HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Touchy subject works way into Curbstone talk

Coaches Paul Hulea and Thom McDaniels were guests of the sports-oriented organization.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Talking about parochial schools is always a touchy subject for public school coaches, so when Poland coach Paul Hulea was asked if parochial schools have an advantage over public schools, he did the smart thing.
Hulea told Warren Harding coach Thom McDaniels, "You go ahead with this one."
McDaniels accepted the handoff while speaking to the Curbstone Coaches Monday.
"To some extent, yeah," McDaniels said. "And there are a few people out there who take certain liberties.
"But like with Chuck Kyle at St. Ignatius, they have the advantage in that their program attracts kids. It's not because they cheat or recruit illegally."
Public schools with open enrollment used to have similar advantages, McDaniels said, but that changed last August when the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled that students must sit out a year unless they move into the new district.
"There's not too many kids willing to do that," said McDaniels, who benefited from the earlier rules when running back Maurice Clarett transferred from Fitch to Harding without changing residency.
Hulea's view: "Advantage is a relative term," Hulea said. "Certainly the school districts [for parochial schools] are larger, but the kids aren't all that different. It's when you get to the second or third level players that they're better."
Both coaches went 11-2 this season and both lost in the regional final to eventual state champions: Mentor Lake Catholic in Division III and Cleveland St. Ignatius in Div. I.
"Not every good team is a team you can enjoy," McDaniels said. "This team was not just good on the field, but off the field."
One of the reasons McDaniels was hired two years ago was to help Harding players improve academically. The Raiders had a 2.904 team grade point average this season and 36 players had a 3.0 or better.
"We have a morning study table, and if you get below a 3.0, you're going to be at that study table," McDaniels said.
Hulea, who has been at Poland since 1997, was asked if he has considered becoming a college coach.
"Every head coach wants to coach at a place like Ohio State or Notre Dame, and if he says he doesn't, he's lying," Hulea said. "I sent my resume in to Notre Dame and it was all truth. Maybe I should have lied on it."
George O'Leary resigned as Irish coach one week after being hired for falsifying his resume. Hulea won't get the Irish job, but he didn't rule out coaching in college some day.
"I'm lucky enough right now to be in a great situation with a great staff and a great administration," Hulea said. "But down the line, who knows?"
scalzo@vindy.com