We move past the Ross Rogers era at Bryan high and look to the future with anticipation that a new coach can lead this program to heights not ever seen at Bryan High School. I am hopeful the leadership in charge of this process will make the best decision possible for Bryan and its athletic program. All my life in Bryan, I have heard people talk about the athletic potential here, the potential we rarely live up to. Over the past several years, it seems that athletics has taken a backseat to other programs within our district. This mindset has cost us much more than wins on field and court. The time is now to turn that potential into a reality. I hope that our leadership understands what's at stake with this hire.
A&M Consolidated's 4A state football championship in 1991 helped fuel a mass migration south to College Station. It also started a narrative that Bryan was somehow inadequate to College Station. The unfortunate part is how some Bryan schools and city leaders allowed this narrative to take hold without a fightthis cost Bryan many good families. Plenty of former Bryan high alumni now lives in College Station. According to some, the migration was for a better school, academic, and athletic environment. The athletic aspect is one I think to get overlooked. College Station's athletic achievements have as much to do with its growth as anything.
We now find ourselves with an opportunity to change that narrative, and with the right hire, we can. Bryan's academics are improving year after year, and fine arts programs are top-notch. A successful football program only adds to the upswing we are currently seeing within our school district. When athletics excel, all aspects of our schools and community will excel. Unfortunately, if athletics remain mediocre, we will continue to see family after family leave. Plain and simple people want to win. When they think the place where they live cannot or, even worse, is not committed to doing so, they will reluctantly pack and move to communities where athletics and winning are more of a priority.
I am not talking about a win-at-all-costs mentality. Bryan should never jeopardize the morals and standards of our city for wins. This hire is about more than a coach. This hire is about placing a priority on winning in Bryan, Texas. Suppose you want to build community morale, increase participation of athletes on the field and in the classroom, and inspire families to invest in Bryan ISD. In that case, we must emphasize creating a winning culture.
A&M Consolidated's 4A state football championship in 1991 helped fuel a mass migration south to College Station. It also started a narrative that Bryan was somehow inadequate to College Station. The unfortunate part is how some Bryan schools and city leaders allowed this narrative to take hold without a fightthis cost Bryan many good families. Plenty of former Bryan high alumni now lives in College Station. According to some, the migration was for a better school, academic, and athletic environment. The athletic aspect is one I think to get overlooked. College Station's athletic achievements have as much to do with its growth as anything.
We now find ourselves with an opportunity to change that narrative, and with the right hire, we can. Bryan's academics are improving year after year, and fine arts programs are top-notch. A successful football program only adds to the upswing we are currently seeing within our school district. When athletics excel, all aspects of our schools and community will excel. Unfortunately, if athletics remain mediocre, we will continue to see family after family leave. Plain and simple people want to win. When they think the place where they live cannot or, even worse, is not committed to doing so, they will reluctantly pack and move to communities where athletics and winning are more of a priority.
I am not talking about a win-at-all-costs mentality. Bryan should never jeopardize the morals and standards of our city for wins. This hire is about more than a coach. This hire is about placing a priority on winning in Bryan, Texas. Suppose you want to build community morale, increase participation of athletes on the field and in the classroom, and inspire families to invest in Bryan ISD. In that case, we must emphasize creating a winning culture.