Week 10 - Portsmouth (2-7) vs Cincinnati Hughes (4-5)

[High Plains Drifter]

I'm thinking like you PSU, I would think the staff would make a move or something if its really like this.

[hbk2016]

I have seen many football coaches come and go from the area of over the years. I have yet to see one who didn't live and breathe football, typically sacrificing a tremendous amount to do so. Coaches miss out on many family events that only happen once, they put in hour after hour to make sure YOUR kid has the best chance to succeed. To say that Coach Sparks and his staff are the exception to the rule is ludicrous. Maybe they try to incorporate some fun team-building activities that are outside the traditional box of what we think is correct, but kids these days are different. You can't just run them until they puke and expect them to buy into your system. High School sports are supposed to teach us valuable life lessons, but they are also supposed to be FUN. I guess we say shame on Coach Sparks for bringing some fun to a long football season. I say shame on us for essentially firing the guy before he even finds a house in our community. If we continue to want the same old same old then we will never be able to get anyone to come here and coach. If you always do what you have always done then you will always get what you have always got. Words have never rang more true in trojan land.

Trojan Pride.

[LetsGoPSU]

agree hbk, that's why I had to ask about the film work and lack of a scouting report.......I just cant see this happening at any level. Most coaches go way above and beyond to prep their kids for Friday.....that's why I asked the question. Its just so unbelievable......I did read in the Portsmouth rag on line, that Coach Sparks mentioned some film study on Hughes, that sets it straight I believe. Don't add me to any list that supports or does not support, Im out of the loop and the only info I receive comes from pages such as this.Im just a fan....that's all

[Oaks_Fan_06]

I don't care if these accusations are true or not because I know one thing: this guy coaches with passion! I see how he gets those kids fired up to play. You don't need all that other stuff. I have heard the same rumors you have and I say thank God! Going through the motions practice after practice, putting film on so the kids can fall asleep, running the same old crap offense and defense year in and year out...Sparks knows how to keep these kids interested. Playing Madden football in the locker room? Genius. I can't think of a better way to teach these kids football. Team building activities where a coach and his player bond over kicking field goals, playing putt-putt, or whatever? Brilliant! Football teams are like a family. "Ranting and raving" on the sidelines (as you call it)? At least he is into the game. What, should he sit there like some sort of Detached Danny of a coach while his team is getting throttled? Some people call that poise and composure, I call it disinterest and boredom.

The fabulous scene I witnessed Friday night after the game has changed my life forever and I look forward to the new King Trojan ruling over the district for eternity.

[Trojan_FB_Alum]

Sparks is 6-14, with those 6 wins coming against some very unimppressive teams, who total a record of 19-41. Obviously none of them have had a record above .500. Is this really all we expect? Is this exceptiable? Are we really supposed to believe that another coach wouldn't have won more games? The talents of Robinson, Dickerson, Sturgill, Kennedy, Hollins, Gibson, Delotell, Richardson, Oliver ( I realize he missed most of the year but played all last year and the first 2 this season) and others aren't good enough to win more then 3 games a year? Are you kidding me? I'm so sick of people blaming the kids at PHS, when they aren't given a chance to succeed.

Is there anyone out there that really thinks some of the other quality coaches in our area would have this bad if record with this talent? Would Johnson from West? What about Woodard at Burg? Hall at Jackson? Crabtree at Valley? I could go on, but can anyone out there say that they honestly think any of these coaches would have coached this talent to back to back 3-7 seasons? No way!!!

Think any of them are playing Xbox in the Locker room?

Nothing wrong with team bonding, but have a night in the summer to watch Rudy, Remember the Titans, Brian's Song or something, have pregame meals on Thursday nights where the team and families all eat together, load up on a Saturday and head to Ohio University Marshall, or Moorehead for a game as a team. Do comunity service as a team in the offseason, plenty of things you can do beside making the locker room a playhouse. When they step through those doors it should be all buisness.

