This is the weakest schedule for STA in many, many years.
Coach Madden moved the Marlington game to week #3 (good move imo), Elyria Catholic joined a new league and, Warren JFK & Benedictine joined the NCL.
This season Alliance was lost by moving Marlington, Kenmore was lost b/c the City Series schedule rotated, and Cleveland Central wouldn't/couldn't renew.
Not so easy trying to schedule as a DV independent.
Agree. What I still can't figure out is how STA only won 6 games last year with so many starters coming back on both sides of the ball from the prior year when they won 5 games against a much tougher schedule (Ursuline, Elyria Catholic, Warren JFK and Benedictine).
I think they won 7 games and made the playoffs. People are never happy.
New coaching staff and transition. Maybe Madden would have won another game, but geez they got the result. STATE PLAYOFFS. Certainly weren't as good as the top of Region 17.
When you have as much coming back as STA does you can't worry about the schedule... We will be just as talented as every team on the schedule this year. If they win 8+ games the computer point won't matter.
The things they need to worry about is getting Anthony Moeglin ready to play QB, teaching Wilkins how to hold on to the ball and figuring out how to not let Nick Blower run for 300+ yards next time they play.
I don't think the Knights have as much coming back as you think. There are good athletes, but the best FOOTBALL players graduated. They are overloaded at some positions and really thin/inexperienced at others.
What about chemistry? And you forgot to mention how player and parent egos can ruin a good thing at Aquinas. Just ask Coach Madden.
Last year was their best shot at the playoffs mark my word. No QB, WR, DB, team chemistry. Better mix of guys in 2011.
I don't think the Knights have as much coming back as you think. There are good athletes, but the best FOOTBALL players graduated. They are overloaded at some positions and really thin/inexperienced at others.
What about chemistry? And you forgot to mention how player and parent egos can ruin a good thing at Aquinas. Just ask Coach Madden.
Last year was their best shot at the playoffs mark my word. No QB, WR, DB, team chemistry. Better mix of guys in 2011.
I disagree with most of what you wrote. I really do not know what you are basing your opinion (and that is all it is) off of. They return a lot this year with a very, very strong senior class. Aquinas will be fine at WR and DB. The QB is the only big question mark. Aquinas will be at least as good this year as they were last year.
I disagree with most of what you wrote. I really do not know what you are basing your opinion (and that is all it is) off of. They return a lot this year with a very, very strong senior class. Aquinas will be fine at WR and DB. The QB is the only big question mark. Aquinas will be at least as good this year as they were last year.
Isn't everything on here people's opinions. BigKnight's opinion is as valid as your's or mine.
I think it is everyone's opinion that next year's seniors are a very strong class. I saw them play a couple times as freshmen and was very impressed. I remember Coach Madden saying that he thought that class would get to the playoffs twice during their four years. They've now made it once. With an even weaker schedule than last year and several of them being three year starters, I expect a return next year.
I believe the Knights will have a difficult time replacing Verduce, Kreinbrink and Dempsey. They do get rid of their turnover-prone QB, which is a plus.
I think Ursuline will be back in the playoffs this year. Last year might have been the Knights best chance at another State championship.
Im excited to see Joel Rich for his senior year. He really started to impress me toward the end of the season, especially against that other catholic school when he was getting triple teamed on almost every play after dominating the 1st half. Hopefully we can get him some more touches on offense. Kids a freak
Isn't everything on here people's opinions. BigKnight's opinion is as valid as your's or mine.
I think it is everyone's opinion that next year's seniors are a very strong class. I saw them play a couple times as freshmen and was very impressed. I remember Coach Madden saying that he thought that class would get to the playoffs twice during their four years. They've now made it once. With an even weaker schedule than last year and several of them being three year starters, I expect a return next year.
I believe the Knights will have a difficult time replacing Verduce, Kreinbrink and Dempsey. They do get rid of their turnover-prone QB, which is a plus.
I think Ursuline will be back in the playoffs this year. Last year might have been the Knights best chance at another State championship.
After watching Crestview, Kirtland, & Coldwater, I can tell you the Knights had NO CHANCE at winning the state championship last year.
The QB might have turned the ball over, but its never a plus to go into a season - supposedly a "great" season - with a rookie QB
Go ahead and mock me now. I think the Knights are a 6-4 to 7-3 ball club. But, people like mmmbad97 saying that anything but 8+ wins is unacceptable isn't seeing the whole picture.
This senior class has good numbers & talent. But better than Minerva, Marlington, NW? There is so much jealousy in that class. When I would stand on the fence or sit in the stands I was embarrassed to be Catholic by the way some of the parents in that class carried on. Constant bashing of the coaches & demanding that THEIR kid got the ball more. After the NW game, on the way down to the locker room ,one parent in particular was telling two of the players (in the "great" senior class to be) to quit before the Central game b/c they didn't get enough touches.
