Aug 19, 2006 4 min read

Back to school Hey, Coach! I can’t believe how fast the summer flew by. Going back to school seems to get tougher each year, but I have to admit that I’m OK, once I get in that routine.

Now that I’m in high school, I really enjoy being with all of my friends.

My only gripe with school would be the tests. Actually, it’s all the studying for them that bothers me. I know that’s the way learning is measured, but I think there’s more to learning than just making good grades.

Would you agree or disagree with me?

Signed……High School Blues

Dear High School Blues: First, if you think summers fly by now at your tender age, wait until you become an old geezer like the Coach. Each year goes by faster and faster.

Perhaps that’s a sign of staying busy; perhaps not.

The Coach believes you have hit on a good point that there is more to learning (and bettering oneself) than just making good grades.

Example: Joe has three advanced degrees, made nothing but As and has 10 years of experience.

It is an understatement to say that he is extremely book-smart. On the other hand, Dana has one advanced degree, made As and Bs and has only five years of successful experience.

Many, if not all, would offer that Joe is the most qualified.

However, the Coach would offer that the best candidate cannot always be determined by what’s on a piece of paper, which in this case would have led us to Joe.

Effective communication skills, social skills and work habits are just a few of the things that cannot be determined from a resume.

And, let’s not forget about being a “team player.” Dana excels in these areas, and Joe does not. Thus, for this particular job, the most qualified may not be the better fit.

To get back to your question, you are absolutely correct to say that there is more to learning than just making good grades.

Lastly, the Coach feels compelled to continue promoting athletics and sporting activities as a great way for our youth to acquire and improve life skills. So many of these important traits cannot be learned in a classroom.

Blues, have a great school year.

More on the Steelers

Hey, Coach! The Steelers didn’t look too good in their first exhibition game. However, Big Ben proved to be OK.

We all know that you have to have some luck to be successful in the playoffs, but I don’t see anyone challenging them within the division.

How do you see things this year?

Signed…..The Bus

Dear Bus: Being world champs, the Steelers have absolutely nothing to prove to anyone.

So, wins/losses will mean even less to them in the preseason. Remember that Indy went 0 – 5 last year in exhibition games, and then started the season with something like a 12- or 13-game winning streak. The Steelers did get some breaks in the Super Bowl, but that’s a part of the game. We’ve all heard the saying that sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.

With that said, the Steelers were also very good.

As for this year, it’s a completely different season.

They could once again be very good, or they could be so-so, like many other Super Bowl champs in the years following their championships.

What will make it tough is that the Steelers need to be prepared for every opponents’ best efforts, especially early in the season.

Everyone will be trying to knock off the defending Super Bowl champs, and that typically means that the Steelers will see a little more intensity on the other side of the ball.

Recall that two years ago the Steelers were 15 – 1 and fizzled in the playoffs.

So, let’s hope they stay healthy, play well during the regular season, make the playoffs, and then play their best football on their march to Super Bowl 41 in Miami.

Coach’s Comments: If we haven’t taken responsibility for our misdeeds, plus offered a sincere apology, we should understand when someone hesitates to forgive us.

Be active, and have a safe weekend.

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You can contact the Coach online via email at askthecoach2003@

yahoo.com.