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.
I don't know why you seem to enjoy baiting STA fans and then criticizing STA ad naseum. Please create to a different screenname and join in discussions of your favorite team, as Aquinas is apparently not your favorite squad on the gridiron. You obviously have nothing but hate for Aquinas...it's amazing that you can be this critical of them when they're coming off a playoff season (first time in 23 years).
Our future discussions about STA football will be a lot more enjoyable, mature and interesting without your involvement.
Please go back to enjoying your retirement, Coach Madden...and start acting like a mature adult.
My prediction: If STA has a good season this fall, we won't see or hear from you (ala past STA haters on here that disappeared whenever the Knights were successful and winning such as Goldworth and others). But I'm sure you'll be the first to show up when they lose a game or when the season's over to criticize something.
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.
.
I had the opportunity to speak with Coach Madden a couple times at Freshman games a couple years back. He is not at all like you state. My wife was there the one time and I remember her telling me after he walked away that he seems like a very kind, caring man.
We talked some football, and he was particulary proud of the kids in the class of 2014. Did you even realize how much time he spent with those kids? He would pick kids up every day after school at their respective Catholic grade schools from December through May and bring them to Aquinas so they could lift and meet kids from the other grade schools. He would often take kids home who didn't have rides. He said he felt very close to that class in particular because of all the time he spent with them.
My daughter told me that he would come to the Catholic grade schools with Mrs. Dougherty the Admissions Director each year and go to all the class rooms to talk about Aquinas and the football camp. Sometimes he would brng players with him. He invited all the kids to his summer camps, even the girls. I know of no other Aquinas sports coach who did these things. I know some of those kids and can tell you for a fact that they liked Coach a lot.
I saw him at just about every grade school football game on Sundays. Grade school coaches that I know told me he would sometimes come to their practices after the Knights practice just to watch or help out a little.
He had summer cookouts for the kids and the coaching staff at his house.
On a personal level, I found out he was a very successful businessman who serves on boards of charities and corporations. I found him to be very personable. I certainly don't think he's someone who has time to waste on a blog, as you suggest.
He said he didn't get hired until April in 2008 so kids had already made up their minds about where they were going to school that first year and there were only about 17. The following year was his first class where he had a chance to meet the 8th graders. Those were next year's senior class, which as everyone knows is an outstanding group.
I've talked to a lot of people and Coach Madden was terminated because someone who had some influence with Aquinas' administration (and most of us know who that person is, and he has a history of such things) told them that some kids weren't going to come there if he was coach. That was a lie but the administration took the threat seriously. I was at a church fund-raiser the night after Madden was let go, and I can tell you 90% of the people there were shocked and very displeased.
Last year and next year the Knights are playing with Madden's guys that he brought in and developed. They had success as Freshmen and JV's against tough opponents. There were many starters coming back last year on both sides of the ball and with the easier schedule, everyone was expecting playoffs and that's what happened, although it was closer than what most expected. We'll see what happens after next year's seniors graduate.
Also I don't know why you say Madden is retired. He was coaching last year at one of the Div 1 schools up near Cleveland. Just one more thing you've got wrong.
I disagree with you. 99% of STA fans I know are glad Maddens gone so apparently they all missed these paragraphs of positives you laid out just like I did.
It's a little peculiar that I've never heard any of that about Madden in the last 4 years. Never...in fact I've heard just the opposite from many, many people in the STA community. So either all of them are mistaken or lying or you are exaggerating or flat out being untruthful.
It's easy to claim Madden would have had more success last year or that any coach would have made the playoffs with that talent. I think that's BS but I admit that's just my opinion...you have yours and I have mine.
It's not true these are "Madden's guys"...most of the players are from families that have been a part of STA for 30 or 40 years or more. Nothing Bob Madden did brought them to STA or kept them there. Many of them have been future Knights since the day the were born.
