SOUND OFF.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Squeaky wheels greased

I was disappointed, yet not surprised, to hear of the resignation of Jenifer Pleus, the assistant track coach at Sheldon High School. Very interesting, six decades of coaching experience and suddenly there are coaching problems?

Roger Herbert, without question, sent a powerful message, "I'll quit before I allow a few disgruntled parents to force my assistant to resign, and I don't care if you just named the track after me."

Unfortunately, students and parents run schools these days, and school officials routinely bow to "the minority," aka: the loudest, rather than supporting dedicated teachers and coaches.

Have students and parents changed so much in the last 26 years since I was in high school? Apparently so. Parents want even more for their kids than what they had (which is always true), but I believe that today's parents have taken their "wants" to a higher level, often using extreme measures to gain what they want.

Why? What lessons are being taught? What lessons are being learned? Disgruntled parents fail to see the long-term ramifications from their sniveling. For teachers and coaches, jobs are sometimes lost (as in this case), reputations and careers are damaged, and for what reason(s)? To most, in two, three years this mess will be just a memory.

Whiny students will become whiny adults that won't be able to hold a job and work with others because their parents aren't around to wipe their nose and take on their cause. I see no winners here.

PATRICIA HUNTER

Springfield

Opportunity lost

Curtis Anderson's March 3 article is an accurate portrayal of the debacle within the Sheldon High School track and field program. A few distance runners and their parents were dissatisfied with the distance-coaching philosophy and communication skills of their coach as it related to them personally.

The outcome is that Roger Herbert, known throughout the state as a man of outstanding character, integrity and rarely matched coaching ability, resigned as head coach. Distance coach Jenifer Pleus, whose coaching success has been documented, has also resigned.

Sheldon parent Ed Spinney, one of the authors of the complaint, will get little argument that it is important for athletes to be happy, to have fun and to be excited. Unfortunately, that's not possible in every specific case in athletics or life in general. Perhaps Spinney and the other parents might have served their children better by teaching them strength of character, to reflect on the positive side of their coaches, to persevere in the face of adversity. Those are the strengths their children will need in the third lap of the 1,500, when continuing is not fun or exciting at all. They are the strengths they will need in life.

A highly successful high school track program has lost its head coach and a valuable assistant. Meanwhile, the children (of the complaining parents) will graduate, and their parents' interest in Sheldon will diminish to little or none. That will be their legacy.

MICK CATES

Eugene

No time for scapegoats

Mr. Moos, I was extremely disappointed to hear you blame the loyal fan base of the University of Oregon for the potential football game with Oklahoma falling through.

On the radio with Jerry Allen, you cited Internet Web sites such as eDuck for leaking the rumor about the potential game as the reason a deal was never made.

The reality is that you were unable to convince Nevada to reschedule our game with them this year. That is understandable, and the fans realize it may have been a long shot to schedule a game with Oklahoma on such late notice.

However, the notion that rumors persisting on Web sites such as eDuck affected the outcome of the negotiations is absurd. How did such rumors originate anyway? Perhaps you have some leaks within your administration that need to be addressed first, rather than casting eDuck as the villain.

What you fail to realize is that many of your most loyal fans and alumni frequent these Internet message boards to discuss Oregon athletics. You are alienating your most ardent fan base with these remarks.

What's next? Are the fans to blame for the gross cost miscalculations on the basketball arena project? These folks on the Internet are the same people packing McArthur Court and Autzen Stadium to keep your athletic department in the black. It would be wise to treat your customers with a little more respect instead of trying to make them the scapegoat for your business failings.

MARC SMITH 

Palo Alto, Calif.

Defending the Crew

Carl Dunlap decided to generalize and insult every member of a group based on the improper actions of some of its members.

By calling the entire Pit Crew "embarrassing" and "ludicrous," he has himself stepped beyond the realm of acceptable. He has insulted every fan who chooses to exercise their right to cheer for their favorite team.

I wonder, does he think the Duke students are ludicrous? Because they do the same thing. In fact, just about every team in the nation that has a home-court advantage like the Ducks have does the same thing.

Are there vulgar fans at Mac Court? Certainly. But, I can guarantee you this, they are not confined to the Pit Crew. Every team in the nation has vulgar fans (just ask Christian Laettner). The individuals who are vulgar and repulsive know who they are and should be ashamed of themselves.

As for the Pit Crew, I think it is a great group of devoted fans. It adds great flavor to televised games and helps with an exceptional home-court advantage.

Keep on hopping boys, I love it! And, let's not forget that Joey Harrington was doing the same thing just three short years ago.

SCOTT REED

Wilsonville