The Hero That Pascagoula Needs

[slicklizard]

As we were leaving Gautier the other night with our tails tucked I was walking with a couple press members and the subject of Sims and the cliff his team had fallen off of. One stated that in Pascagoula it was being circulated that the Vancleave coach would be theirs soon.

My question was would he go there ? Wouldn’t it be kind of a slap in the face to his alma mater ?  They seemed to think the interest was mutual. I told them he would do well there and they agreed.  Would he do it ?

[Archer]

Lot to unpack here.

 

Fant left Pascagoula after 2015, mostly because of the commute to his home farther north in Jackson County.  Remember he essentially demoted himself in joining Seth Smith's staff as a defensive assistant.  Would he move his family to Pascagoula?  Highly unlikely.

 

Lewis Sims is nearing retirement (as in 1-2 more years -- I've heard different numbers for a couple of years now).  Under the old administration he would've been allowed to coach into the sunset.  The wild card is that there is a new administration in town so I don't know how they're assessing the program.  Consecutive 4-7 seasons in the context of a very poor last seven years (not uncoincidentally the same number of year post Fant).

 

 

[coastfootballfanman]

I would say there is a 0% chance of that happening. The restraints I have been told all coaches in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District face, coupled with the coaching supplements and program freedom that the Jackson County School District coaches receive, it would be foolish of Fant to leave. Longer commute, less pay, more red tape to deal with. I do not see any scenario in which he would take that job. I have been told by some 'Goula folks I know that Sims has 2 years until his twenty-five are in and he is going to retire. The person who told me this is connected to the program fairly well and has a son currently on the team, so I trust his word. I expect Pascagoula to be really competitive the next few years with the talent they have coming back and the new 6A classification so Sims will get to ride off into the sunset on positive terms I believe. Fant I think has found a sweet spot at Vancleave. Expectations are never going to be super high. Most years, fans are okay with being competitive and making the playoffs. Win a playoff game here or there or have a year or two where they make a good run, Fant could be the Seth Smith of Vancleave. Although I will say the new region 4-5A is going to be an absolute gauntlet, a lot of the love Fant has been getting may come crashing down when he is having to play Laurel, Wayne County, Stone, Gautier and East Central instead of what he has the last two seasons. 

[maroontide06]

Region 4-5A is going to be absolutely sweet next year.  It will be a fun region to watch for sure.

[Archer]

1 hour ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I would say there is a 0% chance of that happening. The restraints I have been told all coaches in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District face, coupled with the coaching supplements and program freedom that the Jackson County School District coaches receive, it would be foolish of Fant to leave. Longer commute, less pay, more red tape to deal with. I do not see any scenario in which he would take that job. I have been told by some 'Goula folks I know that Sims has 2 years until his twenty-five are in and he is going to retire. The person who told me this is connected to the program fairly well and has a son currently on the team, so I trust his word. I expect Pascagoula to be really competitive the next few years with the talent they have coming back and the new 6A classification so Sims will get to ride off into the sunset on positive terms I believe. Fant I think has found a sweet spot at Vancleave. Expectations are never going to be super high. Most years, fans are okay with being competitive and making the playoffs. Win a playoff game here or there or have a year or two where they make a good run, Fant could be the Seth Smith of Vancleave. Although I will say the new region 4-5A is going to be an absolute gauntlet, a lot of the love Fant has been getting may come crashing down when he is having to play Laurel, Wayne County, Stone, Gautier and East Central instead of what he has the last two seasons. 

 

This is almost certainly accurate and, yes, there are many built-in restraints involved with coaching within the PGSD.  Personally, I don't think Coach Sims should simply be allowed to retire based on the fact he lit a match to the program he constructed from 2011-2015.  Much of his downfall has come at his own hands with bad assistant coaching hires/retention along with his military complex of misguided/stubborn loyalty.

 

Oh, and Pascagoula will only be competitive because of the pitiful competition (excluding the obvious teams) in the new region.  

[Archer]

12 hours ago, slicklizard said:

As we were leaving Gautier the other night with our tails tucked I was walking with a couple press members and the subject of Sims and the cliff his team had fallen off of. One stated that in Pascagoula it was being circulated that the Vancleave coach would be theirs soon.

My question was would he go there ? Wouldn’t it be kind of a slap in the face to his alma mater ?  They seemed to think the interest was mutual. I told them he would do well there and they agreed.  Would he do it ?

 

Sorry we didn't shake hands.  I was there enjoying the Kaden Irving Show for maybe the last time (too cold for me to attend tomorrow).

[coastfootballfanman]

10 minutes ago, Archer said:

 

This is almost certainly accurate and, yes, there are many built-in restraints involved with coaching within the PGSD.  Personally, I don't think Coach Sims should simply be allowed to retire based on the fact he lit a match to the program he constructed from 2011-2015.  Much of his downfall has come at his own hands with bad assistant coaching hires/retention along with his military complex of misguided/stubborn loyalty.

 

Oh, and Pascagoula will only be competitive because of the pitiful competition (excluding the obvious teams) in the new region.  

I see your point, however, it is hard to get rid of him when just two years ago, he won a region title and was very close to playing for a state championship again (I know you have went through the various factors of how that run happened, but it happened). Now the last two years they played in 6A coast region and lost quite a few contests that could have went either way. I understand your frustration however. What assistant or assistants has he been overly loyal to? I know you have mentioned the DC before. 

