Among the toughest things to do in sports is follow a coaching legend. Whether it’s football, baseball (yes, they’re called “managers” in the big leagues), basketball, and without regard to professional, college or high school levels, the best coaches tend to live up to, and in many cases create, high expectations. Combine that with the expectations placed on teachers in the classrooms these days, and it’s a wonder schools can find anyone to do that work for the wages offered. What seems fairly obvious now is Darin Holsopple put a great deal of pressure on himself to live up to those expectations as head football coach at Tippecanoe Valley High School, and in the classroom. On Monday, citing stress-related health reasons, Holsopple stepped down from his coaching position. In an email this morning, TVHS Athletic Director Duane Burkhart said longtime Valley assistant coaches Jeff Shriver and Aaron Norris will co-share the head coaching responsibilities. I consider myself a people-watcher, and working my way down from the Scott Bibler Memorial Press Box Friday night, I let Burkhart pass me on the stairs so he could more quickly get to his head football coach. Holsopple had just finished talking on the radio and to writers about the Vikings’ 55-13 loss to North Miami. In private, they spoke in hushed tones briefly ... what I thought were probably words of encouragement from the AD. I don’t know what was said, but it was abundantly clear this was no ordinary butt-kicking in the eyes of Holsopple. The whole situation reminds me of my first day attending a new high school in Kansas, where I encountered Bob Carr, a math teacher and cross country coach. My parents had just moved, and my first day was the same day teachers were handing out mid-term grades. “If you didn’t get the grade you wanted, it’s probably not because you didn’t do your homework,” began Coach Carr 37 years ago. “And it’s probably not because you did poorly on the tests, or you did poorly on the quizzes. ”It’s probably not because you didn’t pay attention in class, and it’s probably not because you didn’t ask questions when you didn’t understand the material. “If you didn’t get the grades you wanted, it’s probably because I just don’t like you.” Being the newbie, I wasn’t sure if it was OK to laugh until everyone else did. But using the same logic, if Valley isn’t getting the football results it wanted, it’s not because the offensive line didn’t block without holding, and when the O-line didn’t draw a flag, it’s probably not because the quarterback spends a lot of his time being chased by defenders. And it’s probably not because a kick returner grabs a ball heading for a touchback and returns it to the 10-yard line or punts get blocked, or the other team always seems to have excellent field position. And it’s probably not because the defense couldn’t wrap up a ball carrier. If Valley isn’t getting the football results it’s looking for, it’s probably because the head coach isn’t a “Valley guy.” So if Valley doesn’t see an immediate turnaround from here, it can’t possibly be the coaching, can it? There can be little doubt Valley has experienced more than its share ot tragedy in recent years, especially for a school in a rural setting. Bibler continues to cast a long shadow, and justifiably so; it’s an easy argument he was among the most successful Valley coaches, and the winningest in school history. The gift in his name allows people like me to work in outstanding conditions. Burkhart made a good hire when he brought in Holsopple, and the coach cut people a break by keeping assistants when he had every right to bring in his own staff. There wasn’t time to replace everyone before the 2015 season, but there was plenty of time before this campaign. The old guard stayed in place, presumably because Holsopple wanted them there, and the assistants wanted to be there. What went wrong??I don’t know, I’m an outsider. I have no way of knowing the printable truth. But the man in the mirror knows, whether he talks to the media or not. It appears there’s plenty of blame to go around for the state of Valley football, and here’s hoping things turn around before it gets much, much more difficult.
