Help me out here. I was told that after we obligate our contracts for this year that, because of increasing fuel costs, we would no longer be allowed to take "long" trips. Although it hasn't been clearly defined to me exactly what "long" is, I am not happy about it and of course will protest to the best of my abilities.

Have any other coahes or programs recieved this kind of message? or is it just mine?

Thanks

Coach DeWitt,

Not sure if that varies school to school or not. Chapman went all the way to Missouri for football to play Blair Oaks. I think it depends on how much you SID is willing to work with you.

Coach DeWitt,

I guess it does not surprise me that schools might be choosing to change their athletic schedules to help combat the rising gasoline prices. I know that is starting to happen at other businesses. Where I work several people are starting to carpool. We are seeing more using the Kansas City metropolitan bus system too. I also hear people talk about purchasing more gas efficient autos. The gasoline prices are coming down but I think the dramatic rise over the last year is making a lot of businesses and individuals alter their consumption habits.

I would hate to see schools have to change their schedules to the point of eliminating traditional rivalries or lessening competitive opportunities, but somehow they need to address the additional costs. I have also heard that we may be facing increased natural gas expense this winter as high as 70%. If additional revenue is not an option, then perhaps some cost savings can be realized from changing schedules. I know it is probably not possible at all schools and I think it is tougher to do for a sport like wrestling. Football and basketball teams in Kansas City would really not have to schedule a game outside of KC until playoff season. Rockhurst High School might have to get a little creative to schedule a full football season with KC schools. I believe that wrestlers need more varied competition during the season.

Everyone probably realizes this but on 9/9/05, the IRS announced that the standard mileage rate was being changed from 40.5 cents per mile to 48.5 cents per mile for the period 9/1/05 to 12/31/05. This can help companies provide a little more assistance to their employees who do business travel for the rest of the year and also help those of you who use deduct business travel on your personal tax returns and use the standard mileage rate to do that instead of actual costs.

Aaron, Chapman went to Missouri because they had a two year contract with that school. You can't break a contract just because gas goes up. This was the last year of the contract-I don't think you will see it happen again next year.

We need to do more research on an opponent before scheduling a team like Blair Oaks even last year for a 2 year contract! C'mon they are brutal, I know Chapman one year faced Hayden, another year Holton, and don't forget Conway Springs! Chapman needs to look to schedule teams in non league games that we can beat or at least compete with.

Look for next year Chapman to add Council Grove back to the regular non conference schedule when the district playoffs are realligned. I would like to see Chapman play someone closer to home even if it's a bigger school.

I know Chapman turned down the invite to play a 2 year deal with Hayes (probably a good thing since they beat Marysville which has won something like 29 straight in league) I think Chapman should look at scheduling a tough 3a team in Riley County, keep Hillsboro on the schedule, or lets head west like we used to when I was in school and play a team like Russell.

Heck Chapman should go down to Wichita and take on Clearwater...The Fighting Chenoweths lost by 73 points or something like that the other night to Ulysses!

Thanks for the feedback.

I agree with HuskerFan when he says that wrestlers need more varied competition during the season and so I hope other programs are not having to deal with this kind of "economic" problem.

And Sweazy, what is my "SID?" Also, not to be a ninny, but the town is spelled Hays, not Hayes. They were not named after a president, they were named after Civil War general. And on another note, in the early 90's Chapman and TMP used to have a long standing rivalry in football to open each season. Chapman, however, dropped the series, not because of fuel costs, but because they were tired of starting every season 0-1. (Them is fightin' words!)

Coach DeWitt:

Many of the large colleges and universities employ a Sports Information Director. The principle objective of the Sports Information Director is to secure favorable public attention for a schools sports program by communicating effectively with the various media and other appropriate outlets.

I know of NO high school or school district which employs a "SID".

no but all schools do employ an Activities Director who job duties are to set the games, fill open spots during the season, set up referee's and oversee the programs. If you have an Activity Director that really cares about the sports programs, they will make sure that there is favorable public attention to all sports programs and help coaches communicate to the various media.
P.S. Chapman does not shy away from playing tough schools. Just look at who we played last year! If we wanted to start the season 1-0, we would have been in Hays to play TMP instead of one of the toughest teams in Missouri. How many games has TMP won the past 5 years?

Chapman could wrestle with Manhattan. They're pretty close.

or they could just dual their middle school. The competition in middle school is equal to 6A.

I do not know how many games TMP has won in the last 5 years. You will have to call their AD or SID to find out. When I visit Hays, I usually eat at Taco Shop three or four times and then leave town as quickly as i arrived, so I usually don't have time to look up football stats. I just know that they were in the state semi-finals three years ago, so I am sure that they've won a few games over the years. Besides, they are a 3A school now and why would you want to go picking on a little 3A school? As down as TMP has been these past few years, It is good to see people getting their shots in while they can.

Of course, with the price of gas, I won't be having Taco Shop any time soon.

I love taco shop....

The 6 pack of tacos is unstoppable...

Lucky for me though, it's on my way home to Russell so I get to have tacos whenever I go home... I'll be sure to eat a few for you as well.

While you're eating those tacos for me, if you could also throw down a Beef Nacho Supreme for me that would be great (extra CCQ!) Thanks!

Taco shop is great but I prefer Plainville's Taco Express. You can't beat their mexican rice! I also love Guterizzes and eat there as much as possible. When I lived in Hays, you use to be able to buy a bag of chips and salsa for under 10.00. Don't know if you still can.

P.S. I was not dogging TMP. Believe me, I have been a part of teams that have not won very many games. I use to go to Palco when we would celebrate if we could play football after half-time. I was just answering your question about why Chapman does not play TMP anymore.

what happened to good ol taco bell....they're like roaches everyones got'em

Guterizzes sucks!! its all fake