This guest opinion is by Willard Cooper, Jr., a former star at Chester High (HOF inductee
in 2002) and Temple. He chose Temple because it afforded him the opportunity to play QB
at the D1 level. However, he later switched to CB, where most colleges wanted him to play,
and also played some WR. Willard wrote this opinion in response to something that was posted earlier.

   MRH, I certainly agree with you and support you in your message to
high school football players and athletes in general to hit the books.
   Athletics is a great medium to positively foster a young person's work
ethic and character. However, most will not earn an athletic
scholarship nor play on the college level. Even fewer will be able to
pen it as their job description as an adult. Thus, the need to excel in
the classroom is a much needed balance.
   I also agree with you concerning the lack of major college football
recruitment of PPL players. My opinion is based in my experience and
more recent observations. Personally, I played high school football in
Delaware county (Chester) where in my senior year of football (1984) I
led the county in passing and total yards; thus, earning a number of
scholarship offers, of which I chose Temple. During my time at Temple a
large portion of our walk-ons were from the PPL. I can immediately
think of three PPL walk-ons who were not only good division 1 football
players, but three of the best all around athletes on our team.
   Since my days at Temple, I have remained in Philadelphia and up
until this past March of 2003, I was the director of the Tucker Police
Athletic League center for the past six years. Thus, I have had the
opportunity to coach and nurture some of the best young athletes in
Philadelphia. PPL basketball is huge! PPL football suffers from a
number of maladies in comparison to its Catholic and Suburban
counterparts. The first shortcoming that stands out to me is the PPL
lack of utilizing the forward pass. Most teams run the ball 80 to 90
percent of the time. The PPL produces very few passing quarterbacks. I
believe this is due to the lack of time the PPL coaches have to prepare
their teams. This carries over to other positions where the coaches are
not afforded the time to develop players' football fundamentals. Many of
the Catholic and Suburban teams not only are afforded more practice
time, but they also go away for a week for camp.
   This past season (2002) a former PPL coach took over as head coach
of my high school football team. As I mentioned, I led the county in
passing (1,555 yards), the QB before me led the county in passing, was
named All American and went to Notre Dame, the QB after me led the area
in passing and was named the area's player of the year and also chose
Temple. This past season not only did my high school throw the ball
very little, but they also ran out of a double-tight, three-back
backfield.
   I believe the coach is a good coach, but he used a PPL
offensive philosophy, that will make it difficult to compete against
more balanced run-pass offenses. The lack of passing the ball in the
PPL hampers the better athletes in the PPL. Many skilled position
players, QBs, WRs, TEs & DBs, get very little highlighted film time
demonstrating their passing, catching, and pass coverage skills. The
only skilled players consistently highlighted are the many 1,000 yard
rushing RBs. Add to the lack of passing the ball, poor playing fields,
the non-Friday and Saturday night games played (when most college
coaches and scouts attend games), inadequate weight rooms, and the low
participation rate of students in all sports across the board (exception
basketball), all add up to many talented PPL football players being
short changed ever February when the National signing day comes around.
   MRH, as for your inability to garner a football scholarship, first,
you where already at a great disadvantage because you played out of
position for your size. Second, the lack of interest of PPL players by
D1 schools is a reality. Third, a lot of recruitment is about hype.
Who knows you, and what are they saying. Some players are over hyped
others go unheard of and receive little or no interest.
   There are too many schools and not enough newspaper column
space for the more talented football players to get highlighted coverage
every week. In the suburbs, small newspaper dailies grant extensive
coverage of the local games in their areas. And a number of the Catholic
schools are in the suburbs. I received so much newspaper coverage in
high school that my parents were able to put together a 20-page scrap
book.
   In closing, to young PPL football players take a negative and make
it into a positive. First, be the best academic student that you can
be. This will put you in front of the curve. Second, hit the weight
room, run and work on your individual fundamental skills for the
position/s you play. Third, GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE. The internet is
loaded with recruiting websites, and there are numerous recruiting
magazines. Get copies of your game films or have someone film your
games, and get them to recruiting warehouses and college scouts and
coaches.
   Life isn't fair, but it's adjustable.

Willard Cooper, Jr.
Coopvision@aol.com