FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[kickerdad]

I heard Tony DeRiggi, the MLB in question performed really well at the Mount Union Pro Day. That is all I know.

I am glad to hear that. I first saw Tony when Mt. came to play Averett year before last and he was very impressive, not only with his size but his agility and power. I was privileged to watch him again last year when Averett came to Alliance. And I saw him on TV in the Stagg Bowl. Seemed a little confused at times during the Stagg Bowl but still had the agility and power that I feel could be developed in the pros. I wish him well and the same with the wide receiver from Mount. He was extremely impressive year before last. A little high strung but appears to be ready for the next step. He nor DeRiggi are any worse than some D1 players we have all seen go to the pros and crap out. Congrats to the coach at Mount for producing these guys. I am sure he was just as much a part of their success as anything

[SaintsFAN]

Back further, in the early 1970s, Gerry Faust had former players running similar programs (Tomahawks football (?)) in the intermediate feeders to Archbishop Moeller.  Only recall because a friend was one of those coaches before his day job moved him to Detroit metro in 1978.

Thats what they need to sustain success.

I remember going to Sacred Heart (one of 6 feeder schools for Hamilton Badin HS) and we ran the same offense and defense from 5th grade on....they had the same since the 1950s under our Head Coach... 

I think he had a little success...at the High School Level

Badin has fallen on hard times since Malone retired....you can contribute part of that to the grade school system falling apart... and schools having to merge bc of #'s.

[JK]

I think what is hurting Badin in particular and several of the smaller Catholic HS's in general is that they have no combined Junior High level programs.  Kids go to Catholic grade schools from K-8. 

Using Badin as an example, they have 10 "feeder" Catholic grade schools in St. Ann, St. Julie, Queen of Peace, St Pete's, St. Johns, St. Bart's, Mother Theresa, St Joe's, and Sacred Heart.  Each one of those schools has a team in the youth leagues all the way through 8th grade.  It's great that those kids learn systems in elementary school, all the way through 6th grade.  But, then, they need to start playing together and getting more advanced.  In most public schools, 10 elementaries would go to 2 or 3 Jr. Highs or middle schools.  Those middle schools have coaches on the "staff" of the high school, not volunteers like at the catholic elementaries.  This allows coaches to start implementing more things kids will be seeing in the next couple of years at the HS level.  Badin is now having to do this at the Freshman level.  This is compounded by the fact that Hamilton is dying and a lot of parents, though they send their kids to a Badin "feeder" elementary, end up sending their kids to a LaSalle or Moeller when they get to HS age, or even to West Chester Lakota public schools (arguably better academically than private schools like Badin).  This has caused a drop in numbers at Badin and they are keeping freshmen on the Varsity roster, limiting opportunities for competition against other freshmen teams.

My father-in -law's brother is going through this exact same problem right now in a different sport.  My wife's youngest cousin is a very good girl's basketball player in the 7th grade at a Badin feeder school (st. Ann's).  The Hamilton CYO has 6,7, &8th graders on the "senior" teams from each elementary.  Those Jr. High level kids need to be playing other Jr high level kids from other schools to get better, not 6,7,&8th graders from the other feeder schools.

It helps to be a bigger Catholic school right now and be able to (ahem) recruit, but the smaller schools like Badin, Roger Bacon, and even St. Thomas Aquinas in the Alliance area are struggling with the same problems mentioned above.

[section13raiderfan]

Having all the football programs in a school district running the same offense can backfire too. Especially if you were the featured athlete and the coach changes as you enter highshool with the attitude that whatever you did in the past does not matter. Also if your offense never changes, then defenses will have no real surprises to prepare for. Especially if you are league rivals and see it every year. I remember a kid from Perry HS with great hands leaving the program simply because the Wing T didnt utilize his skills. And the coach told him the offense wouldnt be changing to suit anyones specialities. Thats football! Personally, I believe that offenses have to be adjusted to suit the given talents you encounter year to year. That does take a lot of work though.from the head coaches. Then there is the kid who dominates the position all through the feeder program and then loses interest in football when he gets to highschool, or else doesnt get the required grades. Then you are back to playing a less experienced player when it counts the most. What are you gonna do?

