willowridge

[mdfootball]

What happended to this program? I know they had unbelievable success in the early 80s. To what do you attribute their recent downfall, and will the new coach help any??

[Allstarkaw]

What happended to this program? I know they had unbelievable success in the early 80s. To what do you attribute their recent downfall, and will the new coach help any??
Express your thoughts on the "Used-to-be" thread...
And the frequent building of new schools in that area forced most of their talent to be spread out...

Willowridge will NEVER recover...

[HUM398]

What happended to this program? I know they had unbelievable success in the early 80s. To what do you attribute their recent downfall, and will the new coach help any??

Quillen was the life of that program, after he left it seemed to just fall apart.....

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

Express your thoughts on the "Used-to-be" thread...
And the frequent building of new schools in that area forced most of their talent to be spread out...

Willowridge will NEVER recover...

Yep! Them and Thurgood Marshall have around 1,500-1,600 students. Marshall opened with around 2,500, and that was barely 6 years ago.

[HUM398]

Yep! Them and Thurgood Marshall have around 1,500-1,600 students. Marshall opened with around 2,500, and that was barely 6 years ago.

Its stupid...If you let those two go to 4a, redo the coaching staff at Wridge..... You got yourself some monsters....

Marshall still does a pretty good job competing...They will be good under phipps

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

Its stupid...If you let those two go to 4a, redo the coaching staff at Wridge..... You got yourself some monsters....

Marshall still does a pretty good job competing...They will be good under phipps

That's what I was thinking! I know Willowridge still has some athletes there!

And, I forgot that Phipps was at Marshall now. Good hire!

And with, what is it, 11 high schools now, Willowridge and Marshall both need to be in 4A. There's 4A schools around there that they could be put in the district with.

[CaneDadCat5]

The ridge is in the midst of its second generation. It is surrounded by neighborhoods that are ageing. The stigma of poor performing schools (whether true or not) has sent some of its best athletes elsewhere (Hightower, Elkins, Marshall). Willowridge has the potential to return to glory if it attains the right coach who can foster community support, alumni support, and district support. Someone along the lines of what Ray Seals did for Houston Madison after he took the reigns.

Would a move to 4a benefit Willowridge. Look at Houston Yates and Wheatley. They have been successful at the 4A level. Yes they still have a way to go but it hasn't been as dramatic as once thought. Travel has not been a big of an issue as first dreaded. Finally, I have watched Willowridge since it first began while attending Madison High (5 to 7 miles away). They have a rich history and have the tools necessary to compete again. Coaching is the key. I believe they will return if given the opportunity by the district.

[mdfootball]

so if willowridge were to move to 4a, and with a good coach, there is hope for them? How do they go about moving down, is that a school choice, or up to FBISD??

[austin pride]

so if willowridge were to move to 4a, and with a good coach, there is hope for them? How do they go about moving down, is that a school choice, or up to FBISD??
Up to the FBISD AD.

[judrok1]

This district has become so unpredicatable. I know many people expect that to end now that Hightower has started showing powerhouse consistency, but it does seem like we have been waiting forever for Kempner to come together. Sometimes it is downright loopy. Dulles can't seem to string two wins together and then they win 8 games in 1 season, only to return to the bottom of the district. I think Elkins was also supposed to put something consistent together, and look at the Knights' history. Certainly some of the attendance and boundary issues are to blame, but regardless, Willowridge really needs a strong coaching staff who will put the time in at the feeder schools with the same dedication that was shown in the past.

I would love to see Willowridge come back!

[eagleswoop#1]

Its stupid...If you let those two go to 4a, redo the coaching staff at Wridge..... You got yourself some monsters....

Marshall still does a pretty good job competing...They will be good under phipps

Coach Magee is a good hire for the Ridge. They should be a team to watch out for in 2009.

[austin pride]

With that coach from Westbury in two years the Ridge will be back.

[dada]

With that coach from Westbury in two years the Ridge will be back.

Hmmmm...SOME may say going from Westbury to Willowridge is a step back....I don't know.

Has there been a repeat district champion in Ft. Bend recently? seems like every year, there is another "Hot" team....Marshall....Dulles......Clements...Hightow er


Is FBISD trying to become the next HISD? A lot of schools with declining enrollments that could be closed or consolidated and one Flagship school?
Will Clements be to FBISD what Lamar is to HISD and the others just mediocre?

[austin pride]

It's looking that way with 10 schools ( 2 @ 4a level) and an eleventh opening up next year.

