I agree 100% that Coach Faircloth should be able to do whatever he wants to do with the team, before, during and after a game. That's his prerogative. When we hire a head coach we must allow them to work through his own personal system and that may mean that some traditions might fade away. My point was not that he should let the players mingle with families (even though I wished that he would and I thought it was a nice tradition) it was the fact that we were being told (to me personally by coaches and then by a public address announcement) that it was a UIL rule, when, to the best of my knowledge, it's not. I just don't like being misled. I was about 99% certain as to why they weren't on the field after the games, and it wasn't due to the UIL nor concern for harming the track or the field. I felt as though we were being mislead and yes, I take offense to that. Like I said, don't tell me it's raining down my back when in fact it's some other form of warm liquid. I have been to NCAA games where once the game is over, they run a clock for 10-15 minutes and no one is allowed on the field before that time expires. It gives the fans a chance to clam down and protects the players, coaches and officials, and I have no problem with that. Once that time period is over, the families were allowed to mingle with the players on the field. Also, during that initial 10-15 minutes, the players where allowed to meet with their families in an area away from the field. Similar to our track area. I just can't imagine the UIL saying we can't do this. I will repeat that I am checking into this (through the UIL, not through the coaching staff or a board member) for an unbiased explanation of what part the UIL had in this decision. If the UIL doesn't have a policy regarding this, then in fact we were mislead (I'll even say lied to). If in fact a UIL rule does exist, I will apologize.
