Milan superintendent calls football coach's comments about Ypsilanti Community 'inappropriate'
Milan quarterback Robert Kanitz after being injured on the first play from scrimmage against Ypsilanti, Friday August 30, 2013.
Patrick Record | AnnArbor.com file photo
Milan Area Schools superintendent Bryan Girbach issued a statement Friday morning condemning recent statements made by varsity football coach Jesse Hoskins regarding his team’s game at Ypsilanti Community High School last weekend.
After a game marred with personal fouls and penalties, Hoskins said he hopes to never face the Grizzlies again. Ypsilanti had 16 penalties for 140 yards and Milan was flagged for six penalties for 55 yards. Hoskins was especially upset with what he said were several instances of helmet-to-helmet hits, some of which were called, some not.
In addition to the play on the field, Hoskins said disorganization of the overall game day operations, complaints from community members and similarly negative experiences when facing Ypsilanti High School in the past made him want to discontinue the relationship.
Girbach called Hoskins’ statements, “inappropriate.”
“As the superintendent of Milan Area Schools, I acknowledge that Jesse Hoskins, our varsity football coach, made a mistake by making disparaging comments against Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS),” Girbach said in a release. “I have talked with the Ypsilanti Community Schools’ superintendent, Mr. Menzel, several times regarding the articles. David Kaiser, our athletic director, and I have addressed coach Hoskins regarding his comments about YCS.”
Kaiser and Ypsilanti Community superintendent Scott Menzel said the two schools would discuss whether the game would continue at a later date, which is standard procedure.
“We will, like we do every year, sit down with the coaches and myself at the end of the year, evaluate our schedule, evaluate our program and make decisions from there,” Kaiser said.
Menzel said he expects game days to run more smoothly now that school is in session and the school has a game under its belt.
“I think some of those things (Hoskins referenced) are a product of being the first game, before school started, and the first as a consolidated district,” Menzel said.
Menzel said he appreciated Girbach's statement.
Ypsilanti Community plays at Saline High School Friday night and Milan plays at Riverview. Ypsilanti’s next home game is Sept. 20 against Chelsea.
Comments
Evergreen
Wed, Sep 11, 2013 : 11:56 a.m.
Today Superintendent Girbach will publically apologize to Ypsilanti and Riverview Schools for beating their teams at the game of football.
jns131
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
I am in total agreement with the coach. The sup needs to get wiser to the fact that WR and Ypsi are nothing but a bunch of bullies on the field. Although Pioneer and Huron take the cake for last years fiasco. If reality bites? Then you know what? Bite me. Because you all need to really take a look at pro ball and college ball, see who has the most penalties and why. The answers might surprise you. They don't with me. Detroit use to have a lot of penalties until they stopped being bullies and started winning a few games. Bullies don't win, hard work does. So as for the Milan comment? Coach is correct. Ypsi needs to stop trying being the tough guy and win a few.
Truthisfree
Wed, Sep 11, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
There is a lot of dirty play in football all across america. For the Milan coach to point out one school and not take into account some of his own players may have made what can be considered dirty plays is hypocritical. Football is not a nice sport. The Ypsi team was penalized as warranted. There is reason to complain in the media if the officials did not penalize the team for infractions and dirty play was allowed to continue. It would be great if it didn't happen. It would be great if unwise people didn't portray young men playing a sport as "thugs" and pretend there are no racial connotations to their statement but reality is we have people with biased views and nothing better to do than spew hate on a board such as this. JNS referencing Detroit and Ypsi which have predominantly african american students but not referencing the past Milan teams that chop block or other teams that use bully tactics as a way of being "physical" is just short-sighted and biased. I know people that have been at away games with Ypsilanti and their cheer team had to deal with racist comments in the SEC while going to the concession stand. There is ugliness in the world and pointing fingers and trying to isolate one group from the rest is just plain sad. There is enough challenges than to try to label youth or a school district based on a game. The superintendent did the right thing whether you agree or not. The coach has a right to complain but he should have done so behind closed doors, not in the media. It is immature to do so in the media.
rekot
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
As a parent of one of Coach Hoskins players, I am glad I have a coach who has his players backs. There was no apology asked for or deserved. The only think inappropriate were the comments by Bryan Girbach, nothing like throwing your coach and your PLAYERS under the bus. I didn't see you at the game so I guess your observations were based on annarbor.com articles and your conversations with your friend Mr.Menzel.
brent
Sun, Sep 8, 2013 : 4:45 a.m.
