FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[e h dad]

EHCWASP00,

I really believe you and I are getting into semantics at this point in time. I've seen plenty of football players that started out as freshman that had the desire to play football, but they did not know how to channel that desire into intensity. Two people that come to mind are Mike Singletary of the Bears and Ray Lewis of the Ravens. You could tell by Singletary's eyes that he was probably one of the most intense players to ever play the game. You're right. That could not be taught. He had both desire and intensity. He played with what I call "controlled rage". He always took it to the edge but never stepped over the line. On the flip side of the coin, when Ray Lewis came into the league, he was just plain crazy and had out of control rage. Now he's probably one of the most intense players to play the game and I'm absolutely positive that his coaches taught him how to play with intensity and self-control at the same time.  Intensity alone does not make a football player. Coaches take desire and mold that into intensity. And as far as the E&H players are concerned, you are right. They need to step up and maybe start paying more attention to their coaches. Of the eight turnovers last week, I guarantee you that the vast majority of them were mental mistakes. As far as Montgomery throwing five picks, I don't think that's possible because he's too short and played offensive guard in college LOL. Could it be possible that his quarterback had mental lapses and didn't make the right reads? Or is it possible that he was rushed and had to hurry to throw the ball because the offensive line wasn't doing their job? Granted, it may have been the players' fault for not doing their jobs. The coaches should have been acutely aware that they weren't and maybe put someone else that might have done the job.

I remember very distinctly you made the statement that people start pointing fingers at the coaches when the team starts to lose. This is really nothing new. I remember the last two seasons that Coach Wacker was at E&H when they went 4-6, there were people clamoring for his head. Granted, Coach Wacker left on his own terms and because he wanted. He was not forced out contrary to what a lot of people believe. There was a faction among the alumni and the Powers that Be that really wanted to see him replaced. Guess what? The grass is not always greener on the other side and E&H is still struggling. Is it the coaches, the players? I really don't know. But like Harry Truman said, "the buck stops here." and the coaches are going to be the first ones held accountable for winning or losing. You made the statement that Rome was not built overnight and it would take time to build a program. Give me a clue, is E&H on the five or ten-year plan? I don't know. Now going into the third season, the best we can hope for is a 6-4 record which I honestly believe will not be the case. Realistically speaking, I see us losing at least one of the next two games. Let me make this abundantly clear. I hope that I am completely wrong and we do finish 6-4. This does not make me anti-Mongomery, anti-players, or anti-E&H football.

You tell me what E&H has to do to improve and please don't use the old cliche that the players have to step up. Granted, I am more of a player advocate than a coach advocate.

Peace,
E&H Dad

[ehcwasp00]

E & H Dad - you make some very good points; like the turnovers - they probably were mental mistakes, and Coach M not being able to throw the picks b/c he was a lineman - now that is funny!!  Anyways, guess I am just more of a coach advocate - I really like Coach M and his staff - I feel like they have their heads and their hearts in this whole thing, which is why I am not worried at this point.  So, lets hope everybody comes out ready on Saturday, and they play like they are capable.........EHC 52 - obviously you and I disagree on some things, but we do agree on one thing - Emory should not have lost the last 3 games......so lets move on, and pull for the Wasps to finish strong with 2 wins - I think we all know they can do it!!!  GO WASPS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

[...] Emory should not have lost the last 3 games [...]

That would include the three-point loss to Bridgewater.

The Eagles had more first downs, more rushing yards, more passing yards, a better passing percentage, less turnovers, kicked the ball better (punting, kickoffs), and had the ball longer (time of possession).

You should have won that game?

[ehcwasp00]

Yeah I think we should have won - I didn't say anything degrading about B'water - I am just supporting my team.  I am pretty sure you (as a fan) would say that B'water should have won in '98 (Emory blocks FG to preserve win) and in '00 (Emory throws TD pass to win with little time left) - I am probably wrong about the years, just remember the endings.......if you said that those were games B'water should have won, I would say nothing - that is you supporting your team.....

[yellow jacket]

E&H fans:

Just to put things a little bit in perspective.  If this is Montgomery's 3rd year, not all is wrong.  Just remember, Macon in Coach Arruza's 3rd year went 2-8.  Granted, most losses were close (although some weren't).  There were people questioning Coach Arruza's motives and whether he was a good coach or not.  The 1st 2 years he had to weed out the weaknesses, the 3rd year was developing the players that were left, and now look at them.  7-1, playing for the ODAC championship.