[KatyTigerDad0407]

I haven't posted in a while, but this thread and several like it in the past always seem to get my blood boiling about FBISD. I'm a white guy and I just call it like I see it. I think there is a lot of politics and yes, racism in FBISD. Hightower is a magnet school. Although predominately black like Marshall and Willowridge, if you are an athlete you can play there. FBISD could care less about giving student athletes at Marshal and Willowridge a fighting chance when their student population doesn't support fair and level competition.

If the roles were reversed and Clements or Dulles had 4(a) numbers, you can bet the house that these upper class white kids would get fair competition. Their well to do tax paying parents would make sure of it.

I've lived in Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land, Stafford, and am now moving to Missouri City; across the tollroad from Hall Stadium. To me it is so discouraging to watch Willowridge play when it is not fair. Let them play with Sharpstown and the other 4(a)s around there.

Surely, it isn't about having to pay for extra gas to have to drive to Butler Stadium when Mercer is even futher. Just my 2 cents. I'm probably wrong.

[mdfootball]

I haven't posted in a while, but this thread and several like it in the past always seem to get my blood boiling about FBISD. I'm a white guy and I just call it like I see it. I think there is a lot of politics and yes, racism in FBISD. Hightower is a magnet school. Although predominately black like Marshall and Willowridge, if you are an athlete you can play there. FBISD could care less about giving student athletes at Marshal and Willowridge a fighting chance when their student population doesn't support fair and level competition.

If the roles were reversed and Clements or Dulles had 4(a) numbers, you can bet the house that these upper class white kids would get fair competition. Their well to do tax paying parents would make sure of it.

I've lived in Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land, Stafford, and am now moving to Missouri City; across the tollroad from Hall Stadium. To me it is so discouraging to watch Willowridge play when it is not fair. Let them play with Sharpstown and the other 4(a)s around there.

Surely, it isn't about having to pay for extra gas to have to drive to Butler Stadium when Mercer is even futher. Just my 2 cents. I'm probably wrong.

Sad to hear this. Does Hightower have zones, or is it strictly a magnet school, like Dallas Skyline?

[Bass]

What kind of crowds does Willowridge bring to their games? I know their band is one of the most entertaining bands in Houston. Everyone at Katy still talks about them even though the last time we played them was in 2003. Having student support for the team is just as big as having community support. It sounds like that's one big thing they've already got going for them.

[AMustz]

What kind of crowds does Willowridge bring to their games? I know their band is one of the most entertaining bands in Houston. Everyone at Katy still talks about them even though the last time we played them was in 2003. Having student support for the team is just as big as having community support. It sounds like that's one big thing they've already got going for them.

It's sad to see some of the really great programs suffering like Willowridge. They were on Aldine's schedule for 10 years, from '86 thru '95 and made Aldine a better football program just by association. We played 12 games in 10 years and had some great ones. I enjoyed going to Mercer Stadium. The hospitality was very good. I loved their band. They even got our team pumped. A very good experience.

[CaneDadCat5]

Sad to hear this. Does Hightower have zones, or is it strictly a magnet school, like Dallas Skyline?

Hightower does have zones but has ablsolutely no feeder middle schools. The closest are Lake Olympia (1.5 miles from Elkins) and Baines (In the same neighborhood as the New Sienna Plantation High School).

[twhfan#1]

I haven't posted in a while, but this thread and several like it in the past always seem to get my blood boiling about FBISD. I'm a white guy and I just call it like I see it. I think there is a lot of politics and yes, racism in FBISD. Hightower is a magnet school. Although predominately black like Marshall and Willowridge, if you are an athlete you can play there. FBISD could care less about giving student athletes at Marshal and Willowridge a fighting chance when their student population doesn't support fair and level competition.

If the roles were reversed and Clements or Dulles had 4(a) numbers, you can bet the house that these upper class white kids would get fair competition. Their well to do tax paying parents would make sure of it.

I've lived in Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land, Stafford, and am now moving to Missouri City; across the tollroad from Hall Stadium. To me it is so discouraging to watch Willowridge play when it is not fair. Let them play with Sharpstown and the other 4(a)s around there.

Surely, it isn't about having to pay for extra gas to have to drive to Butler Stadium when Mercer is even futher. Just my 2 cents. I'm probably wrong.

its not just about gas $ --- any money ( gate receipts , consessions , etc ) generated by a game WITHIN an ISD stays 100 % in that district -- not shared. Also with all FBISD in a UIL district -- the FBISD has complete control over any issues --- but if 2 FBISD schools dropped to 4A & went with say 4 or 5 HISD schools -- then they would probably be outvoted on every issue that comes before the district committee --- little known fact of how UIL districts are run

[Mo_Citytx281]

letz all get ready for this season.u never know the ridge may come out this year and be a solid team and surprise alot of people

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

letz all get ready for this season.u never know the ridge may come out this year and be a solid team and surprise alot of people

Would love to see that!:)

I went to the Mo City Classic back in '04 and, I had a good time. May try to make it this year!

