Americus-Sumter coach fired over practice incident
Michael Pollock is officially out as head coach of Americus-Sumter.
The Sumter County Board of Education voted 4-1-2 this week to terminate his contract rather than put him on unpaid suspension, according to the Americus Times Recorder. Pollock was suspended beginning with the Sept. 14 game for a practice incident in which he reported kicked a player in the behind.
Offensive coordinator Chris Wade is the team’s interim coach. Americus-Sumter is 4-1 overall, 3-0 since Pollock’s suspension.
Pollock had led Americus-Sumter to its only winning seasons the past two years (7-5 and 6-5). The school opened in 2004 as the merger of Americus and Sumter high schools.
Pollock had been Valdosta’s offensive coordinator under Rick Tomberlin and was 19-6 as head coach of Cook in 2000 and 2001.
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196 comments Add your comment
SoGaBoy
October 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
This incident prove this country is now raising a society of wusses. All you have to do is turn on TV and see how far our society has fallen over polictical correctness, just to avoid hurting someones feelings. Instead we are raising pansies that collapse at the first sign of controversy and adversarial conflct instead of gutting it out, developing fortitude to succeed. When this generation grows up, God help America.
don't taze me dude
October 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
Obviously from reading some of the comments on this thread made by mooks who should have been born sterile, we can see why some parents raise children who turn into serial killers.
CheezusHCreist
October 12th, 2012
1:26 pm
I cannot believe what this world has come to. I will admit that I dont want anyone but myself or my wife to put their hands on my children but really? This is a microcosm for what is wrong with this country. A bunch of bed wetting tree hugging liberal p@#!ies. The man should not have lost his job. This country has gone to crap.
Big Picture with some facts
October 12th, 2012
1:29 pm
Sumter County School System (SCSS) has had some problems that are coming to a point. The District Attorney of Sumter County had a investigative grand jury look into problems with the school board and found wide spread illegal activity concerning the running of the board. SACS found problems with the management of the school board. The Board fired a major law firm in Atlanta that is mostly or all white to hire an almost unknown local black attorney. As required by a federal civil rights case, SCSS Board has to submit their redistricting to the DOJ. DOJ approved the redistricting plan which saved money by aligning the school districts with the county commission. The new board withdrew the plan last minute to the DOJ telling them they were going to submit another plan they would draw up. A federal judge has suspended all elections to the school board with a majority of the current board members were to be in an election in November. It now looks like these board members will have a special election sometime in 2013. They fired their black Superintendent hired by a majority white board while the majority black board just hired an internal employee as superintendent (He is white).
In a nutshell, Two medical doctors are engaged in a feud dealing with the school system. A black medical doctor that runs the local NAACP chapter was having secret “board meetings” with the majority black board which the white board members (as they should) had a problem with since it is illegal. The white medical doctor is on the school board and has become the focus of the energy concerning alleged racism. To add to the problems, white flight in the schools is an ongoing problem with a large private school originally started because whites did not want their kids to go to segregated schools and another neighboring county school system having a more racially balanced schools. Another neighboring school system close by had as widespread cheating as Atlanta schools and is also majority black. The “problem” is that in a smaller community more people know something that was not reported really in Atlanta. The vast majority of the educators caught cheating were black so in south Georgia it became more of a racial issue than in Atlanta. White’s are trying to take down the black man or black woman. A big thought in this South Georgia community is that white’s are just better cheaters where black are not as deceptive so they get caught. Hence, the black’s on the school board in SCSS think the best way to improve the schools is to have black educators while the white board members are thinking the board should hire the best qualified regardless of race. The white football coach was fired for doing things black coaches in the school did with players. White teachers have been fired for doing things far less serious than black teachers. SCSS operates with a double standard with it’s black and white employees because the current board is looking for ways to increase the number of black employees. Black educators can do no wrong when disciplining students and is praised for their abilities while a white coach is fired for kicking a player in the butt on a football field is a double standard.
I wish the AJC would report for the whole state the racial breakdown of the area a school system serves by age groups from the census (i.e. a county or city), the racial breakdown of the students in a school and school system, and the racial breakdown of the educators in that school. You are going to find several majority white counties with majority black schools and almost all black educators in schools. It is not that well educated white’s do not want to teach in those schools rather the schools would rather hire unqualified blacks.
MeaneyMouse
October 12th, 2012
1:30 pm
Heyyyyy you danged wood chucks stop chucking my wood
Derek
October 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
I’m all for violence as a motivator. I just thinks its unfair that it a one way street. I think the team shoud designate someone to keep the coach straight. Someone large. Mean. Strong. Then call a bad play: Smack the mess out of him. WHACK!!!! I bet he’ll think better than to call a trap play on 3rd and 11 again. These coaches need to be kept in line. Hell, half of them have losing records don’t they? They need more incentive not make stupid mental errors. That sort of motivation that comes from someone bigger than them beating the hell out of them as much as necessary to achieve the desired result.
