FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Knightstalker]

From the article that I read on this, it would appear that there are some sour grapes.  It seems that the defending league champions wanted him on their team and he chose another team.  It also appears that the sponser of the spurned team is also a league official.

I never played organized football until my freshman year in HS.  I was always taller and heavier than the kids my age and would have had to play against kids 2 or 3 years older than me.  My parents wouldn't let me because even though I was their size I was not physically mature enough to compete with them.

[b4uknewit]

SaintsFAN-- I think they were more pissed about me eating 13 tacos within the 24 hours of surgery!  I don't know what drugs were incorporated in the IV but I'm confident the type you mention were included. It was my answer to their question of my diet prior that made for some interesting comments/sparks    Any updates on the Purple O'Line +or-  would be nice!  Any detailed nuggets Ric?

[HScoach]

Albeit a rare occurrence, the velocity of this kid's pitches may create primarily or exclusively a safety issue. If so, have him play against suitably quicker and presumably older kids.

That's pure BS. 

If safety was the primary reason for everything that's done in youth baseball, then they shouldn't be allowed to use aluminum bats and they should be playing with RIF-5 balls. 

[Blutarsky]

From the article that I read on this, it would appear that there are some sour grapes.  It seems that the defending league champions wanted him on their team and he chose another team.  It also appears that the sponser of the spurned team is also a league official.

I never played organized football until my freshman year in HS.  I was always taller and heavier than the kids my age and would have had to play against kids 2 or 3 years older than me.  My parents wouldn't let me because even though I was their size I was not physically mature enough to compete with them.

Sounds like everything was OK until the parents got involved......typical.  Maybe the best bet is to let the kids go off and play some sandlot ball without uniforms, helmets, catcher's gear, and sponsors??  Perhaps with a ball signed by "Babe Ruth"??

[HScoach]

FYI, the 2008 Pick-Em's will be posted within the next day or so.

[purpled]

Updated: August 26, 2008, 11:24 AM EST 2537 comments add this RSS blog email print NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.


Parents of some opposing players say Jericho Scott's 40 mph fastball is too intimidating. (Douglas Healey / Associated Press)
The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.

But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.

"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."

Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.

Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.

"I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner."


League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.

"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."

Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.

"Facing that kind of speed" is frightening for beginning players, Noble said.

League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.

League officials say Jericho's mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down.

"I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho's mother exhibited Wednesday night," Noble said.

Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police.

League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.

Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho's parents Monday to discuss legal options.

"You don't have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it's wrong," he said. "Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?"

[purple]

 WTF does some nine year old pitcher have to do with D3 football?

[runyr]

FYI, the 2008 Pick-Em's will be posted within the next day or so.

Aaaahhhhhh...Pick-Ems!  8)

[section13raiderfan]

There was a comment that Nate Kmic cannot do his own blocking. Good point! After seeing the scrimmage and taking into account Terrance Morring is out for the season,  one of my concerns is that there really is no fullback available to block. There are good running backs to line up with Nate in the backfield, but not really a big bodied lead blocker. We better convert a guard to lead the charge in goal line situations. Im not knocking anybodies effort or abilities.....but in the Stagg Bowl last year I thought we missed Morrings blocking on the goal line stand where Nate got tackled just shy of the endzone.

KMIC FOR HEISMAN

[JK]

Pick-em's...

Great!  Another year of mediocrity awaits me.

[reality check]

Former NFL'er and player for that team up north, Tyrone Wheatley, will be coaching running backs at ONU this fall. 

No it's not a joke.  You can read about it at ONUsports.com.

Neat to have someone with the pedigree of Wheatley.  Only bad part is that he's a former Wolverine.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

RE: Wheatley

A former HS Teammate of mine went on to play LB at U of Indiana (Al Thurman).  He once told me that Tyrone Wheatley was the only RB who ever ran him over.

[HScoach]

Section13:

Justin Lutz has moved from LB to FB to fill the role of blocking back.    Not sure how he'll do after 2 years playing at LB, but he has the size needed going 6'0", 230 lbs.

[HScoach]

From the OAC Pick-Em page: 


Welcome to the 2008 OAC Pick-Em contest.  As always, this is open
to anyone.  Whether you're a regular of the OAC page or not. 

We pick all the OAC games, plus a few national games of interest between ranked teams.  OAC games are worth 2 points, national and non-conference games are worth 1 point. 

All games are picked with spreads. 

I'll be posting the spreads on the Sunday nights for that week's games.  If at all possible, I'd like the picks from the participants in by Friday at noon.  Worst case is Saturday at noon (Eastern time).  No exceptions on the Saturday noon deadline.

When posting the picks, please be clear who you're picking.  Most of us get a little "creative" when posting the picks, but try to make it clear enough that the old guy (me) can understand it.  One thing that doesn't work is the "shading" or "coloring" of the teams.  "Bolding" is fine, but the other stuff doesn't print well enough to distinguish.

The week's results are typically posted on Saturday night.  Sunday at the latest.

Last few years we've had around 30+ folks playing and had a blast doing so.  Please join us!

The games and spreads for Week 1 will be posted shortly. 

[Shark]

Updated: August 26, 2008, 11:24 AM EST 2537
League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.

A league attorney for youth baseball You've got to be kidding me! This is pitiful!