Some additional and interesting connections between the now defunct USC Elite Sports Academy formerly the Woodland Hills School in Murray, and HR.
The football & rugby coach at USC was Larry Wilson. Larry Wilson has been for years and still is an assistant coach at HR.
The Kiwi import players were registered as students at the very same school for 2008. Do you think HR knew or was this another amazing coincidence? Could be, considering HR claims to have no foreknowledge of how they get here from New Zealand in the first place.
All of the parents who paid tuition for their children with Asperger Syndrome are wondering why the football coach was being paid a very nice salary, more than the teachers, and why their money was spent on busing the football team around the country and to Canada to play football games. Reportedly over $100,000.00. It all fits, very sad situation but given the players what would you expect. True to form. If I was a parent I would be cracking a few coconuts, so to speak.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
USC Sports Acadamy has folded
Before it was purchased by Bob Jones the Woodland Hills School provided valuable services and education to students with Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism.
Then it's focused was changed to an elite sports academy, sound familiar?
The Kiwi import rugby players were registered at this school for the 2008 season.
Many similarities to the HR program of getting the best football players in the valley and combining them with "elite" import players from other states.
Their efforts to apply this non sustainable philosophy to football, rugby and basketball have crashed and burned. Yes they had a rugby program.
The biggest losers are the youth with Asperger Syndrome and their families.
What is the connection between Bob Jones and Larry Gilwex?
USC sports acadamy and rugby.
USC Sports Acadamy article in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read the comments. Another sad case of the invisible collateral damage from selfish business ventures.
Below are two of the comments from the newspaper article:
"Woodland Hills has changed a lot since I graduated there. It is true Woodland Hills is a school for special needs as well as an alternative school. (When I went there we didn't have sports teams. We'd be lucky enough to have 70 students in the whole school) As opposed to 300+ that were enrolled last year. In my opinion the financial problems began to happen when Mr Bob Jones decided to try and turn this school in to a sports academy. When you pay the football coaches 70,000 a year... there's bound to be money issues. As far as his claims that Woodland Hills was in trouble to begin with. More like they lived within there means. What about all your expensive field trips Mr Jones? Why not mention that out of state football program you had going where you bus the football team around US and Canada"
"Perhaps some of you will remember this school by its more recent incarnation as Utah Southern Community High School - aka the all sports high school. The school that was going to recruit top athletes from all over the world to give them a direct link to college sport scholarships... for a hefty fee. My guess is that the owner and administration (former principal) are responsible for the rapid fall. What the article didn't say is that this WAS Woodland Hills School. It WAS focused on students with Asperger's Disease. Yeah, it was in trouble when Bob bought it, but when they alienated much of the student body by changing the focus to sports it greased the skids. Hate to say it, but I told you it would happen."
Then it's focused was changed to an elite sports academy, sound familiar?
The Kiwi import rugby players were registered at this school for the 2008 season.
Many similarities to the HR program of getting the best football players in the valley and combining them with "elite" import players from other states.
Their efforts to apply this non sustainable philosophy to football, rugby and basketball have crashed and burned. Yes they had a rugby program.
The biggest losers are the youth with Asperger Syndrome and their families.
What is the connection between Bob Jones and Larry Gilwex?
USC sports acadamy and rugby.
USC Sports Acadamy article in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read the comments. Another sad case of the invisible collateral damage from selfish business ventures.
Below are two of the comments from the newspaper article:
"Woodland Hills has changed a lot since I graduated there. It is true Woodland Hills is a school for special needs as well as an alternative school. (When I went there we didn't have sports teams. We'd be lucky enough to have 70 students in the whole school) As opposed to 300+ that were enrolled last year. In my opinion the financial problems began to happen when Mr Bob Jones decided to try and turn this school in to a sports academy. When you pay the football coaches 70,000 a year... there's bound to be money issues. As far as his claims that Woodland Hills was in trouble to begin with. More like they lived within there means. What about all your expensive field trips Mr Jones? Why not mention that out of state football program you had going where you bus the football team around US and Canada"
"Perhaps some of you will remember this school by its more recent incarnation as Utah Southern Community High School - aka the all sports high school. The school that was going to recruit top athletes from all over the world to give them a direct link to college sport scholarships... for a hefty fee. My guess is that the owner and administration (former principal) are responsible for the rapid fall. What the article didn't say is that this WAS Woodland Hills School. It WAS focused on students with Asperger's Disease. Yeah, it was in trouble when Bob bought it, but when they alienated much of the student body by changing the focus to sports it greased the skids. Hate to say it, but I told you it would happen."