And I don’t wanna hear none you crying cause the poor wittle coachy got cold clocked. If you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. How can we expect you to be a champion if you are letting an 18 DL beat you into a bloody pulp?
muddyhawg
October 12th, 2012
1:34 pm
The problem in today’s society is a lack of discipline. There were a lot less issues back in the day when schools,parents, and society in general showed some backbone when it came to discipline.
wardenerd
October 12th, 2012
1:37 pm
sztars do not get kicked neither do first teamers and coaches sons. They perform at a high enough level to avoid punishment.
Reality Check
October 12th, 2012
1:46 pm
@ southernbelle:
I can feel the passion expressed in your comment, and I agree to a certain extent. Understanding that in 2012, there are laws against this type of behavior. I am of the opinion that today’s youth (not to categorize any particular race or gender) have been allowed to believe that they are above reprimand and not responsible for their actions in any setting or environment. Their actions, communications, lack of respect for themselves (not to mention others) thrives in today’s secondary educational environments. But what I think most people don’t understand (including those spewing their venom on this blog) is, these kids typically leave an environment that is headed up by a single mother that is more than likely not much older than they, who rarely (if at all) provides much love and attention. This, with regards to family time, help with homework, or to share in any type of family time that would typically include passing on the things previously mentioned above. Why? Well I’m glad you asked! Because they rarely got it themselves! It’s a continual cycle. With each generation getting gradually worse due to cultural, civil, economical, technological…., progress. So, rather than ignore them and cause it to fester among the coaches, thus, meet these kids with physical force to try to make them excel in running a football, blocking a defensive lineman or sacking a quarterback, or even shooting, throwing or hitting any kind of ball, why not try to reach them on a level they can understand, reach into their minds to change their attitude and perspective on life as a whole. And then discipline enough to where it hurts enough to change them wholly in order to help them reach their fullest potential in the classroom, at home, and throughout their lives. Believe me, it would a lot further than a kick in the @$$.
YouPeopleAreBraindead
October 12th, 2012
1:56 pm
You people defending this coach apparently lost your senses when (more likey IF) you were hit in the head by your coach.
Any coach kicking my child, slapping my child, or trying to prove how macho he was by jerking my child’s head around by his face mask better be wearing some serious body armor and have the “dream team legal group” to defend his sorry _ss.
Great coaches don’t need to humiliate players or to posture with macho bull_hit.
Great coaches LEAD they don’t threaten.
You people defending him are pathetic.
locallosers
October 12th, 2012
1:57 pm
Great idea! We should be able to whack CPJ and CMR with a 2×4 whenever their teams don’t perform up to specs. If it’s good enough for the youngsters it’s good enough for the head men!
Rational One
October 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
I played football and played under a tough coach. I got hit on the helmet and it did not damage me. I can’t really say what is good/bad or indifferent about this instance, because I–like most everyone commenting–was not there.
I will say that I respect my coaches still today and I thank them for the lessons they taught me. As a successful businessman, their lessons to me have permeated to my personal life. I keep the discipline, the responsibility and accountability that was taught to me still today (decades later). I do not know about the racial implications nor of this school system. Often times, though, the school system just wants a reason to dismiss someone and fires them for a single instance of this. In a small town, as Americus is, it is not uncommon.
I hope the coach, the player and all involved learn from this.
Gwinnett Dad
October 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
you should investigate some of the youth football coaches in Gwinnett County. You could have a field day writing about some of the coaches who torture 7 year olds who have never played before.
Cash$$
October 12th, 2012
2:04 pm
even better–the kid can sue the coach, the high school and the school board for big money to cash in on this kick! They’ll settle for a couple of hundred thousand to keep it quiet. It’s the money train–rolling in!!!
leon
October 12th, 2012
2:04 pm
hey to gov. deal i am from americus from the era that won 33 games in a row i rembere when we played a state champ game southwest atlanta in the 70 when they got off the bus the americus fans white we are going to because the are all black southwest won then we ran off 33 games in a row
we never had a black coach and americus high will never have a black coach tonight they play monroe a black coach from americus they turn him down for the panther job maybe we like a white coach no black fans have had a problem with it leave our school board out of this i love americus and our white people and i am black go panthers.
