When everyone on the team dressed out and gets to play in the game for at least one play when the game is in had….wait, guess I have to wait for that memory to take place and too bad the 2005 State Champs backups/3rd/4th team didn’t get to play in the game: 49-0 at half
When the Scotsmen put on the skit at a pep rally where Coach Allen is begging Stafford to never leave him….. It was hilarious! He has been a GREAT coach… Kudos to Coach Allen!
I have a bar bet riding on the outcome of this question…a friend tells me that HPHS has won more high school football games than any other school in the state. Yes or no?
“sportsmanship” starts this blog off right!
i have a good friend whose son was a starting
linebacker on the state championship team.
my friend was embarrassed that his son
was still playing defense at the final whistle.
coach allen obviously is a coach that prepares
for any eventuality. that he fails to prepare
for getting as many players as possible in
a game, shows that he is like most coaches in
this era.
only interested in winning.
i played for one of HP’s less stellar coaching
regimes, but they had second and third string
depth charts for offense, defense and special teams to allow back ups at least a shot at one or two plays in a game that was no longer in question.
i have heard many players families air this complaint in private.
my guess is that winning at such a high rate has insulated coach allen from any sort of negative feedback.
for almost a generation of players, that’s too bad.
@former scot #24. Is there any reason to run up a score, rather than allow the bench to play? Wouldn’t apply to the state championship game, but if there’s a tie for district champ, does the team who scored the most points during the season win, or something like that? Sort of backs up what I’ve heard some parents say: HPHS only keeps lots of players on the team to get their ACE fees.
I can’t imagine that a $250 ACE fee is why they keep lots of players, I think it is more of a cultural thing (as in, parents and boys see it as important to be a football player for HP). I don’t think $250 covers all of the costs associated with a player, and certainly doesn’t lead to a profit.
As to running up the score, points are not used as a playoff tiebreaker, if I am correct they still use the archaic coin flip. No excuse for running up the score, ever, and that state championship story (if true), makes me think less of the coach.
Story is very true. I was sitting in the stands (so don’t think is out of spite that I didn’t played). Thankfully I played under Scott Smith, who made it a point that every player gets in the game if possible even for one play. It is sad to see a program you played for lose its moral compass and not place any merit or value in sportsmanship.
Final Score 59-0; with still starters on the field!
I wish/hope Coach Allen would act more like his mentor/idol than just wearing the hat; we need more coaches with class like Tom.
Then that is truly sad. Can’t believe that the opposing coach and sportswriters didn’t jump all over him about that, and hold him accountable for that. Disappointing.
I wasn’t around in 2005, so I did some research. This from the Dallas Morning News writeup of the game:
harley Dickenson’s 49-yard punt return for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter was the cherry on top for Highland Park.
The celebration officially started on Highland Park’s first offensive possession of the fourth quarter. Senior starters were summoned to the sideline after the first few plays of the drive, allowing Highland Park fans shower them with a standing ovation. The defensive starters were given the same treatment on the ensuing possession.
“It’s so sweet, man,” Stafford said. “I couldn’t ask to end it any other way.”
D
so at 42-0 the scots still had their first string punt returner as well as all their offensive and defensive starters.
my guess is coach allen didn’t want his shut out spoiled.
can you believe an adult’s ego prevented a bunch of teenagers from playing in the state championship game.
When everyone on the team dressed out and gets to play in the game for at least one play when the game is in had….wait, guess I have to wait for that memory to take place and too bad the 2005 State Champs backups/3rd/4th team didn’t get to play in the game: 49-0 at half
When the Scotsmen put on the skit at a pep rally where Coach Allen is begging Stafford to never leave him….. It was hilarious! He has been a GREAT coach… Kudos to Coach Allen!
I have a bar bet riding on the outcome of this question…a friend tells me that HPHS has won more high school football games than any other school in the state. Yes or no?
@FortWorthGuy: Yes
coach allen eating cake with his hands in the locker room
with the players when they suprised him with a cake
“sportsmanship” starts this blog off right!
i have a good friend whose son was a starting
linebacker on the state championship team.
my friend was embarrassed that his son
was still playing defense at the final whistle.
coach allen obviously is a coach that prepares
for any eventuality. that he fails to prepare
for getting as many players as possible in
a game, shows that he is like most coaches in
this era.
only interested in winning.
i played for one of HP’s less stellar coaching
regimes, but they had second and third string
depth charts for offense, defense and special teams to allow back ups at least a shot at one or two plays in a game that was no longer in question.
i have heard many players families air this complaint in private.
my guess is that winning at such a high rate has insulated coach allen from any sort of negative feedback.
for almost a generation of players, that’s too bad.
@former scot #24. Is there any reason to run up a score, rather than allow the bench to play? Wouldn’t apply to the state championship game, but if there’s a tie for district champ, does the team who scored the most points during the season win, or something like that? Sort of backs up what I’ve heard some parents say: HPHS only keeps lots of players on the team to get their ACE fees.
@DemBones,
I can’t imagine that a $250 ACE fee is why they keep lots of players, I think it is more of a cultural thing (as in, parents and boys see it as important to be a football player for HP). I don’t think $250 covers all of the costs associated with a player, and certainly doesn’t lead to a profit.
As to running up the score, points are not used as a playoff tiebreaker, if I am correct they still use the archaic coin flip. No excuse for running up the score, ever, and that state championship story (if true), makes me think less of the coach.
Story is very true. I was sitting in the stands (so don’t think is out of spite that I didn’t played). Thankfully I played under Scott Smith, who made it a point that every player gets in the game if possible even for one play. It is sad to see a program you played for lose its moral compass and not place any merit or value in sportsmanship.
Final Score 59-0; with still starters on the field!
I wish/hope Coach Allen would act more like his mentor/idol than just wearing the hat; we need more coaches with class like Tom.
Then that is truly sad. Can’t believe that the opposing coach and sportswriters didn’t jump all over him about that, and hold him accountable for that. Disappointing.
@ Sportsmanship;
I wasn’t around in 2005, so I did some research. This from the Dallas Morning News writeup of the game:
harley Dickenson’s 49-yard punt return for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter was the cherry on top for Highland Park.
The celebration officially started on Highland Park’s first offensive possession of the fourth quarter. Senior starters were summoned to the sideline after the first few plays of the drive, allowing Highland Park fans shower them with a standing ovation. The defensive starters were given the same treatment on the ensuing possession.
“It’s so sweet, man,” Stafford said. “I couldn’t ask to end it any other way.”
scott smith is a class guy and a great coach.
when he was a varsity scot, he still rode his bicycle all over town, to help stay in shape.
rockwall players are lucky to have him.
D
so at 42-0 the scots still had their first string punt returner as well as all their offensive and defensive starters.
my guess is coach allen didn’t want his shut out spoiled.
can you believe an adult’s ego prevented a bunch of teenagers from playing in the state championship game.