I know Budd made the playoffs, won a playoff game, and the team was tougher and more physical than any STA team I've seen in the last 20 years. I saw that with my own eyes.
You THINK Madden would have done as well or better. I don't. We will never know.
Regardless I'm a fan of STA and it's current players and coaches first and foremost....all STA fans should be this way....I don't root for the coaches...I root for the Knights and those that wear the black and gold
I don't know why you seem to enjoy baiting STA fans and then criticizing STA ad naseum. Please create to a different screenname and join in discussions of your favorite team, as Aquinas is apparently not your favorite squad on the gridiron. You obviously have nothing but hate for Aquinas...it's amazing that you can be this critical of them when they're coming off a playoff season (first time in 23 years).
Our future discussions about STA football will be a lot more enjoyable, mature and interesting without your involvement.
Please go back to enjoying your retirement, Coach Madden...and start acting like a mature adult.
My prediction: If STA has a good season this fall, we won't see or hear from you (ala past STA haters on here that disappeared whenever the Knights were successful and winning such as Goldworth and others). But I'm sure you'll be the first to show up when they lose a game or when the season's over to criticize something.
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This is the most hypocritical post on this thread. Go back & look at the 2011 Aquinas threads buddy. You were one of the MOST critical of Coach Budd at the beginning of the season. At least I give my opinion up front right now. You will be the first one bashing when they start losing.
I had the opportunity to speak with Coach Madden a couple times at Freshman games a couple years back. He is not at all like you state. My wife was there the one time and I remember her telling me after he walked away that he seems like a very kind, caring man.
We talked some football, and he was particulary proud of the kids in the class of 2014. Did you even realize how much time he spent with those kids? He would pick kids up every day after school at their respective Catholic grade schools from December through May and bring them to Aquinas so they could lift and meet kids from the other grade schools. He would often take kids home who didn't have rides. He said he felt very close to that class in particular because of all the time he spent with them.
My daughter told me that he would come to the Catholic grade schools with Mrs. Dougherty the Admissions Director each year and go to all the class rooms to talk about Aquinas and the football camp. Sometimes he would brng players with him. He invited all the kids to his summer camps, even the girls. I know of no other Aquinas sports coach who did these things. I know some of those kids and can tell you for a fact that they liked Coach a lot.
I saw him at just about every grade school football game on Sundays. Grade school coaches that I know told me he would sometimes come to their practices after the Knights practice just to watch or help out a little.
He had summer cookouts for the kids and the coaching staff at his house.
On a personal level, I found out he was a very successful businessman who serves on boards of charities and corporations. I found him to be very personable. I certainly don't think he's someone who has time to waste on a blog, as you suggest.
He said he didn't get hired until April in 2008 so kids had already made up their minds about where they were going to school that first year and there were only about 17. The following year was his first class where he had a chance to meet the 8th graders. Those were next year's senior class, which as everyone knows is an outstanding group.
I've talked to a lot of people and Coach Madden was terminated because someone who had some influence with Aquinas' administration (and most of us know who that person is, and he has a history of such things) told them that some kids weren't going to come there if he was coach. That was a lie but the administration took the threat seriously. I was at a church fund-raiser the night after Madden was let go, and I can tell you 90% of the people there were shocked and very displeased.
Last year and next year the Knights are playing with Madden's guys that he brought in and developed. They had success as Freshmen and JV's against tough opponents. There were many starters coming back last year on both sides of the ball and with the easier schedule, everyone was expecting playoffs and that's what happened, although it was closer than what most expected. We'll see what happens after next year's seniors graduate.
Also I don't know why you say Madden is retired. He was coaching last year at one of the Div 1 schools up near Cleveland. Just one more thing you've got wrong.
FBJunkie,
Thank you for this post. It is hard trying to present both sides to a story without getting accused of trolling. However, you are WRONG on two things.
First - with the easier schedule NOT TRUE. According to Drew
Pasteur's site, the Knights played the 5th toughest schedule in DV last
year. It was exactly the same in 2010.
