The Departed

FAHR SAYS GOODBYE, LEAVES SIDELINES AT SEAHOLM AFTER SIX SEASONS

He knew the stakes were sky high when practice started three months ago. He understood the dire consequences involved, what was in the balance if he didn't guide his team back to the promise land on the football field this season.

Unfortunately fate was unkind to sixth-year Birmingham Seaholm head football coach Chris Fahr, whose team started hot out of the gate with three straight wins to open the 2010 campaign, but faltered late losing five of its last six to finish 4-5 overall and out of the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. As a result and in a situation that came to no surprise to him nor prep watchers around the area, Fahr found himself on the hot seat, dealing with an angry fan base accustomed to the Maples being one of the most-winning suburban football programs in Metro Detroit. Sadly, the outcome was inevitable.

On Thursday afternoon in the Seaholm lockeroom, Fahr gave a heartfelt and emotional farewell speech to his team and a handful of close friends, resigning his post as head coach of the Maples football squad effective immediately.

Fahr's career on the Seaholm sidelines was very successful right off the bat, as the Maples went 8-3 and claimed both an OAA league title and a win in the first round of the playoffs in his first year at the helm in 2005. However, after back-to-back 5-4 records and dips below the .500 mark the past three seasons, his regime became increasingly shaky.

Off the gridiron, Fahr should be commended for his excellent mentorship of his players over the years, and the fact that he even went so far as to welcome one of his more down-and-out players, UofM-bound Shawn Conway, into his own home the last six months, making him part of his family and getting a judge to declare him Conway's legal guardian. I have no doubt that Coach Fahr, a strong-minded and resilient man, will land on his feet somewhere else in the coaching world very soon. Burney personally wishes DA COACH the best of luck in all his future endeavors!!!! 

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