Edited November 17, 2022 by coastfootballfanman

[maroontide06]

10 minutes ago, Archer said:

 

This is almost certainly accurate and, yes, there are many built-in restraints involved with coaching within the PGSD.  Personally, I don't think Coach Sims should simply be allowed to retire based on the fact he lit a match to the program he constructed from 2011-2015.  Much of his downfall has come at his own hands with bad assistant coaching hires/retention along with his military complex of misguided/stubborn loyalty.

 

Oh, and Pascagoula will only be competitive because of the pitiful competition (excluding the obvious teams) in the new region.  

Picayune, Pascagoula, George County, and Hancock will probably be your playoff teams in region 4-6A next year.  I think you would probably put Picayune as the favorite and then you'll have Goula, GC, and Hancock duke it out for 2-4.

[Archer]

2 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I see your point, however, it is hard to get rid of him when just two years ago, he won a region title and was very close to playing for a state championship again (I know you have went through the various factors of how that run happened, but it happened). Now the last two years they played in 6A coast region and lost quite a few contests that could have went either way. I understand your frustration however. What assistant or assistants has he been overly loyal to? I know you have mentioned the DC before. 

 

31-48 since the start of 2016.

3-8 in '17 and 1-10 in '18

Consecutive 4 win seasons in '21 and '22

2 playoff (both in '20) wins in 7 years

 

You're sounding like a member of the Participation Trophy Committee which is pervasive in this town.  I don't give a damn about finding the merits in losing close games -- that's a loser mentality.  Pascagoula had more skill than d'Iberville and Biloxi and the coaches invented new ways to lose those games.  And let's not bother discussing further that pitiful game-plan they trotted out against Ocean Springs in which it appeared they were conceding defeat from the outset.

 

I'm referring to multiple coaches including the offensive coordinator who replaced Fant for several years.

 

Again, you're an awesome contributor to this forum and not trying to be uncivil but I'm not about to give him carte blanche in choosing his departure because of his ancient early success or standing in the community.  It's long past time for a change and he can be allowed to remain a teacher until he retires.

[coastfootballfanman]

3 minutes ago, Archer said:

 

31-48 since the start of 2016.

3-8 in '17 and 1-10 in '18

Consecutive 4 win seasons in '21 and '22

2 playoff (both in '20) wins in 7 years

 

You're sounding like a member of the Participation Trophy Committee which is pervasive in this town.  I don't give a damn about finding the merits in losing close games -- that's a loser mentality.  Pascagoula had more skill than d'Iberville and Biloxi and the coaches invented new ways to lose those games.  And let's not bother discussing further that pitiful game-plan they trotted out against Ocean Springs in which it appeared they were conceding defeat from the outset.

 

I'm referring to multiple coaches including the offensive coordinator who replaced Fant for several years.

 

Again, you're an awesome contributor to this forum and not trying to be uncivil but I'm not about to give him carte blanche in choosing his departure because of his ancient early success or standing in the community.  It's long past time for a change and he can be allowed to remain a teacher until he retires.

I was not intending my post as a means of trying to defend Sims. I was simply stating a possible reason as to WHY administration in the district has allowed him to stay like he has. You have made your gripes several times before and I understand them. I am simply offering up alternative perspective. My friend in "Goula shares a similar opinion that you do. Sims is a great human being and did a lot for the program and bringing it up, but it is time to make a change and continue that growth. So I get where you are coming from. Trust me, we get it. You would be fine if every single member on that staff be sent out to pasture with Lewis Sims. LOL. It sounds like brighter days may be coming with his departure in the near future. 

[Archer]

22 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I was not intending my post as a means of trying to defend Sims. I was simply stating a possible reason as to WHY administration in the district has allowed him to stay like he has. You have made your gripes several times before and I understand them. I am simply offering up alternative perspective. My friend in "Goula shares a similar opinion that you do. Sims is a great human being and did a lot for the program and bringing it up, but it is time to make a change and continue that growth. So I get where you are coming from. Trust me, we get it. You would be fine if every single member on that staff be sent out to pasture with Lewis Sims. LOL. It sounds like brighter days may be coming with his departure in the near future. 

 

That's a great response -- I came off a little harsh but this situation over the last several years has tested my competitive spirit.

 

I'm not so optimistic about the post Sims era either.  There are very few passionate souls left in this town and certainly not a collective with enough juice to foster change.  And I have no inkling of the posture of the new administration but if they're like most of the coast districts (and much of the state for that matter), then it'll be status quo around here.

 

If I were the AD, then I'd mimic Wayne County and look to Alabama for the next coach because the coaching over there is so much better on the whole.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Archer
grammatical error

[maroontide06]

Even if Pascagoula still has the same coaching staff next year, they can still make some noise in 6A south because all you'll have to contend with once you reach the playoffs is Hattiesburg and West Jones in region 3 until you get to the South State Championship game.  Hancock may pose some challenges, but I think Pascagoula would be able to overcome those.  On the whole I realize things haven't been great at Pascagoula, but Lewis Sims has the ability to stick a thorn in your butt so you better not overlook Pascagoula either.