Second -Coach Madden was terminated because someone who had some influence with Aquinas' administration (and most of us know who that person is, and he has a history of such things) WRONG AGAIN. I certain QB's dad had no more or less influence on Madden's firing than the others who conspired against him. Look, it is easy to blame the QB's dad, but you have no clue how big this effort was to get him Madden out. NO CLUE.
1) 7-8 vocal parents
2) the track coaches
3) the AD and his assistant
4) (sad enough) some of Madden's own coaching staff
Same thing will happen to Budd. A few people will stir up trouble and everybody will jump on the bandwagon. Budd has a ton of enemies right now.
Thank you for this post. It is hard trying to present both sides to a story without getting accused of trolling. However, you are WRONG on two things.
First - with the easier schedule NOT TRUE. According to Drew
Pasteur's site, the Knights played the 5th toughest schedule in DV last
year. It was exactly the same in 2010.
Second -Coach Madden was terminated because someone who had some influence with Aquinas' administration (and most of us know who that person is, and he has a history of such things) WRONG AGAIN. I certain QB's dad had no more or less influence on Madden's firing than the others who conspired against him. Look, it is easy to blame the QB's dad, but you have no clue how big this effort was to get him Madden out. NO CLUE.
1) 7-8 vocal parents
2) the track coaches
3) the AD and his assistant
4) (sad enough) some of Madden's own coaching staff
Same thing will happen to Budd. A few people will stir up trouble and everybody will jump on the bandwagon. Budd has a ton of enemies right now.
Big Knight, get over it, Madden is gone and I for one am glad. I have a pretty good idea who you are (former parent). You are in the vast minority. Most of the players and fans did not want to keep Madden, not because he is a horrible person, but because it was not working out. As to Budd, other than you, and again I have a pretty good idea who you likely are, the current players, parents and fans are 100% for Budd. Saying he has a ton of enemies is a complete and utter joke. Your kids are done playing for Aquinas so either continue to support the program or don't, but please move on. Unfortunately parents like you are poison to programs at every school, just read other school's threads on this site and the same type of trouble parents are all too common.
Big Knight, get over it, Madden is gone and I for one am glad. I have a pretty good idea who you are (former parent). You are in the vast minority. Most of the players and fans did not want to keep Madden, not because he is a horrible person, but because it was not working out. As to Budd, other than you, and again I have a pretty good idea who you likely are, the current players, parents and fans are 100% for Budd. Saying he has a ton of enemies is a complete and utter joke. Your kids are done playing for Aquinas so either continue to support the program or don't, but please move on. Unfortunately parents like you are poison to programs at every school, just read other school's threads on this site and the same type of trouble parents are all too common.
Thank you....agree 100%, Summa.
Big Knight,
As for me being a hypocrite....I criticized the team and Budd early in the year....no doubt.
But when they started playing better and winning, there was no bigger supporter on here than me.
I think that's called being a passionate fan. Your remarks on the other hand about Budd having enemies is laughable. What sane person opposes a playoff coach who took the team there for the first time in decades? The answer: no one.
This past season was the most magical ride for STA football fans in 25 years. Here's hoping and praying for another one this fall. Too bad you two (Big Knight and FBJunkie) can't enjoy the success. That's sad.
Can we get back to Aquinas fans discussing a very promising upcoming season this fall? Go Knights!
Summa and 1984 are correct, the negativity needs to be left behind. You both hit it on the head. Yes we were all critical including me after week 3 and rightfully so, we never seemed to recover from starts like this in previous years. I gladly ate my words as the season progressed and the kids learned how to win. In the end we wanted to see our team win and enjoy success. Now matter what is perceived about winning ugly - winning is winning and in our case getting to the playoffs are all good no matter how it was earned. Players and coaches both worked hard despite being 0-3 and they earned their success.