Friday, October 17, 2008
Moral Relativity
Lester thanks for the comments. Your right, it is just a movie and it is much different than real life. Your absolutely right.
The truth of the matter is that the movie, "based on a true story", and the real life story are moral contradictions.
Kicking a player off the team because he cheated on a test at school verses recruiting players from New Zealand every year and sneaking them into the public school system.
If the coaches applied the same rules to themselves, that they proudly apply to the players, there would be no coaches on the team.
"We are building young men with integrity, honesty, character, teamwork and a strict honor code".
Then we close the office door to take a call about the 6 import players coming from New Zealand in 2009. You can't have one flavor of integrity for players and another flavor for the coaching staff.
Another interesting happening, if someone can verify this it would be appreciated.
Ten players from Highland and ten players from United tried out for the BYU rugby squad.
Six players from United made the squad including a freshman starting on the A team as a lock.
One player from Highland made the team, and he was one of the boys from New Zealand.
The skills of the local HR players have been capped in a sense, because they sit on the bench when the going gets tough. Like muscles that are rarely used, they will not be as nimble, strong or flexible as those that get regular exercise. Losing is an essential element of moving down the path from good to great.
For the sake of winning and maintaining the big image these young men struggle when they leave Highland and try to move to the collegiate or club level play. Shameful and sad. These young men deserve better. This is the invisible yet real collateral damage that no one likes to talk about. It is the result of this train wreck policy of winning at any cost.
I also heard through the grapevine that the private school in Herraman that the kiwi boys "attended" this year 2008, the USC Sports Academy has closed it doors. If this is true it will be interesting to see which school they show up in next year. Is there a connection between Bob Jones the owner of the now defunct school and Larry Gelwix?
Will HR now change their strategy and recruit players on J1 exchange student visas so they can legally attend the Utah public schools? This means a real one year commitment to school and much higher costs. If money is not an issue and they want to keep up the big scores, the big win stats, and the big image, then this may be their only option. We will see.
The truth of the matter is that the movie, "based on a true story", and the real life story are moral contradictions.
Kicking a player off the team because he cheated on a test at school verses recruiting players from New Zealand every year and sneaking them into the public school system.
If the coaches applied the same rules to themselves, that they proudly apply to the players, there would be no coaches on the team.
"We are building young men with integrity, honesty, character, teamwork and a strict honor code".
Then we close the office door to take a call about the 6 import players coming from New Zealand in 2009. You can't have one flavor of integrity for players and another flavor for the coaching staff.
Another interesting happening, if someone can verify this it would be appreciated.
Ten players from Highland and ten players from United tried out for the BYU rugby squad.
Six players from United made the squad including a freshman starting on the A team as a lock.
One player from Highland made the team, and he was one of the boys from New Zealand.
The skills of the local HR players have been capped in a sense, because they sit on the bench when the going gets tough. Like muscles that are rarely used, they will not be as nimble, strong or flexible as those that get regular exercise. Losing is an essential element of moving down the path from good to great.
For the sake of winning and maintaining the big image these young men struggle when they leave Highland and try to move to the collegiate or club level play. Shameful and sad. These young men deserve better. This is the invisible yet real collateral damage that no one likes to talk about. It is the result of this train wreck policy of winning at any cost.
I also heard through the grapevine that the private school in Herraman that the kiwi boys "attended" this year 2008, the USC Sports Academy has closed it doors. If this is true it will be interesting to see which school they show up in next year. Is there a connection between Bob Jones the owner of the now defunct school and Larry Gelwix?
Will HR now change their strategy and recruit players on J1 exchange student visas so they can legally attend the Utah public schools? This means a real one year commitment to school and much higher costs. If money is not an issue and they want to keep up the big scores, the big win stats, and the big image, then this may be their only option. We will see.
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