The Menard Independent School District Board of Trustees met for the their regularly scheduled July meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. One hot topic on the agenda was the vote to move to 6-man football status or to stay 11-man.
Citizens comments are held toward beginning of the meeting before the board starts discussing their agenda business. Frank Davis of Menard was the sole citizen to sign up.
Davis’s comments to the board centered around the 6-man decision. “There’s a lot of tension in the air lately, but I am happy to have Coach Gorman and his staff who cares,” said Davis. “But we’ve done good in basketball, baseball; the only trouble we’ve had is football. We are outnumbered.” Davis went on to praise the current coaching staff yet asked the council to consider the 6-man switch in order to provide more on-field experience and safer playing time for all ages of Yellowjacket football players.
The Board continued with their agenda until it came to the 6-man discussion and vote. Superintendent of Schools Amy Bannowsky reminded the board of the 2 community meetings held, and the online survey offered regarding the potential switch in football district.
Steve Terrell, SMD 2 Trustee, began the discussion by asking his colleagues if they felt that have done enough to make sure everyone has had their say in the matter. Discussion among members was of the poor attendance at the two community meetings they held. Both meetings had 30 or fewer attendees, and each group was overwhelmingly pro 6-man.
The majority of respondents from the online survey—geared toward both students and community— were also in favor of the change.
The 7 board trustees held discussion among themselves and also called upon meeting guests to for their input. Board President Arnold Saucedo, who has firmly expressed his 11-man stance from the get-go, asked head football coach and Athletic Director Justin Gorman for his honest input.
“Talent will come and go in a small school,” Gorman said about looking into the future of Yellowjacket football. The football program consistently sees up to 25 players at the start of the year. Well into the year that number drops for several reasons—grade-related, injury, loss of interest (quit), moving.
For Menard, an 11-man team can almost always be filled; however, Gorman says: “We have no numbers to scout. It’s hard to get ready for a Friday night when you have manager girls standing in for the defensive line.”
An important and focused upon pro of 6-man football is the playing time. This was discussed at the school board meeting and community meetings as well. The school will have a varsity and JV squad. There is potential for a freshman team. Junior Jackets will be able to play more evenly-aged opponents by having both a 7th grade team and an 8th grade team.
This experience on the field is a valuable asset of which Menard football players have been deprived. Playing freshman and JV football gives younger players a chance to learn, grow and mature before they are thrust upon the pressure of Friday night lights.
Following this discussion, SMD 3 Trustee Willy Wright put forth a motion to move to 6-man. Tami Russel, SMD 7, seconded the motion. Trustees Butch Aguilar, Kyra Ramon, Steve Terrell, Tami Russel, Matt Gainer, and Willy Wright were in favor. Trustee and board president Arnold Saucedo was opposed. The motion passed.
Menard will reclassify to 6-man when the UIL realigns for the 2022/2023 school year.
Coach Justin Gorman lamented that “When you get to this point, schools try to hang on to 11-man for too long; the losing gets worse and worse.”
The upcoming football season will be Menard’s final season with 11 men on the field. In the spring, all Menard football athletes will be learning 6-man.
Gorman will not return for the 2022 season. Sixman is a different game, and he is more qualified to coach 11-man. “They made the right decision with all of the information we have, looking to the future of the community. I wish them luck,” the coach said.
Author’s note- with the hubbub of the big change in football, we can’t forget about THIS season. We have Yellowjackets preparing now for the 2021 football season, so let’s be sure to support them and cheer them on!
Be looking in the newspaper for pre-season information like Meet the Jackets date, schedules, Junior Jacket info, cross country updates... We try to cover it all!