AmericusDawg
October 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
The Sumter County School Board is a joke. They are under investigation from the state and hopefully they clean house. 6 blacks, 3 whites, every vote 6-3. I cringe paying school taxes and they are talking of building a new high school. They should of kept these schools seperated in the first place!!! Coach Pollock barely kicked this kid in the ass and then had a meeting after practice to tell him he might have a future if he would just practice/play harder. He has been trying to get this punk a scholarship as well. Good luck to you Coach Pollock. I hope you go somewhere that you are appreciated. Glad I will be sending my kids to private school instead of that jungle! @S. Thomas Coleman….sir you are either an idiot or on the SCBOE!
Streamliner
October 12th, 2012
2:10 pm
Ed Pilcher Where is that kid now that you slapped
ThisThat-n-TheOther
October 12th, 2012
2:19 pm
Maybe we should have longer time outs
AmericusDawg
October 12th, 2012
2:19 pm
@leon- Coach Truitt will be offered job. I promise you that. He is a good coach and deserving. It should be mentioned that the kid that was kicked was not African American. The real story is the lack of leadership and common sense from the SCBOE!
Tim D.
October 12th, 2012
2:20 pm
I think what needed to happen with the kid, is what happened. The school board member are composed of 4 females and 3 males. Two of the men didn’t vote, all four women did. The vote was 4 to 1, you do the math. All this came down to four women who don’t know or understand how football works amoung men, or women that play the game. Obviously, the women felt the coach was too hard on the “kid” and deserved to lose his job. Unfortunately, the team is 4-1, with the last three wins coming while the coach was not on the sideline. Which makes it appear that the decision that was made, was the right one when in fact it was not.
If our society continues down the road it is going, and it will, eventually you will have children dictating to parents instead of parents dictating to their child. And when I say parents, I mean single mothers. If you research all of the incidents involving sons and mothers, you will see an ever increasing occurrence of young men disrespecting their mothers. I’ve seen stories of a son raping his own mother, beating his mother because she didn’t bring him Kool-aid, cursing their mother including calling her a “B&%@?” and we think this is going to get better when we fired a coach for disciplining a kid with something as simple as a kick to the behind. This is Ludicrous!!
Vince Doodley
October 12th, 2012
2:25 pm
S. Thomas Coleman, you sound like a liberal puscatore who never played sports. A player getting kicked in the behind (who is wearing PADS), isnt exactly child abuse.
moonbat betty
October 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
I don’t agree with this style of coaching, but I doubt it warranted termination.
Pussification of America.
leon
October 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
americus dawg not a panther fan good night
Johnny Walker
October 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
At this rate, those that tapped knuckles with a ruler would get life nowadays…
Archie
October 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
I am sure Coach Vince Lombardy is another one who is probably spinning in his grave and saying several words not printable in a family newspaper! One of his players on the Washington Redskins had the temerity to say: “Coach treats us all the same, like dogs!” Several of Lombardy’s “bon mots” include the following: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!” “If you can accept losing, you can’t win!” “(expletive deleted) what are you limping around here for?” “Pain is in your mind!” “(expletive deleted) get up! you’re not hurt!” Ah, those were the “good ole days!”
AmericusDawg
October 12th, 2012
2:33 pm
@ Tim D- One of the board members that abstained is the team’s trainer. The women voted because they are black. Sorry to say that, but they always vote the same. The racist in Sumter County are mostly black. I would like for everyone to read into the actions of this board over the past year. We are not getting any companies looking to invest here and more and more parents are paying out of county tuition or using private schools. Tonight will be the first home game that I wil miss in a long time. At this rate, Americus-Sumter will drop enrollment and be a AA or AAA school. On the other hand they are in the same region with the Albany schools, so I guess they are where they need to be as far as school standards!
leon
October 12th, 2012
2:34 pm
americus dawg send your kids to p-school leave our board a lone the p-school is webster county,schely county the new p-school in south georgia
countryboy
October 12th, 2012
2:37 pm
I have heard the story about Coach Pilcher before. …..hmmmmmm, just might have led to him leaving TCC and going to Bainbridge.
countryboy
October 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
I have heard that exact story before regarding Coach Ed Pilcher. Just might be the real reason he left TCCHS to coach at Bainbridge.
jad
October 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
You reap what you sow. All the parents out there that are not bringing up their kids by the word of god will answer for it. Coaches and teachers while role models, are not parents and aren’t responsible for rearing unruly kids!
Kendell Jones
October 12th, 2012
2:43 pm
II am 79 years old, and went to school, and wanted to play football, but was too small to play. I did go and watch the practice almost every day. I never did see a coach touch a player in the fashion mentioned above. If the play or players screwed up, the punishment was bad enough. The punishment meted out was the running of laps. Those laps consisted of running all the way down the side lines, across the endzone, back up the other side of of the field, and back across to the other side and begin another lap. I didn’t take too many laps for the players to get it together.
