Like It Is

NLR board saddled with a difficult task

Amid the almost immobilizing storm of ice and sleet, you know the pots and pans are still simmering in the North Little Rock School District over the events that have captured statewide attention.

Understand that weeks before it was made public that the North Little Rock School District had fired head football coach Brad Bolding, almost every media outlet in central Arkansas was digging for the story.

Everyone had heard rumors that Bolding had been fired, suspended or was headed to take the job at Nashville High School. There were whispers about rent, Nike contracts and recruiting.

Nothing could be confirmed until Bolding and his attorney, David Couch, admitted that Bolding had been fired.

Admittedly, there are two sides to this story. Partly because of ethics, and it appears partly because of old-fashioned stubbornness, the North Little School District has kept with its "no comment" stance even after Bolding released his personnel file to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporters.

In it was a letter that cited the reasons for Bolding's firing. The reasons will be heavily contested by Couch.

However, the school district's case will be strong with attorney Jay Bequette, a very smart attorney who knows the workings of schools and districts inside and out.

Bequette is a former offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but today his size would make you think more of a power forward. His son Jake Bequette signed with the New England Patriots after graduating from the UA. In addition, Bequette's dad and brother played for the Hogs.

But as tough as he was as a football player, Jay Bequette has proven to be even tougher as a litigator.

Couch filed Bolding's letter to appeal the firing last week, and a public hearing in front of the school board is scheduled for Feb. 26, with the request that it be held at a larger than normal venue because a crowd is expected.

That might be an understatement. Not only will this newspaper and every television and radio station be there, so will a lot of concerned parents.

Some are afraid the forfeiture of football games and a boys basketball state championship was a knee-jerk reaction to bolster the district's firing of Bolding.

Others are concerned about leadership, and no doubt others will be supportive.

One of the many well-researched and well-written stories produced by this newspaper -- with reporters Chad Day and Jeremy Muck on the lead -- cited that no new firing offenses can be presented at the hearing.

It said that the school district's letter of termination will stand on its on merit. So any other facts, as well as rumors or innuendo, will not be tolerated.

Growing out of the once very well-kept secret of Bolding's firing to leading newscasts and warranting Page 1A coverage has been the sense that a lot of what started all this was a battle of what too many men -- especially in athletics -- are cursed with: Large egos.

It appears NLR Athletic Director Gary Davis and Bolding were not on the best of terms and that complaints between them had even resulted in redrawing some of the plans for the new sports complex being built.

Davis has been a coach and a teacher, and now AD, for 33 years in North Little Rock.

Bolding has been the successful head football coach, a job Davis applied for when Bolding was hired (Davis was an assistant football coach under Bolding until getting the AD job).

Two men, two egos.

Surely by next Thursday when the North Little Rock School Board meets, it will be completely prepared. That's the job they were elected to do so the right decisions can be made.

Sports on 02/18/2015

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