Sparks was not qualified to be given this job and we are paying for it now, I have no clue why we would sacrifice our boys chance at success for this. Please make a change before our boys have to suffer through another year of losing to teams that are less talented.

[4thgoal]

Is there anyone out there that really thinks some of the other quality coaches in our area would have this bad if record with this talent? Would Johnson from West? What about Woodard at Burg? Hall at Jackson? Crabtree at Valley? I could go on, but can anyone out there say that they honestly think any of these coaches would have coached this talent to back to back 3-7 seasons? No way!!!

Great point! Great coaches teach fundamentals, discipline and hard work. Also, they find a way to get the ball into the hands of their most talented athletes as much as possible. I do not think this description fits what has happened at Portsmouth the last 2 seasons.

[hbk2016]

The time is upon us, the waiting, the wondering, the anticipation. Will he stay or will he go? Has Coach Sparks accomplished enough to garner the elusive "one more year" or will Portsmouth look to make a change. Nothing we can do now my little trojans but wait and see. The coming weeks will be filled with wonderment and conjecture. Stay tuned to find out in the coming weeks, same Trojan Time same Trojan Channel.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Will the spark ignite into a burning inferno or be crushed like a stale pall mall cigarette under a muddy boot on the gritty asphalt of Chillicothe Street.

Only time will tell my friends, only time will tell.

Once a Trojan, always a..... or a Trojan for a couple of years.

[local superstar]

What does Sparks teach?

[Trojan_FB_Alum]

Teach is a very generous term, he works at the Trojan Learning Center in the old gym. It's Portsmouth's form of alternative school. Basically he is a glorified babysitter. Contributes very little to the educational experience. He would not be missed as he doesn't teach a state tested subject.

[hbk2016]

Rumor has it that Sparks is getting one more year? Can any insiders confirm?

[Oaks_Fan_06]

One more year? Remember this my friend, the Son of Captain Trojan, whose beard is like blazing fire and whose Madden playbook has been burnished into bronze, was anointed King Trojan last week by the football gods. Therefore he shall rule over Trojan Land (and the OVC) for eternity with an iron XBox controller and he will dash his enemies to pieces like pottery.

The real question is whether or not his assistant coaches will continue to reject his teachings of the New Order of Football. He has tolerated these men, who call themselves coaches, but by their teachings they led him to two losing seasons. He has given them time to find their passion, but they have been unwilling. This royal subject would not be surprised if he were to cast them to a field of suffering where they belong and strike their whistles dead!

And to his new staff? He shall not impose any burden on them such as creating a scouting report or conducting film study or organizing practice. He shall simply ask them to hold on to their XBox gold subscription until the state titles come. For this, they shall receive the morning star...

[trojandave]

Found out on Tuesday that the Trojans will open the 2015 season with the Valley Indians, who have beaten PHS 3 years in a row.

[Game day]

One more year? Remember this my friend, the Son of Captain Trojan, whose beard is like blazing fire and whose Madden playbook has been burnished into bronze, was anointed King Trojan last week by the football gods. Therefore he shall rule over Trojan Land (and the OVC) for eternity with an iron XBox controller and he will dash his enemies to pieces like pottery.

The real question is whether or not his assistant coaches will continue to reject his teachings of the New Order of Football. He has tolerated these men, who call themselves coaches, but by their teachings they led him to two losing seasons. He has given them time to find their passion, but they have been unwilling. This royal subject would not be surprised if he were to cast them to a field of suffering where they belong and strike their whistles dead!

And to his new staff? He shall not impose any burden on them such as creating a scouting report or conducting film study or organizing practice. He shall simply ask them to hold on to their XBox gold subscription until the state titles come. For this, they shall receive the morning star...

That is funny! But I did hear that his entire staff is quiting.

[hbk2016]

Rumor has it Bob Shaffer was seen at PHS this week. Could a return of the Shaf be in the future? This is just the shot in the arm this program needs!

[TrojanXplosion]

Bob Shaffer is a hell of a guy. He's the man.

Give this guy a job, get to the playoffs his first year.

