Dayton - Coach Jerry Stewart Interview (2 Part)

[bronco1]

Part 1

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18438841&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=544870&rfi=6

Part 2

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18465949&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=544870&rfi=6

[Guest Baller]

The man does not mince many words.  I agree with a lot about what he says about youth programs.  Parents are what is killing athletics everywhere today.  It is not the kids fault what they hear at home.

[bronco1]

To the point, that is what I like about him. He never fluffs anything up.

[Guest etbu]

Great article and Bear said a kid should not play football until the ninth grade. Thanks for sharing the article.

[BH85]

Good Article... I especially like the part about kids specializing too early.  I've seen some going to one sport as early as 7 or 8.  The more well rounded a kid is....the better.

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DN: What do you regard as the biggest threats to your ability and that of your coaching staffs to continue your winning ways at Dayton?

STEWART: The biggest threat is participation. I don't want kids to specialize in any one sport, and that includes football. I want to see them playing two or three sports. We've got a lot of kids in our elementary schools that have started worrying about being specialists in on particular sport. What happens if you're not any good in that sport?

The first thing they'll tell you is that they are great. Well, in every parent's eyes, as it should be, your kid is great, but that's not practical - that's just not the way it is. Some kids mature early and are as good in 8th or 9th grade as they're going to get. Other kids mature late. So the biggest threat is the specialization of sports.

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[Guest etbu]

Coach Stewart is a throw back and met him for the first time this year. Great interivew and pretty cool that Coach Stewart opens up like that and is very transparent.