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
80's BABY
October 12th, 2012
4:02 pm
Yeah I remember those days back at dear ol’ Fulton High School. Coach Willie Hunter commanded discipline from us and it carried us (players) a long way in life. Football teaches young men a lot more than the game. If we could’ve just got him to break that damn wishbone…
brk
October 12th, 2012
4:13 pm
we have to be so “correct” now can’t say anything derogatory to anyone or touch them anymore that is what the hell is wrong with our society today, as a friend of my sister said once “put yourself out there and you could get your ass whuuped. I am NOT going to stand around and take bull$&t from anyone. if the players can’t play send them home maybe that might get their attention.
Paul
October 12th, 2012
4:18 pm
Gov Deal, don’t ever think degrading a person because you can is alright. To kick, slap or spit on a person are the lowest means of degrading a person. These are young men; some who look to their coach as a role model. I hope your mom and dad didn’t instill those values in you. If so I feel so sorry for you. Try to give up your ignorant and racist ways. I promise you……you’ll feel much better about yourself
chezz
October 12th, 2012
4:23 pm
Idiots lead by sissy’s.
Waaaaaa…waaaaaaa…that hurt!
Bigguy
October 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
@leon 2:04. I am glad you told me what race you are. I never would have guessed it from what you wrote.
BuzzGT
October 12th, 2012
4:25 pm
They should have made him run the steps instead.
The Good Ol' Days
October 12th, 2012
4:25 pm
Sure miss those good ol’ days; coloureds knew their place, gays & lesbians didn’t exist, kids got a good whipping just for backtalk, wives too if they weren’t careful. Sure was better then. Nowadays, you Krazy glue your 2 year olds hands to the wall and you get 99 years, you kick a kid in his ass and you get fired. Geez, poor lady was just trying to discipline her child just the same way that caring coach was trying to improve that football player. Everybody knows violence is the answer down here in the God abiding Christian South. I know if you messed up at work, you’d be fine with a swift kick in the ass from your boss. God bless America…………….with some frickin’ brains………please!!!
A kick in the seat of the pants!
October 12th, 2012
4:32 pm
Malia
October 12th, 2012
1:02 pm
How’s this for discipline? The young “lady” in this video hit and spit on the driver and look what happened next….
*****************************************
Nice uppercut. Must have been a boxer back in the day!
GB's Hamburgers
October 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
Ok is anyone asking if the ass kicking was by the book? For right-handed (or footed) persons the book says to move forward, planting the left foot while swinging the right foot upward in an arching manner. Never try to kick off the right foot. Questions? …. just read the book. It covers slapping, ass kicking, even the Moe and Curly blocking technique that prevents eye jabs.
Jamie
October 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
This makes me laugh! Even as a female athlete I was cussed at, my coach would shake my batting helmet while it was still on my head so hard I thought my head was coming off, throw things at us… ect. What happened to being tough?? We cottle kids these days and it is just sad. This goes back to the everyone is a winner BS. I doubt the coach kicked the child hard enough to lose his job. Give me a break people!
A kick in the seat of the pants!
October 12th, 2012
4:34 pm
Frankly it’s too bad the driver lost his cool but he never would have gotten just due thru the legal system.
Sideline Dude
October 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
So if a coach setting a bad example is not good, is Rush Propst in trouble? After the stunt he pulled on the radio of accusing Lowndes County of stealing signs, does this set a bad example for his players & the community?
woodrow
October 12th, 2012
5:03 pm
We do not want an adult kicking like a child. It’s a horrible example. Good riddance to him.
Motocross Survivor
October 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
My mother kicked me in the butt about 45 years ago. There is a lot less physical pain in my adulthood.
old timer
October 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
Your allowed to slap each other on the ass, why not a kick? This should have been a non issue unless the coach’s toe actually went in his ass.
U.S. Marine
October 12th, 2012
5:32 pm
I was trained in the U.S. Marine Corps by drill instructors that would laugh at your wanna be tough guys commenting here.
Not once did they kick anyone, slap anyone or punch anyone. These drill instructors all did at least three tours in Viet Nam.
None of us questioned them because they did not have to use degrading punishment to earn our respect.
ANY football coach that has to slap or kick a player is either a poor leader or like most of you “tough guys” commenting, a pretend macho tough guy.
This “my coach kicked me and made me a better man” is bull_hit. The drill instructors who made MEN of their recruits did not use this phony tough guy stuff.
Cliff
October 12th, 2012
5:32 pm
My coached kicked me in the ass once. ONCE!
