ITCL Coaches With Mixed Emotions About Spring Football
    It may be no surprise to most people, but upon contacting a number of ITCL coaches, there were mixed feelings about having spring football in Ohio.  An issue that was recently voted down by the OHSAA Board of Directors.  Although several were in favor of more practice time, the detriment that it would cause to both the student-athletes, and the coaches of spring sports, like baseball and track, would be unfair to all involved.  Others were in favor of the idea, but also recognized the problems that it could create.
     "As I have stated publicly - I was against this, for the following reason.  Not only will it not help small schools like Columbiana, it would put football coaches in a direct collision course with spring sports coaches. Those 20 hours we would get in the spring would benefit only a VERY small number of football players," Columbiana Head Coach Bob Spaite would say.  He would go on to say that he would rather have those extra hours during the summer session (June 1 - July 31).  Spaite is the only head football coach that is also the Athetic Director of his school.  Obviously, the thought of spring practice would put him in a precarious position.
"It would put football coaches in a direct collision course with spring sports coaches."
                       -Bob Spaite
    "Not knowing all the information about the rules and regulations of the referendum, I'm totally against spring football.  I'm the boys and girls head track coach, when would I find the time to conduct practices?  In a small school like Lisbon, I encourage our athletes to participate in track and baseball, you also have AAU basketball.   This may help the larger schools, I see it as numbers game for small schools.  By the time the spring sports are done school is about over.  I think we have gone over board with all the time committments placed on the student- athlete," Lisbon Head Coach Jim Tsilimos would state.
     For a couple other coaches, the thought of spring football would not really be worth the time due to the size of the schools in the league.  "I believe that a school the size of East Palestine would not benefit by having any kind of spring practice session. We have kids who are playing baseball and running track and I honestly would not even be able to conduct a true practice session in football with the number of athletes available for football," Bulldogs coach Gary Mattes would remark.  "I think that if all of our athletes could get the time, it would be beneficial.  But we have so many kids at small schools in other sports that its a detriment to us to move ahead when our other athletes get stalemated," Mark Assion of Jackson-Milton would add.
    Although they were not suprised by the vote by the OHSAA, two coaches in Crestview's Paul Cusick, and Leetonia's Matt Altomare have mixed emotions about getting extra practice time in the Spring.  "The decision of the OHSAA comes as no surprise to me.  I have mixed feelings about spring football.  From a pure coaching perspective it would be a great tool, but on the other hand, I wouldn't want players to feel torn between spring ball and a spring sport.  Some student-athletes would not play the spring sport, opting instead for spring ball."  Cusick would also agree with Spaite in that he would like to see players in full pads earlier in summer workouts.
"I have mixed feelings about spring football."
                        -Paul Cusick
    "In all honesty, I didn't give the recent proposal regarding spring football much thought.  It was mainly a "big" school bill.  I would love to work on skills and drills with my athletes not involved in spring sports, that is definitely a great thing.  However, I have always encouraged my athletes to run track and play other sports.  I would never change my philosophy regarding this.  (But) It would be nice to be able to see my quarterback throw, or receivers catch before June however.  Sometimes you get some suprises." Altomare would admit.
     Two other coaches liked the idea, although recognizing the short-falls.  "I thought it was a great idea having spring football here in Ohio," Reserve's Andy Hake would comment.  "I was for the spring football proposal because it would give us a chance to work individually with young players," South Range coach Dan Yeagley would add.
     "I am fortunate to have great teachers as assistant coaches and the time they could spend with a young players may get them ready for Friday nights or to help prepare a player to be moved from one position to another.  This would could save a lot of time in August," Yeagley would explain.
     "I understand there are other sports going on but that is always the case. People should have a choice in regards to how they want to spend their extra cirricular time. Some kids that don't play other sports would definitely benefit from the extra reps and coaching," Hake would add.
"I thought it was a great idea having spring football here in Ohio."
                       -Andy Hake
    Certainly there are pros and cons to the idea of spring football in Ohio.  But for right now, there does not appear to be enough momentum for spring ball to be initiated by the OHSAA in the immediate future for the high school atheletes in our area.