#PACtion™ 2025

Rich Kotite said:
EBC thoughts:

Seriously what does one do with Minerva being so bad currently? How does a league even begin to manage that?

Second, unless there's a board president resignation at the June West Branch BOE meeting, how does anyone have confidence in the future of that school district let alone its athletic progrums?

Louisville would definitely help bring the EBC back to life but.....you've got two big problems in my first two points above.

Thus it won't happen.....

Louisville should be looking at the Metro and OCC to join with Dover/New Phila. And whatever options are in the Ytown area.
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Minerva to #PACtion? Slated would fit right in the HC crew of #PACtion. Hell we might get a booster photo from there is they win 2 games and have Slates akwardly holding it up in crocs.
 
doubtme said:
you are spot on, the truth is, i feel like most administrators anymore just want power and title, they don't want to do what it actually takes to get stuff done with integrity. If you have people running for the board with an agenda that usually spells problems like this, and if you have inept and soft administrators, they will cave to any public pressure.

Transparency to me, is the best way to handle things when its legally allowed to be transparent.
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In the case of West Branch's Superintendent I believe she's likely a really nice person thinking she could "survive" her way to her retirement which she was quoted as saying is this year.

She thought she could "manage" her board president, retire, and be done with it.

She was not prepared for the level of crazy from the board president. She got caught up in the board presidents texts and tried to play along with her in an attempt to "survive to retirement."

All the texts are posted online in a PDF. It's 19 pages of.....wow.... spearheaded by the WB board president.

At least the Superintendent apologized. But too much damage has been done.

I doubt you'll see the Board President apologize.

The June 24 WB BOE meeting should be amazing. The West Branch community, rightly, is not happy with things.

Get your popcorn and tune into the MLO Bros and Jordan Miller News on Facebook June 24th (plus they've already posted some great stuff covering this story; just look it up; including the PDF I mentioned).

I find this story fascinating because it really serves as a warning shot to corrupt boards and admins everywhere.

It shows what an actively engaged community (West Branch) with good local journalism (Jordan Miller & MLO Bros & Channel 21) may be able to accomplish. West Branch residents are at the 5-yd line.

A couple of resignations and the community wins.
 
Rich Kotite said:
In the case of West Branch's Superintendent I believe she's likely a really nice person thinking she could "survive" her way to her retirement which she was quoted as saying is this year.

She thought she could "manage" her board president, retire, and be done with it.

She was not prepared for the level of crazy from the board president. She got caught up in the board presidents texts and tried to play along with her in an attempt to "survive to retirement."

All the texts are posted online in a PDF. It's 19 pages of.....wow.... spearheaded by the WB board president.

At least the Superintendent apologized. But too much damage has been done.

I doubt you'll see the Board President apologize.

The June 24 WB BOE meeting should be amazing. The West Branch community, rightly, is not happy with things.

Get your popcorn and tune into the MLO Bros and Jordan Miller News on Facebook June 24th (plus they've already posted some great stuff covering this story; just look it up; including the PDF I mentioned).

I find this story fascinating because it really serves as a warning shot to corrupt boards and admins everywhere.

It shows what an actively engaged community (West Branch) with good local journalism (Jordan Miller & MLO Bros & Channel 21) may be able to accomplish. West Branch residents are at the 5-yd line.

A couple of resignations and the community wins.
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you are spot on with this. and with the death of so many local newspapers, etc, these cottage industry type media outlets are becoming more important to keeping accountability. As long as they are doing it for the right reasons as well.
 
doubtme said:
he is a great dude. Lake got a great person to lead that district.
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Can he keep BS Office in check?

BS Office set up that week one football bus trip to Pittsburgh and it turned into a real debacle when he tried to stop the Lake bus at Eat 'n Park for the all you can eat fish fry & famous salad bar.
 
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doubtme said:
you are spot on with this. and with the death of so many local newspapers, etc, these cottage industry type media outlets are becoming more important to keeping accountability. As long as they are doing it for the right reasons as well.
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Notice who hasn't been real active covering this story.... Gannett.

Salem Morning Journal has been OK but not anywhere near Jordan Miller, MLO Bros or WFMJ 21.
 
Rich Kotite said:
In the case of West Branch's Superintendent I believe she's likely a really nice person thinking she could "survive" her way to her retirement which she was quoted as saying is this year.

She thought she could "manage" her board president, retire, and be done with it.

She was not prepared for the level of crazy from the board president. She got caught up in the board presidents texts and tried to play along with her in an attempt to "survive to retirement."

All the texts are posted online in a PDF. It's 19 pages of.....wow.... spearheaded by the WB board president.

At least the Superintendent apologized. But too much damage has been done.

I doubt you'll see the Board President apologize.

