Wayne Stokes
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 3, 1970
In case anyone should ask, the 1970 version of Leesburg Yellow jackets JV's could possibly be the finest group ever produced at our local institution. JV coach Buddy Lowe has a large turnout of football players on his 1970 team and some fine young prospects are available.
The junior varsity squad this year will begin to really reap the benefits from the excellent junior high football program at Leesburg Junior High School.
Milton Smith, principal at LJHS, deserves a big hand of congrats for his leadership and direction behind the outstanding sports program at the local junior high school. His efforts, in conjunction with those of ex-head coach Gil Watts and his staff at LHJS, was responsible for most of the fine looking football players out for the junior varsity squad this year.
For those not familiar with the success story of Leesburg Junior High, it might sound a little far fetched. It is not.
The football team of the Red Raiders had complete two consecutive unbeaten seasons and the ironic thing about the squad is the fact that not once in two years did they have a close game.
Dressing out 75-85 boys for each football contest, Watts was able to go to his bench early because of the tremendous scoring pressure exerted by his starting eleven. He could also go to his third and fourth teams with equal ease because as we said before, nobody played the Red Raiders a close game.
By utilizing so many players at the Junior High, Gil Watts exposed more than the normal number of footballers to this experience of playing the pigskin gem under real game conditions. There is a distinct difference between the practice field and the playing field and the graduated members of the LJHS squads are well versed in the mechanics of them football.
This make the job of Buddy Lowe and Pete McComb so much easier. They can approach the majority of players out this year and be confident that they know what the game of football is really about. They have had the basics taught to them in the junior high school program and once they reach the level of the junior varsity program, there advancement becomes terrific from this point on.
Seeing how much a strong junior high school football program can mean to the healthy atmosphere of a school like Leesburg Junior High School, we are More aware than ever of the fine job that has been turned in by Milton Smith and his fine staff.
Administrators that have ambitions to eliminate the junior high athletic program should spend some time in schools without a program like the one we have in our town and compare it with the attitude found at LHJS. That administrator would find a great deal of difference between the two institutions, this we are supremely confident of.
If a concerted effort is ever made in Lake County to abolish the junior high school athletic program, this corner will exercise every power with our grasp to fight the move, tooth and nail. One reason that we feel so strongly about this program is because of our own experiences in a junior high school with a strong athletic program.
As a junior high school student, we attended Walker Junior High School in Bradenton, Florida. The athletic program of this medium size school was almost a parallel with that of LJHS. In our three years as a Walker Jr. High student, we were undefeated in football and had excellent teams in all sports.
Manatee high School, form where we graduated, reaped many huge benefits form the great athletic program headed up by Coach Doyle Carlisle at Walker Jr. High, and we who participated received many huge benefits, as well. The key to driving such a harvest of benefits from a program such as this is the choice of personnel who have the positions of guidance.
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 3, 1970
In case anyone should ask, the 1970 version of Leesburg Yellow jackets JV's could possibly be the finest group ever produced at our local institution. JV coach Buddy Lowe has a large turnout of football players on his 1970 team and some fine young prospects are available.
The junior varsity squad this year will begin to really reap the benefits from the excellent junior high football program at Leesburg Junior High School.
Milton Smith, principal at LJHS, deserves a big hand of congrats for his leadership and direction behind the outstanding sports program at the local junior high school. His efforts, in conjunction with those of ex-head coach Gil Watts and his staff at LHJS, was responsible for most of the fine looking football players out for the junior varsity squad this year.
For those not familiar with the success story of Leesburg Junior High, it might sound a little far fetched. It is not.
The football team of the Red Raiders had complete two consecutive unbeaten seasons and the ironic thing about the squad is the fact that not once in two years did they have a close game.
Dressing out 75-85 boys for each football contest, Watts was able to go to his bench early because of the tremendous scoring pressure exerted by his starting eleven. He could also go to his third and fourth teams with equal ease because as we said before, nobody played the Red Raiders a close game.
By utilizing so many players at the Junior High, Gil Watts exposed more than the normal number of footballers to this experience of playing the pigskin gem under real game conditions. There is a distinct difference between the practice field and the playing field and the graduated members of the LJHS squads are well versed in the mechanics of them football.
This make the job of Buddy Lowe and Pete McComb so much easier. They can approach the majority of players out this year and be confident that they know what the game of football is really about. They have had the basics taught to them in the junior high school program and once they reach the level of the junior varsity program, there advancement becomes terrific from this point on.
Seeing how much a strong junior high school football program can mean to the healthy atmosphere of a school like Leesburg Junior High School, we are More aware than ever of the fine job that has been turned in by Milton Smith and his fine staff.
Administrators that have ambitions to eliminate the junior high athletic program should spend some time in schools without a program like the one we have in our town and compare it with the attitude found at LHJS. That administrator would find a great deal of difference between the two institutions, this we are supremely confident of.
If a concerted effort is ever made in Lake County to abolish the junior high school athletic program, this corner will exercise every power with our grasp to fight the move, tooth and nail. One reason that we feel so strongly about this program is because of our own experiences in a junior high school with a strong athletic program.
As a junior high school student, we attended Walker Junior High School in Bradenton, Florida. The athletic program of this medium size school was almost a parallel with that of LJHS. In our three years as a Walker Jr. High student, we were undefeated in football and had excellent teams in all sports.
Manatee high School, form where we graduated, reaped many huge benefits form the great athletic program headed up by Coach Doyle Carlisle at Walker Jr. High, and we who participated received many huge benefits, as well. The key to driving such a harvest of benefits from a program such as this is the choice of personnel who have the positions of guidance.
This is the area that the good and bad has its parting of ways.
A good moral person of capable leadership can do wonders for a group of 12-15 year old, youngsters, Just as easily, probably even easier, an unqualified person can destroy a youngster in about one-third as much time. This is where the matter of junior high school athletic programs can be analyzed in a hurry. If the coach in charge is not suited for working with youngsters of this category, then by all means have him removed.
This where Milton Smith has once again show excellent foresight. His coaches have been top notch, as they well should have been.
We relate back to the background that we received form Doyle Carlisle at Walker Junior High and we are proud that we were a part of it. We cans still remember talks that our coach had with us that made such a lasting impression upon us. They must have been effective because we still remember them today. The most important thing that he tried to teach us was a simple thing called pride. Football was taught, but really it was a secondary thing with our coach. He was always telling us that if we had enough pride in what we were doing, then he wasn't worried about us becoming good football players. That would come just as natural as death and taxes.
He must have been right, because we were never beaten. Everyone that stayed on the team was proud of Walker Junior High because we were proud of our record and proud of our school. This is just the way the students and the athletes of Leesburg
It's a good feeling and one that is good for the community, not only for the school.
After Carlisle left Walker Junior High, pride was no longer stressed with the degree of importance that it once had been and you know, it has since become a school racked with numerous problems. Not only there but in the high school that sits right across the street. Once the element of fierce pride in the school was eliminated, you might say that things went to pot.
This is why we will fight any move ever undertaken to half junior high athletics in our Lake County schools. We believe in their importance toward soothing many otherwise unsoothable situations that arise within a school structure like we have today.
We feel that they are necessary and are glad that ours is so excellent.
We bet that Buddy Lowe is also glad that the junior high football program has had so much success. It should be a great year for the JV's in 1970.
Resources
Wayne Stokes
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 3, 1970
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 3, 1970
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
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