Published: 12:21 AM, Fri Sep 03, 2010
Dunne: Like it or not, Bailey going for win 100 today
Tyler Dunne
The accusations, the criticism, the unfiltered hatred. Richard Bailey hears it all. And you know what? It bothers him. The anonymous grenades thrown around on message boards agitate the Jack Britt coach.
But every time his temper starts to rise, every time he's ready to smash his fist through the computer screen, Bailey remembers one thing.
"People only talk about you if you're successful," he said. "If you're not successful, nobody cares."
After 100 wins in just over 10 years, they better care. Tonight against Hoggard - barring an unsuspecting uppercut from Buster Douglas - Bailey will earn his 100th career victory. That's a milestone typically reserved for graybeards is here. After literally taking over a team from scratch - "when I was snot-nosed 31-year old defensive coordinator," Bailey says - he quickly created his own monster.
After back-to-back trips to the state title game and a national ranking, many consider this the blueprint program in Cumberland County. But 9.7 wins per season also create big expectations. With success comes burden.
He ran up the score. He didn't win by enough. He can't win the big one. He recruits kids. It all fuses into one giant burden. Imaginary wanted posters with his mug on them fill locker rooms. Saying the word "Britt" at other practices elicits moans, groans and eye rolls.
Don't feel bad for him, though. Bailey loves it.
"It's a great thing," he said. "I enjoy it, I enjoy it. I want to do a great job and I want people talking about it. I get motivated by it.
"Even if it's people throwing stones at us, they're still paying attention."
Recruiting slander isn't going away. Conspiracy theorists will always rage. Students are free to change schools if they have a parent in the district. News flash: 10 county schools are all within shouting range of each other. Kids are bound to transfer, even if it feels like free agency sometimes. Let's just be happy high schoolers aren't staging nationally televised flops like "The Decision."
Bailey realizes other coaches are going to run with the rumors. Bad blood is natural.
"I respect those guys and I hope they respect me," he said. "There's some animosity because of all those stories that get told. Some coaches believe that stuff, unfortunately."
Don't put an asterisk next to this achievement - 100 wins are 100 wins. Under the same rules as everyone, Bailey keeps on winning. He created a city-on-a-hill culture that parents and kids gravitate to.
The school recruits itself, Bailey said, and he's the beneficiary of that. As a result, hate it or love it, Jack Britt is the team to beat. A school kids will want to play for.
"It's a sex appeal really," said Clemson-bound tight end Eric MacLain. "You look at Jack Britt and you're like, 'I want to play for them.' "
Finding motivation
Right there on Bailey's desk is a picture of Terry Sanford coach Wayne Inman.
One of Britt's assistants taped it there after Britt lost to Inman's team in double OT last season. That night, Britt wasn't invincible. That night, The Boneyard wasn't some Utopia where the Bucs never fumble, throw incompletions or drive over the speed limit.
Blemishes are magnified here. To keep everyone motivated, mistakes are harped on continuously. Every day, Bailey sees that picture.
"Until we beat them, I have to look at his mug every day," Bailey said. "It motivates me."
Losses like that nag players like cold sores. Trips to the state championship game are expected. Not dreamt of, not hoped for. Expected.
Just last week, after Britt beat Hoke County 27-6, Bailey instinctively braced for backlash. He knew outsiders would see the score was 7-6 deep into the second half and wonder, "What's wrong with Britt?" After 10-plus years of sustained excellence, this is the price of winning.
Watching his team warm up from a distance, Bailey holds his 1-year-old son in his arms. Carson Britt (yes, named after the school) was born the week before the Bucs lost in the 2008 state title game. At other schools, sons of coaches are offensive and defensive coordinators. Two or three decades down the road, maybe that time comes for Bailey.
These 100 wins have come fast and furious. Still, something's missing. In three cracks at state glory, the Bucs have come up short.
Over the next 100 wins - as the heckling gets louder and louder - Bailey has one goal.
"I want to prove people wrong," he said, "that we can win a state championship."
Tyler Dunne can be reached at dunnet@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.