my system,…er…the women, and of course running like a scalded dog to stay away from Nikki Bourges….(The woman cant get enough of “The Maestro of Love”…aka…Tony Franklin.)
But just occasionally it is worth it when a kindred spirit like you recognises me for the true genius I am.
Thanks again. Intheknow.
I am Tony Franklin Damnit!!!
TheTonyFranklinsystem.com has an “intheknow72” BONUS this week $29.95
buys you the complete “Tony Franklin System” and just attach the saying “I’m in the know” and Rush Propst will mow your yard and weed eat your ditches for free!!!