Freeman’s “resignation” was just what CdM ordered

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Dick Freeman, who took over the Corona del Mar football programin 1995 under trying circumstances, was fired last month. However, the school said something different.

According to an interview with Steve Fryer, Freeman was forced out, and parental pressure played a significant role.

If that’s the case, it’s unfortunate. There are many things that go into a successful program. Whether Freeman minded all his Ps and Qs and Xs and Os, I don’t know. But if complaints such as ‘Matt Barkley went to Mater Dei instead of CdM’ were contributing factors, then shame on school officials. Unless, of course, the feeling is that Freeman didn’t recruit hard enough -- which is a whole other issue.

And, too, shame on school officials for not reaching this conclusion for themselves. If they needed the parents to bring to light that Freeman wasn’t the right man for the job after 13 seasons, maybe administrators weren’t minding the store as closely as they should have. If they didn’t find fault with Freeman, then they probably should have stood by him. After all, he has been with the school for more than 20 years.

When CdM does get around to hiring his replacement, the Sea Kings may well land the right man. A few seasons down the road, by way of comparison, it will be interesting to learn whether Freeman was the wrong man. Or a scapegoat.

But read Athletic Director Paul Orris’ quotes in this story, and compare them to what Freeman said in the Fryer article. The school’s company line at the time of the dismissal doesn’t look very forthright, does it?

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.nmusd.us