The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Hoopeston

Facebook

March 22, 2013

Hoopeston Area High restores varsity football schedule

BY CAROL HICKS Commercial-News

HOOPESTON — Varsity football is back in the Hoopeston Area High School schedule for the 2013-2014 school year after a year’s hiatus.

About 40 students from freshman to seniors and their parents attended a meeting Tuesday evening geared to Phase II in the restructuring of Hoopeston’s football program, a program that began in Hoopeston in 1897. It has been in existence for 116 years.

"Last year was the first time in Hoopeston’s history that we did not have a Hoopeston record in varsity football," said high school principal Larry Maynard.

School board members and the athletic department decided not to have a varsity football team last year due to the lack of varsity players. The program was downgraded to a junior varsity schedule for 2012-2013.

This decision also was made to protect the freshman and sophomore players. Downgrading to a junior varsity gave the team a better learning experience by playing against other junior varsity teams.

"Success is a journey," Maynard said. "It’s making a commitment. Are we willing to make a commitment? If you can make the commitment, you will be there in August."

He added if any student didn’t plan to be there in August for the beginning of football season, then he shouldn’t sign the forms to play.

"Our young people can compete and do anything, if they set their minds to do it," Maynard said.

Suzi Root, RTI coordinator, spoke to the athletes about grades. Hoopeston now has a no pass, no play policy for athletes in all extracurricular activities. An athlete has to have passing grades in all classes to participate in sports.

Root said the biggest problem with grades for many students is not handing in homework assignments.

"Zeros greatly impact grade point areas," Root said. "What a difference turning in all your assignments will make in your grades. There is help for students struggling in certain areas."

She added a student shouldn’t wait until he or she is failing to ask for help.

Students and parents filled out forms following the meeting making a commitment to play junior and varsity football in the fall.

Text Only
Hoopeston
E-edition
AP Video
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50 Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
NDN Video
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Trout's cycle a boost for Angels Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery Shakira's Shocking Talent Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Must Read