[seventiesraider]

But when your down by a few points with seconds to go and coach calls a Wildcat Left, there's not a doubt in that huddle what each person's assignment is. I don't care if the guys in the last row of the stands know what the play is going to be, you run it right, you hit your blocks, your run your routes, it's going to work.

Sorry Section13, somehow no matter how many ways I read your comment about a kid losing interest it doesn't make that much sense to me. Very often the kid who dominates the position through youth ball doesn't mature in the right ways to play the position in high school, but he still knows the play even if the backup wide reciever is now the running back because he put on 90 pounds.

No one is saying that the offense doesn't change each season, but that there is core philosphy, a body of work, that everything comes from. You can get as fancy as you want becuase the vast majority of the kids already know the core playbook. In today's schools, there is enough competition for kids time without trying to find time to teach to teach them all new offensive sets.

[SaintsFAN]

JK,

You're starting to see a little bit of the Middle School mentality develop in the feeder schools in Butler County.  Many are in talks, or ARE combining schools to create new schools....I know Sacred Heart and St. Ann's are in talks about this right now. 

This isn't new to Catholic Schools, they've been combining TEAMS, but the schools is a different matter. 

[seventiesraider]

As a father and a track coach, I was floored by the news on my clock radio this morning that a West Branch student collapsed and died after running his leg of a relay race. His family, coaches and teammates are in my prayers. Clearly JK, your dad is in my prayers as well.

[JK]

No one is saying that the offense doesn't change each season, but that there is core philosphy, a body of work, that everything comes from. You can get as fancy as you want becuase the vast majority of the kids already know the core playbook. In today's schools, there is enough competition for kids time without trying to find time to teach to teach them all new offensive sets.

Exactly.  The offense adapts each year to the talent it has, but the core philosophy and the base plays and base defensive formation remains the same.

[JK]

As a father and a track coach, I was floored by the news on my clock radio this morning that a West Branch student collapsed and died after running his leg of a relay race. His family, coaches and teammates are in my prayers. Clearly JK, your dad is in my prayers as well.

Thanks seventies...

My God!  I'm trying to get ahold of my dad right now to get some info.  I had no idea until I saw a 5 second clip on the news this morning and then read this.

[Shark]

Here is a link from the Alliance Review on this tragic incident

http://www.the-review.com/news/article/3638371

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Johnson family. I can't imagine being at your child's sporting event and have this happen.

[JK]

Thanks for the link, Shark.  I had just copied it and was going to post it as well.

Just talked to my Dad, got some clarity from what was in the article:

Apprently the young man (Ryan Johnson) ran the first leg of the 4x800, not the anchor leg.  He came off the track, the coaches went over to give him his split time, and he collapsed.  Both coaches, the HC (Tracey) and her husband the assistant coach had CPR certifications and began CPR almost immediately.  WBHS has a portable defibrillator as well, and the training staff attempted to use that, to no avail.  The EMS was on scene in minutes and got him to Alliance community as quickly as possible.  THe doctors were ready to recieve him as soon as he got there and immediately began work, but they couldn't revive him.  He was pronounced dead at 7:10pm last night.

Ryan's dad was helping out at the meet as a timer, and his mom and sister were in the stands watching.  THey were all by his side the whole time.

IN addition to running track as a Frosh, Soph, and Jr, Ryan also ran cross country all three years as well.  Dad said he talked to him in school that day and he seemed fine.  THe coaches and his friends said they saw no signs of anything being wrong.  The coaches also said that he just dropped.  No convulsions, no stuttering in speech, no glassy eyes, nothing.  He has fine one second and dead the next.

Cause of death is still TBD, pending autopsy.

[SaintsFAN]

Thats scary....how one can be fine one minute and dead the next.

My prayers go out to his family.

[seventiesraider]

It's really scary when your job is pushing kids to perform beyond what they think they can do. It won't change anything I do, other than to push conditioning a little bit more. (And yell a little bit less)

[theaprof]

Thoughts for all from here as well.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Stan Watson is now listed on the BGSU Website as a Defensive Assistant Coach:

Stan Watson