As for Madden, yes he had many good qualities and was not a bad guy but it just didn't translate into wins or a healthy program. I like the guy but he needed to go. Despite what some say, Budd and his staff have overwhelming support and the kids and parents alike and respect him. The ship appears headed in the right direction and I like what I hear and see from the offseason workouts. Not only is there progress in conditionong and strength but there is a growing comraderie (sp?) developing as well. This should lead to better conditioned student-athetes and hopefully fewer injuries. Kids are getting leaner and bigger and from what I hear class work is in good order as well.
Being that the season is still 5 months away, how can anyone be negative? This is the time of the year that you develop goals and dreams and steadily work to that end. If one is lacking optimism this time of year, how can adversity be overcome during the season? I look forward to positive talk and constructive discussions from our faithful as we move forward and look ahead to a great year.
On the thought of looking forward, what positions and talent is there in the sophomore class as well as incoming freshman class position wise? Several talented seniors that will need replaced going into 2013 season and also potential backups for this fall. The junior class to be will have to step up this fall also. Thoughts?
Reading in the Repository that Bob Madden is in line to become an assistant at McKinley, brought me back to this thread.
1-Where is this overwhelming support for Budd? 3 posters like him & 2 do not
2-Pretty much Budd's supporters say they started to like him/direction of the program AFTER the team started winning. What about hiring a coach and supporting him through thick and thin? Wait, Aquinas would never do that!!!!
3-Budd has no enemies? The All-County TE's dad hates him, his own assistant from St. Paul's is always back stabbing him, his RB's parents want him out, the basketball coach thinks he's arrogant. I could go on and on................
Now I see that the coaching staff has lost its most veteran member. Poor guy was brought in to run a creative spread offense and Budd dumped it after the 0-3 start. Kicked this guy to the curb. The rest of the season feature the most boring offense I've seen at Aquinas. Team would rather run out the clock than score. Way to waste the talent!!
On the thought of looking forward, what positions and talent is there in the sophomore class as well as incoming freshman class position wise? Several talented seniors that will need replaced going into 2013 season and also potential backups for this fall. The junior class to be will have to step up this fall also. Thoughts?
Several kids in this years junior class started or had significant playing time as sophomores ... Humphries, Laisure and Guht. From the very good numbers in the weight room this off-season, hopefully those kids will be bigger and stronger this year. The other juniors will step up this year. They are a very dedicated group. As to last years freshman class, they seemed to have some good size and some good athletes. Apparently next year sophomore Vernier has great hands and is athletic and should get a lot bigger. I really don't know about the incoming freshman class other than I have heard that some pretty good football players should be coming to Aquinas in the next couple classes. It should be another fun and exciting year with a very close knit team.
Several kids in this years junior class started or had significant playing time as sophomores ... Humphries, Laisure and Guht. From the very good numbers in the weight room this off-season, hopefully those kids will be bigger and stronger this year. The other juniors will step up this year. They are a very dedicated group. As to last years freshman class, they seemed to have some good size and some good athletes. Apparently next year sophomore Vernier has great hands and is athletic and should get a lot bigger. I really don't know about the incoming freshman class other than I have heard that some pretty good football players should be coming to Aquinas in the next couple classes. It should be another fun and exciting year with a very close knit team.
I've heard the same things as you, Buck, concerning the younger classes (this upcoming season's juniors, sophomores, and incoming freshmen). Humprhies had some nice moments at DB (including playing a big role in STA's great pass defense against Northwest's spread aerial attack). Laisure and Guht were both starters on the offensive line as sophomores last year.
As for this year's sophomores, I've heard they have some good players. STA had about half the number of kids on the freshman team as Central Catholic last year, but played Central tough in the freshman game. Several people have told me that young Moeglin was by far the best player on the field for either team in the STA-Central freshman game last fall. Obviously, he's heavily in the mix as a sophomore this coming year (he was already bigger and taller than his older brother as a freshman last year).