AmericusDawg
October 12th, 2012
2:45 pm
@ leon- well by your grammar, you are surely an alumni of our fine school. Good luck watching Monroe and Coach Truitt run over the Panthers tonight. Americus has 10-15 coaches on the sideline. Why in the hell do you need 15 coaches? The quarterback warms up throwing 60 yard passes? WTF? This school and board has lost the right to call what we had a tradition. And @leon- if you take your kids to the game, keep a watch on them and don’t let them run wild. Also, don’t help them with there english assignments.
LydiasDad
October 12th, 2012
2:49 pm
Kind of a harsh punishment. Players these days are too wimpy and sensitive for football–and life in general.
Gardner Newman
October 12th, 2012
2:49 pm
I remember at GNMS where the head coach put on a kids helmet and decided to play RB as a full grown built 45 year old to tell a bunch of 12 yrs olds that they better learn to tackle. I guess that was 1992 which we all thought it was no big deal that Coach said you “could not even bust a grape”. If we got our butt kicked or picked up by the face mask you got up and tried to to better next time.
AmericusDawg
October 12th, 2012
2:50 pm
@leon- are you the new attorney for the board, you seem just as educated. Schley County is one of the best public schools in this area. Southland has a 98% graduation rate. Lee County has been great for years. Sumter County has gotten worse year after year when they joined the two schools…….HUGE MISTAKE!!!
LydiasDad
October 12th, 2012
2:50 pm
AmericusDawg: “their” English assignments.
AmericusDawg
October 12th, 2012
2:53 pm
@ LydiasDad- yes sir! I went to the schools here in Americus! No doubt about that!
Mark
October 12th, 2012
2:54 pm
No your facts people!!! Especailly those who say this wasn’t a racist move!! Don’t just pull the race card when it swings in your favor.
Mark
October 12th, 2012
2:54 pm
Excuse me “Know” your facts
AMERICUS4Life
October 12th, 2012
2:59 pm
PREACH IT AMERICUSDAWG!! Coach wasn’t being vicious at all when he kicked the kid, he was simply trying to get the kid to know where he was supposed to be. If you dont live in Americus you simply couldn’t understand how things work around here. AmericusDawg and leon this sure makes Americus look good to the rest of the state huh?
Look before I leap...
October 12th, 2012
2:59 pm
When I played football growing up, the coaches never laid a finger on us. They didn’t have to. They could give you a dressing down that would make Chuck Norris bust into tears. If you sassed them, then it was 4 times around the track and then to the locker room.
We respected our coaches, we did not fear them. Seeing one go all Mommie Dearest on someone would have cost them some respect and they were smart enough to know that.
Rthom
October 12th, 2012
3:00 pm
You’re a dip coleman
BehindEnemyLines
October 12th, 2012
3:01 pm
Geez, not only does the coach lose his job but the blogger’s credibility just took a major hit. (Coleman’s that is, not Holcomb’s). Good to know I guess, but disappointing nevertheless.
ATR
October 12th, 2012
3:02 pm
Yeah he had to go. Sorry. This isn’t old days. This is now. If he felt that strongly he could have made him run. Push ups no playing time…anything. Just because he is in a positrion of authority doesn’t give him the right to kick the kid. How would any of you adults feel if your boss kicked you? It would be a fight most likely right? Like I said this is not the old days. This is 2012.
Paddy
October 12th, 2012
3:03 pm
S Thomas Coleman……you are wrong about the good ole days best be forgotten. My guess you didn’t experience the tradition and disciline necessary to come out the other side a well rounded man. That training gound made me a success in my world. I would not tade it for anything!
Tap Out
October 12th, 2012
3:07 pm
These comments crack me up. So many ‘tough guys’ talking bout the good ole days. Each trying to out-tough each other (using a keyboard). Hilarious.
hryder
October 12th, 2012
3:15 pm
Really seems odd that a life time activity(running/jogging), proven to have positive health benefits for most people who take part,is employed as punishment in another activity(football) that has an injury record causing pain, suffering, and even disability for an extremely longer time than participation in the activity. I will admit that generally speaking only the male portion of the population in the USA is affected.
patty cake
October 12th, 2012
3:21 pm
Amen to The Truth. We have feminized our precious little baby boys.
bugs
October 12th, 2012
3:38 pm
Erk headbutted players who had a helmet and he didn’t.It was a ritual the players enjoyed,not punishment.I played football in the early 60’s and if a coach kicked someone he might get kicked back by the player or his dad.
.
The Truth
October 12th, 2012
3:48 pm
We agree with everybody, the USA is getting to be whimp USA…a sad ending to a once great country. Thank you osama…