Be happy with at least a 4 win season.  I would have last year.  Although a 10 year plan is inconceivable, a 4 year or 5 year plan may not be the worst happening.  It sucks for the current players, but we know that we only helped to build the future.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Yeah I think we should have won - I didn't say anything degrading about B'water - I am just supporting my team.  I am pretty sure you (as a fan) would say that B'water should have won in '98 (Emory blocks FG to preserve win) and in '00 (Emory throws TD pass to win with little time left) - I am probably wrong about the years, just remember the endings.......if you said that those were games B'water should have won, I would say nothing - that is you supporting your team.....

As a Bridgewater fan, I would (and think I did) say Bridgewater could have won the Hampden-Sydney game, and could have won the Washington & Lee game. But we shouldn't have won them. In both losses, we were beaten beyond what the scoreboard said.

I feel the same holds true for the E&H-BC game.

[marc]

I dont have a dog in the fight in this E&H thing but I know I've seen improvemnt over the last three years HSC has played them. Your average loss in 2005 was by 29.7 points. Average loss in 2006 was by 10 points. This year 5 points and if you throw out the Cathlolic game with 8 turnovers, its 3.3 points per game. You beat a team that is in contention to win this years championship and have a chance Saturday to beat last years champ.

[e h dad]

As Coach Rupp at UK once said when replying to a statement Cawood Ledford the voice of UK basketball for years once made. Ledford was interviewing Rupp after a very close loss."Coach its not rather you win or lose,its how you play the game".Rupp's reply was,"then why in hell do they keep score"?

The point I'm trying to make is no matter how close the loss.....a loss is still a loss at  the end of the season . Sometimes it hurts more to lose the close ones,i.e. BC by 3, then to be beat by 40. Next year fans will be looking at the win/loss record for E&H and not thinking about the total number of points they lost their games.

Would of,could of, should of, makes no difference when you losing.
Again I have all the respect in the world for Coach M and his staff. If college coaching was so easy everyone would be doing it. Not sitting back and playing Sunday morning QB like we enjoy doing.

E&H Dad

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Brace yourselves, Eagles fans...

http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=13104&CHID=3

[muchacho]

Thats a crappy way to end your career for Campo. Hopefully Highfill gets healthy and the other guys who will miss the rest of the season get things straightened out. Looks like Macon and Catholic might have lucked out a bit towards the end of the year.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Thats a crappy way to end your career for Campo. Hopefully Highfill gets healthy and the other guys who will miss the rest of the season get things straightened out. Looks like Macon and Catholic might have lucked out a bit towards the end of the year.

The bright side (for Eagle fans) is that we have some nice young talent at LB and DB, so our defensive losses won't set us back for our last two games. We won't be playing anyone that hasn't seen the field already this year ... we'll just be one LB (Campo) and DB (Little) short for the remainder of the season.

As far as Highfill, I have a feeling he'll play. Maybe not start, but he'll play. I hope Driskell can come in a play some good minutes, but I'd like to see Highfill finish out his great career with a bang!

[Jacketlawyer]

Brace yourselves, Eagles fans...

http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=13104&CHID=3

Awwww, dammit.  Sorry Matt.  No one likes to see this happen.

[Menowannalickee U.]

Deja vu.  Doesn't this happen every year??  A player mysteriously leaves the team for some reason at the end of the season in each of the past few years if memory serves me correctly.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Deja vu.  Doesn't this happen every year??  A player mysteriously leaves the team for some reason at the end of the season in each of the past few years if memory serves me correctly.

It doesn't happen every year, and I'm sure Bridgewater isn't the only school where this has occurred. There's going to be attrition on any Division III roster throughout a season for numerous reasons.

It does seem like we've had quite a few starters "leave the team" over the last couple years (R.Matthews and J.Knight come to mind). That'll, of course, get more press than the fifth string fullback doing the same.

I can assure you this has nothing to do with us losing and being out of ODAC and playoff contention. Our team is pretty focused and ready for tomorrow.

[CNU85]

Brace yourselves, Eagles fans...

http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=13104&CHID=3

Man, that sucks this time of year. But Clark is a good guy and coach....so someho it'll all come together!

See all you Stone Station guys and gals in the morning.