I also spoke to someone today that saw and talked at length to Coach Budd at the Auction this past weekend (it was great to hear Budd and his wife were at the auction supporting the school).
Coach Budd is very excited about the team coming back. He said the participation in the weightroom this winter is light years ahead of where they were when he took the job last year. Apparently he can see (visibly) changes in the returning kids...they are getting stronger, bigger and faster this winter. He said he keeps telling the kids that although expectations are high...nothing is going to be given to them...they have to earn it. He also stressed that the work they're putting in now will help them late in the 4th quarter in close games (where they lost a few last year - such as Minerva and Northwest).
I've also heard from more than one source that there are some very talented players supposedly coming in as freshmen this year (in addition to the North Canton kid referenced earlier in this thread). He thinks they'll have at least 15 freshmen, but there could be a few more. Ideally, given the size of the school currently, he'd like to see 15-18 football players per class as a healthy number.
Exciting times and the program seems headed in the right direction....Go Knights!
Big Knight....since you seem to be mr. football and everything, you shouldve applied for the job last year! im sure we wouldve been 15-0 under your expert leadership last season
Big Knight....since you seem to be mr. football and everything, you shouldve applied for the job last year! im sure we wouldve been 15-0 under your expert leadership last season
Would that have been the first mom to have ever been a high school head football coach in Ohio or even the entire nation.
iam a Northwest guy, i think sta was pretty good team under new staff, i look for them to be a solid team again this year. you guys have to much negative stuff going on, dont you realize the kids read this. support the kids. coaches dont play kids do, coaches dont win or loose kids do, give the kids credit they were pretty good
Blast, NW had a real nice team last year and the game was exciting. Just wish the outcome was in our favor. We had our chances. Your kids and fanbase are very enthusiastic. The basketball game at STA had a decent turnout on your part and your kids were pretty vocal. A nice, healthy competitive atmosphere with both schools. This year's game will be key for both of us.
On to us...I also have heard many positives both in person and through excellent sources. In the neighborhood of 30 kids in the strength and conditioning program. Also a majority of the kids are participating in a spring sport, some for the first time.
I believe Guht is a junior and will be a senior next year. He looks dramatically different-slimmer and more muscular. Laisure has been lifting which he has never done and is progressing. He is naturally strong but the lifting will do him wonders. I think Benedetti may have an impact at receiver and DB. He had some nice catches in JV action and seems solid on defense with some picks. Everyone sees him kicking and has not had an opportunity to see he is a good athlete.
From what I hear, we will stay a power team like the second half of the year when most of the success. With potentially a young QB that is probably a good idea until the passing game develops. I spoke with several who were at the frosh STA-CCC game and also said that Moeglin was the best player on the field.
Look forward to hearing more about next year freshman squad. Not familiar with many of them yet.
Center is wide open with Kreinbrink leaving. Tesch should return at one guard and has really benefitted from the weight room. He looks much bigger and it should help with his knees. Verduce's guard spot is open and there is good competition there. Could be who doesn't get center sopt between Carpenter and Andrews, or Burchet who has good size or maybe Lundquist. Lots of playmakers with Wilkins, Rich, Moore, Mudd, Rude, Blevins, even Humphries in spot duty last year. Tortora and Zeren may also contribute at receiver. Hopefully Moore will be healthy all year. Will be a good problem to have trying to get everyone touches and should keep opposing defenses off balance.
Looking forward to the season, 6 regular season home games this year.
Seems to me like we have some dinner table coaches here. Whoever made the comment about a boring offense and running the clock, I am pretty sure the Aquinas game I saw they were running the I and flat backs. It is successful, and yes running the football runs the clock. I see some lack knowledge of the game.
Support your program, kids, school, coaches, teachers, whoever, I have been in places that don't, and success never comes that way. It is just a constant cycle of losing and coaches and the kids are the ones who suffer because people think they know everything because they watch sportscenter or watched a youtube video about football or basketball or whatever.
