School board in for rude awakening next year

It was a sad day in Mudville (Brick Township) on May 14, when the Mighty Casey (coach Warren Wolf) struck out. On April 30, Coach Wolf attended the Brick Township Board of Education meeting and addressed them over the hiring of his replacement as head coach of the Brick Township High School football team. His comments fell on deaf ears. Strike one.O

n May 12 he addressed the Brick Township Council, explaining the plight of the team and the concerns of many parents and backers of Brick football. Strike two. OnMay 14, he again addressed the Brick school board, along with many Brick citizens. Strike 3.

It was very clear to those in attendance that the school board has something against the former coach and his staff, and the boys who play football in Brick Township.

T

hey didn't give the head

coach position to longtime Brick boys, boys who have come up through the system that was created way back in 1958. The board saw fit to award the job to an outsider, a carpetbagger, one with a losing record with no idea of the traditions of Brick football or the pride of which every boy who came through the system feels.

This new coach is just coming here to boost his résumé and get an administrator's job.

It's our wagon. We built it. We pulled it. We pushed it. We repaired it if it ever broke. And now he wants to ride on it, just to build on his résumé, and move on again, as he has done his whole career. He's been to eight different schools in 17 years.

I was one of the students who was there on opening day of Brick Township High School. I played football for four years there on the team that went 33 games undefeated. We had pride in our school and we started the tradition that is carried on until this day. Now, with callous disregard, it has been destroyed by another group of outsiders — the Board of Education. None of them went to Brick High, they don't get involved with the sports programs and don't attend any games.

Back when the school opened, the board members were very active with the programs. One board member was up in the booth broadcasting the games for many years. Others were manning the ticket sales booth, selling hot dogs and sodas in the concession stands. Others were on the sidelines watching the games. They were all behind the team 100 percent.

Remember the Japanese admiral who attacked Pearl Harbor, who was afraid they had awakened a "sleeping giant." In this case, it's a sleeping dragon. He wants some meat now. In this case, it's rump roast, seven pieces. And come April when school board elections come up again, he's going to get fed.

So I remind everyone to get registered to vote. All you seniors in high school, register and get your parents interested in your causes and have your say at the polls. It doesn't matter who they vote for. Just get them out to vote. Let's get this stain and stink off the green and white and get our leadership blood green again.

We may have lost this first battle with the Brick school board, but they fired the first shot. There will be more battles, and the pride and tradition of Brick football will win the war they started.
Jon Sendzik
Brick