Aquinas had a good coach in Madden and appear to have another good coach in Bud, but how long till he gets run out. 6-4? 7-3? Ok, look for a new coach?
After watching Crestview, Kirtland, & Coldwater, I can tell you the Knights had NO CHANCE at winning the state championship last year.
The QB might have turned the ball over, but its never a plus to go into a season - supposedly a "great" season - with a rookie QB
Yeah those teams were great.
As far as STA having no DB's; They return both corners! Tortora and Moore. Two corners that played a huge role in shutting down the Northwest passing game that was unreal. As far as WR goes, how many good receivers did Kirtland and Crestview have?! Oh wait... THEY DIDN'T THROW THE BALL! STA returns 3 OL, 2 TE, FB, 2 TB..... I don't think they are going to be throwing the ball a whole lot.
Go ahead and mock me now. I think the Knights are a 6-4 to 7-3 ball club. But, people like mmmbad97 saying that anything but 8+ wins is unacceptable isn't seeing the whole picture.
This senior class has good numbers & talent. But better than Minerva, Marlington, NW? There is so much jealousy in that class. When I would stand on the fence or sit in the stands I was embarrassed to be Catholic by the way some of the parents in that class carried on. Constant bashing of the coaches & demanding that THEIR kid got the ball more. After the NW game, on the way down to the locker room ,one parent in particular was telling two of the players (in the "great" senior class to be) to quit before the Central game b/c they didn't get enough touches.
Aquinas had a good coach in Madden and appear to have another good coach in Bud, but how long till he gets run out. 6-4? 7-3? Ok, look for a new coach?
A good coach in Madden that lost many more games than he won and took the program from 65 players 9-12 to 35 players in 2 years. STA will beat Minerva and NW this year.
Bob Madden had a major problem...he didn't have any personal skills...couldn't inspire the players and didn't sell the program to potential student-athletes.
Numbers were way down and Madden didn't do anything to stop it. If he had been coach last year (2011 season), STA doesn't make the playoffs because some of the players wouldn't have gone out for the team.
Budd made the playoffs and is an Aquinas alum. Unless he had a major scandal or something (unlikely), I think he's at STA as long as he wants to be.
Finally I've never heard about any of these alleged problems with this upcoming senior class....none. They are a close-knit and talented class. Your statements are hogwash...
I am so sick of you people blaming Madden for the decreased numbers in the program!! The recession hit Aquinas HARD and the enrollment fell to all-time lows. They will be D 6 in 2013. Madden had 10 freshman his last year and Budd had 10 last year. SAME! As a mater of fact, Budd lost the big OL from St. Paul to McKinley last year. Madden would have had more kids! When Budd only gets 10 freshman this year too will you stop already???????
I have no problem admitting I supported the guy 110% and thought he did a great job restoring discipline, work ethic, and Christian values to the program.
Most of you who supported Coach Budd ripped him in posts last year until Aquinas got lucky and made the playoffs. You people change like the wind. 6-4 next year and you'll want a new coach.
Last edited by The Big Knight : 03-12-12 at 04:57 AM.
Reason: forgot a point
Bob Madden had a major problem...he didn't have any personal skills...couldn't inspire the players and didn't sell the program to potential student-athletes.
Numbers were way down and Madden didn't do anything to stop it. If he had been coach last year (2011 season), STA doesn't make the playoffs because some of the players wouldn't have gone out for the team.
Budd made the playoffs and is an Aquinas alum. Unless he had a major scandal or something (unlikely), I think he's at STA as long as he wants to be.
Finally I've never heard about any of these alleged problems with this upcoming senior class....none. They are a close-knit and talented class. Your statements are hogwash...
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No problems with the senior class to be???? Are you kidding???? Didn't a certain running back quit the team for a week last year before facing Minerva because he didn't get enough touches. I had to hear his parents bash the coaches all year from the stands. Go ask Coach Budd about that classes lack of attendance at mandatory camps and weight lifting last summer. You'll see soon enough..............
No problems with the senior class to be???? Are you kidding???? Didn't a certain running back quit the team for a week last year before facing Minerva because he didn't get enough touches. I had to hear his parents bash the coaches all year from the stands. Go ask Coach Budd about that classes lack of attendance at mandatory camps and weight lifting last summer. You'll see soon enough..............
Well reportedly almost every returning player has been in the weightroom this winter....so not sure they are having problems. And if there was a lack of attendance it was because, almost to a man, they disliked Madden and many of them were considering not going out for the team if he was back.
You must be Madden...nothing was ever his fault....he was just the victim of a bad economy...blah, blah, blah. I met the guy at function like golf outings and the pig roast...he could hardly talk to alums and other adults. No personality and an overall attitude that nothing mattered except coaching (no team building, no recruiting in local Catholic feeders, no working to get other kids at STA to come out for football, etc.).