Good Luck to the Knights this year. Saw they playoff game against Crestview hopefully they meet again.
Blast, NW had a real nice team last year and the game was exciting. Just wish the outcome was in our favor. We had our chances. Your kids and fanbase are very enthusiastic. The basketball game at STA had a decent turnout on your part and your kids were pretty vocal. A nice, healthy competitive atmosphere with both schools. This year's game will be key for both of us.
On to us...I also have heard many positives both in person and through excellent sources. In the neighborhood of 30 kids in the strength and conditioning program. Also a majority of the kids are participating in a spring sport, some for the first time.
I believe Guht is a junior and will be a senior next year. He looks dramatically different-slimmer and more muscular. Laisure has been lifting which he has never done and is progressing. He is naturally strong but the lifting will do him wonders. I think Benedetti may have an impact at receiver and DB. He had some nice catches in JV action and seems solid on defense with some picks. Everyone sees him kicking and has not had an opportunity to see he is a good athlete.
From what I hear, we will stay a power team like the second half of the year when most of the success. With potentially a young QB that is probably a good idea until the passing game develops. I spoke with several who were at the frosh STA-CCC game and also said that Moeglin was the best player on the field.
Look forward to hearing more about next year freshman squad. Not familiar with many of them yet.
Center is wide open with Kreinbrink leaving. Tesch should return at one guard and has really benefitted from the weight room. He looks much bigger and it should help with his knees. Verduce's guard spot is open and there is good competition there. Could be who doesn't get center sopt between Carpenter and Andrews, or Burchet who has good size or maybe Lundquist. Lots of playmakers with Wilkins, Rich, Moore, Mudd, Rude, Blevins, even Humphries in spot duty last year. Tortora and Zeren may also contribute at receiver. Hopefully Moore will be healthy all year. Will be a good problem to have trying to get everyone touches and should keep opposing defenses off balance.
Looking forward to the season, 6 regular season home games this year.
Thanks for the insight. One correction though, Guht is only a sophomore currently and will be a junior this season. I do think we will be able to pass the ball fine this year, we should be as balanced as last year, enough to try and keep defenses honest.
Guht is currently a junior I wish he was only a soph. Anyway, he is in same class as my friend's kid who is a junior. Sorry to be fussy
You're right we whould have enough balance with run/pass mix to make it tough to defend. Looking forward to it.
You are correct Guht is a junior, I have no idea why it was sticking in my head that Guht was a sophomore. My fault. 3/1 run/pass would be some balance in my mind. We have quite a few weapons at WR/TE and the running backs can also be used on pass plays, so I think it is important to develop some type of passing game along with the running game.
The 3/1 you describe is along the lines of what I was thinking too. Especially a first down pass once in a while, just enough to mix it up. Hopefully some receivers develop and I look forward to seeing things develop as mentioned before. I think with Rich you can get a nice mismatch and with the kids we have back there can be some intersting combinations. Our wealth at RB may make screens something to consider. Oh well what do I know. I wonder if Blevins might get some reps at QB especially since we are thin there. He played some in freshman and jv games. Can't rely on just one sophmore and nothing else in case of injury, etc.
I'm also interested whether anyone knows the answer to FBKnight's question about any new players from inside STA coming out for football this coming year.
Also, I thought I'd throw out there this topic....with the recently announced plan to make 7 Divisions, it appears in future years (2013 and beyond) that some of the teams traditionally in STA's division and region could end up in a different one.
Just doing a rough glance for instance, using the current enrollment numbers (which I'm fully aware will change when they're recalculated starting in 2013-2014), teams like Ursuline, Kirtland, and maybe Columbiana Crestview will be right on the borderline of "moving up" to the new Division V, while STA will almost certainly be in the new Division VI most likely starting fall of 2013.
Just thought that was very interesting....I know teams and talent changes from year to year, but Ursuline, Kirtland and Crestview have been powers in Region 17 for at least the last 7-10 years.
