Shouldn’t Happen to a Dog

Take a memo.

To: Trabuco Hills High officials.

From: An interested observer.

Subject: A little common sense.

Hey, congratulations on hiring a new football coach. Oops, guess that was a bit premature.

So do any of you know what the heck is going on down there?

You needed a coach. OK. You accepted applications. OK. You narrowed the field to five. OK. You settled on one. OK. You announced it to the world. OK.

Then, “Right this way Mr. Ellis, and be sure to walk on the red carpet so it can be yanked from under you.” In other words, don’t let the door hit you on the way in.

Hey, did anyone think to consult the booster club before announcing Tustin Coach Tim Ellis had the job? Just a thought guys, but if your parents carry that much weight, shouldn’t they be involved in the process from start to finish?

Call me a radical, but it seems like a no-brainer.

So Ellis was in, then he was out. Then he learned you can’t go home again.

Tustin officials threw the Tiller job open, even though Ellis hadn’t yet resigned. They were magnanimous enough to allow him to reapply for his own job.

That’ll teach him to pursue other employment.

Now, let’s see, is there anyone out there we can blame?

There’s Ellis, who went job hunting a mere two years after taking on the Tillers. Naw.

There are Tustin officials, who have taken a rather hard line. Naw.

There are Trabuco Hills’ folk, whose idea of a commitment ranks right up there with Liz Taylor’s.

Bingo.

Fellas, this was a bad one. All the perfume in Paris won’t make it smell any better.

Now, no one said you can’t hire who you want. You can. But guys, hire who you want and don’t muck up a man’s life.

Hindsight is 20-20, but there’s no reason foresight can’t be either.

There seemed to be nothing wrong with the process. Two committees--one composed of boosters, students and players and the other teachers and administrators--interviewed candidates and both made recommendations. So far, so good. Then it gets a bit twisted. Their recommendations, apparently, weren’t followed.

Ah, but it didn’t slow the wheels of injustice. Ellis’ name went to the board of education anyway. Story goes, he was approved by the board. Isn’t that what the phrase “done deal” describes? Want a little syrup with that waffle?

A big problem was that one of the five finalists was a booster favorite (all together now: “Bill Crow”) . That’s fine, Crow’s a qualified guy--if he is eventually the man. Seem to recall he won a Southern Section title while at Mission Viejo and has been a loyal, not to mention important, assistant at Trabuco Hills for years.

Plus, he’s the darling of the boosters. That seems to be important around Trabuco Hills.

Boosters, as always, are a double-edged sword. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t take ‘em to the forest and leave ‘em. That’s fine. High school sports can’t survive without such support and must accept the downside. So if they want Crow, then give them Crow. Don’t eat it.

Just don’t dangle bait in front of someone else. You hooked Ellis, reeled him in, then clubbed him to a bloody pulp once he was on board.

How’s he supposed to shrug this one off? What’s he to say at his next job interview, when asked why Trabuco Hills officials backed off as though he had body odor?

Guys, I think you not only owe Ellis an apology, the district owes him a job. But, please, don’t send him to Trabuco Hills. I’m sure he’s had his fill of that place.

And, a note to the next Trabuco Hills’ football coach: Don’t put your name on the door right away.