Coach Budd just got on the job last spring so the freshman numbers last year had nothing to do with him...it was too late to do anything about it. I highly doubt they only have 10 freshman players this year. I guess we'll see.
I'm critical of the Knights when it's warranted....you seem to just be critical or have an ax to grind....if you don't want STA to succeed and if you don't want to focus on some of the positives and look forward to watching a talented team this fall, then please don't...we don't need anymore negativity.
And Budd didn't "luck" into the playoffs last year....they pounded two good teams in the last 3 weeks of the year (Cleveland and Canton Central Catholic)...that's where they got the points to get in. Did he also "luck" into a dominating win over the #2 seed in the Region?
What's really amazing is that the Knights played tough against a strong schedule even though (as you say), many of them weren't even committed to the off-season weight lifting and workouts last offseason. I'm excited to see what they can do when they're committed this year.
Does anyone have info on numbers for the incoming freshman class?
Don't know about football numbers in the incoming freshman class, but word is that overall the freshman class in the fall should be a significant increase over last year's freshman class (which was just about an all-time low number for STA).
I would guess the number of football players in the freshman class would be decent...you would think there will be a bounce the next couple of years from last years playoff run and all the local press coverage they got. STA could be getting a closer look from many 7th and 8th graders (and their parents) who weren't considering it before.
Also, 3 wins in a row over Central Catholic helps too with local Catholic feeder school kids on the fence between CCC and STA (that still happens at some of the feeders centrally-located in the county like OLOP, St. Paul's and St. Pete's).
Success on the field does wonders sometimes...now kids know they can play for a coach who can win, go to the playoffs, beat Central Catholic, etc.
I am so sick of you people blaming Madden for the decreased numbers in the program!! The recession hit Aquinas HARD and the enrollment fell to all-time lows. They will be D 6 in 2013. Madden had 10 freshman his last year and Budd had 10 last year. SAME! As a mater of fact, Budd lost the big OL from St. Paul to McKinley last year. Madden would have had more kids! When Budd only gets 10 freshman this year too will you stop already???????
Big Knight you obviously have an ax to grind for whatever reason. But you may want to get your facts correct. Budd had more than 10 freshman last year. I believe 12 and the number of boys in the 2011 freshman class was less than the 2010 class. Madden had only 9 in 2010 and the overall 2010 freshman class had about the same number of boys as the 2009 and 2008 freshman classes. The huge drop in the number of boys playing football had a lot to do with Madden. Whether you are a disgruntled parent or not, I have no idea, but you are way off on things and don't even have basic facts correct.
FYI: The one BIG reason there is a QB question this year is because of Madden. He completely failed to develop any QBs at the JV level. I watched week after week where he would just stick in a WR or someone else in JV games who didn't want to play QB just to fill the position for the JV games. I think we may be alright at QB this year anyway but time will tell. As I already said, Aquinas should be at least as good this year as last year and may very well be better and from what I heard there are likely some very good football players coming to Aquinas in the next couple years.
I have know idea what miner a returns, marlington will be dymonte thomas show, northwest is pretty loaded coming back.
Minerva should be tough, they return 90% of their secondary. Skilled offense positions will be as good as last year, the only question mark will be the O and D line. 1 starter returning, have big kids to fill those spots just going to be a matter of experience. I foresee STA and Minerva game being a great one as usual. Both teams match well against each other.
If rumors out of North Canton are true, you are getting an out and out STUD who will be a freshman next year. I would guess he would start as a freshman, although I don't know what you have coming back.
The kid will be a great player but lets not say he will start as he walks in the door. Hes a beast in the weight room but has still yet to put pads on as a knight.
Did they start or just get playing time, he initially said started. Did Matt Bing, Kendal Washington or Dennis Underwood play as freshman? I thought there were some that had some playing time as freshman, I just couldn't think of any that started.
Dennis Underwood did play as a freshman but he was a sophmore in age. He was not allowed to play his senior year because he turned 19 before the first day of school. Kandal did not play varsity as a freshman as he was strictly freshman and jv.
Isn't everything on here people's opinions. BigKnight's opinion is as valid as your's or mine.
I think it is everyone's opinion that next year's seniors are a very strong class. I saw them play a couple times as freshmen and was very impressed. I remember Coach Madden saying that he thought that class would get to the playoffs twice during their four years. They've now made it once. With an even weaker schedule than last year and several of them being three year starters, I expect a return next year.
I believe the Knights will have a difficult time replacing Verduce, Kreinbrink and Dempsey. They do get rid of their turnover-prone QB, which is a plus.
I think Ursuline will be back in the playoffs this year. Last year might have been the Knights best chance at another State championship.
Krein and Verduce will be greatly missed. Great experience and the cornerstone of last years offensive line. Need young lineman such as Alex Guht, James Laisure, and Adam Tesch to continue to grow from last year.
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