The new enrollment figures, division and regional assignments will be very, very interesting next year. Hopefully it doesn't make it even more difficult for STA to get a good schedule together each year. There's also the argument that it may be easier to schedule opponents, as teams won't have as small a margin for error to make the playoffs, with a greater number of schools statewide qualifying for the playoffs.
I'm also interested whether anyone knows the answer to FBKnight's question about any new players from inside STA coming out for football this coming year.
Also, I thought I'd throw out there this topic....with the recently announced plan to make 7 Divisions, it appears in future years (2013 and beyond) that some of the teams traditionally in STA's division and region could end up in a different one.
Just doing a rough glance for instance, using the current enrollment numbers (which I'm fully aware will change when they're recalculated starting in 2013-2014), teams like Ursuline, Kirtland, and maybe Columbiana Crestview will be right on the borderline of "moving up" to the new Division V, while STA will almost certainly be in the new Division VI most likely starting fall of 2013.
Just thought that was very interesting....I know teams and talent changes from year to year, but Ursuline, Kirtland and Crestview have been powers in Region 17 for at least the last 7-10 years.
The new enrollment figures, division and regional assignments will be very, very interesting next year. Hopefully it doesn't make it even more difficult for STA to get a good schedule together each year. There's also the argument that it may be easier to schedule opponents, as teams won't have as small a margin for error to make the playoffs, with a greater number of schools statewide qualifying for the playoffs.
If the most recent playoff expansion (going from 4 to 8 teams per region in '99) is any kind of an indicator, I think you'll see an even larger number of mediocre programs believing they have a chance of making the playoffs, and those mediocre programs will become even more conservative with their scheduling. That will make things even tougher on the "power teams" who will have no choice but to beat up on each other during the regular season.
Thought I'd resurrect this thread after over 2 months...we're now less than 45 days from 2-a-days and a little over 60 days from Week One.
Any interesting information on the Knights upcoming season?
Any idea on the size of the incoming freshman football team? I had heard 13-15 players, but that was a few months ago and they were hopeful some additional players would come out for football in the incoming freshman class.
Any other news or thoughts? I think everyone is in agreement that this should be a very good Aquinas team again this year...this year's seniors are one of the most talented classes to come through STA in a long, long time.
Any other news or thoughts? I think everyone is in agreement that this should be a very good Aquinas team again this year...this year's seniors are one of the most talented classes to come through STA in a long, long time.
Go Knights!
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Congratulations to Joel Rich on receiving his first DI College offer from Buffalo, I doubt it will be his only offer as many other schools are looking at him.
Aquinas keeps up its tradition of producing DI college recruits. When averaged out since about the ealry 1990s its about a DI college recruit every 2-3 years. Very impressive for a DV school.
My goodness. I rarely visit here, but the childish back-and-forth is ridiculous.
I coach wrestling in Columbus, and a few years ago and posted (what I thought was) a throwaway line about a kid (from another school) one of my wrestlers beat. I said he was over-ranked (when in fact he was very good) and that we "hammered" him. He came up to me the next spring and asked why I would say such a thing. There is no reason other than being a bonehead. THE KIDS READ EVERYTHING.
I played football at STA about 20 years ago. The parent dramatics that existed then still are there now....except now, it is on the internet. Instead of kids hearing parents around the dinner table, they now do it online, where all the kids hear the negative stuff. And they need to go pretty quick.
With my team (and my team parents) we talk about the 10-80-10 principle. Top 10 percent are good leaders that get it and are positive. The bottom 10 percent are the complainers, the negative influences, the lazy, the bad decision makers. The middle 80% can go either way. In my view, you either get the bottom 10 % on board or they have to go.
Right now, in a year when people should be excited about the first playoff appearance since 1988, there is still complaining. My goodness. If that is coming from parents or players, amputate them.
Linear Mode