Ron
October 12th, 2012
5:34 pm
Easy to tell which “posters” have never participated in H,S. sports and certainly haven’t been in military. Coleman has the attitude of a “Wuss”. May have been a cheerleader in college? Trying to intimidate someone who posted by saying they can still be prosecuted and he can track their post origin. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see this post as it doesn’t agree with the 5 or 6 posters who agree with the writer.
Ron
October 12th, 2012
5:38 pm
My apologies. Comments are directed at the Coleman poster and not at the writer of this article.
C from Marietta
October 12th, 2012
5:41 pm
@ Dave from Marietta
Who the heck is Woody Hayes?
Wildcat tradition
October 12th, 2012
5:45 pm
I’d like the context of this incident: go ahead and claim “assault” or “this ain’t the old days,” but if the coach intended to embarrass vs. hurt the kid I think firing is a gross overreaction. Saban smacked the heck out of A.J. McCarron two years ago and everyone tacitly approved (me included).
MIke in Lincoln
October 12th, 2012
5:46 pm
Wow maybe football isn’t his sport. Mommy should check into soccer where the other CHILDREN play
Former football player
October 12th, 2012
5:51 pm
I played four years and was captain of my team in the early 60’s. My coaches didn’t act like that and if one had kicked me in the a** I would have kicked his a** back. If I had a son and the coach kicked him I would be on his a** through the principal or whomever to get him fired. Saying the kid’s a sissy is total malarkey as Uncle Joe says. The coach got what he deserves and should have been fired. He is there to lead, teach and coach young men, period. Winning is important, but winning the right way is more important. This young man will be out of sports for the rest of his life like I and most of us are. His life example is what he should learn in sports, not this macho mentality.
coondawg69
October 12th, 2012
5:52 pm
S Thomas Coleman….. go back to Powder-Puff football.
You are the prime example of the Wussification of the great US of A..
Obama Supporter
October 12th, 2012
6:16 pm
This is all George Bush’s fault.
Mark
October 12th, 2012
6:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark
October 12th, 2012
6:38 pm
@U.S. Marine… When were you trained in the Marines???? DI’s used to regularly put their hands on us Marines not only during Boot Camp, but I had some Gunnies that did it as well. Are you really a Marine? It would really piss me off if you are a poser using the Marine Corp to try and make a stupid point!!!
Barry Pendry
October 12th, 2012
6:52 pm
Folks IT’S A GAME!!!!!!!!!…No kid should be kicked for playing …”A GAME”….it’s just football….it’s not life….what kind of message are you giving to a child that if they don’t obey rules they get physically abused..it’s just wrong on any level…You “Old school” folks…The world has changed!!!!!
Panther4life
October 12th, 2012
7:10 pm
I am from down there in good ole south Georgia and it is not racial motivated. Americus High has never had anything but white coaches i.e (Shell, Ragle, Soliday etc) And the interm coach is a formal coach that return and he too is white and darn good coach. The problem is “What if the player strike the coach back” no coach have the right to put his hands on any player.. we were up in arms about BOBBY KNIGHT kicking his players butts and they were college students.
Former Sumter Countian
October 12th, 2012
7:13 pm
Maybe the poster was right who said Americus and Sumter should never have combined. It is a shame that one of the greatest high school traditions in the state has gone down the tubes. Have not been much of a factor since Soliday had those great teams in the early 2000s.
I recall the 33 game winning streak in the 70s, back to back state titles in 74-75, and the defense that only gave up one touchdown in 1975. 13 shutouts, outscored opponents 400-8, finished second in the nation by one rating service.
Dawg-Gawn
October 12th, 2012
8:08 pm
QUICK:
Michael Pollock, rumor has it UGA is looking for one Special Teams Analyst/Coach… sounds like you might have the right sized foot for the job!
Please apply at the Butts Mehre building (see Mark Richt) in Athens Georgia… also heard Pollock’s do very well in Athens!
“GEAUX TIGERS”
“Stick with Richt”
“Faith is Great”
“BELIEVE” in the “G”
outspoken1
October 12th, 2012
8:10 pm
maybe it is time we switched places with the guys and girls. Let the girls play ball for awhile. They are tougher than these wussyfied guys that are playing today.
Archie
October 12th, 2012
8:17 pm
Correction: On my last entry, I should have spelled the late, semi-legendary, former Green Bay Packers coach’s last name “Lombardi,” not “Lombardy.” However, no one noticed the difference which is a tad scary! (Well, that was a long time ago, like 1960’s) While I’m here, I would like to include one of the more influential “Lombardi quotes” that I somehow forgot to put in my last entry and I dedicate it to Bulldog Nation: “You’ve got to be mentally tough!”
