Langley Football

Another season of Langley Mustangs football is about to begin. There hasn’t been anything to be proud about recently regarding the football team, but with 2nd year coach Ken Wright at the helm, let’s hope things are about to change.

I can’t remember the last time Langley made the playoffs. I know back in the late 80’s there were a few good years, but after that what happened to the program? I have a few opinions, that are by no means accurate facts, but just guesses on my part.

1. There seems to be no sense of community support, therefore, no interest in playing for the team by students. There are some very good athletes in the district that just don’t really care whether they play or not. I think if the community supported the team a little, the kids might WANT to play football. When was the last time you walked or drove through Elliott and seen “Go Mustangs” banners or signs hanging in businesses? This lack of support could be the fact that all games are played at “Cupples Stadium” on the Southside as opposed to having Home games at Langley field where people leave their houses and walk to the games. Or it could be that most of the athletes in the Elliott, Sheraden, and Crafton Heights area are going to other schools. How can we have community support if you live on a street with 5 kids that play football and they play for 5 different schools? This brings me to my 2nd point.

2. Perry Traditional Academy. Ever since students were able to choose their magnet programs and which city schools they wanted to attend, it seems that Perry has been close to the top if not the champions ever since. I won’t say that Perry is recruiting athletes to play for them, but it seems like many decent student athletes end up there while they live in other districts. If I were making the rules, you would go there for academic reasons, but still play sports for your “neighborhood” school. I may be completely wrong. Maybe Perry just has the best coaches and they prepare better which is very possible.

3. Lack of Feeder Programs. I don’t remember Elliott ever having a youth football program, but there was always the Sheraden Bulldogs that kids can play for. I’m not even sure if that’s still around and I don’t know why there weren’t more. There is a youth football program that I know nothing about that plays on Windgap field. This could be an option, but it seems like it is geared toward the younger players, not the pre-high school or middle school students. If anyone knows more about that program, please emial me or leave a comment and I will get the word out. I know Crafton has a program that the city youth can be a part of, but how many city residents know that. On top of that, according to this article, The Crafton “Little Cougars” are having problems of their own. Why can’t we have the “West End Little Mustangs”. Kids from Elliott, Sheraden, Westwood, Crafton Heights, etc could all be part of the league.

These are just a few of my ideas of why Langley Football is as bad as it is. It may not be any of these reasons, it may be a combination of all three. Either way you look at it, I hope their fortunes turn around soon and win back some of the high school football fans that reside on this side of the city.

According to this article in Today’s Post-Gazette, the future may be looking a little bit brighter.

PG West: Langley out to end losing ways in City League
Thursday, August 21, 2008

By Brad Everett, Tri-State Sports & News Service

Entering his second season at the helm of a program which has long been considered the City League's doormat, Langley coach Ken Wright believes that honesty is the first step in getting his players to buy into the fact their fortunes can indeed reverse their course.

Read the rest of this article HERE.