Dunbar goes to Florida to play on ESPN....

[meth007]

Its not a Dumb question. I see it as another reason for an eighth grader to select Dunbar as a choice but no where near being unfair. Mervo and Douglass has nice unis too with several several looks. Kids and parents want to go to a winner that produces college athletes. Dunbars advantage is that they have been sending kids to college and winning rings....uniforms would be low on the totum pole....

[jtowne-swim]

Anyone who makes their choice about what high school to attend based on football uniforms has seriously got the wrong priorities. If Dunbar was paying for these I would seriously have to question their comittment to education. It is not as if the kid gets to keep the uniform!

[eaglesinsider]

Anyone who makes their choice about what high school to attend based on football uniforms has seriously got the wrong priorities. If Dunbar was paying for these I would seriously have to question their comittment to education. It is not as if the kid gets to keep the uniform!

Plenty of high school kids make their college choices based on the uniforms. It's sad to see. I spent some time in the small college coaching ranks at an ODAC school down in VA. We had Russell uniforms and Adidas accessories. I had more than one recruit flat out tell me that they wouldn't play in anything but Nike, and this was even before the explosion of uni combos. It got so bad we tried to hide the Russell logos when we were recruiting, because they are regarded as the lowest of the low as far as college uni suppliers go. I had a couple kids tell me flat out during that time that: "Coach, I never would have come to this school if I knew you guys had Russell unis."

It's a disturbing trend, I understand facilities being a factor, if you're gonna spend a large percentage of your 4 years on the practice field, in the weight room, and in the stadium, then it is definitely something that you should factor into your decision, but it should be much farther down on the list than education and how you interact with the coaching staff. I think this applies both for college and hs.

[BBHF]

Are you saying Under Armour prep has a unfair advantage because of uniforms and helmet combos?

I think you misread what I am stating. I meant to say it is not fair to other teams that a sponsorship is given and they get all that UA gear. Honestly, I do not think that any public school should be able to have a sponsorship. I like when the Ravens bought all City schools uniforms some years back. To me it is all teams or no teams. And yes, it does make an impact on kids if they see a school that has 7 different uniforms and warm-ups and UA accessories at their disposal.

[BJC]

Im sure all those fancy Under Armour uniforms is whats keeping the Maryland players from transfering in droves to other schools...Dunbar deserves it...look at its history which goes back decades.

[BBHF]

Im sure all those fancy Under Armour uniforms is whats keeping the Maryland players from transfering in droves to other schools...Dunbar deserves it...look at its history which goes back decades.

Deserves it? The MD example is not a good one. City and Poly also have a great history, one that is over a century old. Western has a great history as well. Does that mean they they deserve them? I agree, recent history definitely belongs to Dunbar in terms of Football success. They have always been a basketball powerhouse. I believe sponsorships to public schools is teetering very closely to being illegal in my book. It is different if schools fundraise and get nice uniforms that way, they earned and DESERVE it then, but for a team to be singled out in a compulsory education system to me is not good. That is all I am saying and I respect your opinion.

[First_Down]

Sponsorships have been going on for a very long time. Many a football stadium scoreboard is circled with Coca-Cola, Chick fil-A, Outback Steakhouse, All State Insurance, and many other ads. Banners are all around the fence lines. Programs you pay $5 for will be 90% sponsor ads. Those ad proceeds go to help buy what teams need or want and save the cost to tax payers with respect to public schools. It's 2012 so sponsors are moving into other areas. Some, for legit reasons, may not like the new path. But those who may not have liked the scoreboard and fence line ads of yesterday are now quite comfortable or just accept them today. And so I think that will be the case in the not too distance future with the current sponsorship trend.

They way life is, some will get sponsorships and some will not. It's just a fact of life so I don't know about the all will get it or none disposition with public schools.

