I want to recognize head coach John Hayes, his staff and the Bellwood-Antis football team for another great season.
Year after year the Blue Devil football program delivers for the fans and community of Bellwood-Antis, as well as its players. It's a great tradition, and the players this year should be very proud of their accomplishments on the field.
Coach Hayes' commitment and dedication to the football program are second to none. If you tried to praise coach Hayes for his program, he would probably give the credit to others. He might attribute his success to his coaching staff, players and/or the alumni and community support.
But John Hayes deserves recognition and praise for an outstanding football program.
For the past 27 years he has been the leader and teacher of young men who have entered the locker room on those hot August days.
Always improving, striving to be better, onward and upward, win or lose, the life lessons learned were and are invaluable.
Several years ago, I held a football reunion for the class of 1983 at my home.
The night was full of great memories, fun and laughter with some friends I hadn't seen since graduation.
We watched old game films from the B-A archives and shared our stories, many of which were about coach Hayes.
We spoke of the football experience at Bellwood, and how the life lessons taught there are timeless. I asked coach Hayes to stop by the reunion party that night to say hello.
When he walked in the room shaking hands, he knew every single person by name. Not bad after 25 years!
We didn't forget him, and he remembered all of us. He deserves credit for tireless devotion and passion for the game and his commitment of time and self to his players, past and present.
Wally Rossi
Tipton
Bad timing
Hats off to Central and Tyrone for a very entertaining and hard-fought game in the District 6, Class AA?semifinals.
As fans left for the parking lot, the young men lined up for the post-game handshake. The Tyrone football team had plenty of reason to celebrate, moving them to the District 6 finals. The Tyrone cheerleaders were on the field, screaming, yelling and cheering, as the boys cycled through the line.
Cheerleaders have their own place in the game, and it is surely not in the handshake line. As the Central boys huddled at the 10-yard line after the show of sportsmanship, the Tyrone cheerleaders found it necessary to take a "victory lap" around the field, only to be turned back by one of coach A.J. Hoenstine's staff members.
There is a time and place for celebration but it should not be at the expense of the team whose season has just ended.
As a coach of younger athletes, I think that sportsmanship is a very important part of the game and should be taught from an athlete's first experience in sports through high school and beyond.
We, as coaches, have implemented this into sports in the Cove, and hopefully they can do the same in Tyrone.
Dustin VanWinkle
Roaring Spring
Giger bashing tiring
Has any other true blue Penn State fans grown weary of Cory Giger's bashing of the program?
I know sports writers like to be controversial at times to sell papers, but Giger sounds more like a puppet on Neil Rudel's knee.
Giger would be better suited to sticking with his movie reviews while staying between the aisles. I'm sure he has spent considerably more time there then he has between the sidelines.
Dan Thomas, Roaring Spring