LydiasDad
October 12th, 2012
8:47 pm
Hey, I didn’t say the coach should do it. I just said he shouldn’t be fired for it. Overreaction due to political correctness all day long.
Chick Fil A on Sunday
October 12th, 2012
9:04 pm
This just goes to show how many of you are retarded.
If your boss would kick you in the butt when you made a mistake, would you be OK with that? I doubt it.
Using violence to make a point is barbaric. To call those who disagree with this just illustrates your departure from the evolved human race.
bp
October 12th, 2012
9:25 pm
What a bunch of wusses these players and parents are.Do they still keep score?I had a coach who used to whack you in the helmet when you did good or bad.I loved it.
bp
October 12th, 2012
9:31 pm
Football is organized violence its awesome
Ben Dover
October 12th, 2012
9:45 pm
what does race have to do with this?
Biden's plugs
October 12th, 2012
10:15 pm
Ah, for the old days when men were men, and women were too.
John Boehner's Tanning Bed
October 12th, 2012
10:21 pm
Enter your comments here
John Boehner's Tanning Bed
October 12th, 2012
10:23 pm
Coach hits a player? Hit him back! Tough guy coach usually does a the crying.
Nation of Wussies
October 12th, 2012
10:27 pm
This is why we have become such a pitiful nation, no toughness anymore. Be a man, earn your place, take your best shot. These days it is give me something I didn’t earn.
rlm
October 12th, 2012
10:30 pm
The problem is that someone who does this is so pitiful that they can not communicate in an intelligent manner and should not be around students. People who think this is okay are as dumb as this coach.
Pugdawg
October 12th, 2012
10:43 pm
I agree with georgiadawg70!
Good Bye
October 12th, 2012
11:00 pm
Good! MY son’s coach calls them retarded and cusses up a storm at the boys. I think the coaches get paid too much for doing nothing but coaching. I don’t think coaches should receive a teachers salary and stipend for verbally abusing the kids!
Old school football
October 12th, 2012
11:04 pm
I see we have all the perople who weren’t picked to play a sport, did not have the ability to play a sport or were just plain nerds in school on the board tonight. You see folks, its not about being the old days, its about disciplin. You must stay focused on the field or you might get hurt. Yes, we all want to win, build the best program and all that yada, yada. But having an attitude adjustment whilt your in high school helps you when adversity hits you as an adult. Most kids who play a good four years of football turn out to be pretty good people as adults. They know how to deal with allot of junk that gets thrown their way. While many of you weenees complain about every little bump on the road. Some of the kids that are coming up not seem to think everything should be easy and given to them. Hard work and disciplin are not in their vocabulary. And you liberal weenees are assisting them in every way. Wake up. Some of these kids need a kick in the ass to keep them straight. These are the kids that at the mall when they were 2 threw tantrums and you stupid liberal soccer mom’s told them about time outs rather than laying a belt. So when they get to high school sports they think the party is the same. And you liberals just find a way to assist them. Don’t kid yourself, the good coaches still kick ass, they just find a way around getting caught. So please weenee people. do the rest of us a favor and go watch cricket or lacross or polo. Leave the disciplin building the the professionals.
georgiaboy
October 12th, 2012
11:12 pm
hello everyone. Im live here in Americus and my son plays football for the Americus-Sumter Panthers. I’m here to tell you all that this was more than an incident about Coach Pollack kicking our starting center in the butt, he had been picking on that kid for the last two years! The kid is of Mexican descent, and Pollack just seemed toalways be on his butt all the time. Hate to say it folks, but this had been brewing for a long time for Mr.Pollack. He’s a ……! There’s a lot to this than the press is letting on. Stay tuned!
george w. bush
October 12th, 2012
11:13 pm
My daddy never let anyone kick me. That’s why I became an alcoholic.
Sportsdog
October 13th, 2012
12:30 am
The truth of the matter is the kick or shove as some have described it had NOTHING to do with the decision to fire Pollock. He was told back in the spring after the board fired the superintendent and that is what happened. It was politics and it is a shame because Pollock was building a program out of train wreck from consolidation. Chris Wade is a good coach and I wish him the best but this was nothing about what happened on the practice field.
hit a single
October 13th, 2012
1:13 am
That why this country is going to hell. If we don’t go back to the old ways it will continue to go down hill. We keep funding all these programs that are going to save the world and we won’t allow kids to be disciplined. So don’t moan and groan when the Test scores are down and crime rate is up. We are the reason, but that is the way society wants it.