Letters to the editor: 12/27/01

Post commander resigns

To the Editor:

My health being foremost in my mind, I do this with a heavy heart for undisclosed reasons. The position, as policy dictates, has been assigned to the senior vice commander.

I want to thank all who supported me in my four years as post commander. I take great pride in all the accomplishments of Post 8013.

Thank you,

Raymond Lackey

Bryson City

WCU entrance exam

To the Editor:

The question is this: Is collegiate sports about big business and money or is it about morals, dedication and loyalty. Use the recommended termination of Bill Bleil, WCU football coach, by the WCU athletic director as an example.

The correct answer certainly cannot be big business and money as the home stands are full, the road games have their biggest following in history, the won/loss record is the best in years and there are indicators the best is to come.

Coach Bleil was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year, an honor bestowed by his peers. Schools such as Appalachian State, Furman and Georgia Southern are intently looking over their shoulders with a grimace as the quality of athletes is greatly improved and there is a definite air of rapport and support on the team.

The answer cannot be morals, dedication and loyalty as Coach Bleil has re-written the book in this area. A very devoted family man (a rarity in today's standards), Coach Bleil and his family are well respected and loved in the community. I have witnessed Coach Bleil and his wife active in community affairs, including coaching Little League Baseball, when many people just can't find the time.

The graduation rate of his players is on the increase, the boosters are increasing and everyone is now talking about WCU football for the first time in a decade.

The answer is neither. The true answer is an insane, idiotic and an inept athletic director with a self-centered agenda, who incidentally has a contract coming due in the near future.

The solution for WCU in this controversial subject would be to give Coach Bleil an extension on his contract and a raise to try to keep him and fire the athletic director.

It is a sad day in Jackson County with heads hung in shame, but, there is joy at Appalachian State.

Perry Belcher

Sylva

Assign accountability

Open letter to Jeff Compher:

I don't think they are all football players, but you would know that through the hours spent in deliberation in making your decision to fire Bill Bleil.

I mean, I know you are only athletic director, but you seem to be the only one willing to publicly assign blame for these students' behavior. God forbid we hold the students or their parents accountable.

Do you just have the arrest records on the students who play football? You know, with Bleil gone we don't have to worry about them anymore. We can get the others and figure this out.

I'm thinking that if they are English majors, we can fire the head of the English department. If they are art majors, let's get that department head. If they haven't declared a major, maybe we can see if they have taken any over-the-counter cold medication and sue the manufacturer. Or if they had a flat tire, we can sue the tire manufacturer. And so on.

I'm sure you see where I'm going with this. Find the accountable person and get them fired or sued or generally run out of town. Then we can assure all the students, potential students and their families that there will never be another incident of any sort at Bardo's Western Carolina University.

Kathy Campbell

Don Atten

Sylva

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