Press Box Perspective
I saw a shining example of the problem when I used to be allowed to attend all-conference meetings. I once sat with a group of coaches who were arguing back and forth about the selection of their team. They set down some rules that limited the number of players a coach could nominate. There was a coach whose team had enjoyed a less than successful season, and he was adamant that in spite of the limits on nomination, his athlete absolutely deserved to be nominated. And that’s where the problem comes from. You as a coach have invested hours on the practice and game fields and courts with these athletes. Some of them may not be talented, but they have the heart of a lion and the character of Lincoln and you love them to death. And that’s why when it comes time to make these choices, you feel they deserve recognition. So let’s pick two quarterbacks instead of one, four wide receivers instead of two, 10 offensive linemen instead of five. We go from a pie with six slices to one with 20. It’s a nice gesture, but it’s not fair to the truly great athletes on your “all” team. Ever watched the Oscars? There are multiple nominees in each category, but when they tear open the envelope, only one person or movie goes home with the golden statue. It should be the same with “all” teams. I’ve got no problem with second and third teams. That’s what they were made for, to honor more athletes, and to do it in a reasonable way. I don’t expect this column to lead to a wave of “all” teams in 2026-27 that will be closer to the actual on-field number in that sport, but at least give it a thought. Earl Vaughan Jr. Press & Social Media Coordinator on X: @EarlVaughanJr
As we dive into summer and look ahead to the return of competition in the fall, I want to plant a seed for all the coaches and athletic directors out there. For years, dating back to my earliest days as a sports writer in the 1970s, I’ve had a cause that’s been a source of concern for me, one that apparently isn’t shared by many other folks that can do something about it. Granted, this is far from a hot button issue and isn’t going to be something that will get anybody arrested, fired or sued. But it’s definitely a sore point with me. If you think I’m nuts, no problem, you’re entitled. Many have. But I think I’ve got a case here and if you’ll just give me a few paragraphs I’ll lay it out for you. It’s my humble opinion that we’ve made the honor of making most of your all-conference, all-region and all-state teams that are selected these days less of an honor than it should be. The reason? With incredibly rare exception, every team I see picked has far too many athletes on it. I realize the coaches, and the media that select their own teams, are trying to honor as many deserving athletes as they can. And that’s a good thing. But there’s another issue to consider here. How many people are actually on said first team? If you tried to put this all-star team you picked on a field or court, you’d forfeit the game. I’ve seen actual cases where some of these teams had twice as many, sometimes more, players than a normal lineup in that sport allows. If you’re picked to any kind of “all’’ team, you should clearly be a few notches above all the other starters in your sport. But I realize what the problems are. The biggest is you don’t have to make a tough choice between good or great candidates.
See “Press Box Perspective” on page 14
NC Coach • Summer 2026 • Page 13 • nccoach.org
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