Did Mullins High School do the right thing?

Spike Lee once did a movie about doing the right thing. Recently, Mullins High School officials had an opportunity to do the right thing.

They decided to make a change in the school’s head football job. They had a man in place that had paid his dues. He was a player in the program and had dedicated the better part of his life to the program, but when the decision came down as to who would be the next coach, he was not selected for the job.

In my opinion, and in the opinion of many others in the community, the wrong thing was done by the Mullins brain trust.

When I say the wrong thing was done, I am not saying the man chosen will not be a good coach here. He appears to be a feather in the cap of this program. He may take Mullins football to never before achieved heights. Only time will tell, but even if all of this comes to pass, I cannot ever see it any other way except, it was not the right thing.

When a person has dedicated himself, as has Coach Jimmie Vereen, it matters little what the other guys bring to the table.

There is no doubt in my mind that Vereen could have succeeded. He knows the game, has been a student of it, has a proven track record and has the love and passion for Mullins football. His connection in the community, with the kids and in most cases with the parents of the kids, is something that should not be underestimated.

I believe many former Mullins High School football players would tell you that if not for Coach Vereen, they would never have played. He is one who has influence on some when others cannot.

Still, Mullins chose to reach way beyond the obvious. It seems they always look elsewhere to hire a coach and it almost never works out.

Their most recent venture was two years ago when they reached all the way to the northeast to hire now deposed coach Ron Lanham. They also brought in coach Denver Cromer. Richard Clark did a stint for the Aucs back in the mid to late 90’s before he was off to Chesterfield.

At one point, they brought back former coach Charles Elvington for a stretch. Through all of this, Vereen has been right there.

The consummate company man, loyal to a fault, Vereen’s being passed over was not that big a deal in most of those instances to many and maybe even to himself. This time it is different.

I get the feeling that he may have felt that this was the time for him. I am sure he did not apply for the job before Lanham came aboard. He applied and was interviewed for the job this time.

I am not sure why Vereen was passed over when he was the obvious choice. I am told that among the many who interviewed for the job were a state championship coach, so it cannot be experience.

Others in the Mullins program also interviewed and were passed over. Why? I have no clue. The guy hired has an impressive resume. I have no reason to doubt his wealth of experience in coaching.

Still, it does not change how I see this. When I learned that the job was open, it became a forgone conclusion to me that Vereen would get the job. When asked about it by locals, I vociferously responded the same.

I wonder what lesson the kids learned from this decision? That loyalty means little in the big scheme of things? Or that hard work and dedication does not guarantee success?