To NM Porter. What were the disparaging comments???
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 3:49 p.m.
To be a superintendent, you obviously have to care about the children whose interest you are representing. You also have to make sure your district is shown in a positive light, not just bend to the will off some helicopter parents. I shudder to think how folks would react in a game against a team like Cass Tech...
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 3:44 p.m.
The coach made disparaging remarks that the school district did not condone. Long and short.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
Now this is a better story. Thank you Superintendent Girbach for displaying leadership in this situation.
Nicholas Urfe
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
The Milan AD is being absurd and completely unsupportive of his coach and team. I forwarded this article to a buddy who has had kids playing these teams for years. He says it is all true and that Ypsi has the most disorganized games he has ever seen. "It's all true, Ypsi has no organization. ... I swear, if I saw more than 5 people from Ypsi running/organizing the game (selling/taking tickets, running the concession stand, coordinators in the both etc) it was a miracle."
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
I've seen Ypsilanti play Tecumseh several times in the last few years and never observed what you describe.
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
I've seen Ypsi play Tecumseh several times in the last few years, and have never observed the behavior you described.
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
Having grown up playing in the old SEC against Milan and watching my classmates do the same in other sports, I can honestly say that Milan has little room to complain about the actions of others. The former super conference schools have always been bigger, stronger and faster, and that was a known fact when the SEC revamp took place. Looks like Milan doesn't like getting the same treatment it doled out.
brent
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 5:02 a.m.
This is just silly. The Milan super-intendant issues a statement??? For what purpose? It is totally unrelated to the game and the issues of the night. He wrote: "I acknowledge that Jesse Hoskins, our Varsity Football Coach, made a mistake by making disparaging comments against Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS)." First of all, who asked for anything to be 'acknowledged?' Were someone's feelings hurt? Second, where are the so-called "disparaging comments" that coach Hoskins made? There was no disrespect towards people in what he said. Third, he made no comments at YCS. And no, his comments do not reflect badly on Milan, its faculty, the administrators or the district. And this had absolutely nothing about being discouraging about "the consolidation of the Ypsi school district." I fully support any coach's freedom to chose where they play in future seasons. The hero for the night was the lone ticket booth volunteer. It must have been 90 degrees in his booth. The line was ourt to the street. No one came to help, but he took the cash and made change for everyone politely and did it for a long time. What a volunteer. Superintendent at YCS, please acknowledge this man as volunteer of the month!
Hugh Giariola
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:15 a.m.
So that's it? That's why the Milan superintendent has his panties in a bunch? Not much of a controversial comment IMHO.
jns131
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
Agreed. Twisted panties and everyone needs to go to a corner to time out and rethink this one.
Joel
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
I know everybody loves to Ypsi bash, but this was the equivalent to kicking them while they're down. You have two districts consolidating, the responsibilities of two football programs consolidating. Things are going to slip through the cracks. One would have to be an idiot to expect everything to be perfect on the first night. As far as the play on the field is concerned, I agree. It was too rough, and the refs did their part to curtail it. 140 Penalty Yards were dealt to Ypsi and it contributed to their loss. If you think the head coach is at practice telling the players to hit harder with more head to head contact because it won them the game, you would also be an idiot. It's not a winning strategy and they have a week to put in place a new one. I don't understand why everybody feels the need to jump down Ypsi's throat, but judging the character of a football program off of one game is not fair. Calling a bunch of 14-18 year-olds "thugs" (yea I'm looking at you A2D2) is not fair. Grow up and stop being so insecure about your own community that you feel the need to tear down another. Whether it be about the color of the players skin, or the color of their jerseys whatever reason you have to misjudge them, let it go. The game was played with qualified refs and the better team won.
mgoscottie
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
You have to say you are being racist first before you can be racist! Duh..
