Published November 18, 2008 07:56 pm –
Tom Halliburton column for Wednesday, Nov 19
The Port Arthur News
Matt Burnett has directed and instructed his share of good Indians and bad ones. Fifteen years into any tenure as head football coach will contain such a mixture.
That’s especially applicable at Port Neches-Groves, where critics have pumped up their volume after the Tribe’s recent 1-6 district football nightmare.
PN-G is a special place where they definitely prefer to take care of their own Indians. Being a former all-state Indian, Matt’s been on the good side of politics here forever.
What should the PNGISD do with Burnett now that his purple people lose night after night in 20-4A?
Their memories quickly forget last year’s purple people won enough to share a district championship with Lumberton. They also delivered a razor-sharp bidistrict win before losing to eventual 4A champ Lamar Consolidated.
“You give me the players and I’ll beat any of them” …. That was the 51-year-old Burnett’s attitude a year ago. I’m sure Matt still feels that way now.
Here’s some proof that PN-G lacked such performers in 2008. First, a 5-5, 135-pound cornerback (Tyler Gizzi) led the Indians in tackles. That’s a wonderful compliment about Tyler but it’s a pathetic comment about the performance level Burnett received from his larger-sized defenders.
Second, when Matt and his staff sat down to privately nominate appropriate names for our annual Super Team, two or three Indians candidates came to the surface and that’s all.
Without trying to blame any individual, PN-G’s coaches strongly were in agreement that the 2008 Indians were not one of Matt’s more talented teams.
It can be argued at this juncture that Burnett’s most severe critics are basing their complaints on much more than the six consecutive losses to conclude this season.
My roots run as deep at one Mid-County school as the other. And Matt has to be the only head coach in Indians’ football history with a job after beating Nederland 5 times and losing to the Bulldogs 10 times.
Now granted, Nederland has been one of the area’s stronger programs, but you think anybody in Port Neches or Groves is comfy with beating Nederland once out of every three times?
Even this year’s seniors have to be enormously embarrassed that their last team could not become the first team to claim a victory at The New Reservation.
Both of PN-G’s platoons finished fifth this season in 20-4A total offense and total defense numbers. That’s not such a bad stat in a competitive eight-team league when one considers that 11 brand new defenders began the year.
The offense is a total different matter, though. The Indians opened the year with a three-year starter at quarterback, a decent pair of receivers and runners and a seasoned offensive line.
The fact that PN-G finished dead last with minus 14 on the turnover chart — worst in the league — was absolutely dreadful, no matter what players or coaches ran the show.
It may seem terribly unfair to Matt and Lindy Burnett but part of Matt’s public perception undoubtedly has to do with the legacy of Matt’s former head coach. Doug Ethridge set the standard with a state record four straight trips to at least the AAAA state semifinals (a state record at that time from 1974-1977).
One man reflected that thought in the board room at last Tuesday night’s PNGISD trustees meeting.
“They have won a lot more here in the past with a lot less talent than this team (2008) had,” the 1970s PN-G grad said.
If you thought this year’s hurricanes and stadium construction distractions might create sympathy within PN-G’s faithful, I’m still waiting to hear that sympathy. So far I haven’t. PN-G was not hampered whatsoever by a significant amount of debilitating injuries, either.
Trustees departed into executive session for more than three hours on Nov. 11 to discuss Burnett’s duties and responsibilities. Burnett has one year left on his contract as men’s athletic director and head football coach. It’s hard to dismiss the winningest head coach in PN-G football history, especially since Matt is an Indian with impeccable political connections.
Yet Matt’s image is anything but “winningest” in the minds of a growing number of purple patrons.
One afternoon in Port Arthur comes to mind when this writer examines Burnett’s current dilemma. Jimmy Johnson and I spent an afternoon together at a studio while talented local sculptor Doug Clark was designing JJ’s head bust prior to one of our Port Arthur News roasts.
Jimmy was talking about job security in the coaching business.
“Let me tell ya…. if your public perception ever reaches the point where they have lost confidence in you, then you are sunk in this profession…. I don’t care where you’re at,” Jimmy said.
Of course, JJ was referring far more to the pro and major college level. But PN-G, by Matt’s own admission, is a high-profile job. Matt is one class act in a lot of ways. He’s a lot better guy and a lot better coach than many of the ignorant fans believe.
It’s not my job or Bob West’s job to hire and fire coaches. It’s not the duty of PNGISD’s fine superintendent, Dr. Lani Randall, to do that either. The trustees must make that call. They sit in the stands. They hear the fans. They get bombarded with feedback. Stay tuned.
But here’s one thing for certain. The purple people have had all they want of 1-6 district football records. It doesn’t enable the band to play Cherokee very often.
Tom Halliburton is a Port Arthur News sports columnist