[BBHF]

Sponsorships have been going on for a very long time. Many a football stadium scoreboard is circled with Coca-Cola, Chick fil-A, Outback Steakhouse, All State Insurance, and many other ads. Banners are all around the fence lines. Programs you pay $5 for will be 90% sponsor ads. Those ad proceeds go to help buy what teams need or want and save the cost to tax payers with respect to public schools. It's 2012 so sponsors are moving into other areas. Some, for legit reasons, may not like the new path. But those who may not have liked the scoreboard and fence line ads of yesterday are now quite comfortable or just accept them today. And so I think that will be the case in the not too distance future with the current sponsorship trend.

They way life is, some will get sponsorships and some will not. It's just a fact of life so I don't know about the all will get it or none disposition with public schools.

I respect your opinion but I still do not think it is fair.

[BBHF]

Sponsorships have been going on for a very long time. Many a football stadium scoreboard is circled with Coca-Cola, Chick fil-A, Outback Steakhouse, All State Insurance, and many other ads. Banners are all around the fence lines. Programs you pay $5 for will be 90% sponsor ads. Those ad proceeds go to help buy what teams need or want and save the cost to tax payers with respect to public schools. It's 2012 so sponsors are moving into other areas. Some, for legit reasons, may not like the new path. But those who may not have liked the scoreboard and fence line ads of yesterday are now quite comfortable or just accept them today. And so I think that will be the case in the not too distance future with the current sponsorship trend.

They way life is, some will get sponsorships and some will not. It's just a fact of life so I don't know about the all will get it or none disposition with public schools.

Also, naming fields or scoreboards benefits the entire school not one sport. The uni's only benefit the sport or sports that it chooses to sponsor. I am not sure if it does but does Dunbar girls volleyball have an Under Armour sponsorship? Do all Dunbar teams have the same deal?

[First_Down]

Also, naming fields or scoreboards benefits the entire school not one sport. The uni's only benefit the sport or sports that it chooses to sponsor. I am not sure if it does but does Dunbar girls volleyball have an Under Armour sponsorship? Do all Dunbar teams have the same deal?

I know of several professional athletes who have sponsored uniforms or equipment for high school teams they played with. Some just one sport, football. Would private or personal sponsorship be much different than corporate sponsorship beyond the ads?

I don't know about all schools or team having the same resources. Isn't it true that repeat state champion Dunbar doesn't even have its own home field or would you call Poly Dunbar's home.

[BBHF]

I know of several professional athletes who have sponsored uniforms or equipment for high school teams they played with. Some just one sport, football. Would private or personal sponsorship be much different than corporate sponsorship beyond the ads?

I don't know about all schools or team having the same resources. Isn't it true that repeat state champion Dunbar doesn't even have its own home field or would you call Poly Dunbar's home.

To me there is a big difference between corporate and private donors, especially when they only supply for one sport or a few and not the entire school. And Dunbar does have a home field, just the powers that be are money hungry and try to schedule everyone at Poly.

[First_Down]

To me there is a big difference between corporate and private donors, especially when they only supply for one sport or a few and not the entire school. And Dunbar does have a home field, just the powers that be are money hungry and try to schedule everyone at Poly.

Okay, so I own shop and want to provide new uniforms the the swim team of a certain high school in the area of my business. You as the AD or principal would respectfully decline my offer unless I provide uniforms to all the teams in all sports at the school and /or you would prefer that I provide uniforms to all schools in the area or all the swim teams?

[eaglesinsider]

I don't see why every sports program at every school shouldn't be allowed to be rewarded for individual success. A uniform sponsorship is an indication of success. I don't have a problem with Kevin Plank and UA wanting to outfit the best in the state, they already have most of the MIAA A and River Hill, Dunbar is just a natural extension of this.

Not all schools are on equal athletic footing and they never will be, the everyone has to have exactly the same stuff approach is anti-American. Why should anyone strive for success if you reap no benefits for it?

The either everyone gets it or no one gets it approach is idiotic. Carroll County turned down donated turf fields for South Carroll, Winters Mill, and FSK because it wasn't fair to the other schools. That's about $2 million in free donations they turned down. Their schools have outdated facilities because they won't allow anything to be donated unless someone does it for the whole county. At a time when public schools are hurting for funding, what's the harm in letting UA sponsor costly football uniforms and take the burden off of the taxpayers/booster clubs.