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 3:21 p.m.
I did explain it, twice, and the moderatorr deleted both comments...
Nicholas Urfe
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 2:26 p.m.
@NM Porter: I missed the racist aspect to this. I don't believe race was even mentioned in the article. Are you saying that ypsi is racing? The milan AD? The milan coach? If you are going to play that tired race card, please remind us who the players are.
N.M. Porter
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.
Le sigh. The racists continue to try to silence those of us who call them out. I Will Not Be Silenced. This isn't about disorganization or rough play, this is about racism.
Nicholas Urfe
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1 p.m.
A buddy with lots of experience in local football programs says everything the guy says about Ypsi is spot on and it has been that way for *years*. It has nothing to do with the consolidation.
jcj
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 11:37 a.m.
@Joel OK If you get robbed more than once in a certain neighborhood, are you going to keep returning to that neighborhood? Even if the perps are punished each time? If your house gets broken into more than once how long before you move? Even if the perps are punished each time? If any HS football team displays a propensity for play beyond the norm more than once, how long do you subject your players and fans to that? I do not know that that is the case here, but there has to be a point where someone says it's not worth it.
Joel
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:48 a.m.
jcj, I'd call the cops. Now in a football game, if a player were paying to rough against my team I'd point it out to the refs. To state the the cops didn't do enough by arresting them and throwing them in jail, or stating that the criminals are a bunch of child molesters is blowing the situation out of perspective when you don't have the facts to back it up. So why are you doing the equivalent to a highschool football team after they've already been punished by the refs? That's what I mean by insecurity.
jcj
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 10:47 p.m.
Calling attention to something does not always equate to "being so insecure'. When someone is breaking into your house do you call the police or try not to be so insecure?
a2citizen
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
If the Milan football team won and their coach is still complaining then I believe their is a lot of validity to his claims. Sounds like he is trying to prevent a future Pioneer-Huron type of football event. Fortunately, the PC police have arrived to lay the ground work for a similar melee in the future.
jns131
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
I do see a lot of connotation in this one. It is not PC police it is more of etiquette in the sport of football which has seen better days IMO. Need to go back to days of good football. Otherwise, I saw a great game of Rugby last month and loved it. Now that is a game I could condone.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:28 p.m.
The "PC" Police? What? This is a situation ADULTS should have worked out by talking with Superintendents (i.e.---the leadership) of the School Districts, then the AD's, Coaches and students on EACH team. As for a "Pioneer-Huron Event" -- neither Milan or Ypsilanti are Ann Arbor or AAPS. So, let's allow the school district Superintendents to take the lead --which it appears they have-- to work out this situation and go from there. No references to AAPS Football Programs previous melee, necessary
lumberg48108
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
To Milan Super - quit playing nicey-nice and ask if the complaints were valid or not I know - its 2013 and no one can say anything about anyone or anything w/o having to apologize - I get it but are his points valid? obviously he felt he had to go public to get noticed; think about that for a second holding a school or district accountable is more important than being nice
nekm1
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
How about someone listen to the complaints and investigate to see if they hold water. If they do, then correct the situation. Simply being upset by someone calling out a problem, sounds like something for the playground, not an organized sport. Time for folks to toughen up.
ThinkingOne
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 3:02 a.m.
I think talking to the officials would be considered part of an investigation.
Basic Bob
Sat, Sep 7, 2013 : 1:12 a.m.
Investigate? How about ask the officials.
Ed Kimball
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.
The coach's comments are appropriate for discussing with the officials, the Ypsi coach, and his and the Ypsi superintendent about. There was no reason to make a statement like "We will never play Ypsilanti again as long as I am the head coach at Milan" to the newspaper.