96 Signatures Gets an Alternative Reality's Voice Heard in Easton

Just consider this for a second. Easton football went 9-4 this season. Last year it was 12-2. In this century, they have missed the playoffs one time. I guess this is what matters though:

Easton Area has the second-most wins of any team in the state, but the school hasn't been in the mix for a state title in years, Worthy said. He has gathered 96 signatures in an online petition calling for Shiffert's dismissal.

Jim A. Brown renamed his Facebook page "Shiffert Must Go" in late November. It's become an online haven for Shiffert's detractors.

Why?

For critics like Worthy, most of Shiffert's success has been in the past. He said the team's lack of success is prompting youths in the football feeder programs to leave Easton Area for other school districts.

"I love my program enough to know that we're not going in the direction we need to go," said Worthy, a 1990 Easton Area graduate and scholarship football player for Clarion University.

It's unclear when the subcommittee will meet or who will serve on the committee.

Worthy said nothing less than a change of coaching staff will satisfy him.

"I ask that the board seriously consider for the sake of our kids who are coming through to give them the best opportunity to be successful not only in the classroom but on the field of play," he said.

Back to reality- Easton has gone 21-6 in the last two seasons. This year's nine wins was the lowest win total in a while, in fact since the 2008 team. Since 2000, Shiffert has six league titles, four district titles, and 15 district playoff teams. In this decade alone, this nine win team was the worst team they had. Not bad. If you think they can do better, i'm sorry, you're in an alternative reality. Marginally better? Sure, there are a few games over the years they could have flipped. This year's 37-0 playoff loss to Parkland is not one of them. The talent is what it is. As for the kids who are leaving Easton for the Catholic schools- let them! How many of them are heading to Hershey for a state championship game? Not too many- because it's really hard to get to Hershey.

If you don't like the play-calling, or have an issue with the record on getting kids into college to play, that's fine. No one's arguing that Easton has the perfect high school football program, so there are some legitimate gripes there. That doesn't mean we need a public flogging from some disgruntled parents and little league coaches. It's sad, petty, and kind of weird, to be honest. Maybe these folks should be worried about the constant teacher layoffs and mediocre test scores that Easton turns in academically. They'd at least have a case grounded in reality there.