THE TOMMY COX STORY, Part 1
He's ass is on fire
Bowie coach's case a prime example of the blame game
Written by Olin Buchanan, Austin American Statesman November 3rd, 1999
In 12 years as a head football coach, Tommy Cox has just about broken even. Sometimes he's won. Sometimes he's lost. His 105-100-1 record suggests he has not had great success nor terrible failure. But through it all Cox has never backed down, and that's why he's having a difficult time with a controversy that has forced him off the Bowie High School campus except for football practice. ``I hate that I can't defend myself,'' Cox said Wednesday. ``I'm still the coach is about the only thing I can say." He promises that at the right time he'll be happy to respond to charges that he assaulted a Bowie player's mother, who complained about her son's lack of playing time. President Clinton asked for a definition of ``is.'' In this case it will be interesting to see how assault is defined. On the Austin Independent School District campus police department daily log of Oct. 24, the parent claims that Cox pushed her. If that's true, Cox must be strongly reprimanded. Violence can't be tolerated, especially by someone whose job involves setting an example for boys and young men. However, don't villify Cox just yet. Remember, there are two sides to every story, and Cox hasn't told his side yet. At least, not publicly. Could the parent have been asked to leave the office and refused? And if so, what if Cox touched her arm in an attempt to lead her out of the office? What if the charge of assault is an embellishment? Again, we don't know all the facts of the case. However, I do know this. Teachers in general, and coaches in particular, seem to be working at a huge disadvantage in today's society. Someone is to blame in every negative situation and it's rarely -- perhaps never -- the student or the parent. Even before Cox's current situation, some Bowie followers have called for his firing because Bowie hasn't won often enough. Sadly, that's a response for some Bowie parents, who ignore evidence that the problem might be that their sons just aren't as athletically gifted as their opposition. Two years ago a group succeeded in getting baseball coach Ted Rodriguez reassigned even though the Bulldogs had just reached the baseball playoffs. Bowie did not reach the playoffs the following season. Last year, Bowie made the playoffs in football, but did not reach them in the other major team sports -- baseball and basketball. If Bowie were struggling in football, but succeeding in every other sport, then questioning Cox's ability would make sense. That's not the case. I'm not saying Cox is a great coach. His record isn't great. But it isn't bad, either. Consider that if Bowie defeats Austin High on Friday night it will clinch the eighth playoff berth in the school's 12-year history. Three out of four years Bowie goes to the playoffs. Most schools would celebrate that percentage. And that hasn't been accomplished with great players. The list of Bowie football players to earn Division I scholarships reads like this: 1. John Luker, Army. 2. Garrett Cox, Navy. 3. Victor Ike, Texas. Three in 12 years. I've seen schools with more Division I players than that in one year miss the playoffs. And in 1996 Bowie lost a bidistrict playoff 32-31 to Converse Judson, which went on to advance to the Class 5A, Division I state championship game. Of course, Cox's detractors might note that Bowie blew a 31-0 lead and lost when one of its players touched a blocked field goal, giving Judson a second chance to kick a game-winner. Judson had great talent and more depth, and that depth was a factor because Bowie's players tired in the second half. As far as the fumbled blocked kick . . . well, Leon Lett did the same thing in a Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day in 1994. Lett's coach at the time, Jimmy Johnson, has won two Super Bowls. It should also be noted that if Bowie defeats Austin High, it will have beaten both Austin Independent School District teams (including Crockett) that are in Class 5A. The Bulldogs also blew out Reagan, which is on the verge of going undefeated against the AISD's other six 4A teams. This suggests Bowie has the best team among the 10 AISD schools. Why is it so hard to accept that a coach probably has more football, basketball or baseball knowledge than a parent? Watching a football game on TV doesn't make one a football expert. ``I have friends in different professions always wonder why people think they know more about coaching than coaches,'' Cox said. ``Some people are so arrogant that they would question a brain surgeon before he goes into surgery." Being second-guessed is an occupational hazard for coaches. But it's still the coach's occupation. If Cox did commit assault perhaps he should be removed from that occupation. But because it is his occupation he should be able to decide who plays and who doesn't without fear of consequences.