The June 24 WB BOE meeting should be amazing. The West Branch community, rightly, is not happy with things.

Get your popcorn and tune into the MLO Bros and Jordan Miller News on Facebook June 24th (plus they've already posted some great stuff covering this story; just look it up; including the PDF I mentioned).

I find this story fascinating because it really serves as a warning shot to corrupt boards and admins everywhere.

It shows what an actively engaged community (West Branch) with good local journalism (Jordan Miller & MLO Bros & Channel 21) may be able to accomplish. West Branch residents are at the 5-yd line.

A couple of resignations and the community wins.
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Are you able to summarize? Or copy and paste the article into ChatGPT and ask for a CliffNotes version?
 
thePITman said:
Are you able to summarize? Or copy and paste the article into ChatGPT and ask for a CliffNotes version?
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Personally, I think Kotie needs a RichGPT Funko Pop or bobblehead ala ChuckGPT. Maybe we should all get them, I do know you can have custom Funkos made.....

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Thr PDF of texts is in the following article....mid section of the article:

www.jordanmiller.news

West Branch leaders under fire after texts threaten: ‘It will all come out’ if coach speaks - Jordan Miller News - News That Matters To You in Ohio

Newly uncovered text messages between West Branch Superintendent Micki Egli and Board President Mikki Kanagy are sparking fresh controversy over the school district’s handling of longtime girls basketball coach Walt DeShields. The messages, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)...
www.jordanmiller.news www.jordanmiller.news
 
I don't blame the EBC for separating from lepland - the leps are D2 in football whether they like it or not - and their fans and some in the admin had no problem telling people to get better if they didn't like getting beat, they were the proverbial big fish in the little pond in the TCL playing schools like Leetonia and Sebring for years and also the NBC....yeah this tradition they tout was built on being bigger back then too. The only respect football wise was when they had a short stint in the Fed. HECK they dropped D2 Lake being D2!!!!!

As far as Canton South goes - they moved where they fit. PACtion™ is shaping to consistently be a D4/5 football league with a substantially less amount of travel. Yeagley is going to gain a pay increase moving north and that is a natural progression for anyone to pursue in any walk of life - take a position doing same job but for an increase in compensation...what are we really talking about here? He wasn't actively looking rather took what presented itself. South has done well with their last couple Super hires - Purses, Milano, Yeagley ( I think there was yet another in that mix after Purses - Redmond? I think?) South will attract another solid Super.

Per OHSAA 25-26 Football Tournament Enrollment
Northwest 264 D4..... Alliance 343 D3 (cvca D3 320)
Coventry 240 D4..... Howland 332 D3
Orrville 233 D4..... Carrollton 264 D3
Canton South 212 D4..... Salem 265 D4
Manchester 179 D5..... West Branch 232 D4
Triway 172 D5..... Marlington 246 D4
Fairless 164 D5..... Minerva 225 D4
Tuslaw 158 D5.....

So what does this tell us......PACtion™ is just over 100 boys difference(106 diff top to bottom to be exact) and travel is considerably less in PACtion™.
Also - if it was your decision....and you were in the captain's chair for the wildcats
Less Travel and in middle of numbers for league OR more travel and be the smallest school in the league

again I ask...what are we talking about here?

The EXPECTATION on PACtion™ is we know a little sumptin bout sumptin (ala Smoove)

Excited Bugs Bunny GIF by Looney Tunes


PACtion™ is tuffness in ACTION
 
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Rich Kotite said:
OCC to join with Dover/New Phila
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Adding Dover and New Philadelphia to the OCC added an hour+ travel distance for most of the OCC members. Louisville would add another hour+ travel for most OCC members. The time for Louisville to try and join the OCC would have been before New Philadelphia joined. Louisville would have needed someone in their general area to join with them. With the past history of New Philadelphia and Dover, they were the best choice to join the OCC. Travel wise Dover, New Philadelphia and Wooster are the only schools in the OCC that playing Louisville would make sense.
 
bootleg said:
I don't blame the EBC for separating from lepland - the leps are D2 in football whether they like it or not - and their fans and some in the admin had no problem telling people to get better if they didn't like getting beat, they were the proverbial big fish in the little pond in the TCL playing schools like Leetonia and Sebring for years and also the NBC....yeah this tradition they tout was built on being bigger back then too. The only respect football wise was when they had a short stint in the Fed. HECK they dropped D2 Lake being D2!!!!!

As far as Canton South goes - they moved where they fit. PACtion™ is shaping to consistently be a D4/5 football league with a substantially less amount of travel. Yeagley is going to gain a pay increase moving north and that is a natural progression for anyone to pursue in any walk of life - take a position doing same job but for an increase in compensation...what are we really talking about here? He wasn't actively looking rather took what presented itself. South has done well with their last couple Super hires - Purses, Milano, Yeagley ( I think there was yet another in that mix after Purses - Redmond? I think?) South will attract another solid Super.

Per OHSAA 25-26 Football Tournament Enrollment
Northwest 264 D4..... Alliance 343 D3 (cvca D3 320)
Coventry 240 D4..... Howland 332 D3
Orrville 233 D4..... Carrollton 264 D3
Canton South 212 D4..... Salem 265 D4
Manchester 179 D5..... West Branch 232 D4
Triway 172 D5..... Marlington 246 D4
Fairless 164 D5..... Minerva 225 D4
Tuslaw 158 D5.....

So what does this tell us......PACtion™ is just over 100 boys difference(106 diff top to bottom to be exact) and travel is considerably less in PACtion™.
Also - if it was your decision....and you were in the captain's chair for the wildcats
Less Travel and in middle of numbers for league OR more travel and be the smallest school in the league

again I ask...what are we talking about here?

The EXPECTATION on PACtion™ is we know a little sumptin bout sumptin (ala Smoove)

Excited Bugs Bunny GIF by Looney Tunes


PACtion™ is tuffness in ACTION
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Interesting WH enrollment for football is 225/231 Orrville is 226/233.
 
Area HS Fan said:
When Canton South made the announcement to move from the former NBC- the EBC to #PACtion I was against it. I was holding onto the days of Canton South's enrollment being the size that would compete with Louisville, West Branch and larger schools. This was mainly due to being an athlete that played for Elmer Schuetz, Henry Cobb and Rocky Bourquin. All three instilled tuffness and confidence and gave us the belief that we could compete against anyone. Times are a little different now at South- I think the football program will be middle of the pack in the foreseeable future. The basketball program should be decent with a couple good groups coming up through and the one would hope the baseball team will turn around after this season. The baseball team gave up 3 td's and a field goal this year to IVC super power Sandy Valley (smh). South is currently going thru a couple of classes (Senior and Junior) that the number of athletes is sparce- atleast on the boys side of sports. I can't blame Yeagley at all for leaving- Lake is one of the best school districts in NE Ohio and the state- South academically has gotten better over his tenure but still has a ways to go. We definitely hate to see him go- the Superintendent position at South prior to him was a revolving door.

As for the former site of Jack's Kwik Shake- its a shame and a waste of a good plot of land. Canton South needs a grocery store- which that plot isn't big enough- another pharmacy would be nice to come in- but I don't think that should be the focus of the Canton Twp trustees to target. With the traffic coming through Rt 800 every day and the lack of quality food joints in Slab Town- I think a joint venture is needed. Here me out- The PACtion Food Stop- a car hop service that you can get Waco Market Chicken, Lerch's Donuts, Milkshakes from the Village Creamery, and a rotating burger menu from restaurants in Canal Fulton, New Franklin and Navarre. We'll need booze of course- Beer served by Freddy Neil and the Spudz Staff and food delivered by the Kenyon Creek Mini Van Mom's on roller skates. Extra lighting will be placed behind the dumpsters to keep Smooves away from the Mini Van Mom's who are on a smoke break. Silent General Manager will be Ghostin Gary- this is a can't miss !
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Futurama Buy GIF
 
Rich Kotite said:
Thr PDF of texts is in the following article....mid section of the article:

www.jordanmiller.news

West Branch leaders under fire after texts threaten: ‘It will all come out’ if coach speaks - Jordan Miller News - News That Matters To You in Ohio

Newly uncovered text messages between West Branch Superintendent Micki Egli and Board President Mikki Kanagy are sparking fresh controversy over the school district’s handling of longtime girls basketball coach Walt DeShields. The messages, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)...
www.jordanmiller.news www.jordanmiller.news
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Thanks. Link to PDF in case others want to read: https://www.jordanmiller.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/file_6710.pdf

At the risk of sounding stupid...

Not knowing anything about the situation, my first reaction was this: "This kinda makes sense. They're trying to let him go easily, but if he throws a fit and fights it, then they're going to have to publicly justify their decision with facts and anecdotes. That could be seen as a threat, but also necessary to gain understanding of the rationale for their decisions. But their first choice was to do it without airing anybody's dirty laundry unless someone forced their hand."

Then about halfway through, something changed when one of the people texting - and his/her child - started getting attacked personally, and when it became personal, they decided enough was enough. When the term "take him down" was used, it changed the tone dramatically.

Am I interpreting this the wrong way? Who is the bad guy? The coach who did things that warranted (in some people's eyes) getting non-renewed? Or the admin who were working through a tough situation?
 
doubtme said:
you are spot on, the truth is, i feel like most administrators anymore just want power and title, they don't want to do what it actually takes to get stuff done with integrity. If you have people running for the board with an agenda that usually spells problems like this, and if you have inept and soft administrators, they will cave to any public pressure.

Transparency to me, is the best way to handle things when its legally allowed to be transparent.
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This is spot on. There are a lot of generalities that would apply, but specifically to the West Branch situation, think how differently the situation would have played out if some of the "leaders" would have actually sat down with the coach and talked about it vs taking a cowards way out.

That seems easy to do, but it's shocking how often it doesn't happen because the folks with the agendas want to keep it secret because it might make them look bad.

Then, like in this case, it plays out in public & on the internet, and they don't just look bad. They look STUPID bordering on evil.
 
thePITman said:
Thanks. Link to PDF in case others want to read: https://www.jordanmiller.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/file_6710.pdf

At the risk of sounding stupid...

Not knowing anything about the situation, my first reaction was this: "This kinda makes sense. They're trying to let him go easily, but if he throws a fit and fights it, then they're going to have to publicly justify their decision with facts and anecdotes. That could be seen as a threat, but also necessary to gain understanding of the rationale for their decisions. But their first choice was to do it without airing anybody's dirty laundry unless someone forced their hand."

Then about halfway through, something changed when one of the people texting - and his/her child - started getting attacked personally, and when it became personal, they decided enough was enough. When the term "take him down" was used, it changed the tone dramatically.

Am I interpreting this the wrong way? Who is the bad guy? The coach who did things that warranted (in some people's eyes) getting non-renewed? Or the admin who were working through a tough situation?
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I read it the same way.

Who is to blame? The administration for not addressing issues with the coach as the came up because they have no tuffness and instead trying to air years' worth of grievances in a crappy non-renewal and behind the scenes text messages full of buzzwords to cement their position. I am a firm believer that if honest conversation happens most problems are resolved before it escalates to this.
 
Hot_Takes said:
I read it the same way.

Who is to blame? The administration for not addressing issues with the coach as the came up because they have no tuffness and instead trying to air years' worth of grievances in a crappy non-renewal and behind the scenes text messages full of buzzwords to cement their position. I am a firm believer that if honest conversation happens most problems are resolved before it escalates to this.
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Agreed. No completely innocent parties, for sure. It should have never gotten to this point. "Clear is Kind." A LOT of people could benefit from reading the book below. Every year my company has several cohorts do a book club on it. Highly recommended.

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Rich Kotite said:
Can he keep BS Office in check?

BS Office set up that week one football bus trip to Pittsburgh and it turned into a real debacle when he tried to stop the Lake bus at Eat 'n Park for the all you can eat fish fry & famous salad bar.
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No to setting up Pittsburgh...and stopping at Eat 'n Park would have been a ton better then the pizza's they gave us!
 
I'm trying to show some heart and tuffness and move some product on a Friday before the holiday weekend.

These elite stiffs where I'm at today have never dealt with #PACtion™.

They don't have heart or tuffness.

No moxie or panache.

They didn't grow up in Meadowlake Estates.

They don't know the Doug Moe pass n always move 1987 Denver Nuggets offense.

They don't know BellStores.

They are soft and weak.

They probably don't eat biscuits n gravy.

They don't have a free beach haus because they aren't smart enough to scroll the rosters of available private school teachers with degrees from NCAC elite small colleges.

They've never been to Bad Street USA.

Screenshot_20250520-140932-479.png
 
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Hot_Takes said:
I read it the same way.

Who is to blame? The administration for not addressing issues with the coach as the came up because they have no tuffness and instead trying to air years' worth of grievances in a crappy non-renewal and behind the scenes text messages full of buzzwords to cement their position. I am a firm believer that if honest conversation happens most problems are resolved before it escalates to this.
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Ego and Incompetence is a terrible combo for an educational administrational leadership team. You can get results and have an ego. Heck you can be incompetent but not have an ego. Both are a deadly combination and if your school district has this Katie, Bar the Door. Can sniff this out a mile away if you pay attention. Throw even more gas on the fire when you have principals, teachers and coaches that actually have talent and get results beneath these incompetent/egotistical superintendents and treasurers. Pay attention when those talented principals, teachers and coaches flee to other districts. Where there is smoke there is fire....
 
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Bluestreakoffice said:
Sitting in a golf cart...Yes
Texting and 86 possible opponents....No
@perry1480 knowing this......Hell's no....he didn't even have the low down on who was going to be their coach!
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BSO, I’m starting to realize why Kotite goes hard at you.

Full disclosure, I’m an idealist… and let’s all be real. Doc will always be the right choice.

But we’re not talking about Perry. We’re talking about the team the mighty Blue Streaks dodged.
 
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