[osu 77]

Rumor has it Bob Shaffer was seen at PHS this week. Could a return of the Shaf be in the future? This is just the shot in the arm this program needs!

I just don't know if Bob would want to jump back into being a head coach again. If so good luck to him!

[The_Joker]

LetsGoPSU: Looks like the staff isn't sticking with him after all, which seems to validate a lot of what has been said on here.

HBK: Bob Shaffer? That guy is still coaching? Please tell me you made that up.

Trojan_FB_Alum: If you can't win with athletic talent like that, that makes you wonder what is being done to develop their athletic ability? Surely they at least lift weights at Portsmouth. I understand things like scouting reports and film study are not important to this guy, but surely he has them lifting weights. Does he run the weight program, too? I guess it would make sense why they are so weak given what some of the other priorities in his program are.

local superstar: I think he was hired as an intervention teacher at the alternative school. I am not sure how anyone could really attest to how much he contributes to educational process because I hear he is rarely in there....must be getting caught in traffic in New Boston headed back from GameStop.

Reaper: ???

trojandave: Looks like Portsmouth will be playing Valley, West, Wheelersburg and Waverly next year. Still confused why they aren't in the SOC, but thank god. At least they switched Minford out for Waverly last year and will continue to beat at least one SOC team.

[hbk2016]

If people don't go for Bob Shaffer how about we recycle Curt Clifford as coach. Maybe we can reverse the rotation of the Earth and make it 1995 again. That seems to be what people want in a coach and a team. How about we just get behind the coach we have. We gave Clifford 106 seasons, why not give Sparks 3.

[Oaks_Fan_06]

Found out on Tuesday that the Trojans will open the 2015 season with the Valley Indians, who have beaten PHS 3 years in a row.

I saw this game in vision the other night as I lay in bed. There was King Trojan, stout like an Ox. There was a great multitude of Trojan warriors that no one could count, from every grade, neighborhood, precinct and people of the city of Portsmouth, standing before the throne and before the Ox. They were wearing yet another new jersey and were holding golden XBox controllers in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: Victory belongs to King Trojan, who sits on the throne, and to the Ox. And all of the new coaches were standing around the throne and around the elders (admin) and the four iron controllers. As King Trojan stood they all fell to their knees and began worshiping, saying, "Sparky! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to you our King for ever and ever!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These new jerseys, where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come to learn from the King! They have conquered Coach Mode on Madden NFL 15 and now wish to forge their new controllers in the beard of the Ox. Therefore, they stand before the throne of the King and wish to serve him day and night on his field. And he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his NextGen Playbook. Never again will they watch film. Never again will they read a scouting report. The opposing team will not tackle them, nor will they tackle the opposing team. For the Ox at the center of the throne will be their King, their Coach who will lead them to Massilon (or Canton...or Columbus) and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes."

[Oaks_Fan_06]

Found out on Tuesday that the Trojans will open the 2015 season with the Valley Indians, who have beaten PHS 3 years in a row.

I saw this game in vision the other night as I lay in bed. There was King Trojan, stout like an Ox. There was a great multitude of Trojan warriors that no one could count, from every grade, neighborhood, precinct and people of the city of Portsmouth, standing before the throne and before the Ox. They were wearing yet another new jersey and were holding golden XBox controllers in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: Victory belongs to King Trojan, who sits on the throne, and to the Ox. And all of the new coaches were standing around the throne and around the elders (admin) and the four iron controllers. As King Trojan stood they all fell to their knees and began worshiping, saying, "Sparky! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to you our King for ever and ever!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These new jerseys, where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come to learn from the King! They have conquered Coach Mode on Madden NFL 15 and now wish to forge their new controllers in the beard of the Ox. Therefore, they stand before the throne of the King and wish to serve him day and night on his field. And he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his NextGen Playbook. Never again will they watch film. Never again will they read a scouting report. The opposing team will not tackle them, nor will they tackle the opposing team. For the Ox at the center of the throne will be their King, their Coach who will lead them to Massilon (or Canton...or Columbus) and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes."