Comments

MM wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:25 AM:

" I've coached Emmanuel. He is a great kid. He made a mistake. I can tell you I have not been able to get a hold of him since this happened but I would bet anything he was provoked. I have not known him to ever raise a hand unprovoked. He is a very big and strong young man. He is from the East and its a different deal. Some things are worth fighting for over there. Very prideful. I would stand up for Emmanuel any day of the week. "




Football Fan wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:55 AM:

" I heard more members of the EAZ football team had been suspended??? "




I know 2 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:04 AM:

" To rayray: Ok let me correct you because I obviously am not getting across what I mean. There is nothing wrong with recruiting outside the valley and there is nothing wrong with winning, however, whether from here or elsewhere things go on at EAC that go unreported and have for 20 + years. Both from here and from elsewhere, both from sports teams and non sports teams. All of the problem students are not from the teams but many are and we need to keep the numbers as low as possible. OK? "




rayray wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:28 PM:

" Correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe that many local kids have also been in trouble at EAC. Coach O was hired to win and I am sorry but you do need to recruit outside of the community if you want to win.
By the way reading your paper there are many more crooks in the community than that are on EAC Football team "




I know 2 wrote on Nov 2, 2008 10:38 AM:

" A lot more happens at EAC than people know about. Much goes unreported, and that's ok with EA cause they don't want a bad rep. Been there... "




First Hand Account wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:06 PM:

" And as for recruiting, you can recruit good and bad, concerning attitude, talent, behavior. It is up to the coach what kind of team he/she chooses to run. For me personally, I'd like to see the athletes walk around with a little more class and a little less foul language. As a student, I'm slightly disgusted that some of these individuals represent the same school that I do. I wish the coach, if he isn't pushing this, would start. I don't know Coach O'Mera personally, but leadership, morale, attitude, behavior starts at the top. These individuals could use some... "




First Hand Account wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:02 PM:

" As someone who spends a majority of time on the EAC campus as an employee and as a student, I really don't have a lot positive to say about many members of the team. I've seen them at local ball games acting just as disrespectful as some people have described. I've seen them in my place of business this way and I've seen them around on campus or outside the dorms this way. For many, not all, their overall behavior, attitude and demeanor is deplorable. I'm not suprised to read about stories like this. It was only a matter of_time. "




Concerned wrote on Oct 30, 2008 2:45 PM:

" Brought here thru federal scholarships for higher education !! Another one arrested this week for assault. "




Nancy wrote on Oct 30, 2008 2:38 PM:

" I am a former EAC student and I have met alot of great people and made friends with some of the football players and my time at EAC was the greatest but it looks like it is getting worse but it IS NOT the fault of the coaches but rather the students because although they are only football players, they are old enough to know right from wrong..I was shocked when I read this article but I do hope that it gets better at EAC because I plan returning to Thatcher with my husband and complete my Bachelors in Nursing. "




disgusted wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:34 AM:

" How dare you people criticize coach O'Mera and his program after this one incident. Football teams have over 80 players on the roster, and they are 18 and 19 years old. It's inevitable that there will be a couple of bad apples. Coach O'Mera is not to blame for that.
People don't realize that O'Mera has already done a lot to clean up the football program. He has proven that he does not tolerate this kind of behavior in his players. He will deal with this appropriately. He is a good man with a good family. Leave him alone. "




CB wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:55 AM:

" It also suprises me that there would be a reader who decides to throw Mrs. O'Mera in to this. She is a huge asset to this community. She has taught in our public schools and influenced for the good hundreds of our children. There are actually several spouses of coaches and coaches themselves in the EAC family who are teaching in our valley. These people have all been powerful influences for good in our community. "




CB wrote on Oct 30, 2008 12:29 AM:

" It really is not right for any of us to judge a program by the actions of a few, alleged or real. There have been many organizations in our community that have had people make mistakes. We all have messed up at one time or another. The true test of Coach O'Mera's program will be how the situation is handled and how this young man handles this, of which we will never fully know. For that reason alone we need to trust him and trust those that are near the program. They will do the right thing! "




CB wrote on Oct 30, 2008 12:22 AM:

" I have had the opportunity to work with Coach O'Mera and get to know his family and, yes, I am also a native of this community. If there is one thing that is sure is that Coach O'Mera and his program place charachter and building young men before winning. He holds his players accountable for everything, but is also fair. We will never fully know all of the details of this or any of the other situations that he has to deal with. (continued) "




Ex monster wrote on Oct 29, 2008 9:04 PM:

" referred to me as nephew- point being these peopel cared about you as a person and were second fathers./aunts to us away from home- and I am sure that the current staff is the same way- and that is why EAC is so great and so special to students and those of us who are blessed to spend 3 of the best years of our life there.

Look at the situation and dont criticize what you dont understand, for you have never been in that persons shoes before. "




MO Coash wrote on Oct 29, 2008 9:01 PM:

" unless EAC changed ALOT since I graduated in 97, but the main things the administration cares about is young men behaving, doing the right thing, growing as people and playing with class, winning is important but not at all costs. Look how long Coach Hekekiah and Coach Lavetter and heck Coach McCluskey have been here or were here. and what made these coaches (except lavetter- ha ha) so great was that they cared about the athlete/student as a whole, heck Coach Hekekiah was always there for me and after I got a job in Dallas (lol) "




MO Coach wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:58 PM:

" COnt and plan on winning - coach tidwell when he laid the foundaiton not only used his utah ties but recruited the heck out of those states as well as in state, heck our best player in 1996 was zebediah gabe cox out of tucson and went onto a great career at Purdue adn dont forget Orlando Huff out of Tuscon that went onto Fresno state and onto a nfl career with the seahawks and cardinals

The thing that people need to realize is that EAC is not a win at all costs program unless it changed "




MO Coach wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:55 PM:

" a national championship had Tidwell stayed and not left for D-1 opportunities (LA Tech/BYU).Although Coach O'mera has done a GREAT job with the program,this program has won before and it was coach Tidwell that laid and rebuilt the foundation for todays success.

You cannot rely upon the area 2a schools for talent, you have to recruit Texas, Florida and California as well as Hawaian islands, states that are hotbeds for talent as well as the phoenix metro area, not that there is not talent in the gila valley, but you cannot rely heavily upon the valley cont "




Mo Coach wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:51 PM:

" cont such as Sal Cardella, the Moore Twins (GREAT PLAYERS), Brandon Selsmon, Fat Cat, Mesane Louisdoore, but you know what, if they met Coach Tidwells high standards they stayed, if they didnt they were shown the door (IMMEDIATELY) Coach O;mera and his staff will deal with this and handle it appropriately, I am highly loyal to Coach TIdwell, but am sure that Coach O'mera will do what he and his staff and administration think is best.

On the same note, EAC had a winning season in 1997 (ACCAC champs) and this would have continued and turned into CONT "




MO Coach wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:48 PM:

" All I am saying is that Coaches Tidwell layed a foundation to be able to win and recruit talent) and get quality players by doing his homework.
Bottom line is that there is a victim that was victimized in an unfortunate inan infortunate incident and in a small town (as coach tidwell told all players) you will be scrutinized, and as Coach tidwell being the great coach and better man he was told them was that if you cant take that dont come here (and trust me, when we rebuilt this program there were some characters brought in) cont "




Shaesca wrote on Oct 29, 2008 6:14 PM:

" No. I am not saying he should not be punished. There are laws and he broke one of them. My concern is WHY? What caused this outburst and have there been other physical altercations involving this young man. The coaches and staff make little effort to make sure these kids, (and I stress the word kids), have their physical and mental health needs met. All that matters to fans and coaches is the win no matter the cost of that kids well being. My opinion only. Take it as you like. "




Football Fan wrote on Oct 29, 2008 2:52 PM:

" So because he's a good football player he can choke someone until they pass out then drop him like a sack of potatoes? This is a very unfortunate incident but one that cannot go unpunished! "




EAC STUDENT wrote on Oct 29, 2008 1:18 PM:

" This situation has been blown out of proportion, colleges have issues like this all the time. And sometimes good kids get provoked to do bad things. And little do alot of you kn ow is that this guy is a great student academically. But no one has mentioned that!And boy is he one OUTSTANDING defensive end player!! "




Shaesca wrote on Oct 29, 2008 12:43 PM:

" What do you expect? Bringing a person into this area that has never been exposed to the mind set that prevails here is just asking for trouble. Has anyone thought maybe the football player was provoked beyond his limit and had to retaliate? Let's look at the human side and not from a "jocks" point of view. Sports are way over rated and the human side involved is ignored. Anyone moving here needs counseling if they aren't of the same faith base as a large percentage of EAC faculty and students. "




Former EAC Student wrote on Oct 29, 2008 12:13 PM:

" Continued... Only in small towns like the Gila Valley, do these things get blown up into front page items. What a joke. "




Former EAC Student wrote on Oct 29, 2008 12:10 PM:

" Mo Coach wrote, "" You don't read about Coach Kersting at Glendale having any law issues - but you do read about them winning. So in spite of human nature, maybe it is possible to get talented kids and have a classy program, with law abiding players." Maybe it is because it is a big city and the papers have more to write about than an altercation between insignificant football players at an insignificant small college, which is what this is. So many people down there try to blow everything out of proportion. Continue... "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Oct 29, 2008 10:34 AM:

" " With all these violent incidents why hasn't the stabbing of the Nieto boy been covered in the paper? I haven't read anything, and this happened weeks ago. They let the Sanchez kid off on a $500 bond for stabbing him in the neck!! What are these officials thinking? Why hasn't the Courier wrote anything about it? They have already had the preliminary trials and still nothing written about the happenings. What's going on with this? Plays off like a cover-up! " "




Continued wrote on Oct 29, 2008 10:17 AM:

" continued...us alone or they couldn't play ball anymore and they would have to go home. No discipline. Don't give me a load of crap of how important it is to win the games. If you can't get quality off the field as well as on then trash can the program and quit wasting our money!!! "




Dont know what ur talking about wrote on Oct 29, 2008 10:08 AM:

" To all of you who are dwelling on the football program...it's not just the football players. It was my house that was vandalized and trashed from the baseball players when they were not invited to a party there. They picked up my big terra cotta pots and threw them at my house, knocking off some of the stucco, they kicked my garage door and left dents all over in it then harrassed, intimidated, and threatened my daughter at school if we didn't drop the charges, they were only told to pay for the damages and leave...continue "




Football Fan wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:07 AM:

" If you want to see what happens to a football team when you don't recruit out of your area, look at the Pima Community College football program. They get beat by at least 50 points every game! And they are recruiting from all of the Tucson area schools. The kids that aren't taken by the D-1 schools that is. Still, a much bigger pool of players than what is available in the Gila Valley. "




Been Around wrote on Oct 29, 2008 6:20 AM:

" I've had contact with the program for about 30 years and yes, Coach Tidwell was (is) a class act. Giles was not. I've been very pleased with Coach O'Mera's actions with players that act up. When you have ANY college age kids you will have some problems, I'm sure the coach will get things in order. There is a lot more law enforcement activity around campus this year which makes it seem like there is more crime. There really isn't there is just more being done about it. "




BigNate wrote on Oct 29, 2008 1:57 AM:

" i played for Coach Omera and it was great. this little town finally had a winning team! their isn't much talent in this area, i've been to a high school game. you have to recruit from the outside. this is 1 this year!!! 1 out of 80 or so players. thats a better ratio than mormons. "




Tax Dollars at work wrote on Oct 28, 2008 10:31 PM:

" "Your Tax Dollars at work" "




eac wrote on Oct 28, 2008 9:03 PM:

" To whoever said there are talented players in safford thatcher and pima, u need to go to a game and see how horrible they are. Players here suck reqlly bad. Eac has big black studs on the tea, and thats what wins games. I love to watch them play and a lot of them are very nice. "




In Defense 2 wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:55 PM:

" You all you people need to keep you comment to yourself about things ans situations that you know nothing about. None of you were there so you dont know what really heppen. Apparently they recruit from afar because they want to. There must be some extraordinary about this player they wanted him.You all are on here judging people when you need to worry about yourself and what you need to be doing to better you own lives. Judge not unless you be judged! Instead of criticizing try praying for these kids! "




Mo Coach wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:47 PM:

" You dont read about Coach Kersting at Glendale having any law issues - but you do read about them winning.So inspite of human nature, maybe it is possible to get talented kids and have a classy program, with law abiding players.

In the end it is like a former trainer with a wall of shame used to say " I dont trust athletes". "




How Bout THem Cowboys wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:42 PM:

" in defense - yes you need talent - but you can recruit talent and character at the same time by doing your homework when you recruit and emphasizing citizenship in your program. EACdid it in the 90s under the great coach tidwell(now at BYU) and based the rebuilding (inicluding a 1997 ACCAC championship) on integrity and class.

yes as coaches we get paid to win, but citizenship should not be sacraficed when coaches can do their homework and fine high character players, look at what BYU has done and at their on and off the field success "




Monster 97 wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:37 PM:

" Coach Tidwell' philosophy was that he would rather have 100 players with less talent and high character than 100 high talent low character players. It is sad that EAC has placed less emphasis oncharacter players and coach them to be great than just find studs and not worry about character. Coach Tidwell built a successful program from the ashes based on character and won the ACCAC in 1997 on that philosophy and has taken it to BYU with him, that is not the case at EAC anymore. Just Win BABY, Tidwell did it with class, and Beat Omera "




Monster97 wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:33 PM:

" Hey COncerned over the years, JOe and
what do you expect - when the program was returned from the ashes in 1995 and EAC brought in it's greatest coach
ever, Coach Tidwell, why dont you look
up the records from when he was here from 1995-1997 and see that he did recruit high character players and if for some reason they acted up - they were sent home (and yes it did happen) - that pphilosophy was carried on through Coach Giles and ended when he left. Dont judge the program - "




Monster97 wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:27 PM:

" That was one thing about the great Coach Tidwell (Paul TIdwell) - he DEMANDED great citizenship from his athletes, he recruited high character players and demanded citizenship, if anyone messed up they were sent home immediately. I believe he employed the same philosophy that can be seen in the success of his current program, BYU as they are building a model program in the nation. "




In Defense wrote on Oct 28, 2008 1:43 PM:

" Not just anyone can play a sport regardless of what sport it is. You must have talent and many are unable to play at the college level. Coaches get paid to win and to do that talent must be recruited. From the comments above people are people and most are still pointing the finger at someone else instead of pointing it back at themselves. This is not about a sport it's about human nature. "




Joe wrote on Oct 28, 2008 11:04 AM:

" It has been this way for the last 20 years. I know personaly of players from the football and basketball team that have done prison time from crimes they commited while here, some on scholarships. Why do the coaches recruit from far away? We have many good athletes in Pima, Safford and other neighboring towns. "




what do you expect wrote on Oct 28, 2008 9:40 AM:

" How can you expect the players to be lawabiding.. The coach Omera still has his car registered in New Mexico. He has been here for at least 3 years.. He and his wife on our tax dollar but won't register their cars here. Lead by example.. Why do they recruit out of area. W6byope have many fine athletes in this area. "




Concerned over the years wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:20 PM:

" It's about time that light is being shed on what has been going on with EAC's football players! EAC football players have been doing violent things against people in this community for many many many years. Not only has the football players been doing stuff but so has the baseball players. It's time for the troublemaking ones to be booted out!!! "




JARAM wrote on Oct 27, 2008 6:50 PM:

" HE'S PROBALY HER PLAYING BALL ON OUR DIME! "