[First_Down]

WoW!!! I can't believe field turf was turned down at five schools.

[jtowne-swim]

Okay, so I own shop and want to provide new uniforms the the swim team of a certain high school in the area of my business. You as the AD or principal would respectfully decline my offer unless I provide uniforms to all the teams in all sports at the school and /or you would prefer that I provide uniforms to all schools in the area or all the swim teams?

I would say that swimming is slightly different since all the kids have to buy their own uniforms to speak since they are dispossable items and the school can not purchase them! That said I have no problem with someone paying for the uniforms as long as their are no strings attatched what I have a problem with here is the shear quantity provided when a team really only needs two combos.

[BBHF]

Okay, so I own shop and want to provide new uniforms the the swim team of a certain high school in the area of my business. You as the AD or principal would respectfully decline my offer unless I provide uniforms to all the teams in all sports at the school and /or you would prefer that I provide uniforms to all schools in the area or all the swim teams?

If I was a principal or AD I would definitley turn them down if my other sports were not getting the same things. It just sets the example that one sport is better than the others and more deserving of getting new things, so yes I would decline. That is just my personal feelings, many others probably would not but when dealing with a High School than it crosses the line in my opinion. These companies make enough money that they do not have to pander to High School teams to promote their products. And I have no problem with what Carroll County did with the turf fields. They probably do not what to get in the same situation that is going on in the City where most of the top teams cannot even have a game on their actual home field because there is a profit motive.

[First_Down]

If I was a principal or AD I would definitley turn them down if my other sports were not getting the same things. It just sets the example that one sport is better than the others and more deserving of getting new things, so yes I would decline. That is just my personal feelings, many others probably would not but when dealing with a High School than it crosses the line in my opinion. These companies make enough money that they do not have to pander to High School teams to promote their products. And I have no problem with what Carroll County did with the turf fields. They probably do not what to get in the same situation that is going on in the City where most of the top teams cannot even have a game on their actual home field because there is a profit motive.

I don't understand the no home field for profit motive you reference. Please explain.

Regarding the all or none field turf matter, how many schools are we talking about here? I'm now thinking about large school districts like PG or MoCo that have 25 plus high schools. I know PG want field turf in only three places at this time; Friendly, Largo, and High Point while all others would come later if at all.

[BBHF]

I don't understand the no home field for profit motive you reference. Please explain.

Regarding the all or none field turf matter, how many schools are we talking about here? I'm now thinking about large school districts like PG or MoCo that have 25 plus high schools. I know PG want field turf in only three places at this time; Friendly, Largo, and High Point while all others would come later if at all.

I mean it is very rare that the top teams in the City actually get home games on their actual school fields because they showcase them all at Poly on the turf. SO no more 3:45 games at Sugar Cain field for Dunbar and if it does happen it is very rare. I believe that City College actually played their homecoming at Poly. Now that is just silly in my opinion.

[First_Down]

I'm not from Baltimore or the area but I've been to numerous games there for several years and I've only been to Poly, Mervo, Douglass, and the spot next to MATH. I don't know of Sugar Cain Field.

[eaglesinsider]

You're only talking 8 schools for Carroll, 3 turf fields would account for almost half of the county schools. If the county had any sense they would have accepted these and put a turf field at the new HS, Manchester Valley (opened 2009). McDaniel College in Westminster has turf/lights too, and they have hosted HS games before, so that would be 5 turf fields for 8 high schools in the county. Them turning down the donated turf field for Winters Mill made the least sense, because Winters Mill has had problems with grubs in their grass and 2 years ago had to play their "home" girls lacrosse games at Garrison Forest, because their field was unplayable and no other county school wanted another team tearing up their grass field. None of these fields were donated by businesses either, South Carroll/UCONN/NJ Nets player Zach Boone offered to donate the field for SC, and the WM and FSK fields were offered by local real estate agents.