[H-TownLion]

its not just about gas $ --- any money ( gate receipts , consessions , etc ) generated by a game WITHIN an ISD stays 100 % in that district -- not shared. Also with all FBISD in a UIL district -- the FBISD has complete control over any issues --- but if 2 FBISD schools dropped to 4A & went with say 4 or 5 HISD schools -- then they would probably be outvoted on every issue that comes before the district committee --- little known fact of how UIL districts are run

There's your reason why Marshall and Willowridge will not drop to 4A, unless some more FBISD schools have equal enough numbers to drop to 4A.

[onevision]

Sad to hear this. Does Hightower have zones, or is it strictly a magnet school, like Dallas Skyline?

Skyline is not strictly a magnet..... It has a disd attendence zone all to itself.

[Red Raider Rick]

There's your reason why Marshall and Willowridge will not drop to 4A, unless some more FBISD schools have equal enough numbers to drop to 4A.

It is my understanding the drop or not deciscion starts with the principal(s) in FBISD, not the AD.

Can any Hightower supporters confirm how many kids from Willowridge and Marshall zones are playing football? I don't think it's that many.

As the zones exist now, the schools with prime undeveloped or newly developed land will continue to prosper. Clements and Travis have the open western side of FBISD to support them. As the population continues to fly west the boundries will have to move west to offset or the school(s) to the east, Marshall and/or Willowridge will have to close. The east side of FBISD just doesn't have the numbers to support 2 HS.

[mdfootball]

It is my understanding the drop or not deciscion starts with the principal(s) in FBISD, not the AD.

Can any Hightower supporters confirm how many kids from Willowridge and Marshall zones are playing football? I don't think it's that many.

As the zones exist now, the schools with prime undeveloped or newly developed land will continue to prosper. Clements and Travis have the open western side of FBISD to support them. As the population continues to fly west the boundries will have to move west to offset or the school(s) to the east, Marshall and/or Willowridge will have to close. The east side of FBISD just doesn't have the numbers to support 2 HS.

If you live in Willowridge's district, do you have an option of where to go, or do you have to go to Ridge, just wondering if that could contribute to the lack of students.

[Red Raider Rick]

If you live in Willowridge's district, do you have an option of where to go, or do you have to go to Ridge, just wondering if that could contribute to the lack of students.

In the past you had 2 options, as Willowridge was under performing.

1. Enroll in one of the district academy programs, most likely at Hightower.

2. Request a transfer to a school meeting the standards with enrollment capacity available.

FBISD has now dispersed several of the academy programs around the district and have designated one HS, (Travis I think) for all academic related tranfers.

[H-TownLion]

It is my understanding the drop or not deciscion starts with the principal(s) in FBISD, not the AD.

Can any Hightower supporters confirm how many kids from Willowridge and Marshall zones are playing football? I don't think it's that many.

As the zones exist now, the schools with prime undeveloped or newly developed land will continue to prosper. Clements and Travis have the open western side of FBISD to support them. As the population continues to fly west the boundries will have to move west to offset or the school(s) to the east, Marshall and/or Willowridge will have to close. The east side of FBISD just doesn't have the numbers to support 2 HS.

Said this before, but I'll say it again...

The best scenario for those kids on the east side of the district is if they combine the Willowridge and Marshall kids, have the freshman go to the Willowridge campus to give them the academic help they desperately need, and have the rest go to the Marshall campus. That would put the enrollment of the combined school at 3,025 and can be competetive in 5A in almost every sport.

But as Rick stated, there is too much political influence in FBISD, and that would kill any thought of doing something that makes a lot of sense in an area that needs the academic help.

[twhfan#1]

It is my understanding the drop or not deciscion starts with the principal(s) in FBISD, not the AD.
Can any Hightower supporters confirm how many kids from Willowridge and Marshall zones are playing football? I don't think it's that many.

As the zones exist now, the schools with prime undeveloped or newly developed land will continue to prosper. Clements and Travis have the open western side of FBISD to support them. As the population continues to fly west the boundries will have to move west to offset or the school(s) to the east, Marshall and/or Willowridge will have to close. The east side of FBISD just doesn't have the numbers to support 2 HS.

depends on thre ISD -- officially according to UIL --principals make up the district committee & make decisions related to UIL -- HOWEVER like ALL organizations ( public and private )-- some ISD's leave it to principal but in some the AD or SUPT " suggest " what the principal should decide